Alabama Authors

Category: All

  • GIELOW, MARTHA SAWYER, 1860-1933

    Biography: Writer, lecturer; advocate for education. Born– 1860, Greensboro. Parents– Captain Enoch and Sophie E. (Barkley) Sawyer. Married– Henry J. Gielow, February 4, 1880. Children– Two. Published works in several genres–fiction, educational articles, dialect stories, and others. Founder and vice-president of Southern Industrial Education Association, Washington, D.C. which was organized for the purpose of promoting industrial…

  • McDUFFIE, JOHN, 1883-1950

    Biography: Attorney, U. S. congressman, judge. Born– September 25, 1883, River Ridge, Monroe County, Ala. Parents– John and Virginia Marion (Lett) McDuffie. Married– Cornelia Hixon, October 20, 1915 (died 1935). Children– One. Married– Mary (Clarke) Maxon, September 18, 1941. Education– Southern University, Greensboro; B.S., Alabama Polytechnic Institute, 1904; LL.B., University of Alabama, 1908. Admitted to…

  • WITT, EDWIN T., 1920-2003

    Biography; Physician. Born– January 9, 1920, Birmingham.  Parents– Thomas Jesse Witt and Virginia Alberta Ogletree Witt.  Married– Cordelia.  Education–Miles College, B.A., 1943; Meharry Medical College, M.D., 1946; interned at Harlem Hospital, New York City, 1946-47. Trained in pediatrics at Meharry at at Kern General Hospital, Bakersfield, California.  In private practice in the Los Angeles/Watts area and…

  • LANGLEY, LEROY LESTER, 1916-2006

    Biography: Physiologist, medical educator. Born– Dec. 12, 1916. Education– University of California at Los Angeles, A.B., 1938; Stanford University, M.A., 1939; Yale University, Ph.D., 1942; Birmingham School of Law. LL.B., 1954. US Navy, WWII.  Research fellow, Yale, 1942-1943; research fellow, Institute of Biophysics, Brazil, 1946-1948; ABC network correspondent and newspaper publisher, 2 years, Rio De…

  • LANGFORD, GERALD, 1911-2003

    Biography: Literary scholar, university professor. Born– Oct. 20, 1911, Montgomery, Ala. Parents– Samuel Martin and Mary Selma (Jackson) Langford. Married– Anne Crenshaw Phelps, 1938. Children– Two. Education– University of Virginia, B.A., 1933; M.A., 1934; Ph.D., 1940. Taught, University of Kentucky, 1936-1938; North Carolina State College, 1938-1940; Winthrop College, 1940-1943; served in U.S. Marines, 1943-1946; taught,…

  • JOHNSON, DAVID EDSEL, 1927-2008

    Biography: Mathematician, engineer; professor. Born– August 16, 1927, Chatham, La. Parents– Dave Ernest and Bessie (Morris) Johnson. Married– Frances White, 1959. Children– Four. Education– Louisiana Technical University, B.S. and B.A., Auburn University, M.S., 1952, Ph.D., 1958. Draftsman, Louisiana Power and Light Co., 1949-1950; mathematician, National Bureau of Standards, 1952; taught in the Electrical Engineering Department, Louisiana…

  • IKENBERRY, ERNEST CROUSE, 1913-2007

    Biography: Physicist; university professor. Born– November 26, 1913, Ottawa, Kan. Parents–Jonathan and Lettie Young Ikenberry. Married–Janice Turnipseed, 3 June 1953. Education– University of Ottawa, Kansas, B.A., 1936; University of Kansas, M.A., 1938; Louisiana State University, Ph.D., 1950. U. S. Navy, WWII. Taught at Louisiana State University, 1946-1950, and at Auburn University, 1950-1975. Visiting professor at Johns…

  • HOWELL, JOSEPH BENTON, 1949-

    Biography: Psychologist. Born– September 7, 1949, Birmingham. Parents– Joseph Benton and Louise (Butterworth) Howell. Married– Lark Dill, August 16, 1975. Children–two.  Education– Samford University, B.A., 1971; Yale University, M.A. in Religion, 1974; University of Virginia, Ph.D., 1979. Internship in Department of Psychiatry, Harvard Medical School. Practicing Psychologist in Anniston, 1979-. Presents lectures and workshops. Founded the Institute…

