Alabama Authors

Category: All

  • YOUNG, MARTHA STRUDWICK, 1862-1941

    Biography: Author; folklorist; lecturer. Born– January 11,  1862 in Newbern, Greene County, Ala. Parents– Elisha and Anne Elizabeth Ashe (Tutwiler) Young. Education– Female Academy, Greensboro; Tutwiler’s Green Springs School, Havana; Tuscaloosa Female Academy; Livingston Female Academy, 1880. After the War, the family moved to Greensboro and she returned there after graduation. Published stories and poems…

  • WILDMAN, JOHN HAZARD, 1911-1982

    Biography: Literary scholar; university professor; novelist;poet.  Born– January 22, 1911, in Mobile, Ala. Parents– Alexander James and Rachel Greene (Whitaker) Wildman. Education– Brown University, B. Ph., 1933, M.A., 1934, Ph.D., 1937. Taught at Brown University, 1937-1940; Louisiana State University, 1940-1942, 1945-1980. U.S. Army Air Force, 1942-1945. Member– Phi Beta Kappa, American Association of University Professors,…

  • SMITH, FRANCES SCOTT FITZGERALD, 1921-1986

    Biography: Journalist, political activist. Born– Oct. 26, 1921, in St. Paul, Minn. Parents– Francis Scott Key and Zelda (Sayre) Fitzgerald. Married– Samuel Jackson Lanahan. Children– Three. Married– Grove Smith. Education– Vassar College, B.A., 1942. . Wrote for Washington Post and New York Times; contributed to several periodicals; with her first husband, popular hosts in Washington…

  • HOBSON, RICHMOND PEARSON, JR., 1907-1966

    Biography: Realtor, cattleman, author. Born– November 27, 1907,  Washington, D.C. Parents– Richmond Pearson and Grizelda Houston (Hull) Hobson. Married– Gloria McIntosh of Vancouver, British Columbia. Children– One. Attended Stanford University.  Employed as a realtor in New York; ranch hand in Wyoming; owner with partner Pan Phillips of Frontier Cattle Company, 1936.  Settled in the Vanderhoof, British…

  • HOBSON, RICHMOND PEARSON, 1870-1937

    Biography: Naval officer, congressman. Born– August 17, 1870, Greensboro. Parents– James Marcellus and Sarah Croom (Pearson) Hobson. Married– Grizelda Houston Hull, May 25, 1905. Children– Three. Education– Southern University, 1881-1885;  U.S. Naval Academy, graduated 1889; Washington and Jefferson College, M.S., 1889; further study at Ecole National Superieur des Mines; graduate of Ecole d’Application du Genie…

  • FITZGERALD, ZELDA SAYRE, 1900-1948

    Socialite; writer, artist. Born– July 24, 1900, Montgomery. Parents– Anthony and Minnie (Machen) Sayre. Married– F. Scott Fitzgerald, April 3, 1920. Children– One. Studied ballet and wrote poems and stories.  During the 1020’s lived  a glamorous, extravagant lifestyle in New York City and Paris, as part of an international society of artists, writers, celebrities, and people…

  • McFARLAND, THOMAS ALFRED, JR., 1926-2011

    Biography: Literary scholar; University professor. Born– September 13, 1926, Birmingham, Ala. Parents– Thomas Alfred and Lucille (Sylvester) McFarland. Education– A.B., Harvard University, 1949;  Yale, M.A., 1951; Ph.D.,  1953; Fulbright scholar, University of Tubingen, 1953-1954. Taught at Oberlin College, 1954-1956, University of Virginia, 1956-1958, Western Reserve University, 1958-1967; Graduate Center, City University of New York, 1967-1978; Princeton, 1978–89;…

  • McFARLAND, PHILIP JAMES, 1930-

    Biography: Teacher; writer. Born– June 20, 1930, Birmingham, Ala. Parents– Thomas Alfred and Lucile (Sylvester) McFarland. Married– Patricia Connors, July 23, 1960. Children– Two. Education– B.A., 1951, Oberlin College; St. Catherine’s College, Cambridge University, M.A., 1957.  Served in U.S. Navy, 1951-1954. Textbook editor, Houghton Mifflin, 1958-1964; lived in Europe, 1964-1966; taught English, Concord Academy, Concord, Mass., 1966-1995.…

