Skip to Main Content
American Masters

The secret mother-daughter collaboration on “Little House”

Recent scholarship has shed light on this secret collaboration.

Aired 12/29/2020

American Masters

The secret mother-daughter collaboration on “Little House”

Clip: 12/29/2020 | 4m 6sVideo has Closed Captions

Recent scholarship has shed light on this secret collaboration.

Recent scholarship has shed light on the secret collaboration between Widler and her daughter Rose Wilder Lane on the “Little House” series. Rose encouraged her mother to write the books worked closely with her on the crafting and initial editing of the stories. Though Rose denied any involvement with the books, a series of letters between the two collaborators reveals much more.

Aired 12/29/2020

Problems playing video?   | Closed Captioning Feedback

Report a Problem

Before you submit an error, please consult our Video Help page.

Problems playing video?   | Closed Captioning Feedback

Report a Problem

Before you submit an error, please consult our Video Help page.

Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...

Support provided by:

AARP

Disaster was looming when the Ingalls moved to Minnesota

Video has Closed Captions

Clip: 12/29/2020 | 2m 14s | Disaster struck with the arrival of the Rocky Mountain locust invasion of 1875. (2m 14s)

How the logs of the "Little House" cabin were stolen

Video has Closed Captions

Clip: 12/29/2020 | 2m 8s | How the logs that Charles Ingalls used for the little house belonged to Osage Indians. (2m 8s)

Laura Ingalls Wilder: Prairie to Page trailer

Video has Closed Captions

Preview: 12/29/2020 | 3m 26s | A look at the unlikely author whose fiction helped shape American ideas of the frontier. (3m 26s)

The letter from NY that changed Laura Ingalls Wilder's life

Video has Closed Captions

Clip: 12/29/2020 | 1m 49s | The news, at age 64, from a New York editor was unexpected for Laura Ingalls Wilder. (1m 49s)

"Little House" TV stars Alison Arngrim and Dean Butler

Video has Closed Captions

Clip: 12/29/2020 | 2m 58s | Arngrim and Butler talk about how the show had fans in Ronald Reagan and the Ayatollah. (2m 58s)

Roxane Gay and others on racist “Little House” depictions

Video has Closed Captions

Clip: 12/29/2020 | 2m 23s | Roxane Gay, Louise Erdrich and others discuss racist depictions in Wilder’s books. (2m 23s)

Until she was an author, money was a struggle for Wilder

Video has Closed Captions

Clip: 12/29/2020 | 2m 20s | Until she became a best-selling author, making ends meet was a struggle. (2m 20s)

The word that Laura refused to say in her wedding vows

Video has Closed Captions

Clip: 12/29/2020 | 3m 35s | Laura Ingalls' courtship with Almanzo Wilder led to a unique wedding ceremony. (3m 35s)

Providing Support for PBS.org

Learn Moreabout PBS online sponsorship

Support for PBS provided by:

Support for American Masters is provided by the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, AARP, Rosalind P. Walter Foundation, Judith and Burton Resnick, Blanche and Hayward Cirker Charitable Lead Annuity Trust, Koo...

Sign in with Email

or

Continue with GoogleContinue with FacebookContinue with Apple

By creating an account, you acknowledge that PBS may share your information with our member stations and our respective service providers, and that you have read and understand the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.

Are you sure you want to remove null from My List?