  • HENLEY, WALLACE BOYNTON, 1941-

    Biography: Baptist clergyman; religious journalist.  Born– December 5, 1941, Birmingham. Parents– Wallace Boynton and Wilfred (Vassar) Henley. Married– Mary Irene Lambert, September 4, 1961. Children– Two. Education– Samford University, B.A.; graduate study at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, 1964-1965; Joint master’s program, Trinity Theological Seminary and Canterbury Christchurch University College. Ordained to the Baptist ministry, 1962;…

  • FUTRELL, ROBERT FRANK, 1917-1999

    Military Historian; professor of history.  Born– December 11, 1917, in Waterford, Miss. Parents– James Chester and Oliva Brooks Futrell.  Married– JoAnn MGowan. Education– University of Mississippi, B.A., 1938; M.A., 1939; Vanderbilt University, Ph.D., 1950. Taught at University of Mississippi, 1938; special consultant to U.S. War Department, 1946; historian for Army Air Force and U.S. Air…

  • FORD, TOMMY, 1955-

    Sports administrator; sportswriter.  Born– November 9, 1955, Gadsden. Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1978. While a student, sports reporter and sports editor for the Crimson-White. Employed by a bank in Gadsden; worked as Director of Development for the Gadsden Metro Chamber of Commerce; Etowah Expansion Association for two years; field representative for the University of Alabama…

  • CHILDRESS, MARK, 1957-

    Biography: Journalist; writer.. Born– September 21, 1957, Monroeville. Parents– Roy and Mary Helen (Gillion) Childress. Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1978. Worked for the Birmingham News, 1977-80; feature editor for Southern Living, 1980-84; regional editor for the Atlanta Journal and Constitution, 1984-85. Book of the Year Selection for Crazy in Alabama; Distinguished Alumni Award, University…

  • INMAN, ROBERT FREDERICK, 1943-

    Biography: Writer (novels and screenplays). Born– August 22, 1943, Elba. Parents– Louis Frederick and Emma Margaret (Cooper) Inman. Married– Paulette Strong, April 15, 1967. Children– Two. Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1965, M.F.A., 1979. Employed by WSFA-TV, Montgomery, 1965-1968; press secretary for Governor Albert Brewer 1968-1970; employed by WBTV, Charlotte, N.C., 1970-1975; worked for the…

  • BAILEY, PAUL CLINTON, 1921-2009

    Biography: Biologist; University professor. Born– October 26, 1921, Baileyton. Parents– Noel R. and Lemma L. (Roberts) Bailey. Married– Eileen Garmon, October 1, 1944. Children– Three. Education– St. Bernard College; Jacksonville State University, B.S., 1942; Vanderbilt University, M.A., 1946, Ph.D., 1949.  U.S. Army Air Corps, WWII. Taught at Alabama College (now the University of Montevallo), 1947-1963;…

  • BAGGOTT, BETTY SUE DEMPSEY, 1935-

    Biography: Public relations director; writer. Born– Augusta, Ga. Parents–Jack and Bessie Jane Taylor Dempsey. Education– University of Georgia, Mercer University, and Texas Christian University. Married– Rev. Dr. Bob Baggott. Children– Three. Public relations director of the Newnan, Ga. hospital, 1960-1972; lived in Opelika, 1972-1982. Worked as a freelance writer, public relations director, radio announcer, commercial writer,…

  • PENNINGTON, EDGAR LEGARE, 1891-1951

    Biography: Episcopal priest. Born– January 15, 1891, Madison, Ga. Parents– Hinton Crawford and Lenena Ligon (Reeves) Pennington. Married– Gertrude Guerry Barnett, June 25, 1940. Education– University of Georgia, LL.B., 1914; Cornell University, M.A., 1923; studied for the ministry and ordained into the Episcopal Church in 1921. Served as an ensign in the U.S. Navy, aboard…

