Category: A – C

  Biography; Writer. Born–Buenos Aires, Argentina. Moved to Marion, Alabama, 1961. Married–Paul Weaver. Education–B.A., University of Alabama. Received the 2013 Druid Arts Award from the Arts Council of Tuscaloosa; Darkroom was named one of the Notable Books for a Global Society in 2013 by the International Reading Association. Sources: University of Alabama Press website. Publications;…

Biography: Economist; University professor. Born– June 25, 1924, Dixon, Ill. Parents,; Ray C. and Rebecca (Levan) Cramer. Married– Hula Jeana Bond, August 30, 1946. Children– Three. Education– Bradley University, B.S., 1949; M.A., 1951; Louisiana State University, Ph.D., 1958. Served in U.S. Army, WWII. Taught at Louisiana State, 1953-1954; University of Texas, El Paso, 1955-1958; at the…

Biography: Teacher, university professor of education; educational consultant. Born– May 29, 1932, Ramer. Parents– Russell Fail and Sara (Mills) Cowles. Education– Troy State University, B.S., 1952, University of Alabama, M.A., 1958, Ph.D., 1962. Taught in Floyd Elementary School, Montgomery, from 1952-1959; served on the faculty of Rutgers University, 1962-97; , University of Georgia, 1966-67; University of South Carolina,…

Biography: Writer. Born– September 19, 1947, Fort Payne. Parents– Virgil Richard and Myrick (Harper) Cook. Married– Susan Terner, March 17, 1978. Children– One. Education– Georgia State College, B.A., 1969; Hunter College of the City University of New York, M.A. 1972; Columbia University, Master of Philosophy, 1976. Advertising executive for U.S. Industrial Chemicals in New York…

Biography: Botanist; inventor; college professor. Born–1864, Diamond Grove, Mo. Parents– Giles and Mary Carver; raised by Moses and Susan Carver. In infancy, he lost his father; was stolen and carried into Arkansas with his mother. Bought from his captors for a race horse valued at $300 and returned to his former home in Missouri. Education–…

Biography: Dentist. Born– January 27, 1928, Birmingham. Parents– Gray Carol and Gladys (Pettus) Buck. Married– Janie Brown, March 20, 1954. Children– Two. Education– Graduated from Birmingham Southern College and from the University of Alabama School of Dentistry. Served his residency in oral and maxillofacial surgery, 1953-1956; private practice in Birmingham; chief of oral surgery at…

Biography: Insurance agent; public official; golfer and advocate for opening the game to blind golfers.. Born– December 22, 1916, Birmingham. Parents– Roscoe Albert and Ethel Toler Boswell. Married–Kathryn Lacey, 1942.  Children–three. Education:  University of Alabama, 1940. Played football for the University of Alabama for three years before he joined the Army in 1942. Wounded in…

Biography: Bookstore proprietor. Born– March 12, 1900,  Mobile. Parents– Peter Joseph and Rachel (Burgett) Hamilton. Operated Colonial Mobile Book Shop.  President of the Mobile Branch of the National League of American Pen Women. Died December 11, 1987. Source: Files at the Alabama Public Library Service and Mobile Public Library. Publication(s): Book Shop Odograph. Mobile, Ala.;…

Biography: Artist, writer. Born– February 1, 1940, Greenville. Parents– Stirling and Edwina (Whiddon) Hamilton. Married– Andy Strickland, February 13, 1960. Children– Two. Married– Glenn Carmichael, May 3, 1975. Education– Graduated from high school in Staunton, Virginia; University of Alabama, B.A., 1963; graduate work at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. Self-employed writer, painter and publisher.…

Biography: Teacher, school administrator. Born– March 7, 1893, Hollins. Parents– William and Lucy (Wilson) Carmichael. Married– Elnora Reed Blanchard, October 9, 1926. Children– Three. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1914; Columbia University, A.M., 1924, Harvard University, A.M., 1957; Yale University, A.M., 1957.  Teacher in Tallapoosa County, 1911-14; in Selma, 1914-1926; Superintendent of Schools in Tampa,…

Biography: University and foundation administrator. Born– October 3, 1891, Goodwater. Parents– Daniel and Amanda Delight (Lessley) Carmichael. Married– Ruth Mae Crabtree, July 13, 1918. Children– Two. Education–Alabama Presbyterian College, Anniston, for two years; University of Alabama, B.A., 1911, M.A., 1914; Rhodes Scholar at  Oxford University, B.S., 1917.  Served in the U.S. Army, WWI; a volunteer in Herbert…

