Alabama Authors

Category: All

  • OWSLEY, HARRIET CHAPPELL, 1901-1999

    Editor; archivist.  Born July 26, 1901, Waco, Texas.  Parents– Charles Arthur and Clementine Fason Chappell.  Married–Frank Lawrence Owsley, July 24, 1920.  Children–two.  Education– Birmingham-Southern College, 1919-20; Vanderbilt University, 1921-23; George Peabody College for Teachers, B.S., 1925.  Worked with her husband, Dr. Frank Lawrence Owsley, editing his historical work.  Director of Manuscript Section, Tennessee State Library…

  • OWSLEY, FRANK LAWRENCE, 1890-1956

    Biography: Historian; University professor. Born– January 20, 1890, Montgomery. Parents– Lawrence Monroe and Annie Scott (McGehee) Owsley. Married– Harriet Fason Chappell, July 24, 1920. Children– Three. Education– Fifth District Agricultural School in Wetumpka, Ala. Alabama Polytechnic Institute, B.S., 1911; M.A., 1912; University of Chicago, M.A., 1917; Ph.D., 1924. Taught in public schools and API, 1912-1919;…

  • WATSON, FRED SHELTON, 1915-1991

    Biography: Sales Manager. journalist. Born– November 16, 1915, near Enterprise, Ala. Married– Irene Arnett. Children– One. Education– Coffee High School. Sales Manager, Radio Station WIRB, Enterprise, 8 years; Allied Products Co., Dothan, 12 years. Published feature stories in various newspapers; columnist, Enterprise Ledger, 3 yrs.; U.S. Air Corps, World War II, 3 yrs.; Member– Dale…

  • IDE, KNOX, 1902-1994

    Biography: Lawyer, businessman. Born– June 23, 1902, Ham, Tex. Parents– Abner Sheppard and Anne (Borden) McGee. Adopted at age three by his aunt, Margaret Rosa (Borden) Ide, Jacksonville, Ala. Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1923; Harvard University Law School, LL.B., 1926. Married–Sarah Cowan Harris- 1929. Children– One. Married Rissie Miller, April 11, 1957.  Joined Anniston (Ala.) law…

  • HIGGINBOTHAM, MIRIAM, 1927-2004

    Biography: University dean of women. Born– Ashland, Clay County, August 23, 1927. Parents– James J. and Myrtie M. Cockrell. Married– J.B. Jackson, Jr. Children– Three. Married– Ralph D. Higginbotham, 1974. Education– Samford University, B.A., 1949; Jacksonville State University, M.A. Served as dean of women, Jacksonville State University, 1974-1989.  Member, Alabama Baptist State Board; Board of…

  • FARMER, MARGARET PACE, 1912-2007

    Teacher, historian. Born– October 28, 1912, Troy. Parents– Matthew Dower and Sarah (Collier) Pace. Married– Curren A. Farmer, December 1, 1934. Children– Four. Education– Troy State College, B.S., 1932. Taught in the schools of Enterprise, Birmingham, and Brundidge.  Wrote a weekly historical column in the Troy Messenger.  Member of the Alabama and Southern Historical Associations and…

  • HIGGINBOTHAM, PRIEUR JAY, JR., 1937-2017

    Biography: Historian, teacher, librarian; novelist. Born– July 16, 1937, in Pascagoula, Miss. Parents– Prieur Jay and Vivian (Perez) Higginbotham. Married Alice Louisa Martin, June 27, 1970.  Children–three. Education– University of Mississippi, B.A., 1960; further study at Hunter College of the City University of New York and American University. Served as assistant clerk, Mississippi State House of…

  • ALDRICH, TRUMAN HEMINWAY, 1848-1932

    Biography: Engineer, businessman; U.S. Congressman. Born– October 17, 1848, Palmyra, N.Y. Parents– William Farrington and Louisa Maria (Klapp) Aldrich. Married– Anna Morrison of Newark, N.J. Children– five. Education– Attended military academy in West Chester, Pa.; M.A. in engineering, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, 1869. Practiced engineering in New York for two years then moved to Selma, Alabama.…

