Alabama Authors

Category: All

  • BOSWELL, CHARLES A., 1916-1995

    Biography: Insurance agent; public official; golfer and advocate for opening the game to blind golfers.. Born– December 22, 1916, Birmingham. Parents– Roscoe Albert and Ethel Toler Boswell. Married–Kathryn Lacey, 1942.  Children–three. Education:  University of Alabama, 1940. Played football for the University of Alabama for three years before he joined the Army in 1942. Wounded in…

  • STEVENSON, BRYAN A., 1959-

    Biography; Attorney;  advocate for individuals in the justice system. Born November 14, 1959, Milton, Delaware. Parents: Howard Carlton and Alice Gertrude Golden Stevenson. Education: Eastern University, 1981; Harvard Law School (J.D.), 1985; John F. Kennedy School of Government, Harvard, M.P.P., 1985.  Professor of law at New York University; executive director, Equal Justice Initiative, Montgomery. Awarded…

  • KELLEY, WELBOURN, 1909-1991

    Biography; Writer.  Born— August 13, 1909, Dothan.  Parents–George Waverly and Nora R. Kelley.  Married–Sara Wright.  Children–one. U.S.Navy, WWII. Worked as a journalist in Atlanta; moved to New York and wrote radio plays and documentaries as well as novels.  Died October 19, 1991. Publications; Alabama Empire.  Rinehart, 1957. Inchin’ Along.  New York:  William Morrow, 1932. So Fair a…

  • REYNOLDS, BERNARD ADAMS, 1811-1878

    Attorney; journalist.  Born 1911, South Carolina.  Never married.  Education–graduated from Captain Alden Patridge’s Military School in New England; from Yale or Trinity College; read law and was admitted to the bar in South Carolina.  Moved to Mobile as a young man; wrote for the Mobile Tribune, including a regular column, “Mobile in Slices,” and his…

  • HAMILTON, PETER JOSEPH, 1859-1927

    Biography: Attorney, judge, historian. Born– March 19, 1859, Mobile. Parents– Peter and Anna Martha Hamilton. Married– Rachel Wheeler. Children– Three. Education– Princeton University, A.B., 1879, A.M., 1882,; University of Alabama, LL.B., 1910; further study at the University of Leipzig and at Spring Hill College. Admitted to the bar in 1882; Practiced law in Mobile, serving…

  • CANNON, RACHEL-DUKE HAMILTON, 1900-1987

    Biography: Bookstore proprietor. Born– March 12, 1900,  Mobile. Parents– Peter Joseph and Rachel (Burgett) Hamilton. Operated Colonial Mobile Book Shop.  President of the Mobile Branch of the National League of American Pen Women. Died December 11, 1987. Source: Files at the Alabama Public Library Service and Mobile Public Library. Publication(s): Book Shop Odograph. Mobile, Ala.;…

  • CARMICHAEL, PEYTON HAMILTON, 1940-

    Biography: Artist, writer. Born– February 1, 1940, Greenville. Parents– Stirling and Edwina (Whiddon) Hamilton. Married– Andy Strickland, February 13, 1960. Children– Two. Married– Glenn Carmichael, May 3, 1975. Education– Graduated from high school in Staunton, Virginia; University of Alabama, B.A., 1963; graduate work at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Self-employed writer, painter and publisher.…

  • CARMICHAEL, OMER, 1893-1960

    Biography: Teacher, school administrator. Born– March 7, 1893, Hollins. Parents– William and Lucy (Wilson) Carmichael. Married– Elnora Reed Blanchard, October 9, 1926. Children– Three. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1914; Columbia University, A.M., 1924, Harvard University, A.M., 1957; Yale University, A.M., 1957.  Teacher in Tallapoosa County, 1911-14; in Selma, 1914-1926; Superintendent of Schools in Tampa,…