  • WIGGINS, SARAH VAN VOORHIS WOOLFOLK, 1934-

    Biography: Historian; professor of history.  Born– Montgomery, Ala., 1934.  Parents–Robert N. and Dixie G. Woolfolk.  Married– Peyton N. Wiggins, November 25, 1967  (died 1974). Children– One. Education– Huntingdon College, B.A., 1956; Louisiana State University, M.A., 1958, Ph.D., 1965. Taught at South Seminary Junior College 1959-1961; University of Alabama, 1961-. Editor Alabama Review, 1976-. Member– Alabama…

  • PICKENS, WILLIAM “CHAMP”, 1876-1963

    Biography: Sports publicist and promoter; legendary Alabama football fan. Born– Sumter County, 1876. Education– University of Alabama. Christened the University’s band, “The Million Dollar Band”. Founded the Blue-Gray Game held annually in Montgomery; donated and named the Pickens Trophy awarded to SEC football champions. Source: Alabama Public Library Service files, Publication(s): A Rebel in Sports.…

  • PICKENS, ROY, 1939-

    Biography: University professor. Born– August 17, 1939, Greenville. Parents– Ealon Roy and Wynette (Wilson) Pickens. Married– Patricia Henderson, August 20, 1957.  Children–two.  Education– Troy State University, 1957-1959; Auburn University, B.A., 1961; M.S., 1962; University of Mississippi, Ph.D., 1965; U.S. Public Health Service postgraduate fellowship, University of Minnesota, 1965-1966. Taught at the University of Minnesota, 1973-1985; National…

  • STONE, ELNA WORRELL, 1924-2001

    Biography: Educator, employment counselor, writer. Born– May 29, 1924,  Gattman, Miss. Parents– Walter L. and Verna (Worrell) Burchfield. Married– Joseph E. Daniel. Children– Two. Married– Donald S. Stone, September 28, 1962. Children– Two. Education– University of Alabama, B.S.; graduate work at Florida State University and University of West Florida. Lived variously in Pickens Co., Ala.,…

  • KNOX, ROSA BELLE, 1879-1974

    Biography: College instructor, children’s writer. Born– Dec. 16, 1879, Talladega, Ala. Parents– W.A. and Mary Belle (Wadsworth) Knox. Education– Agnes Scott College; Columbia University. Childhood was spent largely on the estate of relatives in Sumter County, Ala. and in New York City. Taught 7 years at Mississippi State College. Her first book was on school activities,…

  • CHRISTOPHER, THOMAS WELDON, 1917-2002

    Biography: Attorney, professor of law; university administrator. Born– October 8, 1917, Duncan, S.C. Parents– William Arthur and Ruby (Thomas) Christopher. Married– Evelyn Montez Hawkins, October 25, 1950. Children–one. Married– Goldie Wood Gambrell, 1985,  Education– Washington and Lee University, A.B., 1939; University of Alabama, LL.B., 1948; New York University, LL.M., 1950; University of Alabama, J.S.D., 1957.…

  • DUNCAN, JULIA COLEY, 1916-2000

    Biography: School psychologist; advertising executive, writer. Born September 13, 1916, Alexander City.  Parents– Lemuel Belah Coley and Julia Smartt Coley.  Married– Thomas Edward Duncan. Children– Two. Education– Agnes Scott College; University of Minnesota, M.A., and Ed.S.; Coursework at University of Oklahoma and Central Oklahoma State University. Worked as a school psychologist for several years.  President…

  • ROWLEY, DAISY WOODRUFF , 1873-1938

    Biography: Musician, teacher, composer. Born– 1873, Montevallo. Parents– Charles Sylvester and Caroline (Bailey) Rowley. Education– private schools; graduate of Tuscaloosa Female College, 1899; Royal Conservatory of Music in Dresden, Germany, for two years. Director and proprietor of an Academy of music in Birmingham, 1900-. Died April 2, 1938. Publication(s): Graded Piano Course for Teachers. Montgomery, Ala.;…

