Alabama Authors

Category: All

  • MORRISS, ELIZABETH CLEVELAND, 1877-1960

    Biography: Teacher; adult educator. Born– Selma, Ala., September 27, 1877. Parents– William Calloway and Frances Cornelia (Lide) Cleveland. Married– John Morriss, September 1908. Education– A.B., Judson College, 1895; L.I., (a library science degree), Peabody College, 1908; special study, Universities of Virginia and Wisconsin; B.S., 1932; M.A., 1933, Teachers College, Columbia University. Employed as a teacher, public…

  • MORRISON, FLORENCE HOBSON, 1878-1972

    Biography: Born– October 25, 1878l Greensboro. Parents– James Marcellus and Sally (Pearson) Hobson. Education– Newcomb College, New Orleans.  Married– Benjamin Mann Morrison, Hammond, La. Children– Three.  Sister of Rear Admiral Richmond P. Hobson. Died November 29, 1972. Source: Files at Alabama Public Library Service. Publication(s): The Song of a Happy World; Flowers and Nature. S.l.;…

  • McMURRAY, JAMES MAX, 1908-1966

    Biography: Writer. Born– Roanoke, Ala., September 28, 1908. Parents– William Harmon and Corrie Reaves McMurray.  Education– Auburn University, 1924-1929; University of Virginia, 1929-1930; Delta State College, 1932. Died January 3, 1966. Source: The Alabama Librarian, January 1952. Publication(s): The Far Bayou. New York; Rinehart, 1951.

  • LEWIS, WALTER DAVID, 1931-2007

    Biography: Historian; university professor. Born– June 24, 1931, Towanda, Pa. Parents– Gordon Cleon and Eleanor Esther (Tobias) Lewis. Married– Carolyn Wyatt Brown, June 12, 1954. Children– Three. Education– Pennsylvania State University, B.A., 1952, M.A., 1954; Cornell University, Ph.D., 1961. Taught, Hamilton College, 1954-57; Fellowship Coordinator, Eleutherian Mills-Hagley Foundation, 1959-65; Instructor,  University of Delaware, 1959-61; Professor…

  • McMILLAN, NORMAN ROBERT, 1942-

    Biography; College professor of English; writer.  Born 1942, in Greensboro, Alabama.  Married Joan McMillan.  Education; University of Alabama, B.A., 1964; M.A., 1967; University of Michigan, Ph. D.  Taught English at University of Montevallo; Chair of Department of English.  Awarded professor emeritus status upon retirement.  President of Montevallo Arts Council. Executive Secretary of the South Atlantic…

  • MURRAY, ALBERT, 1916-2013

    Biography; Author; university professor; military officer.  Born June 12, 1916, Nokomis (Escambia County),  Alabama. Parents– John Lee and Sudie Young.  Married Mozelle Menefee, May 31, 1941.  Children– one.  Education–Tuskegee Institute, B.S., 1941; New York University, M. A., 1948; postgraduate work at the University of Michigan, 1940; Northwestern University, 1941; University of Paris, 1950.  Served in…

  • OSBORN, GEORGE COLEMAN, 1904-1982

    Biography: Historian; university professor. Born– May 15, 1904, Learned, Miss. Parents– Samuel George and Bettie Mae (Hendrick) Osborn. Married– Margaret McMillen, May 20, 1936. Children– Two. Education– Mississippi College, A.B., 1927; Indiana University, M.A., 1932; chairman of the Social Services Department at Berry College, 1935-1943; research expert for finance committee of the U.S. Senate, 1937-1938;…

  • ORDWAY, SALLY, 1939-

    Biography: Publicist, playwright, secretary. Born– January 5, 1939, LaFayette, AL. Parents– Charles B. and Mary (Tucker) Ordway. Education– Hollins College, B.A., 1959; Yale Drama School, 1967-1968; Hunter College (C.U.N.Y.), M.A., 1970. Taught at Mitchell Junior College, 1963-1964; publicist for the New York Film Festival, 1967-1975. After the mid-1960’s, devoted time to play writing and other…