  • CARMICHAEL, OLIVER CROMWELL, 1891-1966

    Biography: University and foundation administrator. Born– October 3, 1891, Goodwater. Parents– Daniel and Amanda Delight (Lessley) Carmichael. Married– Ruth Mae Crabtree, July 13, 1918. Children– Two. Education–Alabama Presbyterian College, Anniston, for two years; University of Alabama, B.A., 1911, M.A., 1914; Rhodes Scholar at  Oxford University, B.S., 1917.  Served in the U.S. Army, WWI; a volunteer in Herbert…

  • DOSTER, JAMES FLETCHER, 1912-2016

    Biography: Historian; University professor. Born– December 8, 1912, Tuscaloosa. Parents– James Jarvis and Mabel (Cowart) Doster. Married– Nina Hall, December 22, 1936. Children– Two. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1932; University of Chicago, M.A., 1936; Ph.D., 1948. Taught history at the University of Alabama, 1936-1983. Howard College, 1944-1945; worked for Danforth Foundation Association, 1950-1953; Consultant…

  • FARNELL, VIRGINIA FERGUSON, 1920-2008

    Attorney. Born– March 18, 1920, Jones County, Miss. Married– Ramon L. Farnell, 1950. Children–three.  Education– Jones County Junior College; University of Alabama, 1942; Jackson Law School. Licensed to practice law in Mississippi, 1948. Worked in her husband’s law practice until 1952. Later worked for a law firm in Montgomery.  Member of the Alabama State Poetry Society;…

  • EVERETT, DONALD EDWARD, 1920-2004

    Historian; University professor. Born– December 10, 1920, Auburn. Parents– Edward and Mary Rebecca (Hopkins) Everett. Married– Mary Lou Malancon, September 4, 1949, Children– Two. Education– University of Florida, B.A., 1941; Tulane University, M.A., 1950; Ph.D., 1952. Served in U.S. Army Air Force, 1942-1945. Taught at Tulane University, 1952-1953; editorial assistant Mississippi Valley Historical Review; faculty…

  • DUNAGAN, TED, 1943-

    Biography; Writer; journalist; businessman.  Born December 17, 1943, Coffeeville.  Education: Georgia State University.  Served in the U.S.Army, Vietnam.  Worked in sales and marketing for Chanel, Inc., for 26 years; retired 2003.  Full-time writer after 2003.  Writes features and a column for the Monticello (Georgia) News.  Selected the Georgia Author of the Year in Young Adult…

  • LANCASTER, MARY HOLLAND, 1921-1994

    Biography: Genealogist; editor. Born– Mar. 14, 1921, Murray, Ky. Parents– Robert Prentiss and Amanda (Wilson) Holland. Married– Dallas M. Lancaster, Dec. 4, 1942. Children–two.  Died October 12, 1994. Source: Mary H. Lancaster, Florence, Ala.. Compiler: Gathering Up Our Sheaves With Joy; a History of Trinity Episcopal Church, 1824-1976, Florence, Alabama. Nashville; Williams Pub. Co., 1985.…

  • LANCASTER, DALLAS MURLE, 1918-1995

    Biography: Born– Jan. 11, 1918, Dexter, Ky. Parents– William Clint and Totsie Mae (Barnhart) Lancaster. Married– Mary Holland, Dec. 4, 1942. Children– Two. Education– Murray State College, B.S., 1938; George Peabody College, M.A., 1944. Worked for the University of Alabama from 1946 to 1983. Died November 30, 1995. Source: Dallas M. Lancaster, Florence, Ala. Joint_Compiler:…

  • NORRIS, HELEN, 1916-2013

    Biography; Writer; professor of English. Born June 22, 1916, Miami; moved to Montgomery at an early age. Parents– Elmer and Louise Brown Norris. Children–one. Education;  University of Alabama, B.A., 1938; M.A., 1940; additional graduate work at Duke University and the University of Alabama, where she was a student of Hudson Strode.  Assistant Professor of English…

  • MOORE, WILLIAM GLENN, 1925-1977

    Biography: University professor of economics. Born– Luverne, Ala., December 31, 1925. Parents– William Manning and Georgia (Morgan) Moore. Married– Hazel Sanders, March 18, 1949. Children– Three. Education– A.B., 1950; M.A., 1951; Ph.D., University of Alabama, 1960. Served in the U.S. Navy, WWII; in Naval Reserve after 1954.  Employed as a professor, West Georgia College, 1958-77; department…