  • WILLIAMS, CHARLES BRAY, 1869-1952

    Biography: Clergyman, university professor and administrator. Born– June 15, 1869, in Shiloh, N.C. Parents– Simeon Walston and Mary (Bray) Williams. Married– Alice Julia Owen, January 2, 1899. Children– Three. Married– Lucile Adams Bruner, December 26, 1925. Married– Edith Stallings, August 26, 1934. Children– One. Education– Wake Forest College, A.B., 1891; Crozier Seminary, B.D., 1901; University…

  • ATKINS, ACE, 1970-

    Biography; Writer; journalist.  Born June 28, 1970, Troy.  Married; children–one.  Education:  Auburn, B.A., 1994.  Worked as a crime reporter for the Tampa Tribune and the St. Petersburg Journal.  Received the Livingston Award for outstanding journalism in 1999 and 2000; nominated for a Pulitzer Prize in 2000.  Received the Arts Advancement Award from Auburn University, 2004.…

  • ALARCON, DANIEL, 1977-

    Biography; Writer; teacher of writing.  Born–Lima, Peru, 1977.  Moved to Birmingham at the age of three.  Married– Carolina Guerreo. Children– two.  Education– Indian Springs School; Columbia University, B.A. in anthropology, 1999; Iowa Writers’ Workshop, M. F. A., 2003.  Author of short stories published in The New Yorker and other periodicals; visiting scholar/writer at several institutions including…

  • PENICK, LADIE AVERETTE FONVILLE, 1895-1986

    Biography: Born– December 11, 1895, Tuskegee. Parents– William Drakeford and Mary (Yancy) Fonville. Married– Clifton Hewitt Penick, October 19, 1918. Children– Three.  Died March 21, 1986. Source: Averette Penick Lackey, Birmingham, Ala.. Publication(s): How a Totem Pole Was Made and Other Tales. New York; Vantage Press, 1969.

  • PEARSALL, MARION, 1923-1984

    Biography: Anthropologist; university professor. Born– April 27, 1923, Brooklyn, N.Y. Parents– George Martin and Anna Laura (White) Pearsall. Education– University of New Mexico, B.A., 1944; University of California at Berkeley, Ph.D., 1950. Taught at the University of Arkansas, 1950; research fellow at Rhodes Livingstone Institute, British Central Africa, 1951; University of Alabama, 1952-1956; post doctoral…

  • PAYNE, LEONIDAS WARREN, JR., 1873-1945

    Biography: Literary scholar; university professor. Born– July 12, 1873, Auburn. Parents– Leonidas Warren and Mary Jane (Foster) Payne. Married– Mary Susan Bledsoe, 1897. Children– Four. Education– Alabama Polytechnic Institute, B.S., 1892; M.S., 1893; University of Pennsylvania, Ph.D., 1904. Taught at the Southwestern Alabama Agricultural School in Evergreen, 1894-1901; Jacksonville State Normal School, 1901-1902; Harrison Fellow in…

  • ROBINSON, FRED COLSON, 1930-

    Biography: Literary scholar; university professor. Born– September 23, 1930, Birmingham. Parents– Emmett Colson and Hope (Bennett) Robinson. Married– Helen Caroline Wild, June 1959. Children– Two. Education– Birmingham-Southern College, B.A., 1952; University of North Carolina, M.A., 1953; Ph.D, 1960. Served in the U.S. Army, 1954-1956. Taught at Samford University, 1960-1965; Cornell University, 1965-1967; Yale University, 1971-2000…

  • HARRINGTON, JANICE N.

    Biography; Writer; storyteller; college teacher of creative writing.  Born in Vernon, Ala.; moved to Nebraska at the age of eight.  Education:  University of Nebraska-Lincoln, B.S., 1978; University of Iowa, M.L.S., 1980. Worked as a librarian in the 1980’s; Coordinator of Youth Services for the Champaign Public Library, 1990-2007.  Has taught in the Creative Writing Program at…

  • SLEDGE, EUGENE BONDURANT, 1923-2001

    Biography: U.S.Marine; biologist; university professor. Born– Nov. 4, 1923, Mobile, Ala. Education– attended Marion Military Institute and Georgia Institute of Technology; Auburn University, B.S., 1949, M.S., 1955; University of Florida, Ph.D., 1960.  Volunteered for the U.S. Marine Corps, 1942; served in the Pacific with the 1st Marine Division.  Discharged with the rank of Corporal, 1946.  Research…