  • MUNRO, IRENE BRINSON, 1898-1991

    Biography: College professor. Born– December, 1898, Brinson, Ga. Parents– Homer Hodges and Carolina (Jones) Brinson. Married– Winthrop Marshall Munro, January, 1934. Children– One. Education– Andrew Junior College, diploma, 1917; Wesleyan College, B.A., 1919; Columbia University, M.A., 1924; postgraduate study Columbia, 1934; Oxford University, 1966. Taught history, Brinson, and Plant City, Fla. High Schools; Andrew College,…

  • PAYNE, PIERRE STEPHEN ROBERT, 1911-1983

    Biography: Author; translator; journalist, university professor. Born– December 4, 1911, Saltash, Cornwall, England. Parents– Stephen and Mireille Antoinette (Dorey) Payne. Came to the U.S., 1946; naturalized U.S. citizen, 1953. Married Rose Hsiung, 1942; married Sheila Lalwani, 1982.  Education– Attended Diocesan College, Rondebosch, South Africa, 1929-1930; University of Capetown, 1931-1932; University of Liverpool, 1933-1936; University of Munich, 1937;…

  • SCHWEITZER, JEROME WILLIAMS, 1908-1988

    Biography: Professor of languages; journalist, soldier. Born– Dec. 28, 1908, in Tuscaloosa, Ala. Parents– Abraham and Mary (Spiro) Schweitzer. Married– Anne Rachel Stoller, Oct. 1, 1931. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1930; M.A. 1932;  Johns Hopkins University, Ph.D., 1940 ; further study at Universidad Nacional de Mexico, 1946. Reporter for Tuscaloosa News, 1928-1931; U.S. Army…

  • MARTIN, DAVID LINCOLN, 1947-

    Biography: Political scientist; university professor. Born– May 6, 1947, Los Angeles. Parents–Albert A. and Cornelia A. Martin. Married–Catherine R. Perricone, June 6, 1975. Education– B.A., Redlands University, 1968; M.A., Claremont Graduate School, 1969; Ph.D., 1973. U.S. Army, Vietnam, 1969-71.  Employed as a Public Administration Analyst, University of California, Los Angeles, 1972-73; taught political science at Auburn University, 1973-1997. Consultant, Alabama…

  • GRAYSON, CLAUDE COLUMBUS, 1857-1948

    Biography: Retail grocer and real-estate agent.  Born– May 4, 1857, Auburn. Moved to Selma at the age of ten. Parents– Spencer Monroe and Cornelia (Dillard) Grayson. Married– Adele Stokes, June 16, 1882.  Children–2. Married– Julia Marian Wachope, February 12, 1889. Children– 5. Education– Dallas Academy.  Published columns of reminiscences in the Selma Times-Journal. Died November 12,…

  • GRAY, DANIEL SAVAGE, 1944-1993

    Biography: Historian; university professor. Born– June 25, 1944, Montgomery. Married Linda Crockett, November 27, 1968. Children– Three. Education– University of Montevallo, B.A., 1966; Florida State University, M.A., 1967, Ph.D., 1970. Taught at Troy State University, Dothan/Ft. Rucker Branch after 1970. Published articles in scholarly periodicals and journals.  Died November 2, 1993. Source: Directory of American Scholars, 1982;…

  • GRAY, LINDA CROCKETT, 1943-

    Biography; Novelist; teacher.  Born July 20, 1943, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada (naturalized American citizen, 1962).  Parents– E.C. and Christina M. Crockett.  Married– (1) Daniel S. Gray, November 27, 1968; children–three;  married (2)– Mike Bush, April 4, 1991. Education– Florida State University, B.A., 1964; M.A., 1968.  Junior high school English teacher in Florida, 1964-70; English instructor, Army…

  • HOLTZCLAW, WILLIAM HENRY, 1874-1943

    Biography: Educator. Born– June, 1870, near Roanoke. Parents–Jerry and Addie Greer Holtzclaw, former slaves. Married– Mary Ella Patterson. Children–five.  Education–Tuskegee Institute, 1890-1898, while employed as farm worker, office boy, and buggy driver for Booker T. Washington. Alabama Agricultural and Mechanical College, MA, 1908; further study in summer sessions at Harvard College. Publisher of a newspaper…

