Alabama Authors

Category: All

  • WARD, DONALD G., 1911-1984

    Biography: Author; teacher, editor. Born– December 9, 1911, in Scipioville, N.Y. Parents– Claude Mastin and Mae (Bishop) Ward. Married– Elizabeth Newton,  June 24, 1936. Children– Four. Education– Syracuse University, A.B., 1935, Ph.D., 1941; studied law, 1943-1945. Taught at State University of New York, Brockport, 1939-1945. Editor, Western Publishing Co., Racine, Wisc., and New York City,…

  • WALTERS, JOHN BENNETT, JR., 1912-1979

    Biography: College professor; historian. Born– May 13, 1912, in Cordele, Ga. Education– Vanderbilt University, Ph.D., 1947. Taught at Vanderbilt, 1945-1947; Emory and Henry College, 1947-1956; University of Montevallo, 1956-1980; chairman, Dept. of Social Sciences, 1956-1980; acting dean of men, 1957-1959; dean, 1959-1979. Chairman, Board of Directors, Shelby Memorial Hospital, 1975-79. The John B. Walters Scholarship, named…

  • JONES, SAMUEL B., JR., 1933-2016

    Biography: Botanist, professor of botany. Born– Dec. 18, 1933, Roswell, Ga. Parents–Samuel B. Jones Sr. and Mary Bell Nichols Jones.  Married–Carleen Arrington, 1955.  Children–three. Education– Auburn University, B.S., 1955, M.S., 1961; University of Georgia, Ph.D., 1964. Served in US Army and US Army Reserves; retired at rank of lieutenant colonel. Taught at South Cobb High School…

  • JONES, ROBERT (BOB) REYNOLDS, 1883-1968

    Biography: Evangelist, religious broadcaster, college founder and president.  Born– Oct. 30, 1883, Skipperville, Ala. Parents– William Alexander and Georgia (Creel) Jones. Married– Bernice Sheffield, Oct. 24, 1905 (died 1906). Married– Mary Gaston Stollenwerck, June 17, 1908. Children– One. Education–Mallalieu Seminary[secondary school], Kinsey, Alabama, graduated 1900. Southern University, Greensboro, 1901-1904. Licensed to preach in the Methodist Episcopal Church,…

  • BASLER, ROY PRENTICE, 1906-1989

    Biography: Historian, college professor, librarian. Born– November 19, 1906, St. Louis, Mo. Parents– Roy Prentice and Mary (Olsen) Basler. Married– Virginia Pearl Anderson, August 31, 1929. Children– Five. Education– Central College in Fayette, Missouri, A.B., 1927; Duke University, A.M., 1930, Ph.D., 1931.  High school teacher, Caruthersville, Mo., 1926-28; professor of English at Ringling College, 1931-34;…

  • JONES, THOMAS G., 1874-1970

    Biography: Methodist Clergyman. Born– Ozark, Ala., 1874.  Parents–Thomas Charles Jones.   Married– Laura Elizabeth Carr, June 15, 1905.  Children– Four. Education– Troy State Teachers College; Southern University. Worked as farmhand, logger, teacher, then became a Methodist minister and served as a pastor for over forty years, with churches at Luverne, Lapine, Abbeville, Opp, Elba, Wetumpka, Clanton, Demopolis,…

  • JONES, MARY MARTIN, 1916-1983

    Biography: High school teacher; hospital and office worker.  Born– Anniston, February 4, 1916. Parents–Edwin and Sallie W. Martin. Married– Lynn Jones. Education– Anniston High School; B.S., Huntingdon College. Moved away from Anniston for some time, but returned for three years in the 1950’s and worked at Anniston Memorial Hospital. In 1954, moved to California. Died October 30,…

  • JONES, MADISON PERCY, JR., 1925-2012.