  • COOPER, WELDON, 1906-1996

    Biography: University professor, administrator. Born–Jasper,  November 12, 1906. Parents– Robert Jackson and Eliza Jane (Bean) Cooper. Married– Julia Allen, June 6, 1930. Education– Abilene Christian College, A.B., 1926; University of Texas, A.M., 1932; University of Chicago, Ph.D., 1939. Worked at the University of Texas as a research assistant, assistant director, then acting director of the…

  • COOK, VIRGINIA JAMES, 1916-2009

    Biography; Teacher; genealogist; author.  Born–June 17, 1916, Eufaula, Alabama.  Parents–William Preston James and Beatrice Price James.  Married– Heustis Moore Cook, May 9, 1945.  Children–two.  Education–Alabama College for Women (Montevallo), B. A., 1938; M.A., Birmingham-Southern College. Taught at Pell City High School, 1938-41;  at Camden High School, 1941-46.  Published family histories, regional histories, and magazine articles on…

  • PILEGGE, JOSEPH C., JR. 1929-2013

    Biography: Political scientist; University professor. Born– Morgantown, W. Va. Parents– Joseph C. and Emma Thompson Pilegge. Married– Betty Clifton, June 6, 1959. Education– West Virginia University, B.S., 1955; Marshall University, M.A., 1961; University of Maryland, Ph.D., 1966. Served in the U.S. Air Force in the Korean War; discharged with rank of captain.Taught at the University…

  • KENNAMER, SAMUEL REXFORD, 1920-2013

    Biography: Physician. Born– July 4, 1920, Guntersville, Ala. Parents– Charles Brents and Birdie (Hooper) Kennamer. Moved to Montgomery in 1931, when his father became federal judge for the Middle District of Alabama. Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1942; Jefferson Medical College, M.D., 1945; interned at Jackson Memorial Hospital, Miami, Fla., 1945-1946. U.S. Army Medical Corps, 1947-1949;…

  • WARREN, LELLA, 1899-1982

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                       Biography: Journalist; author; editor. Born– March 22, 1899, Clayton, AL. Parents– Benjamin Smart and Lee Ella (Underwood) Warren. Married– John Spanogle, June 1921. Children– One. Married Gerald Breckenridge, 1936. Married– Buel Whiting Patch, August, 1941. Education– Goucher College, 1918-1919; George Washington University, A.B., 1921. Editor, Commission on Child Health and Welfare, 1930; publicity, 1931, advertising,…

  • TILLERY, THOMAS CARLYLE, 1904-1988

    Biography: Clerk. Born– Dec. 6, 1904 in Greensburg, La. Parents–William Hutchinson and Carrie Inez Roberts Tillery. Married–Ruby Wilson.  Children–two. Education– Mississippi State College, B.S., 1928; studied under Hudson Strode at University of Alabama for three years. In years before World War II worked as a statistical clerk in agricultural economics and agronomy; a timekeeper on a…

  • SMITH, ROBERT SELLERS, 1931-1996

    Biography: Attorney, businessman, educator, writer. Born– July 31, 1931, in Samson, Ala. Parents– Jackson and Rose (Sellers) Smith. Married– June Claire West in 1963. Children– Four. Education– University of Virginia, B.S., 1953; LL.B., 1958; University of Alabama, LL. M. in Taxation, 1958. Admitted to Alabama bar in 1959; assistant counsel for U.S. House of Representatives, investigation…

  • SMITH, ANDREW REID, II, 1926-2009

    Biography: Writer, photographer, businessman. Born– Biloxi, Miss. February 25, 1926; reared in Demopolis, Ala., at family home, Bluff Hall; lived later in Prattville, Ala. Parents– Charles Singleton Smith and Bertha Broun Smith. Married– Jule Barnes, 1946.  Children– Four. Education– attended Huntingdon College; studied writing at University of Alabama under Hudson Strode and Edwin Kimbrough. Reporter for Montgomery…

  • SPARKMAN, CHELSEA IVO HALL, 1899-1999

    Biography: Artist; political wife. Born– Oct. 6, 1899 in Albertville, Ala. Parents– William Presley and Margaret Ann (Young) Hall. Married– John J. Sparkman, June 2, 1923. Children– One. Education– attended East Alabama Woman’s College (now Huntingdon); University of Alabama, B.S. Taught in public schools of Huntsville, late 1920’s. Moved to Washington DC in 1937 and…