  • LEWIS, JESSE J., 1925-

    Biography: Businessman, reporter, college president. Born– January 3, 1925, Tuscaloosa. Married– Helen Merriweather. Children– Two. Education– Withdrew from high school to join the army, then worked for B.F. Goodrich Company while completing high school and Booker T. Washington Business College in Birmingham; Miles College, B.S., 1955; Troy State University, M.A., Ed.S.; Atlanta University, Ed.D. Founded Jesse J.…

  • BEECHER, JOHN, 1904-1980

    Biography: Teacher, poet, civil rights crusader.  Born– January 22, 1904, New York, N.Y. Parents– Leonard Thurlow and Isabel (Garghill) Beecher. Education– Attended Virginia Military Institute and Cornell University; University of Alabama, A.B., 1926; graduate work at Harvard University, 1926-27; ; University of Wisconsin, M.A., 1930; graduate work at the University of North Carolina, 1933-34.  Served in the U. S.…

  • EDWARDS, GWEN ANDERS, 1926-

    Museum curator. Born– December 6, 1926, Magnolia. Parents– James Marvin and Alma (Shaddix) Anders. Married– Lawrence A. Edwards, June 28, 1952. Children– Two. Education– Jacksonville State University, A.B., 1947; University of Alabama, M.A., 1949; Louisiana State University. Worked for the University of Alabama, 1949-1952; University of North Carolina, 1952-1954; education curator at Magnolia Mound Plantation…

  • AMACHER, RICHARD EARL, 1917-2015

    Biography: Literary scholar; University professor. Born– December 13, 1917, Ridgeway, Pa. Parents– Albert and Emma (Luchs) Amacher. Married– Cordelia Anne Ward, August 26, 1953. Children– One. Education– Ohio University, A.B., 1939; attended the University of Chicago, 1939-1942; University of Pittsburgh, Ph.D, 1947. Taught at Carnegie Institute of Technology, 1944; Yale University, 1944-1945; Rutgers University, 1945-1947;…

  • GRAVES, RICHARD LAYTON, 1931-

    Biography: Teacher; professor of education.  Born– January 14, 1931, in Houston, Tex. Parents– A. J. and Lucille (Martin) Graves. Married– Eloise Davis, June 10, 1955. Children– three. Education– Baylor University, B.A., 1956; University of Florida, M.Ed., 1960; Florida State University, Ph.D., 1965. Served in U.S. Air Force, 1951-1954. Taught in Tampa Public Schools, 1957-1963; research…

  • GRANTHAM, DIXIE LOUISE, 1904-1993

    Biography: Secretary. Born– December 1, 1904, in Greensboro, N.C. Parents– Josiah S. and Queenie Marietta Pender.  Married– Hal Gray Grantham, May 19, 1924.  Children–two. Education– Draughon Business College (Montgomery); music courses at Huntingdon College; creative writing courses, Washington, D.C. and Huntsville. Served as volunteer nurse at St. Margaret’s Hospital; stenographer for Boy Scouts and VFW;…

  • GRAFTON, CARL, 1942-

    Biography: University professor of political science. Born– October 6, 1942, Toledo, Ohio. Parents– Thomas Holloway and Jewell (Bricker) Holloway. Education– University of Toledo, B.A., 1963; M.A., 1966; Purdue University, Ph.D., 1970. Married– Anne Permaloff, December 28, 1974. Research physicist for Libby-Owens Ford Glass, 1963-1964; taught political science, University of Houston, 1968-1975; Auburn University at Montgomery,…

  • LIVINGSTON, ALFRED DELANO, 1932-2014

    Biography: Editor; freelance writer and photographer. Born November 8, 1932, Headland. Parents– Aaron Gordon Livingston and Beatrice DuPree Livingston. Education– Auburn University, 1954-57; University of Alabama, 1957-60.  U.S. Navy; editor, Space Information Digest, RCA, Huntsville, 1955-. Source: Files at Alabama Public Library Service. Publication(s): Advanced Bass Tackle and Boats. Philadelphia; Lippincott, 1975. Cast Iron Cooking; From Johnny…