    Biography: Writer. Born– March 21, 1925, Nashville, Tenn. Parents– Madison Percy and Mary Temple (Webber) Jones. Married– Shailah McEvilley, February 5, 1951. Children– Five. Education– Vanderbilt University, A.B., 1949; A.M., 1951; University of Florida, post-graduate study, 1951-1953. U.S. Army, 1945-1946; taught Miami University in Oxford, Ohio, 1953-1954; University of Tennessee, 1954-1956; Auburn University, 1956-87.  Wrote…

  • McNEILL, ROBERT BLAKELY, 1915-1975

    Biography: Presbyterian clergyman; advocate of improved race relations in the South.  Born– May 21, 1915, Birmingham, Ala. Parents– Walter Patterson and Mary McLeod McNeill. Married– Jeanne Lancaster, August 25, 1944. Children– Two. Education– A.B., Birmingham Southern College, 1936; B.D., Union Theological Seminary, 1942; M.A. University of Kentucky, 1944; graduate work, University of Alabama, University of…

  • McQUEEN, JAMES WILLIAM, 1900-1954

    Biography: Hospital administrator, physician, writer.  Born– June 9, 1900, Birmingham.  Parents– James W. and Lydia (Edwards) McQueen. Married– Gladys Emmerson. Children– Three. Education– University of Alabama; Rush Medical College, Chicago. Employed as administrator, Hillman-Jefferson Hospital, Birmingham, 1936; Chief of Hospital Administration, University of Alabama Medical College, Birmingham, 1944. Wrote under pseudonyms James G. Edwards and…

  • MELLOWN, ROBERT OLIVER, 1945-

    Biography: University Professor. Born– May 8, 1945, York, Ala. Parents– Elgin W. and Georgia (Clay) Mellown. Education– B.A., University of Alabama, 1967; Ph.D., University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, 1975. Employed as an art instructor, University of Alabama, 1971. Source: Robert W. Mellown. Publication(s): The University of Alabama; a Guide to the Campus. Tuscaloosa, Ala.;…

  • MELLOWN, BENNIE CATHERINE, 1906-1997

    Biography: Teacher. Born– September 25, 1906, Birmingham, Ala. Parents– Luther Smith and Sudie (Crumly) Mellown. Education– Florence State Teachers College; B.S., Howard College; M.A., University of Alabama. Employed as teacher, Hillview, 1928-1935; Crumly, 1935-1939; Sayre, 1939-1944; Sandusky, 1944. Member– Jefferson County Classroom Teachers Association, Jefferson County Elementary Teachers, N.E.A., A.E.A., Alpha Delta Kappa. Honors– Freedom Foundation…

  • MILAM, LOUISE

    See Julich, Dorothy Louise Milam

  • LIDDON, ELOISE, 1897-1954

    Biography: Writer. Born June 3, 1897,  Gordon, Al.   Parents–Earnest L. and Callie Maroney. Education– Woman’s College of Alabama (Huntingdon College), 1915. Married– George Albert Soper, July 12, 1923. Lived part of her early life in Florida and much in Alabama;  traveled extensively in Europe and Asia. Honors– Silver Award in the Thomas Jefferson Contest…

  • KATZ, ELAINE SCHOENBERGER

    Biography: Folklorist; college professor. Born– Luxembourg. Came to the US around 1940. Parents–Davin and Ilse Schoenberger. Married– George Katz. Children– Three. Education– Northwestern University, B.A.; University of Alabama, M.A., 1962, Ph.D., 1978. Lived in Germany and England, then in New York, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Michigan, and Illinois before settling in Selma, Ala. Taught at the University of…

  • KALNOKY, INGEBORG LOUISE, 1909-1997

    Biography: Artist, bookkeeper, statistician. Born– Jan. 27, 1909, Metz, France. Parents– Dietrich and Hertha (Rasmuss) von Breitenbuch, of Germany. Married– Count Hugo Kalnoky, of Hungary, June 24, 1934. Children– Four. Education– Academy of Fine Arts in Munich, 1931-1933; studied art in Berlin, 1933-1934. She and her husband opposed the Nazis and were forced to flee…

