Gene Stratton-Porter 
Laddie: A True Blue Story 

Gene Stratton Porter (1863-1924) was a pioneering naturalist, wide-life activist, and successful author. Born into a large family in Wabash County, Indiana, Gene quickly found her passion in the natural environment that surrounded her. Their original home was built in close proximity to Limberlost Swamp, a large wetland. This location would provide a setting for two of her most popular novels, ’Freckles’ (1904) and ’A Girl of the Limberlost’ (1909). Thematically, most all of her novels examine the unique natural and social environment in which she was raised. ’Laddie: A True Blue Story’ is somewhat autobiographical, pulling places, characters, and experiences from her youth in Indiana at Limberlost. Porter’s styles were wide ranging, from naturalist tales to romance stories. Her talents in photography would lead her to become one of the first women to establish a movie studio and production company. ’Laddie: A True Blue Story’ is a fascinating account of a young woman growing up in a rich Indiana environment, shedding light onto Porter’s early childhood.