Biography; Writer; professor of English. Born June 22, 1916, Miami; moved to Montgomery at an early age. Parents– Elmer and Louise Brown Norris. Children–one. Education;  University of Alabama, B.A., 1938; M.A., 1940; additional graduate work at Duke University and the University of Alabama, where she was a student of Hudson Strode.  Assistant Professor of English…

Biography: Writer. Born– February 7, 1865, Selma. Parents– John M. and Mary Willis (Cobb) Johnson. Married– Hugh Hagan, October 26, 1887 (d. 1898). Children– Two. Married– Lucian H. Cocke, 1903. Education– Lucy Cobb Institute, a girls’ preparatory school in Athens, Georgia.  Wrote sketches and articles for magazines and newspapers, often under the name of “Mammy…

Biography: Mining engineer. Born– February 5, 1870, Grafton, Mass. Parents– Richard Reed and Arethusa Thorndyke (Barret) Crane. Married– Margaret M. Gray, December 28, 1898. Children– Three. Education– University of Kansas, A.B., 1895; A.M., 1896; Columbia University, Ph.D. 1901. Engineer and professor with the University of Kansas. 1893-1905; at the School of Mines, Columbia Univ., 1905-08; Dean of…

Biography: Anthropologist specializing in Eskimo prehistory. Born– April 9, 1899, Geneva. Parents– Henry Bascom and Anna Sophie (Neville) Collins. Married– Carolyn Walker, November 26, 1931. Children– One. Education– Millsaps College, A.B., 1922; George Washington University, A.M., 1925. Worked with National Geographic Society,1922; and the Mississippi Department of Archives and History, 1923-24; worked at the Smithsonian…

Biography; Literary scholar and editor: university professor.  Born– Pennsylvania.  Education:  Davidson College, A.B., 1966; University of Virginia:  M.A., 1967; Ph.D., 1974.  Professor of English, University of Alabama, 1974-  . Military service:  U.S. Army, Vietnam.   Author of many articles in professional journals and anthologies as well as books;  leading voice in scholarship of the literature of …

Presbyterian minister; writer. Born–March 8, 1938, Century, Escambia County, Florida. Parents–William E. and Anna Lee (Vaughan) Bush. Married–Sara Lucile Fulton, December 18, 1959, Birmingham. Children–two. Education: Sidney Lanier High School, Montgomery, graduated 1956; Howard College, 1960; Midwestern Theological Seminary, Kansas City, MO, 1963; San Francisco Theological Seminary, D. Min., 1976. Ordained to the ministry, Clayton…

Biography: Classicist; high school principal; college professor. Born– March 22, 1885, Jasonville, Ind. Parents– Lawrence and Martha Mitten Currie. Married– Rose Blanche Bryan, December 28, 1918. Children– Five. Education– Indiana University, A.B., 1908, A.M., 1911, Ph.D., 1924. Served as principal in several Indiana schools; instructor at the University of Wyoming, 1913-1915; Hendrix College, Conway, Ark.;…

Biography: Teacher. Born– November 17,1883, Huntsville.  Parents– Reuben Chapman Jr. and Rosalie Sheffey Chapman.  Granddaughter of Governor Reuben Chapman. Education– Mount de Chantal in Wheeling, West Virginia; Howard College; the University of Chicago; and Columbia University, M.A. in History, 1932.  Taught history for fifty years, in Huntsville public schools and then at Graymont and Woodlawn in Birmingham. Died…

Biography: Physician; professor of medicine. Born– June 9, 1916, Philadelphia, Pa. Parents– Herman and Celia (Homes) Cheraskin. Married– Caroline Elwood, September 23, 1944. Children– One. Education– St. Joseph’s College; Georgetown University; University of Alabama, A.B., 1939, M.A. 1941, D.M.D. 1952; University of Cincinnati, M.D., 1943. Began private practice of medicine in Moundville, Ala., 1947. After…

Biography: Aviation journalist; professor of communications. Born– July 16, 1948, Dallas Tex. Parents– Lewis and Gwynne Greer Chandler. Married– Kathleen, August 10, 1970. Children– Five. Education– University of Texas, B.A., 1975; Jacksonville State University, M.P.A., 1977. Served as a medic in Vietnam; awarded the Purple Heart. News director at WHMA Radio in Anniston, 1979-1985; correspondent for the…