  • STRODE, HUDSON, 1892-1976

    Biography: Writer, teacher of writing. Born– Oct. 31, 1892, Cairo, Ill. Parents– Thomas Fuller and Hope (Hudson) Strode. Married– Therese Cory,  Dec. 20, 1924. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1913; Columbia University, M.A., 1914; special study at Harvard University, 1916. Instructor in English, Syracuse University, 1914-1916; professor of English, University of Alabama, 1914-1963.  Awarded professor…

  • LAMBERT, ALTON, SR., 1910-1986

    Biography: Laborer, prison guard, service station owner, mail carrier. Born– Sept. 23, 1910, Cottondale, Ala. Parents– Alexander Washington and Linnie Ida (Green) Lambert. Married– Carrie Beale Boswell, February 8, 1936. Children– Three. Worked at a foundry at Holt; on a gas pipeline; as a state prison guard, 1934-1940; Tennessee Coal and Iron, 1940-1947; U.S. Post Office, Fairfield,…

  • STEWART, MARGARET TURNER, 1914-2006

    Biography: Local historian and genealogist; educator. Born– Feb. 6, 1914,  Sycamore, Ala. Parents– Ivy C. and Estelle D.  Turner. Married– Frank Ross Stewart on July 31, 1934.  Children– One. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute, B.S.; further study at the University of Alabama,  Ohio State University., Peabody College, Columbia University.  Served in U.S. Navy, WWII, 1943-1945; taught school; founded…

  • CHAPPELL, GORDON THOMAS, 1911-2002

    Biography: Historian; university professor. Born– September 10, 1911, Birmingham. Parents– Charles Arthur and Clemmie (Fason) Chappell. Married– Winn Ownbey, August 30, 1939. Children– Two. Education– Birmingham-Southern College, A.B., 1935; Vanderbilt University, A.M., 1936, Ph.D. 1941. Taught at Vanderbilt University, Winthrop College, Newberry College; head of the Department of History and Political Science at Huntingdon College…

  • WININGER, DAVID DeLEAL, 1941-

    Biography: Attorney. Born– August 21, 1941, in Birmingham, Ala. Parents– DeLeal Benton and Mary Elizabeth (Smith) Wininger. Married– Myrna Ann Strong, August 19, 1960. Children– Three. Education– Samford University, B.S., 1962; Cumberland Law School, LL.B., 1964. Admitted to Alabama Bar, 1964; U.S. District Court, 1964; U.S. Supreme Court, 1970. Founded the Wininger Law Firm, 1964. Published articles…

  • WINN, JOSHUA NICHOLAS, III, 1905-1997

    Biography: Historian; college professor; teacher. Born– August 29, 1905, in Winchester, Ky. Parents– Joshua Nicholas, II, and Rachel Hodgkin Winn. Grew up on Lock Six Reservation, Muscle Shoals. Married– Calista Jackson, December 30, 1934. Children– Two. Education– Southwestern College, Memphis, 1924-1926; Dartmouth, A.B., 1928; Columbia, M.A., 1941. Taught in Lauderdale County, Ala., three years; Tennessee…

  • RAYFORD, JULIAN LEE, 1908-1980

    Biography;  Sculptor; folk singer; author; journalist.  Born April 7, 1908, Mobile.  Parents– William Douglas and Julia Ogletree Rayford.  Education– graduated Ensley-Howard High School, Birmingham, 1926; attended Duke University for a year;  studied art and sculpture with Gutzon Borglum, 1928-30. Worked as an artist in several media and continued to study with various artists, 1930–1941.  Served briefly in…

  • STEWART, JOHN CRAIG, 1915-2003

    Biography: Educator, writer. Born– Jan. 20, 1915, Selma, Ala. Parents– Horace H., II, and Mary (Craig)Stewart. Married– Patti Gee Martin, Feb.1, 1939 (divorced, 1952); . Married– Lila Harper, 1960. Children– One. Education– University of Alabama, B.A., M.A., 1950.   Served in the U.S. Army, WWII, 1941-45; discharged with the rank of major. Taught at University of Alabama,…

