Alabama Authors

Category: All

  • CUMMING, KATE, 1835-1909

    Biography: Nurse, teacher. Born–Edinburgh, Scotland, 1835. Parents– David and Jessie Cummings. Emigrated to Mobile with her family in the 1840’s. Went to Corinth, Mississippi, to help nurse Confederate soldiers after the Battle of Shiloh, and in August 1862 volunteered to work as a nurse with the Army of the Tennessee under its medical director Dr. Samuel…

  • CRENSHAW, HERVEY FILES, JR.,1904-1970

    Biography: Attorney.   Born–May 23, 1904, Montgomery. Parents– Hervey Files Sr. and Pauline (Smith) Crenshaw. Married– Gladys Sessions, December 26, 1945. Education– University of Alabama; Harvard Law School, 1926.  Attorney for State Board of Adjustments, 1935-1952. President of the Montgomery Bar Association. Vice president of Brown Printing Co. Died May 4, 1970. Source: Files at Alabama…

  • CORUM, BETTY JO, 1927-1970

    Biography: Church director of education; denominational executive. Born– February 11, 1927, Knoxville, Tenn. Parents– W. W. and Mary Elizabeth (Brewer) Corum. Education– Graduated from Carson Newman College, 1949; Southern Baptist Theological Seminary, M.R.E., 1954. Served as education director of Robertsville Baptist Church in Oak Ridge, Tenn.; director of  Junior-Intermediate work for the Training Union Department…

  • COOPER, HERSTON MACAGER, 1901-1986

    Biography: Criminologist. Born– March 7, 1901, Birmingham. Parents– Benjamin Andrew and Sarah (Sallie) Osborne Cooper. Married– Claire Virginia Averyt. Children– Three. Education– Birmingham Southern College, A.B., M.A. Taught at Phillips High School in Birmingham; member of the Bar of the State of Alabama; criminologist after 1933.  Major, U. S. Army. Served as chancellor of the National…

  • COOK, ELLA BOOKER, 1883-1974

    Biography: Artist; writer. Born–August 24, 1883, Attala County, Mississippi. Reared in the Black Belt of Alabama. Parents–Monroe A. and Mollie M. Brown Booker.  Married– Victor A. Cook. Education– Rural education was supplemented by teachers her parents brought to the farm from time to time. Lived in Houston, Texas, after her marriage.  Worked as an artist…

  • COOK, BEN, 1945-2015

    Biography: Sportswriter; radio host. Born– November 6, 1945, Birmingham. Parents– Barney B. and Marion N. Cook. Married– Cathie Arbo. Education– University of Alabama; University of Alabama in Birmingham; Birmingham Southern College, B.S., 1972. Worked for the Birmingham News, 1967-1970; Marietta Journal, 1973-1975; the SEC Sports Journal, 1977-1983. Writings appeared in many publications including the Sporting…

  • CONWELL, HUGH EARLE, 1893-1973

    Biography: Physician. Born– December 29, 1893, Oakman. Parents– Thomas and Catherine (Williams) Conwell. Married– Mary Lou Perry Hooper, January 16, 1949. Education– University of Alabama Medical School, M.D., 1915.  U.S. Medical Corps, WWI. Practiced medicine in Birmingham as an orthopaedic surgeon beginning in 1915; served as associate professor of orthopaedic surgery at the University of Alabama…

  • CONSTANCE, KATE W., 1907-1990

    Biography: Realtor, editor. Born- October 6, 1907, in either Meridian, Miss. or Mobile. Married– Samuel J. Constance.  Lived in Alabama, California, New York, Missouri and Florida; in Montgomery in 1945 and 1946. Worked as a secretary to the manager of a newspaper, as an editor with an Atlanta publisher of business magazines and for a…