  • TRAYLOR, ROSA LYON, 1914-2001

    Biography: Extension worker. Born– Apr. 29, 1914, in Collirene, Ala. Parents– Francis Gordon and Carrie Manola (Middleton) Lyon. Married– John Bryant Traylor. Children– Two. Education– attended University of Montevallo. Worked with Lowndes Co. Extension Service. Officer in Lowndes Co. Historical Society; active in local history and genealogical research.  Died January 5, 2001. Source: From book,…

  • LYONS, HILARY HERBERT, JR., 1909-1980

    Biography: Journalist. Born–January 11, 1909, Mobile.  Parents; Herbert and Reba Mae Neville Lyons.  Employed by Mobile Press until 1938. Selected as one of the first class of Nieman Fellows at Harvard in 1939; editor Mediterreanean edition of Stars and Stripes and on staff of Yank, World War II; staff, New York Times; acting editor, book…

  • LYON, RALPH MUSE, 1902-1993

    Biography: University professor, administrator. Born– November 25, 1902, Abbeville, S.C.  Parents; Alfred and Annie Coral Muse Lyon. Married–Margaret Charters. Education– B.S., The Citadel (South Carolina Military College), 1923; M.A., University of North Carolina, 1926; Ph.D., Columbia University, 1936. Employed by the Citadel, 1926-1936; Furman, 1936-1942; served in U.S. Army, WWII (1942-46);  Georgia Southern, 1946-1948; Livingston University, 1948-77:…

  • CURRY, JABEZ LAMAR MONROE, 1825-1903

    Biography: Advocate for education; college professor;  legislator; attorney. Born– June 5, 1825, near Double Branches (Lincoln County), Georgia. Parents– William and Susan (Winn) Curry. Married Ann Bowie, March 4, 1847. Children–four.  Married Mary Wortham Thomas, June 25, 1867. Education–graduated from the University of Georgia, 1843; from Dane Law School at Harvard, 1845.  Admitted to the bar…

  • GORGAS, WILLIAM CRAWFORD, 1854-1920

    Biography: Physician; Military officer. Born– October 3, 1854, Mobile. Parents– Josiah and Amelia (Gayle) Gorgas. Married– Marie Cook Doughty, September 15, 1885. Children– One. Education– B.S., University of the South, 1875; Bellevue Medical College, 1879. Appointed surgeon in Army Medical Corps, 1880. Having survived an attack of yellow fever in Texas, he was immune to the…

  • BENNETT, WALTER HARTWELL, 1907-1986

    Biography: Political scientist; University professor. Born Danville, Va., November 19, 1907.  Parents; Walter H. and Martha Dodson Bennett.  Married– Maxine Purcell. Education– University of Richmond, 1930; Duke University, Ph.D., 1940. Taught in the Virginia public schools; Georgia Teachers College at Statesboro (1936-38); University of Alabama,1938-1977 ; assistant director of the Bureau of Business Research at the…

  • BRASHER, PHELAN BRIGHT, 1900-1994

    Biography: Teacher, salesman. Born– March 23, 1900, Decaturville, Tenn. Parents– George Walter and Arbia Ann Brasher. Married– Eleanor Buck. Children– Three. Education– Union University in Jackson, Tenn.; graduate work at Peabody College. Employed as a chemist for Dupont Engineering Company and the Mobile County (Alabama) Citrus Fruit Growers. Taught chemistry in high schools in Columbus,…

  • WICKSTROM, JEAN CAROLE, 1942-

    Biography: Teacher, journalist. Born– December 9, 1942, Ishpeming, Mich. Parents– Walter W. and Katherine N. Wickstrom. Married– Curtis Liles. Education– University of Alabama, B.S., 1964. Taught home economics at Oxford secondary schools, four years. Food editor, Southern Living and Progressive Farmer, 1972-. Member– American Home Economics Association, Alabama Home Economic Association, Birmingham Home Economists in…

  • WALTER, EUGENE, 1927-1998

    Biography: Author; editor, set designer, puppeteer; international personality. Born– November 30, 1927, in Mobile, Ala. Parents– Eugene and Muriel (Sabina) Walter. Education– Spring Hill College; University of Alabama, Mobile Extension Division; Museum of Modern Art, New York City; New School for Social Research, New York University; Alliance Francaise; Institute Brittanique de la Sorbonne; Institute Dante…