  • JOHNSON, RHETA GRIMSLEY, 1953-

    Biography; Journalist; columnist. Born–November 10, 1953, Colquitt, Ga.; grew up in Montgomery. Married– Jimmy Johnson; Don Grierson. Education–Auburn University, B.A., 1977. Reporter for Memphis Commercial-Appeal and Scripps-Howard News Service, 1980-1994; for the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, 1994-2001. Writes a syndicated column for King Features. Winner of many awards for her writing:  1974-75 Pacemaker Award; the 1982 American…

  • ALYEA, PAUL EDGAR, 1899-1975

    Biography: Economist. Born– September 8, 1899. Parents– Edgar H. And Emma Holmes Alyea. Married– Blanche Marie Rockhold. Children– two. Education– University of Illinois, B.S., M.S., and Ph.D. Taught at the University of Pittsburgh, Butler University, University of Illinois, and University of Alabama. Senior economist with the U.S. Office of Price Administration; director of a division of…

  • HEARNE, BETSY GOULD, 1942-

    Biography: Author of children’s books; librarian, editor; university professor. Born– October 6, 1942, Wilsonville. Parents– Kenneth and Elizabeth (Barrett) Gould. Married– Michael Claffey. Children– Two. Education– Wooster College, B.A., 1964; University of Chicago, M.A., 1968;  Ph. D., 1985. Children’s librarian, Wayne County, Ohio, Public Library, 1964-1965, University of Chicago Laboratory Schools, 1967-1968;  children’s book editor, Booklist,…

  • BARRETT, LINTON LOMAS, 1904-1972

    Biography: Linguist and literary scholar; University professor of Romance languages; diplomat. Born– September 1, 1904, Lanett. Parents– Linton Stephens and Carrie Elizabeth (Lomas) Barrett. Married– Elizabeth Elliott, June, 1928 (died 1932). Children– One. Married– Marie Hamilton McDavid, May 26, 1937. Children– One. Education– Mercer University, B.A., 1928; University of Virginia, DuPont fellow, 1930-1931; University of…

  • BARRA, ALLEN

    Biography; Sportswriter.  Born;  Birmingham.  Married– Jonelle.  Children–one.  Education– attended the University of Alabama at Birmingham.  A contributing editor of American Heritage magazine; writes frequently for the Atlantic and the Wall Street Journal. Sources; Contemporary Authors online Publications; Big Play:  Barra on Football.  Washington: Brassey’s, 2005. Brushbacks and Knockdowns:  The Greatest Football Debates of Two Centuries. …

  • WRINKLE, MARGARET, 1963-

    Biography; Writer; teacher.  Born–1963, Birmingham.  Education–Yale University.  Taught in Birmingham City Schools, 1992-96.  Co-created the documentary broken/ground, 1996.  Won several awards for Wash:  Flaherty-Dunnan First Novel Prize, 2013; runner-up for Dayton Literary Peace Prize, 2014; named one of Wall Street Journal’s Best Books of 2013. Sources; Margaret Wrinkle website Publications; Wash.  Grove Atlantic Monthly Press,…

  • WALLACE, DANIEL, 1959-

    Biography; Writer; university professor.  Born January 22, 1959, Birmingham.  Education:  studied at Emory University and the University of North Carolina.  J. Ross MacDonald Distinguished Professor of English and Director of the Creative Writing Program at UNC.  Contributor to periodicals and anthologies.  Received the Johnston Award for Teaching Excellence, 2010. Source; Contemporary Authors online Publications; Big…

  • NORRELL, ROBERT JEFFERSON, 1952-

    Historian; professor of history. Born– February 16, 1952, Hazel Green. Parents– Robert D. and Mary Ann Graham Norrell. Married Kelly Dowe, August 6, 1977. Children– four. Education– University of Virginia, B.A., 1974; M.A., 1978; Ph. D., 1983. Professor of history at the University of Alabama, 1986-1998; at the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, after 1998. Member…