  • WEBER, BERNERD CLARKE, 1910-1996

    Biography: Historian; professor of history. Born– May 9, 1910, in Ashland, Or. Parents– Augustus and Nellie Weber.  Married– Alma B. Weber. Education– San Jose State College, A.B., 1931; University of California, A.M., 1932, Ph.D., 1936.  Air Force Military Intelligence, WWII. Taught history  at University of Alabama, 1941-1980.  Senior Fulbright Scholar, Royal University of Malta, 1956-1957. Wrote…

  • THOMASON, JAMES ARTHUR, 1878-1952

    Biography; Methodist clergyman; farmer; newspaper correspondent. Born– May 22, 1878, Greenville, S.C. Parents– James Monroe and Emma Anna Pinson Thomason. Moved to Marshall County, Alabama, in 1888. Married– Ella Sherrod Smith, 1907. Children–three. Education– attended local schools in Arab and Brashier’s Chapel area.  Wrote “South Fry,” a column of local news of the Fry Community,…

  • THOMASON, MICHAEL VINCENT R., 1942-

    Biography: Historian; professor of history; photography archives curator. Born– June 20, 1942, in W. Palm Beach, Fla. Education– University of the South, B.A., M.A.; Duke University, Ph.D. After 1978 taught at University of South Alabama and was director of its photographic archives. Had photographic exhibits in Mobile, 1977 and 1980; Birmingham, 1981. Source: Who’s Who…

  • STRAYHORN, ZORA SHAY, 1909-1998

    Biography: Variously employed. Born–November 8, 1909, in Ontario, Calif.; original name “Frances Imogene Shay.” Parents– Henry J. and Louise Meyer Shay.  Married– Dixie Craig Strayhorn, 1948. Children– Adopted one child. Education– Associate degree in Science,  Northeast Alabama Junior College, 1978.  Held many different jobs in such places as Hawaii, Wyoming, California, and Alabama; moved to Mentone, Ala.,…

  • DANIEL, THOMAS WALTER, JR., 1922-2014

    Biography: Geologist. Born– January 24, 1922, Wetumpka. Parents– T.W. and Anne M. (Thomas) Daniel. Married– Madge Downing Cyr, June 15, 1948. Children– Three. Education– attended Port Arthur College, Tex., 1946-1947; University of Florida, B.S., 1952.  Served in U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII. Worked for Century Geophysics Corporation in Tulsa, 1952-1954.; radioactivity logging operator for Welex…

  • COCKE, SARAH COBB JOHNSON, 1865-1944

    Biography: Writer. Born– February 7, 1865, Selma. Parents– John M. and Mary Willis (Cobb) Johnson. Married– Hugh Hagan, October 26, 1887 (d. 1898). Children– Two. Married– Lucian H. Cocke, 1903. Education– Lucy Cobb Institute, a girls’ preparatory school in Athens, Georgia.  Wrote sketches and articles for magazines and newspapers, often under the name of “Mammy…

  • GRIFFIN, MARY CLAIRE, 1924-2008

    Biography: College Professor of business. Born– April 22, 1924, in Lynchburg, S.C. Parents– Simon and Mary Sue (Kirby) Griffin. Education– Winthrop College, B.S., 1945; University of Tennessee, M.S., 1948; Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1961. Taught at Brevard College, 1945-1947; Georgia State University, 1947-1948; University of Alabama, 1949-1959, 1961-1962; University of Illinois, 1962-1963; Clemson University, 1963-1964;…

  • GRIFFIN, W. E. B.