  • PRICE, RALPH (“SHORTY”), 1921-1980

    Biography: Insurance representative; political candidate.  Born– October 3, 1921, Louisville. Parents– John Patterson and Rosa (Pickett) Price. Married– Delores Bigham, June 3, 1960. Children– Three. Education– University of Alabama School of Law. Employed as representative for United American Insurance Company. Served in the U.S. Army, 1942-1946, receiving the Purple Heart, four campaign stars and presidential…

  • FRYE, RICHARD NELSON, 1920-2014

    Scholar and advocate of Persian and other Middle Eastern cultures and languages; Linguist; University professor. Born– January 10, 1920, Birmingham. Parents– Nels and Lillie (Hagman) Frye. Married– Barbara York, May 29, 1948. Children– Three. Married–Eden Naby.  Children–two.  Education– University of Illinois, A.B., 1939; Harvard University, M.A., 1940; Ph.D., 1946; post-doctoral study at the University of London,…

  • ROBERTS, JOSEPH BOXLEY, JR., 1918-

    Biography: Air force officer, university professor, dean. Born– February 13, 1918, Yazoo City, Miss. Parents– Joseph Boxley and Sheila (Hill) Roberts. Married– Rose Nell Dixon, 1939 (divorced, 1944). Children–one. Married–Enyd Turner, November 19, 1945. Children– one. Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1950; University of North Carolina, M.A., 1954; University of Denver, Ph.D., 1959. Served as…

  • JONES, ALLEN WOODROW, 1930-

    Biography: Historian, university professor. Born– August 14, 1930, Andalusia. Parents–Arthur Green and Pearl Fryar Jones. Married– 1953. Children– Three. Education– Auburn University, B.S., 1951, M.A., 1953; University of Alabama, Ph.D., 1964. Taught for the overseas branch of the University of Maryland, 1955-1956; Montgomery Center, University of Alabama, 1959-1960; Furman University, 1960-1966; Auburn University, 1966-1991; Archivist,…

  • HOWARD, MILO BARRETT, JR., 1933-1981

    Biography: Historian, archivist, teacher. Born– October 21, 1933, Montgomery. Parents– Milo Barrett and Mary Josepha (Key) Howard. Education– Auburn University, A.B., 1955, M.A. 1960. Served in the U.S. Army 1955-1957; employed by the Alabama State Department of Archives and History 1958-81, director, 1967-81; taught at the University of Alabama, 1964-1968 and at Auburn University, 1968. Published…

  • HONOUR, FRANCES MARCHMAN, 1911-1997

    Biography: Librarian. Born– October 9, 1911, in The Rock, Upson, Ga. Parents–Cornelius S. and Rosa Ogletree Marchman. Married– Wilfred Main Honour.  Children– one. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute, 1951-1954; Tennessee Polytechnic Institute, B.A., 1955; University of Southern California, M.S.L.S., 1959; Auburn University, M.A., 1962. Reference, gifts and exchange librarian, Auburn University, 1955-. Received an award for excellence in…

  • HIGGINS, ADDIE LEE, 1899-1995

    Biography: Teacher. Born– March 14, 1899, Stroud, Chambers Co. Parents– J.T. and Sarah F. (Danielly) Lee. Married– Britt Higgins, June 3, 1936. Children– One. Education– George Peabody College, B.S.; Columbia University, M.A. Teacher for six years, Western Kentucky Teachers College training school; six years, George Peabody College Demonstration School; afterward, teacher at LaFayette, Ala., until…

  • ALEXANDER, MARY JO, 1924-

    Biography: Chamber of Commerce employee, accountant. Born– October 31, 1924, Fort Payne. Parents– James Lester and Janie (Ashley) Tumlin. Married– John Alexander, March 2, 1941. Children– Four. Education– Fyffe High School, 1941; Snead State Junior College, 1966. Worked for the Chamber of Commerce in Boaz, Ala., as secretary, 1965-1967, and director, 1967-1971; in 1971 she…

  • HOWARD, GENE L., 1940-

    Biography: Businessman. Born– September 29, 1940, Rome, Ga. Parents– Gilbert and Mable (Burkhalter) Howard. Married– Sue Crow, October 1961. Children– Two. Education– University of Alabama, B.S., 1977; graduate school of the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Worked for Goodyear Tire and Rubber Company, 1965-92. Source: Gene L. Howard, Wellington, Ala. Publication(s): Death at Cross Plains.…

