BETSY-TACY SOCIETY

Maud Hart Lovelace (MHL) was born in Mankato in 1892 and is best known for her beloved series of Betsy-Tacy books, as well as adult fiction. The Betsy-Tacy books are “historical fiction” based on the author’s childhood memories of growing up in Mankato, Minn. With more than one million and a half books sold, the series has drawn national, as well as international, attention to Mankato.

In an effort to preserve literary landmarks, the Betsy-Tacy Society purchased Maud’s childhood home (Betsy’s House — 333 Center Street) and the home of her lifelong best friend, Frances Kenney Kirch (Tacy‘s House — 332 Center Street) for future generations to enjoy. Betsy’s House has been restored and furnished as a museum to look just as it did when the Hart family lived there from 1892-1906. Tacy’s house also has been restored and the Society uses it as an interpretive center and to manage MHL archives. It also houses a gift shop.

Donations, memberships, and gift shop sales are the Society's primary sources of revenue. The BTS does not receive federal or state funding.

The mission of the BTS is to promote literacy by keeping the Betsy-Tacy books in print and available to new generations of readers. The books are intergenerational and promote family values and friendship. The BTS uses the stories as a foundation to educate about life at the turn of the century.

Each year, hundreds of visitors from across the country and abroad visit these literary landmarks. We rely on many volunteers for our staff, programs, house restoration and maintenance — volunteerism opportunities are continually promoted at the BTS.

The BTS has successfully lobbied HarperCollins to get all the Betsy-Tacy books back in print, along with other MHL titles. It acquired the childhood homes of Maud Hart Lovelace and Frances Kenney Kirch [Betsy and Tacy] — saving them from possible demolition, and paying off the mortgages on both houses without taxpayer assistance. Restoration work on both houses is ongoing, requiring resources. The BTS also collects, preserves and displays MHL artifacts. It offers ongoing educational and historical programs.

The houses were designated National Literary Landmarks in 2010.