On August 12, 1859, Katharine Lee Bates was born in Falmouth, Massachusetts.

Katharine entered Wellesly College in 1876 and she graduated in 1880. Then she became an instructor at Wellesly College. Katharine continued to teach at Wellesly College until 1925.

Katharine left her elderly mother to go to Colorado for the summer in 1893. While she was there she went to the top of Pike's Peak. The view inspired her to write "America the Beautiful."

In 1895 on July 4th "America the Beautiful' was published. It was very popular. A lot of composers asked her if they could put their music to her poem. In 1912 she chose the music that she wanted to put with her poem. It is "Materna" by Samual Augustus Ward.

The song was adopted to the Federation of Women's Club to be their official song. At an education convention she heard her words sung by a chorus of girls from 20 different countries.

Katharine Lee Bates died in 1929 because of heart disease at the age of 70.
 

We got our information from:
Colorado kids dig up the past
World Book
and this web site