  • JEMISON, EDITH GRACE, 1884-1980

    Biography: Accountant, business manager, local historian. Born December 18, 1884, near Cheaha Creek in Talladega County. Parents– Robert Mims and Mary C. (Howard) Jemison. Education– Talladega schools; business college. Worked for Talladega National Bank; Talladega Fertilizer Company; administrator, Citizens Hospital; cashier and office manager, Samoset Cotton Mills; accountant, Bemis Brothers Bag Company.   A founder of Talladega County…

  • KAHN, LAWRENCE, 1921-

    Biography: Physician, medical educator, writer. Born– July 16, 1921, New York, N.Y. (Grew up in Gadsden, where his family moved when he was seven).  Parents–Benjamin and Rose Kahn.  Married– Jane Sherman, June 3, 1943. Children– Three. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1941; spent a postgraduate year at UA in Hudson Strode’s creative writing program;  Louisiana…

  • JULICH, DOROTHY LOUISE MILAM, 1912-2011.

    Biography: Executive secretary; genealogist.  Born– Jan. 1, 1912, Decatur, Ala. Parents– Eugene Edward and Perkins (Stroup) Milam. Married– Jule M. Julich, June 11, 1936. Children– Three. Education– Blackwood Davis Business University, Oklahoma City; John Calhoun Junior College, Decatur, Ala.; University of Alabama Extension Center in Huntsville. Executive Secretary, Oklahoma Natural Gas Corp., Oklahoma Dept. of…

  • JONES, ZELON B., 1909-1986

    Biography: Teacher. Born– Oct. 2, 1909, Alexander City, Ala. Parents– George and Flossie (Cannon) Bailey. Married– David A. Jones, Sept. 20, 1930. Children– Three. Education– Jacksonville State University. Taught first grade at small schools and at Sylavon, B.B. Comer, and Main Avenue Schools in Sylacauga, retiring in 1965. Wrote down anecdotes and was convinced by friends…

  • BENEFIELD, LARRY D., 1942-

    Biography: Engineer; University professor of engineering. Born– October 15, 1942,   Roanoke. Married–Mary.  Children–two. Education– Auburn University, B.S., 1966; M.S., 1972; Virginia Polytechnic Institute, Ph.D., 1975. Served as an officer/combat engineer in the U. S. Air Force in Vietnam, 1966-71.  Awarded the Bronze Star for his service.  Taught at Mississippi State University, 1975-76; at the University of…

  • PARKER, MELISSA BENEFIELD

    Writer.  Born– Montgomery, AL.  Education– attended high school and college in Montgomery.  Publisher and writer for Smashing Interviews magazine. Co-author: Prattville, Alabama: A Brief history of the Fountain City.  History Press, 2012.

  • PARKER, MARC

    Born– Montgomery, AL.  Education–attended high school and college in Montgomery. Co-author; Prattville, Alabama: A Brief History of the Fountain City.  History Press, 2012.

  • WILLIAMS, MARGARET JOHNSON, 1902-1991.

    Biography: Writer. Born– February 6, 1902, in Elkton, Tenn. Parents– George W. and Mary (Hanna) Johnson. Married– Horace G. Williams, June 29, 1923. Education– Judson College, A.B., 1922; University of Texas, A.M., 1924. Wrote Christian training literature for Southern Baptist Sunday School Board, twenty years. Died Feb. 6, 1991. Source: Alabama Public Library Service; Mrs.…

  • WILLIAMS, LEE ERSKINE, II, 1946-

    Biography: Historian; college professor. Born April 2, 1946, in Jackson, MS. Parents– Lee E. and Ruth Mae (Harris) Williams. Married– Rosetta Cassandra, December 22, 1973. Children– One. Education– Knoxville College, B.A., 1968; East Tennessee State University, M.A., 1970; Mississippi State University, Ph.D., 1975. Taught at Middle Tennessee State University, 1969-1972, University of Alabama, Huntsville, 1972.…

  • WALKER, ROBERT HENRY, JR., 1916-1985

    Biography: Journalist. Born– February 11, 1916, in Athens, Ala. Parents– Robert Henry and Memory Pryor (McClellan) Walker. Education– Athens Public School; Birmingham Southern College. Wrote for several Athens area newspapers. Received a historical award from governor 1978. Died May 22, 1985. Source: Sara H. Walker, Athens, Ala.. Publication(s): History of Limestone County, Alabama. Athens, Ala.;…

  • WALKER, MARGARET

    See: Alexander, Margaret Abigail Walker.