  • SORENSEN, VIRGINIA EGGERTSEN, 1912-1991

    Biography: Writer. Born– Feb. 12, 1912 in Provo, Utah. Parents– Claud E. and Helen El Deva Blackett Eggertson. Married– Frederick Sorenson, August 16, 1933.  Children–two.  Married– Alec Waugh, July 15, 1969.  Education– Brigham Young University, B.A., 1933; further study at the School of Journalism at University of Missouri and at Stanford University .  Lived in several university towns…

  • TINGLEY, GLENN VINCENT, 1901-1988

    Biography: Clergyman, educator. Born– July 31, 1901 in Field Corner, Ohio. Parents– Nelson Eugene and Edith G. (Gage) Tingley. Married– Elva Eunice Allen, September 10, 1921. Children– Six. Education– attended Los Angeles Seminary and Los Angeles Pacific College; Mt. Vernon University, A.B., Th.B.; ordained in 1926 to ministry of the Christian and Missionary Alliance. Pastor…

  • MILLER, MARY CYNTHIA “DIXIE” CLIFTON, 1905-1999

    Biography: Reporter. Born– Cedar Bluff, Ala., March 2, 1905.  Parents– William Milton and Leila (Tatum) Clifton. Married– Dewey Frank Miller, Sr., 1924. Children– Four. Education– Cedar Bluff High School, 1924; University Center, Gadsden. Employed as a reporter, correspondent, feature writer, Gadsden Times; feature writer, The Summerville News, The Fort Payne Times Journal; reporter, feature writer,…

  • BACKUS, OLLIE LUCY, 1908-1999

    Biography: University professor of speech; speech therapist and researcher. Born– August 12, 1908, Harbor Springs, Mich. Parents– Arthur and Kate McDuffee Backus. Education– Michigan College of Education in Kalamazoo for two years; University of Michigan, A.B, 1929, M.A., 1930; University of Wisconsin, Ph.D., 1933. Taught Latin and English in Bear Lake, Mich. for one year;…

  • HUNT, MARY FASSETT, 1919-1992

    Biography: Writer. Born– September 7, 1919, Denver, Colo. Parents– Clarence A. and Alice H. (Gillman) Fassett. Married– Douglas Lucas Hunt (died 1952). Married– Earl G. Jensen, June 6, 1955. Education– University of Chicago, Ph.D.; Birmingham Southern College, M.A.; Wallace Stegner Creative Writing Program, Stanford University, M.A. Taught English and Journalism at Alabama College, 1952-1953 and at…

  • HOOLE, WILLIAM STANLEY, 1903-1990

    Biography: Historian; librarian. Born– May 16, 1903, Darlington, S.C. Parents– William Brunson and Mary Eva (Powers) Hoole. Married– Martha Anne Sanders, August 2, 1931 (died 1960). Children– Two. Married– Addie Shirley Coleman, May 30, 1970. Education– Wofford College, A.B., 1924, A.M., 1931; Duke University, Ph.D., 1934; North Texas State University, B.S. in Library Science, 1943; further…

  • HARRIS, SEALE, 1870-1957

    Biography: Physician; author; medical researcher. Born– March 13, 1870, in Cedartown, Ga. Parents– Charles Hooks and Margaret Ann (Monk) Harris. Married Stella Rainer, April 28, 1897.  Children– two. Education– University of Georgia; University of Virginia, M.D., 1894; New York Polytechnic, University of Chicago, Johns Hopkins, and the University of Vienna. Practiced medicine in Union Springs,…

  • GIBBONS, FAYE, 1938-

    Biography: Teacher, writer. Born– January 31, 1938,  in Carter’s Quarter, Ga. Parents– George Manley and Alice Lenell (Searcy) Junkins. Education– Oglethorpe University, 1950; Emory University, 1961; Berry College, B.A., 1961; graduate study, Auburn University. Married– Benjamin Turner Gibbons on August 29, 1964. Children– Two. Taught high school, Dalton, Ga. 1961-1963; elementary school, Marietta, Ga., 1963-1964;…

  • LOVETT, ROSE MARIE GIBBONS, 1902-1990

    Biography: Local historian; beautician. Born– January 19, 1902, Birmingham. Parents– Thomas and Martha David (O’Barr) Gibbons. Married– Ellis K. Walker, December 2, 1920 (died 1935). Married– P.H. Fazi, June 7, 1937. Married– Patrick J. Lovett, April 29, 1944. Children– Eight. Education– Gladys Cook College of Beauty, Colorado Springs, Colo. Employed by Southern Bell Telephone Company and…

