How did Susan Fenimore Cooper preserve and promote James Fenimore Cooper’s literary work after his death?

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Jarvis, John Wesley: James Fenimore Cooper — James Fenimore Cooper *James Fenimore Cooper*, painting by John Wesley Jarvis, 1822; in the Fenimore Art Museum, Cooperstown, New York.

Susan Fenimore Cooper played a vital role in maintaining her father’s literary legacy by serving as his literary executor following his death in 1851.1

She actively promoted and curated his work through several key initiatives:

Editorial Projects: She produced Pages and Pictures, from the Writings of James Fenimore Cooper in 1861, which helped keep his narratives accessible to readers.1
Prefatory Essays: She authored the prefatory essays for the Household Edition of James Fenimore Cooper’s works, published between 1876 and 1884, providing critical context for his writing.1
Biographical Contributions: She published various magazine articles that offered personal insights into her father’s life and career, further cementing his place in American literature.1

Through these efforts, she ensured that her father’s contributions to the novel remained a significant part of the American cultural landscape.1