Woman of the Century/Martha R. Field

FIELD, Mrs. Martha R., journalist, widely known by her pen-name. "Catherine Cole," born in New Orleans, La., in 1856, where she passed her youth and received her education. She early showed her literary bent in rhymes, some of which were published in the New Orleans "Picayune," when she was only a child. She was a leader among the students in school, and soon after leaving the school-room she went into service on the "Picayune," of which journal her father was an editor She did various work in New Orleans, covering the entire field of city journalism. She afterwards worked on the San Francisco "Post." She became a wife, mother and widow all in a short space of time, and then turned her attention regularly MARTHA R. FIELD. to journalistic work, and became a member of the staff of the New Orleans "Times." She was the first woman newspaper reporter to draw a salary in that city. She served for ten years as a leader-writer on the New Orleans "Picayune." Failing health compelled her to take a rest, and in 1890 she visited Great Britain. She has done a vast amount of work in the newspaper line, and she has won and holds a most enviable position in the South. Mrs. Field founded the first circulating library in New Orleans, and her pen has always been ready to aid the cause of literature and education.