  • FELLOWS, ALICE, 1928-2016

    Writer; editor. Born– November 13, 1928, Tuscaloosa. Parents John J. and Gertrude McAlpine Fellows. Married– Gerald Strauss. Children– Two. Education– graduated from the University of Alabama, 1948 (student of Hudson Strode);  Columbia University, M.A. (history), 1951.  Worked as an editor for Simon and Schuster. Wrote several travel guides in the 1990’s. Awarded Eugene F. Saxon Fellowship…

  • BUSH, ANNIE LOUISE RYDER, 1896-1985.

    Biography: Teacher, postal worker. Born– June 28, 1896, Talladega Springs; grew up in Childersburg. Parents– Jesse W. and Susie (Keith) Ryder. Married– Isaac M. Bush, 1918. Children– Three. Education– Alabama Normal College in Florence, 1917. Taught at Dothan for three years and at Childersburg for fifteen years. Worked as a postal clerk in the Childersburg post…

  • CHILDERS, JAMES SAXON, 1899-1965

    Biography: University professor, author, newspaper editor. Born– April 19, 1899, Birmingham. Parents– Hayden Prior and Pattie Undine (Goldwire) Childers. Married– Maurine White. Education– Oberlin College, B.A., 1920; Oxford University, B.A., 1923; M.A., 1927. Military service: Naval Aviation, WWI; U.S.Air Force Intelligence, WWII; retired with rank of colonel. Professor of literature at Birmingham Southern College, 1925-1942; associate…

  • MULLINS, ISLA MAY, 1859-1936

    Biography: Writer. Born– April 30, 1859, Summerfield. Parents– Anson Wheeler and Lydia Maria (Cobb) Hawley. Married–Rev. Edgar Young Mullins, June 2, 1886. Children– Two. Education– private tutor;  Judson College.  Husband was the fourth president of Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, Louisville, Ky., 1899-1928, and president of the Southern Baptist Convention and the Baptist World Alliance.  Died February…

  • MUDD, WILLIAM SWEARINGEN, 1885-1942

    Biography: Lawyer, journalist, businessman. Born– November 24, 1885, Birmingham. Parents– Joseph Paul and Eula (Anglin) Mudd. Married– Nellie Nabors, November 24, 1908. Children– Two. Education– University of Alabama, B.S., 1906; University of Virginia, LL.B., 1908. Added to Alabama Bar, 1908;  practiced law until 1913; President of Tuscaloosa News, Gadsden Times; and the Rome (Ga.) News…

  • OTT, THOMAS OLIVER, 1938-

    Biography: Historian; high school teacher; university professor. Born– August 4, 1938, LaGrange, Ga. Parents– Thomas Oliver and Marian (Swindell) Ott. Married– Margaret Franklin, November 25, 1961. Children– Two. Education– Asbury College, B.A., 1961; Appalachian State University, M.A., 1963; University of Tennessee, Ph.D., 1970. Taught at Christ School, Arden, N.C., 1961-1963; Central Florida Academy, 1963-1965; University…

  • MOUNT, ROBERT HUGHES, 1931-

    Biography: Zoologist; University professor. Born– December 25, 1931, Lewisburg, Tenn. Parents– Logan McKnight Mount and Frances Hughes Mount. Married– Rena Williams, 1961. Children– Two.  Married 2d Jane Douglass, 1977. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute, B.S., M.S.; Ph.D., Florida, 1961. Taught at Alabama College, 1961-1966; Auburn University, 1966-1986. Member– American Society of Ichthyologists and Herpetologists. Awarded Emeritus…

  • CARNEY, MARGARET AUBREY TOULMIN, 1921-1989

    Biography: Reporter. Born– Jan. 12, 1921, Dayton, Ohio. Parents– Harry Aubrey and Margaret (McCarty) Toulmin. Married– Fletcher Burchnall Carney, 1943. Education– Smith College, cum laude in history; University of Alabama, 1949. Cub reporter for the Dayton Daily News; reporter for the Albuquerque Tribune; research assistant for her father; and an assistant dormitory director at the…