  • COMINGS, LYDIA JANE NEWCOMB, 1850-1946

    Biography: Teacher; lecturer. Born– July 25, 1850, Spring Lake, Mich. Parents– John H. and Frances (Sinclair) Newcomb. Married– S. Huntington Comings, 1902 ( died  1907). Education– Graduated from Mrs. L. H. Stone’s Seminary in Kalamazoo, Mich. Taught at the Ravenswood (Chicago) Public School, 1876-1885; taught at the Moravian Seminary, Bethlehem, Pa., 1895-1898; lecturer on physical…

  • COLEMAN, WILLIAM LAURENCE, 1920-1982

    Biography: Novelist, playwright, editor. Born– August 2, 1920, Bartow, Georgia. Parents– John Aldine and Delle Coleman. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1942. U.S. Navy, WWII.  Served as associate editor of Ladies Home Journal, 1947-50; Collier’s, 1951-55; Good Housekeeping, 1961-63; and McCall’s, 1964-72. Wrote novels and plays. Member Authors Guild and Authors League of America.  Died…

  • COLEMAN, JOHN SHIELDS, 1894-1972

    Biography: Attorney, banker. Born– November 13, 1894, Jasper. Parents– E. W. and Nancy (Shields) Coleman. Married– Gertrude Davidson, July 7, 1921 (died 1924). Married– May Steiner, April 28, 1928. Children–one. Married– Dorothy H. Morrow, July 14, 1970. Education– University of Alabama, LL.B., 1915. Admitted to the Alabama Bar, 1915.  U. S. Army, WWI.  Practiced law in Birmingham,…

  • COLCORD, BRADFORD CLAUDE, 1897-1953

    Biography: Steel executive. Born– March 14, 1897, Instanter, Pennsylvania. Parents–Amos Watson Colcord and Eva Bradford Colcord. Married–Elizabeth Peterson Philips, December 29, 1923.  Education–University of Michigan, 1921.  US Navy, WWI. Work as superintendent, Crucible Steel,, 1926-30; St. Louis Gas and Coke, 1930-33. Came to Birmingham in 1933 to work as superintendent of the blast furnaces of the…

  • COHEN, OCTAVUS ROY, 1891-1959

    Biography: Writer. Born– June 26, 1891, Charleston, S.C. Parents– Octavus and Rebecca Ottolengui Cohen. Married– Inez Lopez of Bessemer. Children– One. Education– Graduated from Porter Military Academy, 1908; Clemson College, B.S., 1911. Between 1910 and 1912 he worked in the editorial departments of the Birmingham Ledger, the Charleston News and Courier, the Bayonne Times, and…

  • COCKE, ZITELLA, 1840-1929

    Biography: Writer; music teacher, composer.  Born– November 10, 1840, Marion, Ala. Parents– Woodson St. George and Mary Elizabeth (Binyon) Cocke. Education– Graduated from Judson College, 1856. Travelled and studied music in Europe. Beginning in 1869 she was for several years principal of the Music Department at Judson; director of the Music Department in the University…

  • COATS, FLORINE

    Biography: Telephone operator; hotel manager. Born–December 12, 1908, Harpersville. Parents– James Simpson Newman and Jessie Married– Royal M. Coats, May 2, 1942. Children– One. with her husband, managed hotels in Alabama, Tennessee, Louisiana, and Florida. After Mr. Coats died she lived at Harpersville. Died May 29, 2001. Source: Files at Alabama Public Library Service and…

  • CLARK, GEORGE HUNTINGTON, 1859-1941

    Biography: Railroad and mining engineer. Born–  March 3, 1859, Providence, R.I. Parents– Charles and Ann Elizabeth Huntingdon Clark. Married– Rosalie Heustis. Children– Two. Education– Yale University. Worked for the New York and Lackawanna Railroad and for several other railroads before he came to Alabama to engineer the location of the Selma and Cahaba Valley Railroad in 1887;…

  • CLARK, ELMER TALMAGE, 1886-1966

    Biography: Methodist clergyman and denominational official. Born– September 9, 1886, Randolph County, Ark. Parents– Henry Akin and Ellen A. (Kirkpatrick) Clark. Married– Mary Alva Yarbrough, August 15, 1923. Education– Temple University, B.D., S.T.D., 1925; Birmingham Southern College, B.A., 1926; George Peabody College for Teachers, M.A., 1927. Ordained in the Methodist Episcopal Church, South, 1911; pastor…

