Jane McDowell Foster Wiley

Jane Denny Foster Wiley (née McDowell) was born on December 10, 1829, and died on January 17, 1903. She was the wife of composer Stephen Foster and served as the inspiration for his song "Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair." Her personal archives are preserved at the University of Pittsburgh.

Her father, Andrew Nathan McDowell, was a prominent physician in Pittsburgh. He actively supported the education of African Americans in medicine, encouraging the first black medical student from Western Pennsylvania to apply to Harvard Medical School. McDowell provided a letter of recommendation for the student and contributed financially toward his tuition.

By 1850, Stephen Foster had begun his career as a songwriter and had achieved some recognition in the music industry. At that time, Jane McDowell was characterized as attractive, with light brown, long, and "luxuriant" hair. On July 22, 1850, she married Stephen Foster in a ceremony conducted by a minister from Trinity Episcopal Church in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. Her wedding gown was noted for its beauty and fit. The marriage ceremony reportedly was somewhat strained, attributed to the nervousness of the couple. Following the wedding, they embarked on an extended honeymoon that included stops in New York, Baltimore, Paradise, Pennsylvania, Mercersburg, Pennsylvania, and Chambersburg. Although these locations are described as part of their honeymoon, biographers suggest the trip may have also served as a business visit aimed at establishing arrangements with music publishers.

By September 1850, the Fosters had moved to Allegheny City, now part of Pittsburgh, and resided with Stephen's older brother, William Barclay Foster Jr., along with Jane's family members, including her mother-in-law, father-in-law, and brother-in-law. Jane became pregnant and gave birth to their only child, Marion, on April 18, 1851. After Marion's birth, the family temporarily moved in with Jane's family before returning to the Foster residence. Reports indicate that Jane found this period challenging due to a loss of privacy, larger household sizes, and the absence of household staff.

Marital difficulties arose during the early years of their marriage, with initial blame placed on Jane for dissatisfaction in Stephen. Over time, perceptions shifted, and Jane was later recognized for her role in maintaining the household amid Stephen Foster's declining income and personal responsibilities. During their marriage, some of Stephen Foster's most notable songs were composed, reflecting his early years of marriage.

At some point following their separation, Jane worked as a telegraph operator in Greensburg. The couple's marriage lasted for fourteen years until Stephen Foster's death in New York City on January 13, 1864. Notably, at the time of his death, Stephen and Jane had been estranged for approximately four years, and they were not living together at that time.

After Stephen Foster's death, Morrison Foster, Stephen's older brother, assisted Jane and her daughter Marion in managing royalty payments from music publishers. Subsequently, Jane married M.D. Wiley. She also raised her granddaughter, Jessie Rose Welch, whom she ultimately cared for into adulthood.

Jane Foster's life remains relatively understudied due to limited biographical documentation. Most personal correspondence between her and Stephen has been lost, with Morris Foster having destroyed much of the Foster family's correspondence that might have reflected poorly on them, including nearly all of Jane's writings. However, her diaries, family letters, and other primary sources are housed in the University of Pittsburgh Library System Archives Service Center, where they have been digitized for remote access.

Jane Foster Wiley is commemorated during the Allegheny Cemetery's "Doo-Dah Days," where visitors are given a tour that includes her gravestone.