Biography: Teacher, librarian, local historian. Born– July 8,1903, Ashville. Parents John Rowan Teague and Talullah Missouri Nunnelly Teague. Married– Abner Hodges Crow, October 31, 1924. Crow. Children– Two. Education– Alabama College; Jacksonville State University, A.B., 1949; University of Alabama, A.M., 1951. Taught at Ashville High School. Librarian for St. Clair County Schools, Jacksonville State University, Birmingham…

Biography: Salesman, newspaper columnist. Born– June 4, 1904, Dothan. Parents– Frank and Eolin Brookins. Married– Marguerite Frederickson. Children– five. Education– Attended the U.S. Naval Academy and worked as a naval inspector. Automobile salesman in Montgomery; newspaper columnist. Died August 27, 1982. Source: Science Fiction and Fantasy Literature; Encyclopedia of Science Fiction. Publication(s): Flying High. New…

Biography: Editor, lawyer, legislator. Born– March 15, 1844, Brewerville, Sumter County. Parents– Robert Willis and Jane (Hadden) Brewer. Married– Mary Baine. Children– Four. Began working in a printing office at age fourteen and three years later was editing a newspaper in Milton, Fla. Attempted three times to enlist in the Army during the War Between…

Biography: Clergyman, editor. Born– Dececember 16, 1918, Meridian, Miss. Parents– Willis Street and Angela (Schlevoight) Cannon. Married– Nelwyn Nesmith, November 10, 1943. Children– Three. Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1942; Baptist Theological Seminary, B.D., 1956. Reporter for the Meridian (Miss.) Star, 1936-1938; retail advertising manager for Sears, Roebuck and Company in Mississippi and North Carolina,…

Biography: Writer; teacher of writing. Born– November 28, 1949, Birmingham. Parents– John Jr. and Patricia Blanton Bensko.  Married– Rosemary Collins, May, 1980.  Children–one.  Married– Cary Holladay.  Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1973, M.F.A., 1979;  FSU, Ph.D., 1985. Taught on a temporary part-time basis at the University of Alabama, 1974-80; taught at Old Dominion University  1980-1994;…

Biography: Episcopal priest. Born– June 3, 1851, Prince George County, Va. Parents– Thomas Stanley and Agnes (Ruffin) Beckwith. Married– Rainsford Fairbanks, 1884 (died 1885);  Lucy Cocke, 1888 (died 1892). Children– One. Married– Mary Belle Cameron, May 11, 1897. Education– University of Georgia, 1873. Berkeley Divinity School, Middleton, CT, graduated 1881. Master of the grammar schools…

Biography: Historian; University professor. Born– May 6, 1919, Birmingham. Parents–Howard Edward and Mattie Gammel Bates.  Married– Dorothy Pettit, 1942; children–two. Education– Wake Forest, B.A., 1941; University of North Carolina, M.A., 1946, Ph.D., 1952. Military service–U.S.Navy, WWII. Taught history at the University of North Carolina, 1946-1947;, University of Maryland, 1947-1954; University of Illinois 1954-1984. Visiting professor at…

Biography: Economist; University professor. Born– December 27, 1943, Meridian, Conn. Married– Ali Monahan. Children– Two. Education– Bryant College, B.S., 1964; Washington University, M.B.A., 1966; Florida State University, Ph.D. in Economics, 1971. Taught, Auburn University, 1970-1985; University of South Florida, 1985- .  Author of articles in professional journals and anthologies; member of several editorial boards.  Member…

Biography: Journalist;  information officer. Born–Montgomery, December 22, 1888.  Parents–William A. And Annie Hartean Collier.  Married–Frances Loretta Martin, December 10, 1913.  Children–one. Education– Auburn University, B.A., 1907, M.A., 1911. On staff of the Selma Times Journal, Montgomery Advertiser, Atlanta Georgian, New York American, Chicago Herald Examiner, Chicago American, and Louisville Courier Journal.  Wrote for the Atlanta…

Biography: Writer. Born– March 4, 1873, Selma. Parents– Thomas Holmes and Mary Elizabeth (Glass) Hopkins. Married– Dr. John Thomas Chapman, October 8, 1891. Children–two. Education– Shorter College, Rome, Ga., 1887; and Lake Chautauqua, 1904.  Member Daughters of the American Revolution and National League of American Pen Women (served as its historian). Died May 21, 1930.…