  • McMILLAN, JAMES BENJAMIN, 1907-1996

    Biography: Linguist; university professor. Born– August 24, 1907, Talladega, Ala. Parents– William C. and Celeste (Miller) McMillan. Married– Antoinette Brannon, August 29, 1931. Children– One. Education– Davidson College, 1925-1926; B.S., Alabama Polytechnic Institute, 1929; M.A., University of North Carolina, 1930; Ph.D., University of Chicago, 1946; Johns Hopkins, Columbia University. Professor of English linguistics at the University of Alabama,…

  • HENDERSON, GEORGE WYLIE, 1904-1965

    Biography: Printer; fiction writer. Born– 1904, Warrior Stand, Macon County.  Parents– Rev. George W. Henderson and Ella May Gresham Henderson. Married twice; second wife Blanche.  Children–one (first marriage).  Education– Tuskegee Institute; learned printing trade. Moved to New York and worked as a linotype operator at the New York Daily News. Contributed short stories to the Daily News and to Redbook.…

  • HAY, SARA HENDERSON, 1906-1987

    Biography: Writer. Born– November 13, 1906, in Pittsburgh, Pa. Parents– Ralph Watson and Daisy Henderson (Baker) Hay.  Married– Raymond Peckham Holder, 1937.  Married–Nikolai Lopatnikoff, January 27, 1951. Education– Noble Institute, Anniston,  and Anniston (Ala.) High School; Brenau College, 1926-1928; Columbia University, 1928-1931.  Employed by Charles Scribner and Sons Rare Book Department, 1935-1942.  Published poems in…

  • HASSINGER, BERNICE SHIELD, 1915-2004

    Biography: Social worker; civic leader. Born– June 15, 1915, in Hampton, Va. Parents– Elmer R. and Addie (Baines) Shield.  Married–Richard Charles Hassinger, September 6, 1947. Children–two. Education– College of William and Mary, B.S., 1937; University of Chicago, M.S., 1942. Social worker in Norfolk, 1937; worked for WPA in North Carolina, 1938-1940; social worker Columbus Medical…

  • FRAZER, MELL ALEXANDER, 1887-1956

    Attorney. Born– April 27, 1887, Auburn. Parents– Tucker Henderson and Annie D. (Holifield) Frazer. Married– Mary V. Danner, January 6, 1916. Children– Two. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute, B.S., 1906; M.S., 1907; University of Alabama, LL.D., 1913. Admitted to the Alabama Bar and practiced law in Mobile. Died November 9, 1956. Source: Owen’s The Story of…

  • BARTON, LEVI ELDER, 1870-1965

    Biography: Baptist minister; Born– April 25, 1870, near Jonesboro, Ark. Parents– William Henderson and Eliza Martha (Mortan) Barton. Married– Rosa Belle Hurt, 1899. Children– Four. Education– Union University in Jackson, Tenn., A.M., 1898; D.D., 1911; attended Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1898-1899. Ordained to the ministry in the Baptist Church, 1896; served churches in Hope and…

  • MOORE, GERALDINE HAMILTON, 1918-1987

    Biography: Born– Birmingham, Ala., September 19, 1918. Parents– Henderson Abrams and Willie Bell (Roberts) Hamilton. Married– Josephus Moore, Sr., Selma, Ala., August 19, 1955. Children– Four. Education– A.B., Miles College, 1940; M.A., Atlanta University, 1945. Employed as a teacher, Sumter County, Bibb County; Miles College; teacher, principal, Eureka Elementary School; reporter, Birmingham News, 1964. Honors–…

  • KNOX, JOHN, 1905-1983

    Biography: Writer. Born September 17, 1905, Carlsbad, N.M.  Parents– Thomas Spence Knox and Lucile Pauline Schwerdtfeger Knox.  Married–Elsie Lorene Oliver, 24 March 1941. Children– Four. Education– Abilene Christian College; McMurry College. Spent his early childhood in Eutaw, Ala., where his father was a Presbyterian minister; later moved to South Carolina, Texas, and back to Decatur,…