  • BRANSCOMB, BENNETT HARVIE, 1894-1998

    Biography: Theologian; University professor, administrator, librarian. Born– December 25, 1894, Huntsville. Parents– Lewis Capers and Nancy (McAdory) Branscomb. Married– Margaret Vaughan, June 15, 1921. Children– Three. Education– Birmingham Southern College, A.B., 1913, Oxford University, Rhodes Scholar, 1914-1917; Columbia University, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., 1924. Served on the Commission for Relief of Belgium, 1914-15; served briefly in the…

  • BLANDIN, ISABELLA MARGARET ELIZABETH JOHN, 1838 -1912

    Biography: Teacher, social worker. Born– April  30, 1838, Autauga County, Alabama. Parents– Joseph Reid John and Rosanna Jane (Smith) John. Lived at Uniontown, Montgomery and Selma. Married– John Wirt Blandin. Children– Three. Taught in Selma and Montgomery, and in Houston, Tex. Organized Houston’s first mission board and was its president for several years; helped establish free…

  • WERTENBAKER, LAEL TUCKER, 1909-1997

    Biography: Journalist. Born– March 28, 1909, in Bradford, Pa.; grew up in Mobile.  Parents– Royal and Juliet (Luttrell) Tucker. Married– Charles Christian Wertenbaker, September 1942 (died 1955). Children– Two. Married– Branwell Fletcher, September 1970. Education– University of Louisville.   Road secretary, Theatre Guild, Inc., of New York City, 1929-1938; foreign and war correspondent, Time, Inc., 1940-1955;…

  • WELCH, PAULETTE VIRGINIA, 1945-

    Biography: Library worker. Born– January 19, 1945, in Anniston, Ala. Parents– Paulie and Virginia Welch. Married. Children– One. Education–   Anniston High School. Victim of cerebral palsy. Worked at Public Library of Anniston and Calhoun County, November, 1969-; with arms braced on books she wrote daily radio book reviews, weekly newspaper columns, church newsletter column; published…

  • WEISHEIT, ELDON, 1933-1998

    Biography: Lutheran clergyman.  Born– January 13, 1933, in Clayton, Ill. Parents– Harry and Edna (Gamm) Weisheit. Married– Carolyn Pomerenke, August 15, 1954. Children– Three. Education– Concordia Theological Seminary, 1962.  Pastor, McComb, Mich., 1962-1965; Montgomery, Ala., 1965-1971. Associate editor, Lutheran Witness, 1971-1975; Roselle, Ill., 1976-77; Tucson, AZ, 1977-98.  Died January 20, 1998. Source: Contemporary Authors, Vol.…

  • BENNERS, ALFRED HATCH, 1849-1935

    Biography: Lawyer. Born– February 22, 1849, Greensboro. Parents– Augustus and Jane (Hatch) Benners. Married– Margaret Chadwick Jones, February 2, 1871. Children– Four. Education– Southern University, 1868. Attorney at Greensboro, 1870. Lived in Dallas, Tex., 1875-1885; Greensboro, 1885-1890. Represented Hale County in the Alabama Legislature, 1888-1889. In 1890 moved to Birmingham. Served as chancellor of the…

  • ALEXANDER, MARGARET ABIGAIL WALKER, 1915-1998

    Biography: Poet, novelist, University professor. Born– July 7, 1915, Birmingham. Married– Firnist James Alexander, June 13, 1943.  Children– Four. Education– Northwestern University, B.A., 1915; University of Iowa, M.A., 1940, Ph.D., 1965. Worked for the Federal Writers Project, 1936-39.  Taught at Livingstone College (North Carolina), 1941-1942, 1945, West Virginia State College, 1942-1943, and Jackson State College…

