Maude Leet Prenshaw Papers

Maude Willard Leet Prenshaw was born August 2, 1889. Her maiden name "Leet" is the name under which she wrote poetry throughout her adult life. Her parents were William Gleason and Laura Adeline Mason Leet. One of four daughters, she was educated at St. Rose of Lima's Academy and also took a number of courses at University extension branches. She was married to Eric Richard Prenshaw and was his assistant in his construction business. At various times, she lived in Leland, Jackson, and Clinton (all in Mississippi). Leet was a descendant of William Leet, first Colonial Governor of Connecticut, a distant cousin of W.A. Percy, and a descendant of Revolutionary War hero Captain Nathan Mason. She was a member of the Magna Carta Dames and the Daughters of the American Revolution, and served the latter organization as Regent of the Belvedere Chapter.

One of Leet's major interests was poetry. She served four years as president of the Mississippi Poetry Society and was given the title of honorary president of the organization after her term of office. She published an anthology of her poems entitled Toward The Stars and was a regular contributor to numerous poetry journals including "Lyric", "The Green World", "Writer's Notes and Quotes", and "The Mississippi Poetry Journal". She was editor of The "Mississippi Poetry Journal" for a number of years and was instrumental in the founding of the Mississippi Poetry Festival.

In 1963 she was named Poet Laureate of Mississippi by Governor Ross Barnett, and she wrote a number of poems in honor of leading citizens of the state and the capital city, including Lt. Governor Paul B. Johnson. Leet was also active in numerous national poetry societies and the National League of American Pen Women.