  • KNIGHT, MICHAEL, 1969-

    Biography; Novelist; professor of creative writing.  Born December 15, 1969, Mobile. B.A., Hampden-Sydney College; M.A., University of Southern Mississippi; MFA, University of Virginia.  Professor of  Creative Writing and Director of the Creative Writing Program at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Publishes short stories and reviews in periodicals, as well as novels.  Winner of the John and…

  • COBB, WILLIAM SLEDGE, 1937-

    Biography: Writer; University professor. Born– October 20, 1937, Eutaw; grew up in Demopolis. Parents– Sledge and Inez (Land) Cobb. Married– Loretta Douglas, August 15, 1965. Children– One. Education– Livingston State University, A.B., 1961; Vanderbilt University, M.A., 1963.  Professor and writer in residence at the University of Montevallo, 1963-2000. Published short stories, plays, and novels.  fellowship…

  • GASTON, ARTHUR GEORGE, 1892-1996

    Biography: Entrepreneur. Born– July 4, 1892, Demopolis. Parents–Tom and Rosa Gaston.  Married– Creola Smith Gaston. Children– One. Education– Study at Tuggle Institute, a private school for African-American students in Birmingham. Served in U.S.Army, WWI.  Laborer at Tennessee Coal, Iron & Steel Co.; in 1923 organized, with L.A. Smith,  a burial society which grew into a Forty-million-dollar business empire…

  • GASSMAN, OLA McDILL McCOWN, 1914-1971

    Biography: Homemaker, writer. Born– October 10, 1914, Huntsville. Parents– Joseph A. and Lubel (Darwin) McCown. Married– Harold Gassman. Children– Two. First woman speaker at convention of 4,000 members of the National Funeral Directors Association.  Died November 25, 1971. Source: Rome, Ga., Public Library. Publication(s): Daddy was an Undertaker. New York; Vantage Press, 1952. Fragments, Torn…

  • BROWN, JOE DAVID, 1915-1976

    Biography: Journalist, novelist. Born– May 12, 1915, Birmingham. Parents– William Samuel and Lucille (Lokey) Brown. Married– Mildred Harbour, October 24, 1935. Children–two. Married– Frances O’Reilly, 1945. Children–one. Education– Attended the University of Alabama. Military service:  46th Parachute Field Artillery Battalion, WWII.  Worked as reporter and editor for newspapers in Alabama, Tennessee, Atlanta,  and Missouri; feature writer for…

  • WILLIAMS, RALPH CHESTER, 1888-1984

    Biography: Physician; medical administrator. Born– July 24, 1888, in Uchee, Russell County, Ala. Parents– Arthur R. and Susan (Tatum) Williams. Married– Annie Worrill Perry, February 26, 1913. Children– One. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute, B.S., 1907; University of Alabama School of Medicine, Mobile, M.D., 1910. Practiced in Madison and Russell Counties until 1916. U.S. Public Health…

  • TATUM, EDITH BRITTAIN CRENSHAW, 1877-1955

    Biography: Musician, writer. Born– Sept. 2, 1877 in Greenville, Ala. Parents– Edward and Sarah Edith (Brittain) Crenshaw. Married– George Hamlet Tatum, Feb. 21, 1900. Children– One. Education– studied in homes of her father and her aunt; studied voice and piano under William Battenhausen; did further study with German master, Ignaz Maschles.  Died February 13, 1955.…

  • TAYLOR, THOMAS JONES, 1829-1894

    Biography: Educator; elected official. Born– July 2, 1829 in Talladega. Parents– Mai and Ann Johnston (McCartney) Taylor. Married– Lockey Thompson Douglass, December 10, 1850. Children–six.  Commissioned as a captain in Company K, 9th Alabama Infantry, CSA. Captured at Port Hudson, Mississippi, 1863; held as a prisoner of War at Johnson’s Island, Ohio. Madison County surveyor, 1858-62 and…

  • TAYLOR, LILY ROSS, 1886-1969.

    Biography; Professor of classics; college administrator. Born– Aug. 12, 1886 in Auburn, Ala. Parents– William Dana and Mary Forte (Ross) Taylor. Education– University of Wisconsin, A.B., 1906; studied at American Academy of Rome; Bryn Mawr, Ph.D., 1912 (Bryn Mawr had one of the first independent departments of archaelogy and was one of the first colleges to award…