  • HITCHCOCK, BERT (WILLIAM BERTRAM), 1941-

    Biography: Literary scholar; university professor. Born– 1941, Demopolis. Parents– Walter B. and Mary (Combs) Hitchcock. Married–Mary Carol Canon, August 6, 1966.  Children–two.  Education– Auburn University, B.A., 1963; University of Oregon, M.A., 1966; Duke University, Ph.D. 1971.  Rotary Foundation fellow, University of Melbourne, Australia.  Assistant director of admissions, Auburn University, 1966-68. Taught English at Auburn, 1971-2008;…

  • HOLLEY, HOWARD LAMAR, 1914-1988

    Biography: Physician; Professor of medicine. Born– July 14, 1914, Marion. Parents– Warren Alton and Lula (Fretwell) Holley. Married– Martha Holcomb, 1946. Children– Five. Education– University of South Carolina, B.S., 1935; Medical College of South Carolina, M.D., 1941. Medical intern, U.S. Marine Hospital, Norfolk, Va., 1941-1942; with U.S. Public Health Service, 1942-1945; resident, University Hospital, Birmingham,…

  • HOFF, TIMOTHY, 1941-

    Biography: Attorney; professor of law; Episcopal priest. Born– February 27, 1941, Freeport, Ill. Parents– Howard Vincent and Zillah Morgan Hoff. Married– Virginia Nevill.  Children– two. Education– Tulane University, A.B., 1963; J.D., 1966; Harvard University, LL.M.  Attorney in private practice, Sarasota, Florida, 1966-1969. Taught at University of Alabama Law School, 1970-2002.  Consultant, Alabama Law Institute. Member;…

  • HENDERSON, JOHN STEELE, 1919-2007

    Biography: Economist; university professor. Born– March 3, 1919, Chapel Hill, N.C. Parents– Archibald and Barbara Minna (Bynum) Henderson. Married–Anne Miller, August 24, 1946.  Children–four.  Education– University of North Carolina, A.B., 1929; M.A., 1943; Louisiana State University, Ph.D., 1945.  Taught at Carnegie Tech, University of Florida, University of Alabama (1957-64), and Georgia State University (1964-88). Member of the American Association…

  • HAYES, JOSEPH CLAUDE, 1904-1982

    Biography: Linguist; University professor. Born– June 15, 1904, Ozark. Parents– Henry Joseph and Martha Emma (Dean) Hayes. Married– Claudia Jordan, January 3, 1933. Children– One. Education– University of Alabama, B.S., 1928; New York University, A.M., 1931, Ph.D., 1938,; study at University of Heidelberg, 1938-1939. Taught at New York University, 1933-1936; University of Alabama, 1928-1936; 1936-1971.…

  • HARRINGTON, BOB, 1927-2017

    Biography: Evangelist; motivational speaker. Born– September 2, 1927, Sweetwater. Parents– Robert and Louise (Shoultz) Harrington. Married– Joyce Compton. Children– Two. Married–Zonnya. Married Rebecca Harris Birdwell, December 5, 1990. Education– Marion Military Institute; Auburn University; graduate of University of Alabama; study at New Orleans Baptist Seminary, 1961. Played football at both Auburn and Alabama. Served in U.S.…

  • BROWN, ANNIE FINLEY GREENE, 1855-1923

    Biography: Teacher, writer. Born– July 24, 1855, Tuscaloosa. Parents– Thomas Finley and Virginia (Owen) Greene. Sister of Frances Nimmo Greene. Married– Eugene Levert Brown, July 10, 1883.  Children– two. Education– At home by her mother; Tuscaloosa Female Academy, earning the M.A. degree. Taught in the public schools for some time and at a college for…

  • CARTER, JOHN THOMAS, 1921-

    Biography: University professor. Born– December 16, 1921, Mantee, Miss. Parents– John and Mattie (George) Carter. Married– Frances Larraine Tunnell, March 16, 1946. Children– Two. Education– Mississippi State University, B.S.; University of Tennessee, M.S, 1948; University of Illinois, Ed.D., 1954 Served in the U.S. Army, 1943-1945; decorated with the Bronze Arrowhead. Principal in Maben, Miss.; taught at…