  • CHAVEZ, JUDY TAYLOR, 1956-

    Biography: Escort; author. Raised in Alabama. Parents– Heyward and Marlyn Taylor. Married at seventeen and separated from her husband at nineteen. Graduated from Oakton High School, Fairfax, Va.; attended Northern Virginia Community College. Worked as a chauffeur, cocktail waitress, and escort. Part owner of Gold Mine Saloon in Panama City. In 1979, lived in the…

  • RUTH, WILLIAM HARDWICK, 1869-1956

    Biography: Optician, jeweler. Born– Sept. 12, 1869, Montgomery, Ala. Parents– Leonidas and Juliet (Hardwick) Ruth. Married– Maude Crook. Children– Four. Education– University of the South; Parsons’s School of Horology; two optician schools, New York. Jeweler and optician, Montgomery. Member social, literary, business clubs; Commercial and Industrial Associations (Chamber of Commerce); Episcopal Church; trustee, University of…

  • CHAMBERS, WALLACE JEROME, 1862-1954

    Biography: Photographer. Born– August 13, 1862, Bloomington, Wis. Parents– John Dwight and Jane (Glover) Chambers. Married– Ella Dumas, November 11, 1887. Children– One. Education– Attended Beloit College; studied with the leading photographers in Chicago, Detroit and Cleveland. Operated a photographic studio on Dexter Avenue in Montgomery. Photographed members of Alabama State Legislature, 1888-89. Died May…

  • CATHER, JAMES PAT, 1947-

    Biography: Book dealer. Born– May 12, 1947, Birmingham. Parents– William Heath and Virginia (Ritchie) Cather. Education– Jacksonville State University; University of Alabama in Birmingham. Partner in Cather & Brown Books, a firm specializing in out-of-print books about Alabama or by Alabama authors. Articles published in Music Memories Magazine and other periodicals. Source: James Pat Cather,…

  • WILLCUTT, C.C. (CLEM CLEMENCY), 1886-1976

    Biography; Clergyman; Evangelist.  Born– Corona, February 10, 1886.  Parents– Elijah and Amanda Willcutt.  Married–Cora Simmons, 1904. Children–twelve. Worked as a miner in Corona, 1904-1909; went to work for the Southern Railroad in 1909; operated a farm for a few years. Began his preaching career in 1921; served as pastor of several churches in central Alabama, including…

  • KIRBY, OTIS E., 1897-1989.

    Biography; Methodist clergyman.  Born–St. Clair County, December 31, 1897.  Parents–Lasley Stewart Kirby and Nannie Lee Spradley Kirby.  Married– Catherine Evans.  Children–two.  Married Ida Elizabeth Price Speakes, February 6, 1977.  Education–Attended the University of Alabama; Birmingham-Southern, B.A., 1924; Yale Divinity School; Emory Divinity School.  Taught at Birmingham-Southern, 1926-28 ; admitted to the Methodist Conference of North…

  • KIRBY, LELIAS EUGENE, 1895-1977

    Biography: Physician. Born– Oct. 28, 1895, Etowah County, Ala. Parents– Lasley Stewart and Nannie Lee (Spradley) Kirby. Married– Jean Harms, Aug. 19, 1927. Children– Three. Education– University of Alabama, B.S., 1924; Emory University, M.D., 1926.  U.S. Army, WWI. Organized the Wesley Foundation; served on the Jefferson County, Alabama Board of Education and the Board of…

  • WINTZELL, JAMES OLIVER, 1905-1980

    Biography; Restaurant owner.  Born– Coden, December 5, 1905.  Parents–Oliver George and Minnie Isabel Bosarge Wintzell.  Married–Zoe Wilhelmina Schambeau.  Children–two.  Education– attended Spring Hill College.  Worked at Dunbar and Dukate Canning Plant; operated several retail enterprises.  Opened an oyster bar on Dauphin Street in Mobile in 1938. Business prospered and expanded over the years into Mobile…

