27 moments

1. Birth in Jamaica Plain

   1932-10-27 · Jamaica Plain, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

   Plath was born in the Jamaica Plain section of Boston, Massachusetts. Coordinates represent Jamaica Plain rather than the undocumented birth building.

2. Family move to Winthrop

   1936-01-01 · 92 Johnson Avenue, Winthrop, Massachusetts, United States

   Plath moved with her family from Jamaica Plain to Winthrop, a formative coastal childhood residence. Coordinates are a representative point for the documented street address.

3. Move to Wellesley

   1942-01-01 · 26 Elmwood Road, Wellesley, Massachusetts, United States

   Following her father’s death, Plath moved with her mother, brother, and grandparents to Wellesley. Coordinates represent the documented residential address.

4. Undergraduate study at Smith

   1950-01-01 · Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States

   Plath began her undergraduate years at Smith College in Northampton, where she developed as a writer and editor. The source supports the start year but not a precise enrollment date.

5. Mademoiselle guest editorship

   1953-06-01 · New York City, New York, United States

   

   Plath spent part of the summer as a guest editor at Mademoiselle, an experience later transformed in The Bell Jar. Coordinates represent New York City because the office location is not specified in the quoted chronology.

6. Psychiatric treatment at McLean

   1953-08-01 · McLean Hospital, Belmont, Massachusetts, United States

   

   After her suicide attempt, Plath was committed to McLean Hospital in Belmont for psychiatric care. The source supplies month-level timing only.

7. Harvard Summer School

   1954-01-01 · Harvard University, Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

   During the summer after treatment, Plath studied German at Harvard Summer School before returning to Smith. The source specifies summer 1954, not exact dates or a particular Harvard building.

8. Smith graduation

   1955-06-06 · Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States

   Plath completed her Smith degree summa cum laude, immediately before taking up a Fulbright fellowship in England. Coordinates represent the college campus rather than a specified commencement venue.

9. Fulbright study at Newnham

   1955-10-01 · Newnham College, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

   

   Plath began Fulbright-funded study at Newnham College, Cambridge, beginning a major English phase of her life.

10. Christmas travel in Paris

    1955-12-01 · Paris, France

    During her first Cambridge Christmas vacation, Plath travelled to Paris with Richard Sassoon. Coordinates represent central Paris; the source also documents travel in southern France without identifying a specific locality.

11. Meeting Ted Hughes

    1956-02-25 · Falcon Yard, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

    Plath attended the St Botolph's Review launch party in Cambridge, where she met Ted Hughes. The cited chronology gives conflicting day-level precision, so the card uses the independently corroborated date of February 25.

12. Spring travel to Rome

    1956-04-01 · Rome, Italy

    Plath also travelled to Rome during her April 1956 continental journey. Month-level date; the sequence of the Venice and Rome visits is not specified.

13. Spring travel to Venice

    1956-04-01 · Venice, Italy

    During the Cambridge vacation period, Plath travelled to Venice. Month-level date; coordinates represent central Venice.

14. Marriage to Ted Hughes

    1956-06-16 · St George the Martyr, Queen Square, London, England, United Kingdom

    Plath married Hughes at St George the Martyr, a pivotal personal and literary partnership.

15. Honeymoon in Benidorm

    1956-08-01 · Benidorm, Alicante, Spain

    Plath and Hughes spent part of their honeymoon in Benidorm, where Plath wrote material connected with Spain. The source supports August but not exact arrival or departure dates.

16. Visit to Heptonstall

    1956-09-01 · Heptonstall, West Yorkshire, England, United Kingdom

    Following the honeymoon, Plath stayed with Hughes and his family in Heptonstall, West Yorkshire. Coordinates represent Heptonstall; The Beacon’s precise historic location is not established here.

17. Return to Cambridge

    1956-10-01 · Newnham College, Cambridge, England, United Kingdom

    Plath returned to Cambridge to resume her Fulbright studies at Newnham College. Coordinates represent Newnham College, where the surrounding chronology identifies her studies.

18. Summer on Cape Cod

    1957-07-01 · Cape Cod, Massachusetts, United States

    After returning across the Atlantic, Plath and Hughes spent the summer on Cape Cod before moving to Massachusetts. Coordinates are a representative point for the Cape Cod peninsula; the source does not name a town or residence.

19. Teaching at Smith

    1957-09-01 · Smith College, Northampton, Massachusetts, United States

    Plath returned to Smith College as an English instructor during the 1957–58 academic year. September is used as the supported academic-year start implied by the appointment; the source itself gives a year range.

20. Beacon Hill residence and Boston work

    1958-01-01 · 9 Willow Street, Beacon Hill, Boston, Massachusetts, United States

    After leaving Smith, Plath and Hughes lived at 9 Willow Street in Beacon Hill; Plath worked at Massachusetts General Hospital and attended Lowell's seminar. The source gives only mid-1958 for the move.

21. Writing residency at Yaddo

    1959-01-01 · Yaddo, Saratoga Springs, New York, United States

    After their summer journey, Plath and Hughes stayed at the Yaddo artists' colony in Saratoga Springs. The source establishes the stay in 1959 but does not supply exact beginning and ending dates.

22. Jackson Lake journey

    1959-07-01 · Jackson Lake, Grand Teton National Park, Wyoming, United States

    Plath was photographed at Jackson Lake during the North American journey she and Hughes made in summer 1959. Coordinates represent Jackson Lake rather than the precise photographed shoreline.

23. Residence at Chalcot Square

    1959-12-01 · 3 Chalcot Square, Primrose Hill, London, England, United Kingdom

    

    Plath returned to England with Hughes and began the London period that included publication of The Colossus and the birth of Frieda. English Heritage states that the couple found and occupied the Chalcot Square flat in January 1960; coordinates represent that documented residence.

24. Move to Court Green

    1961-08-01 · Court Green, North Tawton, Devon, England, United Kingdom

    After completing The Bell Jar, Plath moved with her family to Court Green in North Tawton, Devon. The movement followed completion of The Bell Jar in August 1961.

25. Visit to Cleggan

    1962-09-01 · Cleggan, County Galway, Ireland

    In an attempt to repair their relationship, Plath and Hughes travelled to Cleggan to visit Richard Murphy. The source supports month-level dating only.

26. Return to Primrose Hill

    1962-12-01 · 23 Fitzroy Road, Primrose Hill, London, England, United Kingdom

    After separating from Hughes, Plath returned to London with her children and rented the Fitzroy Road flat.

27. Death in London

    1963-02-11 · London, England, United Kingdom

    

    Plath died by suicide in London at age 30, following the intensely productive final months of her life. Coordinates represent central London; her final residence was 23 Fitzroy Road, Primrose Hill.