Annie Chambers Ketchum (religious name, Sister Amabilis; November 8, 1824 – January 27, 1904) was an American educator, lecturer, and writer.

Ketchum did not write for publication previous to the civil war, but her first productions brought instant recognition of her merit and ability.

[1] Ketchum was the founding editor of The Lotus, a monthly magazine, and she published the textbook, Botany for academies and colleges: consisting of plant development and structure from seaweed to clematis.

Noted for her poetic talent, her "Semper Fidelis," published in Harper's Magazine, was said to be one of the most finished productions of American literature in its day.

[5] In early childhood, while growing up at Acacia Grove[8] (now called Cardome), Ketchum was often found reading books which children usually considered dull.

It published some of the earliest verses of the Massachusetts writer, Nora Perry, who subsequently won a national reputation.

When Memphis fell to the Federal army, a British Legation visited the city and Sir Henry Percy Anderson met Ketchum, her poetry having become very popular in England.

[6] She wore traditional women's clothes but donned a Dominican habit on the Catholic Church's holy feast days and she was buried in it.

[c] Upon her return to the U.S., she resided in New York City, writing for journals and building up over 100 lectures on literature, science and art.

[12] It was during this time that she published her novel with Lippincott, and her textbook, Botany for academies and colleges: consisting of plant development and structure from seaweed to clematis,[18] which included illustrations she had made during her visits to European gardens.

[13] Ketchum's writings were numerous and included Nellie Bracken: a tale of forty years ago,[19] (a novel published in 1855 by Lippincott); Gypsying (letters of travel); Christmas Carillons: and other poems,[20] (a volume of poems published by Appleton in 1888), as well as a large number of lectures on science, literature and art.