  • STYLES, DAISY MADARIS, 1919-2012

    Biography; Teacher; college instructor of education.  Born– Monticello (Pike County), December 13, 1919.  Parents– Charlie Thomas Madaris and Mattie Lavinia Ferguson Madaris. Married–George Styles, May 25, 1940.  Children–three Education– Attended Livingston State Teachers College; University of Alabama, B.S., 1939; M.A., 1957.   Taught in several area schools; worked as director of training for teachers of exceptional children in…

  • BYNUM, JASPER E., 1839-1923

    Biography: Farmer, businessman. Born– May 21, 1839, in a log cabin one-half mile northest of Oneonta. Parents– Tapley and Eliza (Cornelius) Bynum. Married– Frances Shockley, 1856. Children–four.  Married– Dicie Loucretia Glover Moody, 1864. Married– Martha Smith, 1905.  Served in the Confederate Army; farmed until 1867; after 1867, operated a merchantile business and owned a hotel in Oneonta.…

  • BRISTOW, GWEN, 1903-1980

    Journalist; writer.  Born– September 16, 1903, Marion, S.C. Parents– Louis Judson and Caroline Cornelia Winkler Bristow. Lived in Selma during her childhood and youth.  Married– Bruce Manning, June 14, 1929.  Education–Judson College, B.A., 1924; Columbia University School of Journalism.  Reporter for the New Orleans Times-Picayune, 1925-34; afterwards a free-lance writer.  Lived in New York, Connecticut, and…

  • BURKHARDT, ERDMANN WALTER, 1894-1977

    Biography: Architect, university professor. Born– January 23, 1894, Leipzig, Germany. Parents– Ernest and Emma (Heilmann) Burkhardt. Married– Varian Carpenter. Children– Three. Education– Washington State University, B.S.; Columbia University, M.S. Taught in the architecture department at Auburn University and served as the acting head of the department, 1929-1964.  Served as district officer for Alabama of the Historic American…

  • TYNES, MARY ELLA POLLARD, 1884-1975

    Poet. Born–Birmingham, February 7, 1884.  Parents– George W. and Willie Smith Pollard. Married–William Doric Tynes, June 30, 1914. Published poems in periodicals and anthologies.  Member of the Poetry Society of Alabama (first president), the Alabama Writers’ Conclave;  National League of American Penwomen. Founder of the Artists’ Forum.  Active in civic affairs in Birmingham.  Died May 17, 1975.…

  • RAY, LOUISE CRENSHAW, 1890-1956

    Poet.  Born Butler County, May 17, 1890.  Parents– Thaddeus Henry and Anne Hadden Crenshaw.  Married– Benjamin F. Ray, January 23, 1918.  Education– Methodist Women’s College (now Huntingdon), 1908; B.A., University of Alabama.  Member Alabama League of Pen Women.  Selected first Outstanding Alumna of Huntingdon College, 1929.  Died October 23, 1918. Source; ancestry.com Publications; Autumn Token.…

  • BURCHARD, ERNEST F., 1875-1961

    Biography: Geologist. Born– May 20, 1875, Independence, Kan. Parents– George W. and Alice (Boyd) Burchard. Married– Frances Elizabeth Baker, June 18, 1910. Education– Northwestern University, B.S., M.S.; University of Alabama, Sc.D., 1935. Mining geologist with the U.S. Geological Survey and with various state geological surveys, including Alabama; senior geologist for the Geological Survey of Alabama, 1945-1961.…

  • BUCK, JANIE BROWN, 1931-

    Biography: Publisher; music teacher. Born– August 31, 1931, Andalusia. Parents– Warren H. and Minnie Lou (Barnes) Brown. Married– William Pettus Buck, March 20, 1954. Children– Two. Education– Florida State University, degree in music education, 1953. Established Buck Publishing Company, 1979, to publish Southern authors. Associate member of the staff of Campus Crusade for Christ. Source:…