  • KENNEDY, WALTER WALLACE, 1898-1978

    Biography: Banker; attorney; civic leader.  Born– Dec. 20, 1898, Birmingham, Ala.; Parents– Hughes B. and Katherine (Hausman) Kennedy. Married– Myra Belle Pope, Sept. 18, 1926. Children– Three. Education– University of Alabama, B.S. and LL.B.; Rutgers University, Graduate School of Banking. U.S. Army in World War I; U.S. Army Air Force in World War II; retired…

  • ELAM, VERRELL DONALD, 1928-2004

    Biography: Moonshiner. Born– February 25, 1928, Brent. Parents– Harvey A. and Pearl M. Holley Elam. Married– Barbara Jean Horton. Children– One. Married– Beatrice. Married– Mary Elizabeth Wallace. Married– Cammie Kathleen Johnson. Attended Bibb County High School; earned GED diploma while in prison. Served in U.S. Army, 1946-1947; U.S.Air Force, 3 years. Manufactured illegal whiskey. Incarcerated for…

  • MANTOOTH, JOHN, 1972-

    Biography;    Teacher; author. Born December 17, 1972, Georgia. Married Becky. Children–two. Education:  M.A. in creative writing, UAB; MLS, University of Alabama. English teacher, Calera Middle School. Published short stories in periodicals, anthologies, and websites. Sources; Contemporary Authors online. Publications; Broken Branch. New York: Berkly Books, 2013. Shoebox Trainwreck. Toronto: Chizine Publishing, 2012. Year of the…

  • GUILLEBEAU, MICHAEL, 1951-

    Biography; Writer; engineer. Born September 30, 1951, South Carolina.  Parents– William Watson and Una Mae Spears Guillebeau. Married–Pat Leary, 1988. Children–three. Software engineer for NASA, U. S. Department of Defense, Boeing. Author of mysteries; published many short stories in anthologies, websites, and periodicals. Finalist for Silver Falchion Award for Best First Novel in Literary Suspense, 2014.…

  • WATSON, ELBERT L., 1930-2015

    Biography: Librarian; clergyman. Born– May 10, 1930, in Birmingham, Ala. Parents– Elbert Leslie Watson Sr. and Edith Louise Watson. Married– Ramona Jo Bennett. Children– Two. Education– Bethany Nazarene College, A.B., 1952; University of Oklahoma, M.A., 1954; George Peabody College, M.A., 1966. Minister, Church of the Nazarene, Gadsden, 1954-1962. Director, Public Library, Anniston, 1966-1969; director, Huntsville-Madison…

  • AHERN, EMILY MARTIN

    See MARTIN, EMILY Books written by this author before 1984 were published under the name “Ahern, Emily Martin.”

  • HIBBEN, SHEILA, 1884-1964

    Biography: Food journalist and critic; culinary historian. Born- Montgomery, October 30, 1884. Parents–George William and Jennie Baldwin Craik.  Education– Study in France. Married– Paxton Hibben, 1916. Children– One. Lived in Greece and Russia with her husband, an American diplomat.  After his death in 1928, a resident of New York. Originated the food column in The New Yorker and…

  • LINDSAY, MAUDE McKNIGHT, 1874-1941

    Biography: Pioneer in early childhood education, teacher, writer. Born– May 13, 1874, Tuscumbia. Parents– Alabama Governor Robert Burns and Sarah Miller (Winston) Lindsay. Education– Deshler Female Institute, Tuscumbia; kindergarten training under Mrs. Jeanne Pettett Cooper, who conducted a private kindergarten in her home. Taught at a private kindergarten in Tuscumbia for 2 years; founded the Florence…

  • BOLTON, CLYDE, 1936-

    Biography: Sportswriter. Born– 1936, Anderson, S.C. Parents–Clyde B. and Annise Bolton.  Married– Sandra Jean Grifpin. Children– Three. Attended Jacksonville State.  Worked as a reporter for papers in LaGrange, Georgia; Gadsden, Anniston, and Montgomery.  Sportswriter and columnist for the Birmingham News, 1961-2001. Honors; Alabama Sports Columnist of the Year, 1988, 1992, 1999.  Inducted into the Alabama…