    See Butterworth, William Edmund, III

  • McMANUS, JOSEPH FORDE ANTHONY, 1911-1980

    Biography: Pathologist; physician; professor of medicine. Born– July 13, 1911, in Blackville, New Brunswick, Canada. Parents– John Patrick Cantwell and Mary Clare Rose (Forde) McManus. Moved to United States, 1938; naturalized, 1947. Education– Fordham University, B.S., 1933; Queen’s University, Kingston, Canada, M.D., 1938. Married– Norma Rose Shumway, January 3, 1941. Children– Two. Served as assistant…

  • YANCEY, PATRICK HENRY, 1896-1969

    Biography: Priest; college professor. Born– October 20, 1896, Tampa, Fla. Parents– William and Philomena (Oakes) Yancey. Entered the novitiate in the Jesuits’ New Orleans Province, 1912. Education– Spring Hill College;  St. Stanislaus College, Macon, Ga.; Gonzaga, B.A., 1919; studies in Spain, 1923-1925; Woodstock College, M.D., 1925-1927; St. Stanislaus Noviate, Cleveland, Ohio.; St. Louis University, Ph.D.,…

  • SANDERS, JENNINGS BRYAN, 1901-1990

    Biography: Historian, college professor, administrator.  Born– March 18, 1901, in Martin Co., Ind. Parents– Jefferson D. and Emma (Horsey) Sanders. Married– Mary Purviance, June 6, 1923. Education– Franklin College of Indiana, A.B. 1923; University of Chicago, A.M., 1925, Ph.D. , 1928. Taught at Denison University, 1926-27; University of Chicago, 1928-30; University of Alabama, 1930-35; University of…

  • WILLBERN, YORK YOUNG, 1915-2007

    Biography: Political scientist, university professor. Born– December 29, 1915, in Runge, Tex. Parents– David York and Berta (Young) Willbern. Education– Southwestern Texas State College, A.B., 1934; University of Texas, A.M., 1938; Ph.D., 1943. Married– Johnne Bryant, December 25, 1937. Children– Two.  Military service:  Army Air Force, World War II.  Taught high school in Texas, 1939-1942;…

  • WOOD, CLEMENT RICHARDSON, 1888-1950

    Biography: Lawyer; writer. Born– September 1, 1888, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Married– Mildred Mary Cummer in 1914. Children– Two. Married– Gloria Goddard in 1936. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1909; Yale, LL.B., 1911. Practiced law in Birmingham, 1911-12; city attorney, 1912; chief magistrate, Central Recorders Court, 1913 (succeeding Hugo Black); removed for “lack of judicial temperament”…

  • KOHN, JOHN PETER, JR., 1902-1993

    Biography: Attorney. Born– Dec. 27, 1902, Montgomery, Ala. Parents– John P. and Clementina R. (Cram) Kohn. Married– Margaret Thorington, Mar. 6, 1937. Children– One. Education– Starkes University School, Montgomery; St. Louis University; Spring Hill College; University of Alabama, LL.B., 1925. Admitted to the bar, 1925; practiced law, Montgomery, 1925-; Captain, Alabama National Guard, 1936; U.S.…

  • JONES, MARGARET JEAN, 1936-2009

    Biography: Freelance journalist; advocate for the handicapped. Born– March 27, 1936, Baileytown, Cullman County. Parents– Selmer B. and Alma Ruth (Ford) Jones. Education– Fairview High School; correspondence courses in journalism. Stricken at age seven with myosistis ossificans progressiva, which left her completely paralyzed by the age of eighteen. Published many articles in journals; wrote a newspaper…

  • McMORRIES, EDWARD YOUNG. 1844-1906

    Biography: Teacher. Born– March 4, 1844, Pike (now Bullock) County, Ala. Married– Sarah (Sallie) Warner.  Education– Perote Institute, Pike County. Joined the “Perote Guards,” made up of students from Perote Institute and young men from the surrounding area, in 1859; the Perote company was mustered into the service of Alabama in February 1861 and into…

  • PATTY, JAMES SINGLETON, 1925-2012

    Biography: Literary scholar; University professor. Born– July 17, 1925, Florence, Ala. Parents– Isham Harrison and Clara (Singleton) Patty. Education– University of North Carolina, A.B., 1945; M.A., 1947; Ph.D. Taught at the University of Colorado, 1953-1954; University of Tennessee, 1954-1960; Washington and Lee University, 1960-1964; Vanderbilt University, 1964-1988. Fulbright Scholarship to the University of Toulouse, 1951-1952.…