  • HARRIS, TRUDIER, 1948-

    Biography: University professor. Born– February 27, 1948, Mantua. Parents– Terrell and Unareed (Burton) Harris. Education– Stillman College, A.B., 1969; Ohio State University, M.A., 1972, Ph.D., 1973. Taught English at College of William and Mary, 1973-1979; University of North Carolina, 1979-1993; Emory University, 1993-1996; University of North Carolina, 1996-2009; University of Alabama, 2010-present. Published many articles…

  • BRYAN, JAMES ALEXANDER, 1863-1941

    Biography: Clergyman, teacher. Born– March 21, 1863, Kingstree, S.C. Parents– John P. and Mary Malissa Savage Bryan. Married–Leonora Clayton Howze, 1891.  Children– seven.  Education– University of North Carolina, B.A., 1885; Princeton Theological Seminary, B. D.,  1889. Taught at Gastonia Female Institute, 1884-1885. Supply minister in Birmingham, summer of 1888. Ordained, August 4, 1889.  Pastor, Third…

  • BRUNSON, MAY AUGUSTA, 1909-1970

    Biography: College professor, dean. Born– September 1, 1909, Mobile. Parents– Charles Augustus and May Leila (Davidson) Brunson. Education– Judson College, A.B., 1935; Teachers College Columbia University, M.A., 1945, Ed.D., 1957. Employed by Judson College; served as director of publicity, 1935-1938, director of admissions and instructor of English, 1938-1942; dean of students, 1942-1946. After 1946, employed…

  • BRUCE, WILLIAM HERSCHEL, 1856-1943

    Biography: Professor, college president. Born– April 8, 1856, Troup County, Ga. Parents– Hilery and Catherine (Pruitt) Bruce. Married– Lillie O. Hart. Children– Four. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute, A.B.; Baylor University, A.M.; Mercer University, Ph.D.; Trinity University, LL.D. Teacher in Texas schools and colleges; North Texas State Teachers College, president, 1906-1923. Chairman, Texas State Board of Examiners,…

  • BROWN, STEVEN FORD, 1952-

    Biography: Writer, translator, editor, publisher. Born– September 11, 1952, Florence. Parents– Ford M. and Gloria P. Brown. Education– University of Alabama in Birmingham; University of Houston Graduate School; Harvard Extension School.  Served as a writer-in-residence for Birmingham City middle schools and at the Living Learning Center at Indiana University. Director of Old Town Music Hall…

  • BROWN, MILTON PERRY, JR., 1928-

    Biography: Clergyman, university professor. Born– June 5, 1928, Bessemer. Parents– Milton and Elaine (Hood) Brown. Married– Anne Marie Cochran, April 1, 1950. Children– Two. Education– Birmingham Southern College, B.A., 1950; Louisville Presbyterian Theological Seminary, B.D., 1954; Duke University, Ph.D., 1959. Ordained a minister in the Presbyterian Church and served as pastor of a church in…

  • BROWN, LOU, 1898-1982

    Biography: Columnist. Born– January 24, 1898, Opp. Parents– Joseph Jerall and Missouri Scofield Barnes. Married– Warren Hathaway Brown, June 24, 1924. Children– Seven. Education– Judson College; Troy State Teachers College. Served as hostess for the Community Club in Andalusia. Wrote weekly column for the Andalusia Star News for thirty years. Honors; Named Star Scribe of…

  • BROOKS, SARA, 1911-

    Biography: Domestic Worker. Born– Black belt of west central Alabama. Parents– Will Brooks. Her mother died when she was one year old. Married– Jesse. Children– Five.  After working on her father’s farm she eventually moved to Cleveland and went into domestic service for thirty years. Source: You May Plow Here. Publication(s): You May Plow Here;…