  • VROMAN, MARY ELIZABETH CUNNINGHAM, 1925-1967

    Biography: Teacher; writer. Born– 1925 in Buffalo, N.Y. Parents Charles and ____ Cunningham. Married– Oliver M. Harper. Education– Alabama State University, B.A., 1949.  Reared in the West Indies. Taught at Camden Academy, Camden, Ala.; in Sylacauga and Montgomery, Ala.; and in Chicago and New York. Music and art coordinator for the New York City Board…

  • VON BRAUN, WERNHER, 1912-1977

    Biography: Engineer, Born– March 23, 1912, in Wirsitz, Germany. Parents– Baron Magnus and Emmy (Von Quistorp) Von Braun. Married– Maria Von Quistorp, March 1, 1947. Children– Three. Education– Institute of Technology, Zurich, 1930; Institute of Technology, Berlin, B.S., 1932; University of Berlin, Ph.D., 1934. Assistant to Professor Oberth while experimenting with small liquid fuel rocket…

  • VOLZ, JAMES THOMAS, 1953-

    Biography: Teacher, theatrical director. Born– August 1, 1953, in Dayton, Ohio Parents– John Louis and Betty Jean (Lauber) Volz. Married– Evelyn Carol Case, May 22, 1982. Children– two.  Education– Wright State University, B.A., 1971; Bowling Green State University, M.A., 1976; University of Colorado, Ph.D., 1984; also New York University, Fund Raising School. Taught at Bowling…

  • VOLTZ, JEANNE APPLETON, 1920-2002

    Biography: Journalist; food writer. Born– November 20, 1920, in Collinsville, Ala. Parents– James Lamar and Marie (Sewell) Appleton. Married– Luther Manship Voltz, July 31, 1943. Children– Two. Married Frank Barnett McKnight, August 6, 1988. Education– University of Montevallo, A.B., 1942; Academie Cordon Bleu, 1960; University of California, Los Angeles, 1970. Correspondent, Birmingham News, 1940-1942; Mobile Press…

  • VOLKER, JOSEPH FRANCES, 1913-1989

    Biography: Dentist, teacher; university administrator. Born– March 9, 1913, in Elizabeth, N.J. Parents–Frank and Rose Volker.  Married– Juanita Berry on February 6, 1937. Children– Three. Education– Indiana University, D.D.S., 1936; University of Rochester, A.B., 1938; M.S., 1939, Ph.D., 1941; Dental residency at Mountainside Hospital, N.J., 1936-1937. Taught at School of Medicine and Dentistry, University of…

  • VINES, CHARLES JERRY, 1937-

    Biography: Baptist Clergyman; denominational leader.   Born– September 22, 1937, in Carrollton, Ga. Parents– Clarence and Ruby  Vines.  Married– Janet Denney, December, 17, 1961. Children– Four. Education– Mercer University, B.A.; New Orleans Seminary, B.D.; Luther Rice Seminary, Th.D. Pastor, West Rome Baptist Church, Rome, Ga; Dauphin Way Baptist Church, Mobile, Ala.; First Baptist Church (3rd largest…

  • VINES, WILLIAM MADISON, 1867-1952

    Biography: Baptist clergyman. Born– December 18, 1867, in Jonesboro, Tenn. Parents– William Lafayette and Nancy (Carr) Vines. Married– Rubie Painter, January 29, 1896; married  Ivy Henderson, April 30, 1902. Education– Central Normal College, Danville, Ind., 1893; Louisville Theological Seminary, 1894-1895; University of Chicago, 1898-1899. Ordained in the Baptist Church 1893. Pastor in Johnson City, Tenn.;…

  • VINES, HOWELL HUBERT, 1899-1981

    Biography: Author; college professor. Born– November 22, 1899, in Short Creek, Jefferson County, Ala. Parents– Lawrence James and Mary Frances Vines. Married– Alma Huey. Children– One. Education– University of Alabama, A.B.; Harvard, A.M. Taught English at Rice Institute (1925-27), University of Richmond (1928-29) and Shorter College (1931-32).  After 1932 lived in Hueytown and later in Montgomery and…

  • VINCENT, JOHN HEYL, 1832-1920

    Biography: Clergyman; Methodist bishop; founder of the modern Sunday School movement and the Chatauqua institution.. Born– February 23, 1832, in Tuscaloosa, Ala.; moved to Pennsylvania with his family at the age of six.  Parents– John Himrod and Mary (Raser) Vincent. Married–  Sarah Elizabeth Dusenbury, November 10, 1858. Children– One. Education– Lewisburg, Academy;  Wesleyan Institute, Newark, N.J., and…

  • VENABLE, AUSTIN LEWIS, 1902-1980.