  • PITTMAN, JAMES A., JR., 1927-2014

    Biography; Physician; professor of medicine.  Born April 12, 1927, Orlando, Florida.  Married–Constance Ming-Chung Shen.  Children–two. Education–B.S., Davidson College; M.D., Harvard Medical School, 1952. Came to UAB as  resident in 1956;  Chief Resident, 1957-58; joined the UAB faculty in 1959; Dean of the School of Medicine, UAB, 1973-1992.  Member of many professional organizations and boards.  Published articles…

  • HUBBARD, MIKE, 1962-

    Biography: Media executive; political party leader; state legislator.  Born– February 11, 1962, Hartwell, Ga.  Married–Susan Sorrells.  Children–two. Education– University of Georgia, B.A. in journalism, 1983.  Assistant Sports Information Director, Auburn University, 1983-1990;  head of Auburn’s radio and television sports network, 1990-94; formed Auburn Network, Inc., media and marketing company, 1994.  Elected to Alabama House of Representatives from…

  • WILLIAMS, BESSIE LEE BRADFORD, 1887-1966

    Biography: Journalist. Born– March 19, 1887 in Huntingdon, Tenn. Married– Edd O. Bradford,  March 27, 1907. Children– One. Education– in East Tennessee. Wrote column “Coffee Break” for Albertville Herald and Sand Mountain Reporter. Died July 5, 1966. Source: Mrs. Spurgeon Fricks, Albertville Public Library. Publication(s): Coffee Break. S.l.; s.n., s.d.

  • WILLIAMS, HERBERT LEE, 1918-2004

    Biography: Professor of journalism. Born June 1, 1918, in Birmingham, Ala. Parents– William Percy and Lucy (Cowan) Williams. Married– Mary Elizabeth Roberts, 1948. Children– Three. Education– Murray State College, B.A., 1940; University of Mississippi, M.A., 1941, Ph.D., 1955. Taught at Boston University, 1949-1951; University of Mississippi, 1951-1954; Michigan State University, 1954-1956; Memphis State University, 1956-.…

  • WILLIAMS, IRENE, 1901-

    Biography: High school teacher. Born– 1901 in Gadsden, Ala. Parents– Joseph Eugene and Minne Stella (Moore) Williams. Education– Alabama College, A.B.; Peabody College, M.A.; attended Columbia, Duke, Harvard, George Washington Universities. Source: Alabama Department of Archives & History. Publication(s): These Are Mine; One Williams Family Lineage. Washington, D.C., 1964.

  • WILLIAMS, JULIE HEDGEPETH,

    University professor of journalism; writer.  Education:  Principia College (Elsah, Ill.), B.A.; Ph. D., University of Alabama.  Professor of journalism, Samford University. Publications; Wings of Opportunity:  The Wright Brothers in Montgomery, Alabama, 1910.  NewSouth Books, 2010. A Rare Titanic Family:  The Caldwells’ Story of Survival. The Significance of the Printed Word in Early America:  Colonists’ Thoughts…

  • SAVELLE, MAXWELL, 1896-1979

    Biography: Historian, university professor.  Born– Jan. 8, 1896, in Mobile. Parents– Myles Hicks and Rosabel (Pooley) Savelle.   Married– Jean Reeda Happ on Mar. 18, 1950. Children– Three. Education– Columbia University, A.B. (1924),  M.A. (1926), and Ph.D. (1932). Taught at Columbia University 1926-1932; at Stanford University, 1932-1947; and at University of Washington 1947-1967; visiting professor and…

  • CRANE, WALTER RICHARD, 1870-1947

    Biography: Mining engineer. Born– February 5, 1870, Grafton, Mass. Parents– Richard Reed and Arethusa Thorndyke (Barret) Crane. Married– Margaret M. Gray, December 28, 1898. Children– Three. Education– University of Kansas, A.B., 1895; A.M., 1896; Columbia University, Ph.D. 1901. Engineer and professor with the University of Kansas. 1893-1905; at the School of Mines, Columbia Univ., 1905-08; Dean of…