  • BROCK, GEORGE WILLIAM, 1864-1941

    Biography: Teacher; College president.  Born– February 18, 1864, Etowah County. Parents– Josiah and Louisa (Riggs) Brock. Married– Carrie L. Luttrell, July 6, 1899 (died 1908).  Children–one. Married– Mary A. Boyd, August 10, 1910. Education– Graduated from the State Normal School at Florence; University of Alabama, A.B., 1900; studied at the University of the South. Teacher…

  • GAMBEL, JOHNNIE GENEVA RODEN DOLE, 1925-2017

    Biography; Genealogist; university staff.  Born January 1, 1925,  Florence, Lauderdale County; Parents– John Henry and Eunice Clayton Terrell Roden.  Married– Francis Henry Dole, Sr.  Children–four.  Married– E. Anthony Gambel.  Education– Coffee High School, graduated 1942; Larrimore Business College; additional study at the University of Arkansas at Little Rock, Shelton State College and the University of…

  • BRIDGMAN, FREDERICK ARTHUR, 1847-1928

    Biography: Artist. Born November 10, 1847,  Tuskegee. Parents– Frederick and Lovina Jennings Bridgman. Married– Florence Mott Baker, 1977 (died 1901).  Children–three.  Married–Marthe Jaegar, 1904.  Children–one. Education– Brooklyn Art School and the National Academy of Design; study under J. L. Gerome at the Ecole des Beaux Arts in Paris, 1866-1870. Identified as an “Orientalist” for his use…

  • BRANNON, PETER ALEXANDER, 1882-1967

    Biography: Historian; archivist; pharmacist. Born– August 30, 1882, Seale. Parents– George Thomas and Stephie (Greene) Brannon. Married– Frances Frazer, October 5, 1904. Children– Three. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute, Ph.G., 1900. Worked as a pharmacist chemist, 1900-1910; spent the remainder of his career with the Alabama Department of Archives and History, serving as curator, 1910-1941; archivist, 1941-1955, and…

  • TENNILLE, ANTOINETTE CATHRYN, “TONI”, 1940-

    Biography; Singer-songwriter; keyboardist.  Born May 8, 1940, Montgomery.  Parents– Frank and Cathryn Tennille.  Family moved to Balboa, California, in 1959. Married; Kenneth Shearer; married Daryl Dragon.  Education–attended Auburn University; performed with the musical group Auburn Knights as a student.  Formed the popular duo “The Captain and Tennille” with her husband Daryl Dragon in 1973; earned five…

  • BRANDON, MICHAEL

    Biography: Metallurgist.  Born– Birmingham. Source: Files at Birmingham Public Library and at Alabama Department of Archives and History. Publication(s): Nonce, a Novel. New York; Coward, 1944.

  • BONNIE, FREDERIC JOSEPH, 1945-2000.

    Biography: Writer, editor. Born– October 11, 1945, at Bridgton, Me. Parents– F. Leroy and Helen Louise (Gilmore) Bonnie. Married– Susan Marchant, June 22, 1967. Married– Ellen Sullivan, December 30, 1974. Married– Wendy Watts, September 21, 1984; married–Rhonda Carter.  Children– One. Education– University of Vermont, B.A., 1971; attended the University of Maine in Portland; the University…

  • BONNER, WILLIAM HOMER, 1924-2015

    Biography: University professor. Born– June 5, 1924, Nauvoo. Parents– Lee H. and Willie Ann (Baughn) Bonner. Married– Martha Sue Wilson, December 20, 1969. Children– Two. Education– Livingston University, B.S., 1948; University of Tennessee, M.S., 1953; Ohio State University, Ph.D., 1961. Served as assistant treasurer at Livingston University, 1948-1954; instructor at the University of Tennessee, 1954-1962; professor…

  • BOYD, MINNIE CLARE, 1898-1983

    Biography: Historian; teacher; college professor of history. Born–July 25, 1898, Ramer. Parents–Benjamin Hartwell and Maud Cotrell Townsend Boyd. Education– Agnes Scott College; Columbia University, M.A., Ph.D. Worked as a high school teacher; served on the staff of Jacksonville State Teachers’ College; head of the History Department at Mississippi State College for Women. Died November 25,…