  • KING, CORETTA SCOTT, 1927- 2006

    Biography: Musician, civil rights leader. Born– Apr. 27, 1927, Heiberger, Perry County, Ala. Parents– Obie and Bernice (McMurry) Scott. Married– Martin Luther King, Jr., June 18, 1953. Children– Four. Education– Antioch College, B.A.; New England Conservatory of Music, B.Mus. Voice instructor, Morris Brown College, Atlanta, 1962; sometimes substituted as a speaker for her husband during…

  • GOING, ALLEN JOHNSTON, 1917- 2000

    Biography: Historian; university professor, administrator. Born– September 29, 1917, Birmingham. Parents– Clarence Johnson and Louise (Thornbury) Going. Married– Dora Alice Henley, August 21, 1954. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1938, M.A., 1940; University of North Carolina, Ph.D., 1947. Taught history and served as associate dean of men, University of Alabama, 1942-1957; professor of history, University of…

  • CLARKE, JOHN HENRIK, 1915-1998

    Biography: Historian. Born– January 1, 1915, Union Springs. Parents– John and Willella (Mays) Clarke. Married– Eugenia Evans, December 24, 1961. Children– Three. Married– Sybille Williams, 1997. Education– New York University, 1948-1952; New School for Social Research, 1956-1958. U.S. Army Air Force, WWII.Feature writer for the Pittsburgh Courier, Pittsburgh, and for the Ghana Evening News, Accra,…

  • HAMES, CARL MARTIN, 1938-2002

    Biography: Educator; art dealer; consultant. Born– July 12, 1938, Birmingham. Parents– William Geda and Mary Anna (Martin) Hames. Education– Birmingham Southern College, B.A., 1958, M.A., 1971; Samford University, M.Ed. Taught in Birmingham public schools, 1958-1964; at Birmingham University School, 1964-75; assistant headmaster and chairman of the English department, Altamont School, 1975-1991; headmaster, 1991-2002. Director, Town…

  • GOING, WILLIAM THORNBURY, 1915-2008

    Biography: University professor, administrator. Born– June 3, 1915, Birmingham. Parents– Clarence Johnson and Louise (Thornbury) Going. Married– Margaret Moorer. Education– University of Alabama, A.B. with honors, 1936; Duke University, M.A., 1938; University of Michigan, Ed.D., 1954. Taught English in Birmingham city schools; University of Alabama, 1939-1957;  professor of English, Dean of Instruction and Academic Affairs, Southern Illinois University…

  • BURKE, JOHN JOSEPH, JR., 1942-

    Biography: Literary scholar; University professor. Born– May 4, 1942, Buffalo, N.Y. Education– Boston College, A.B., 1967; Northwestern University, M.A., 1968; University of California in Los Angeles, Ph.D., 1974. Taught English at the University of California in San Diego, 1973-1974, and at the University of Alabama after 1974. Director of undergraduate studies in English. Essays published…

  • STOLLENWERCK, FRANK, JR., 1883-1971

    Biography: Attorney, businessman; state legislator. Born– Mar. 24, 1883 in Selma, Ala. Parents– Frank and Emma (Calhoun) Stollenwerck. Married– Dixie Orum, June 20, 1917.  Children–one. Education– attended private school in Greenville, Ala., Starke’s University in Montgomery, and Boys Latin School in Baltimore, Md.; Johns Hopkins University, A.B.; Harvard Law School, LL.B. Admitted to the bar,…

  • SUMMERSELL, CHARLES GRAYSON, 1908-1987

    Biography: Historian; university professor. Born– Feb. 25, 1908 in Mobile. Parents– Charles F. and Sallie Rebecca Grayson Summersell. Married– Frances Sharpley. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., A.M.; Vanderbilt University, Ph.D. Served in the US Navy, WWII and Korea; attained rank of Commander. Taught at University of Alabama, 1935-1978; chairman History Department, 1954-1971; served on Alabama…