  • COLLINS, HENRY BASCOM, 1899-1987

    Biography: Anthropologist specializing in Eskimo prehistory. Born– April 9, 1899, Geneva. Parents– Henry Bascom and Anna Sophie (Neville) Collins. Married– Carolyn Walker, November 26, 1931. Children– One. Education– Millsaps College, A.B., 1922; George Washington University, A.M., 1925. Worked with National Geographic Society,1922; and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, 1923-24; worked at the Smithsonian…

  • GRAF, DOT (DOROTHY JANE) PADGETT, 1930-1985

    Biography: Artist. Born– August 2, 1930, in Oklahoma City, Okla. Parents– Vernon H. and Louise (Harris) Padgett. Education– Mary Washington College; Ringling Art School; graduated from Art Instruction, Inc., correspondence school. Married– Louis Graf. Children– Three. Named Outstanding Young Woman, 1965. Died January 1, 1985. Source: Dot Graf, Cullman, Ala. Publication(s): Color Cullman County. S.l.;…

  • JOHNSON, SAMUEL LAWRENCE, 1907-1978

    Biography: Clergyman. Born– August 16, 1909, Tyne Dock, Durham, England. Parents– Samuel and Florence Ann (Woody) Johnson. Emigrated to the United States, 1912; naturalized, 1930. Married– Alice Martha Dunan, November 11, 1935. Children– Three. Education– Carleton University, B.A., 1930; Andover Newton Theological School, B.D., 1933; ordained, Congregational Church, 1933. Minister, Salem, Mass., 1933-1941; Chicago, Ill.,…

  • JEANE, D. GREGORY, 1945-

    Biography: Geographer; University professor of geography. Born– June 12, 1945, DeRidder, La. Parents– Gilmer B. and Lillian Marie Jeane. Married– Karen Lee, November 27, 1971. Children– Two. Education– Louisiana State University, B.A., 1968, Ph.D., 1974; graduate study, University of Georgia. Taught, Auburn University Geography Department, 1974-1989;  Samford University, 1989-2007.  Built the geography program into a…

  • HASFORD, GUSTAV (JERRY), 1947-1993

    Writer. Born November 28, 1947, Haleyville.  Parents–Hassell Gustave and Hazel Noblett Hasford.  Married–Charlene Broock, September 1, 1978.  Education:  Attended Lower Columbia Community College (Washington state) and Santa Monica City College.  Military service:  U. S. Marine Corps combat correspondent, Vietnam, 1966-68.  Awarded the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal with Valor Device. Member Vietnam Veterans against the…

  • HASSELL, HARRIET, 1911-1970

    Writer.  Born–Northport, September 27, 1911.  Parents–John D. and Mabel C. (Stewart) Hassell.  Married–Adam Grossman. Education–attended the University of Alabama.  Student of Hudson Strode.  First short story published 1937; won first place in Story magazine’s National College Writing Contest.  Novel Rachel’s Children was immensely successful. Moved to Port Washington, New York, after her marriage.  Died October…

  • SUMRALL, RAYMOND OLAND, 1934-

    Biography: Educator. Born September 15, 1934. Married– Betty Plott. Children– Two. Married–Malenna Ashenfelter. Education– Louisiana College, B.A.; Southwestern Seminary, B.D.; Ohio State University, M.S.W.; University of Alabama, Ph.D. Taught social work in California, Florida, and Texas; faculty  University of Alabama 1973-2010; taught at Jefferson State Jr. College; directed Birmingham Concentrated Employment Program. Known for his…

  • BEIDLER, PHILIP

    Biography; Literary scholar and editor: university professor.  Born– Pennsylvania.  Education:  Davidson College, A.B., 1966; University of Virginia:  M.A., 1967; Ph.D., 1974.  Professor of English, University of Alabama, 1974-  . Military service:  U.S. Army, Vietnam.   Author of many articles in professional journals and anthologies as well as books;  leading voice in scholarship of the literature of …