    Biography: College professor; historian. Born– May 15, 1902, in Wetumpka, Ala. Parents– William E. and Susan Roberta (Allen) Venable. Married– Nell Smith. Education– University of Alabama, B.A. and M.A.; Vanderbilt, Ph.D.; also studied at University of Chicago. Teaching fellow, University of Alabama, 1928. Taught history at Vanderbilt University, 1935-1937; University of Arkansas, 1937-1945; Winthrop College,…

  • VICKERY, KATHERINE, 1898-1978.

    Biography: College professor; psychologist; advocate of women’s rights. Born– March 5, 1898, in Dahlonega, Ga. Parents– Elias Benton and Etta (McMillan) Vickery. Education– North Georgia College, A.B., 1918; George Peabody College, A.M., 1919; Ph.D., 1929. Taught English and Latin in Millington, Tenn, 1919-1922; psychology at Alabama College (University of Montevallo), 1922-1948; Chairperson, Dept. of Psychology,…

  • VAUGHAN, SUSAN KIRKMAN, 1861-1944.

    Biography: Historian; Teacher. Born September 15, 1861,  Florence, Ala. Parents– Samuel and Elizabeth (Woods) Kirkman. Married– David Vaughan, December 6, 1892. Children– One. Education– O’Bryan School, Nashville, Tenn; Florence Synodical Female College; University of Chicago, Ph.D.; Peabody Normal College. Taught at Florence Synodical College; in public schools; taught history at Florence State Normal School, 1898-. …

  • VAUGHAN, GEORGE LESTER, 1891-1981

    Biography: Clergyman, editor. Born– September 23, 1891, near Roswell, Ga. Parents– Anderson and Julia (Lindsey) Vaughan. Married– Katie Stephenson, 1928. Children– Seven. Education– grade school at Snead College School and Colfax School; Burleson College School, 1919-1922; graduated, 1924; later attended East Texas Teachers College. Moved with family to Albertville and Whiton, Ala.; then to Texas.…

  • VANSWORD, ROBERT CYPRIAN, 1921-1994

    Biography: Teacher of languages. . Born– September 16, 1921, in Przemysl, Poland. Education– J. Slowacki College, B.A., 1939; State Teachers College, Poland, B.S., 1940; University of Lvov, M.A., 1941, Ph.D., 1944; City College of New York, B.A., 1956. Taught junior colleges in Poland, 1939-1943; visiting Professor for the United Nations Relief Agency at the University…

  • UNDERWOOD, OSCAR WILDER, 1862-1929

    Biography: Lawyer, state legislator, U.S. Senator. Born– May 6, 1862, in Louisville, Ky. Parents– Eugene and Frederica Virginia Underwood. Married– Eugenia Morris, October 8, 1896 (D. 1900).. Children– Two. Married– Bertha Woodward, 1904. Education– Rugby School, Louisville, Ky. (graduated 1879); University of Virginia. Admitted to the bar 1884; began the practice of law in Birmingham.  Chairman,…

  • VAN CLEVE, EMERSON SPROATT, 1907-1979

    Biography: Music teacher. Born– January 19, 1907, in Terre Haute, Ind. Parents– Shirley and Hallie (Walker) Van Cleave. Married– Eleanor Ruth Parker, June 13, 1931. Children– One. Education– DePaul University, B.S., 1929; Indiana State University, M.A., 1937. Taught music at Southern Illinois University, 1939-1945; head, Music Department, Livingston State University, 1946-1950; music consultant, Alabama State…