  • THOMPSON, FANNIE LEE MCCONDICHIE, 1891-

    Biography: Public school teacher.. Born– Furman, Ala. Parents– Herbert Curtis and Emma Farrior McCondichie.  Married– William Ward Thompson. Children– One foster child. Education– received degrees from Huntingdon and Howard Colleges; further study at University of Alabama, Birmingham Southern College, and Peabody College. Taught in public schools of Alabama for 50 years. Awarded honorary D.H.L. degree…

  • HIGHSAW, ROBERT BAKER, 1917-2009

    Biography: Political scientist; university professor. Born– December 20, 1917, in Memphis, Tenn. Parents– James Leonard and Mary (Baker) Highsaw. Married–Mary Church Wagner, March 3, 1943. Children–two. Education– Princeton University, A.B., 1939; Harvard University, A.M., 1942; Ph.D., 1945.   Taught at Vanderbilt University, 1942-1944; Louisiana State University, 1944-1945; associate professor and director of Bureau of Public Administration and…

  • FOSTER, HENRY BACON, 1863-1939

    Attorney; elected official; judge. Born– May 9, 1863, Tuscaloosa County. Parents– Joshua Hill and Frances (Bacon) Foster. Married– Jennie Hester, July 24, 1895.  Children–four.  Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1882; LL.B., 1884. Admitted to the Alabama Bar, 1884. Taught school in Gadsden, 1882-1883; practiced law in Tuscaloosa, 1884-86; Elected County Solicitor, 1886-1890, 1901-03; mayor of Tuscaloosa,…

  • FOLEY, ALBERT SIDNEY, 1912-1990

    Jesuit priest; sociologist; college professor. Born– November 6, 1912, New Orleans. Parents– Albert S. and Gertrude Emily (Mavor) Foley. Education– St. Louis University, A.B., 1935; M.A., 1936; M.A., 1948; University of North Carolina, Ph.D., 1950; post doctoral fellowship at the University of Michigan, 1952-1953. Entered the Jesuit Order (Society of Jesus) in 1929; ordained 1942.…

  • COOMBS, DAVID W., 1939-

    Biography: Sociologist; University professor. Born– March 19, 1939, Indianapolis, Ind. Parents– David S. and Jeanette (Walsh) Coombs. Married– Joan, May 12, 1973. Children– Two. Education– University of Notre Dame, B.A., 1961; University of Florida, M.A., 1968, Ph.D., 1971; Master of Public Health, UAB.  Served in the Peace Corps, 1961-1963; taught at the Universidad del Valle…

  • CHRISTENBERRY, WILLIAM A., JR., 1936-2016

    Biography: Photographer, painter, sculptor; teacher of art. Born– November 5, 1936, Tuscaloosa. Parents– William A. and Ruby Willard (Smith) Christenberry. Married–Sandra Deane, 1967.  Children– three. Education– University of Alabama, B.F.A.,1958,  M.A., 1959.  Taught at the University of Alabama, 1959-61; at Memphis State University, 1962-68; at the Corcoran School of Art in Washington, D.C., 1968-2009 .Considered  one of the…

  • CARGILE, WAYNE CHANDLER, 1933-1995

    Biography: Bookkeeper. Born –Mt. Vernon, Fayette County, January 16, 1933.  Parents– Clyde Chandler and Lottie Mavis Collins Cargile.  Married– Betty, about 1964. Children– Two. Education– Florence State Teachers College. Farmed until 1953; served in the U.S.Army in the Korean Conflict, 1953-55.; worked as bookkeeper. Living in Tuscaloosa in 1984. Died December 30, 1995. Source: Book jacket…

  • BYNUM, MIKE, 1957-

    Biography: Sportswriter. Education– University of Alabama. Served as student manager of the football team in 1977; student body president of the New College Division of the University. Member Fellowship of Christian Athletes, Theta Chi fraternity. Also a member of the Diamond Century Club at Texas A & M and the Gold Club at the University…

  • CHAPMAN, HERMAN HOLLIS, 1894-1977

    Biography: University professor of statistics.  Born– May 24, 1894, Lima, Ohio. Parents– Lewis E. and Ella Mae (Faze) Chapman. Married– Lena Blanche McPherson, September 18, 1919. Education– University of Michigan, A.B.; University of Minnesota, graduate study; Columbia University, Ph.D. Taught accounting at the University of Minnesota, 1919 to 1921. Professor of statistics, University of Alabama,…