  • DeLOACH, ALTHA THOMPSON, 1915-2006

    Biography: Teacher. Born– May 18, 1915, Cleburne County. Parents– George Henry and Naomi (Hicks) Thompson. Married– Thomas Earl DeLoach, June 25, 1938. Children– Three. Education– Attended Livingston State Teachers College, 1934-1936; Jacksonville State University; Alabama Polytechnic Institute, B.S., 1954; the University of Alabama in Birmingham, M.A., 1973. Served as secretary for national defense classes for…

  • CRENSHAW, MARY ANN, 1929-

    Biography: Writer. Born– April 18, 1929, Montgomery. Parents– Jack and Catherine (Westcott) Crenshaw. Education– Vanderbilt University, B.A. 1951; University of Havana (Cuba), Parsons School of Design. Fashion industry, New York after 1958. Staff writer for Vogue magazine, 1959-1962. Fashion coordinator for Ohrbach’s, 1962-65; Fashion and beauty reporter for the New York Times, 1965-76. Head of…

  • CRAIG, COLA AMANDA BARR, 1861-1930

    Biography: Writer. Born– March 17, 1861, Jackson, Miss. Parents– James and Frances (Donnell) Barr. Married– Benjamin H. Craig. Children– Two. Education– Fair Lawn Institute, Jackson, Mississippi, 1879. Member; Ossian Club, a literary organization; secretary-treasurer; Scriblers, the first organized writers club in Alabama. Published several short stories, poems, and two books. Died January 20, 1930. Source:…

  • COOK, BILL (WILLIAM JESSE, JR.), 1938-

    Biography: Professor of English; college administrator; pastor. Born– July 22, 1938, Piedmont. Parents– William Jesse and Genevieve (Putnam) Cook. Married– Judy M. Wallace, February 21, 1959. Children– Three. Education– Jacksonville State University, A.B., 1960; Auburn University, M.A., 1965, Ph.D., 1968. Taught English at Auburn University and Jacksonville State University; worked for Auburn University at Montgomery, 1969-75; vice-president…

  • COUNTESS, MARY BIVINS GERON, 1913-1975

    Biography: Genealogist. Born– February 1, 1913, Huntsville. Parents– Claiborne T. and Mabel (Landers) Geron. Married– Jackson E. Countess, June 26, 1933. Children– Three. Education– Huntsville High School graduate, 1929; studied at the Nashville Conservatory of Music. Library assistant at Redstone Arsenal, 1951-55.  Member UDC and DAR.  Awarded second place in the Parker Genealogical Contest in 1971…

  • STERNE, EMMA GELDERS, 1894-1971

    Biography: Author, editor, social activist.. Born– May 13, 1894 in Birmingham, Ala. Parents– Louis and Blanche (Loeb) Gelders. Married– Roy M. Sterne in March, 1917. Children– Two. Education– Smith College, A.B.; further study at  Columbia University and New School for Social Research. Taught in Rowayton, Conn., 1946-1950; editor at American Book Co., 1950-1956.  Member– American Civil…

  • BROWDER, JOHN GLEN, 1943-

    Biography: University professor, state legislator, U.S. Congressman.  Born– January 15, 1943, Sumter, S.C. Parents– Archie Calvin and Ila (Frierson) Browder. Married– Sara Rebecca Moore, February 4, 1967. Children– One. Education– Presbyterian College (SC) B.A., 1965; Emory University, M.A., Ph.D., 1971. Taught political science at Jacksonville State University, 1971-87; head of Data Associates (Polling firm), 1978-87.  Elected…

  • BREEN, JON LINN, 1943-

    Biography: Writer; librarian; sportscaster.  Born– November 8, 1943, Montgomery. Parents– Frank William and Margaret Wolfe Breen. Married– Rita A. Gunson, 1970. Education– Pepperdine University, B.A., 1965; University of Southern California, M.S. in Library Science, 1966. Served in the U.S. Army. 1967-1969; sports broadcaster, Radio KWAV, Los Angeles,  1963-1965. Librarian, California State University, Long Beach 1966-1967;…