  • BOWEN, ROBERT A., 1898-1958

    Biography: Journalist; newspaper editor. Born– Dothan, December 10, 1898. Grew up in Worth County, Georgia.  Parents– Charlie Bowen and Laura Ann Chamberlin Bowen. Married– Lillian Collins, May 23, 1926.  Children– one.  Education– University of Georgia, 1923. While at the university worked on the university paper, The Georgia Cracker; worked on the Worth County local newspaper and the…

  • BOWEN, ROBERT OWEN, 1920-2003

    Biography: Author, editor; veterans advocate. Born– May 7, 1920, Bridgeport, Conn. Parents– Charles A. and Irene (Johnson) Bowen. Married– Dorothy Edwards, 1947; married 2d Naomi L. Misumi, 1968.  Children– four. Education– Attended the  Junior College of Connecticut, 1945-1946; University of Alabama, B.A., 1948, M.A., 1950; studied on a Fulbright Fellowship at the University College of North Wales,…

  • MOSLEY, DONALD CRUMPTON, 1932-

    Biography: University professor and administrator. Born– Starkville, Miss., April 17, 1932. Parents– Thomas Henry and Elizabeth (Crumpton) Mosley. Married– Susan Young Mosley, April 7, 1961. Children– One. Education– B.S., Mississippi State University, 1954; M.S., University of Tennessee, 1958; Ph.D., University of Alabama, 1965. Employed as a trainee, Pick Hotel Corporation, 1957-1959; field representative, Charles E.…

  • MOSES, MONTROSE JONAS, 1878-1934

    Biography: Editor; writer. Born– New York City, September 2, 1878. Parents– Montefiore J. and Rose (Jonas) Moses. Married– Lucille Dorothy Herne, February 1, 1911 (died 1921). Children– One. Married– Leah Agnes Houghtaling, June 19, 1923. Children– One. Education– Montgomery, Ala.; B.S., College of the City of New York, 1899. Employed on editorial staff, Literary Digest, 1900-1902;…

  • MOSELEY, FRANKLIN SHACKELFORD, 1899-1976

    Biography: Methodist clergyman; historian. Born– Montgomery, Ala., January 15, 1899. Parents– Franklin McLemore and Lela (Shackelford) Moseley. Married– Pattie Moore, March 25, 1942. Children– One. Education– Auburn University, 1918-1921; certificate in theology, Southern Methodist University, 1932; A.B., Huntingdon, 1933. Employed as minister, Burnt Corn, LaPlace Circuit, Butler, Auburn, Akron-Havanna, Pepperell-St.Paul, Marion Junction-Orrville, Georgiana, Montgomery, Linden,…

  • MOSELEY, ELLA LOWERY, 1866-1941

    Biography: Teacher, writer. Born– Montevallo, Ala., May 16, 1866. Parents– Colvin Alexander and Eliza Miriam (Hudson). Married– Dr. Robert A. Moseley, March 2, 1892. Education– Florence State Normal College, 1883. Employed as teacher, Sayre Street School, Montgomery, 1883-1892; writer, poetry, Montgomery Advertiser; founded and edited, Birmingham Times; editor, woman’s department of that newspaper, 1895-1899. Died…

  • MORTON, JOHN ROBERT, 1904-1981.

    Biography: Educator; administrator.  Born– Fredericksburg, Gillespie County,  Tex., June 27, 1904. Parents– John R. and Frances (McKinnon) Morton. Married– June Sweetman, August 1, 1928. Children– Three. Education– B.S., South West Texas State College, 1925; M.A., University of Texas, 1929; Ed.D., Columbia University, 1939; Ohio State University. Employed as a teacher, schools of Texas, 1925-1936; Public…

  • MORTON, CARL P., 1920-1994

    Biography: Business executive; poet. Born– Leeds, Ala., June 7, 1920. Parents– Hartwell Albert and Eunice (Pledger) Morton. Married– Isabel Gibbons, October 2, 1946. Children– Three. Education– Auburn University. Served with the U.S. Air Force, WWII,1941-1945; awarded the Bronze Star. business executive, Hardy Corporation, 1946; president, Birmingham Mechanical Contractor’s Association.  Member Alabama Writers Conclave, Alabama State Poetry Society,…