Biography: Textile executive. Born– October 14, 1877, Comer. Parents– former governor of Alabama Braxton Bragg Comer and Eva Jane (Harris) Comer. Married– Gertrude Miller, 1904. Children– Four. Education– Graduated from Bingham Military Academy, Asheville, N.C. in 1897. Became associated with Avondale Mills in 1907 and became chairman of the executive board of that company in…

Biography; Writer; journalist; university professor. Born– July , 1959, Piedmont. Parents– Charles and Margaret Marie Bundrum Bragg. Married– Lisa Creel; Married– Diane Wells, 2005. Education– Jacksonville State University; Harvard University (Neiman Fellow), 1992. Reporter for the Anniston Star, 1980-86; Birmingham News, 1986-89; St. Petersburg Times, 1989-94; New York Times, 1994-2003. Professor of journalism, University of Alabama…

Biography: Historian; University professor. Born– December 26, 1891, Heflin. Parents– Jesse Coleman and Louise (Moore) Bean. Married– Lucy B. Marstellar, May 27, 1927. Children– Two. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1913; Harvard University, M.A., 1914, Ph.D., 1922. Taught in Blount County, Ala., 1913-15; Harvard University teaching fellow, 1920-22; Washington and Lee University, 1922-retirement.  Appointed Douglas Southall…

Biography: Mathematician; university professor. Born– August 16, 1923, Streator, Ill. Education– University of Illinois, B.A., 1944, M.A., 1945, Ph.D. in mathematics, 1948. Taught mathematics at the University of Washington, 1948-1954; Auburn University  1954-1988. Member of the American Mathematical Society and the Mathematical Association of America. Died January 30, 1997. Source: American Men and Women of Science–Physical…

Biography: Economist; University professor. Born– December 9, 1925, Graz, Austria. Parents– Nicholas W. and Lucile (King) Baklanoff. Married– H. Christina Janes, May 1, 1956. Married– Joy Driskell. Children–three.  Education– Antioch College, 1943-1944; Ohio State University, B.A., 1949, M.A., 1950; Ph.D., 1958. Served in the U.S. Navy, 1944-1946; worked for Chase National Bank in Puerto Rico,…

Biography: Soldier. Born– Birmingham, August 21, 1893. Parents– John Bryant Cumming and Rosa Palmer Cumming. Married– Rhea LaPierre. Children–two. Second lieutenant in the Rainbow Division during World War I; worked in the clerical department at Wilson Dam.  Died May 15, 1932. Source: Files at Alabama Department of Archives and History; obituary. Publication(s): Me,–an’ War Goin’…

Biography: Sociologist; university professor. Born– August 25, 1901, Trinidad, British West Indies. Parents– William Raphael and Virginia (Austin) Cox. Moved to the U.S., 1919; became an American citizen,  July 14, 1926. Education– Northwestern University, B.S.L., 1928, University of Chicago, M.A., 1932; Ph.D. 1938. Professor; Wiley College, Marshall, Tex., 1938-1944; Tuskegee Institute, 1944-1949; Lincoln University, Jefferson…

Biography: Attorney.  Born– April 29, 1922, Birmingham. Parents– Hugo Lafayette and Josephine Patterson (Foster) Black. Married– Graham Hobson, June 12, 1947. Children– Three. Education– University of Alabama, A.B., 1946; Yale University, LL.B., 1949. Admitted to practice before the bar in Alabama and Florida and before the U. S. Supreme Court. Partner in the firm of Kelly,…

Biography: Military officer; design engineer. Born– September 21, 1926, Banks. Parents–William Lewis and Nancy Bama Henderson Brown. Married– Bobby Jean Green. Children– Two. Education– Troy High School, 1944. University of Oklahoma, Masters degree in engineering, 1964.  Served in U.S. Army, 1944-46; linesman for United Telephone and Telegraph, Brundidge, 1947-50; Commissioned in U.S. Air Force, June,…

Biography: College professor of political science. Born– September 14, 1935, Selma. Parents– Edward McKinley and Annie T. (Threadgill) Boykin. Married– Catherine George, August 23, 1967. Children– One. Education– Birmingham Southern College, A.B., 1958; American University in Washington, D.C., M.A., 1966; University of Alabama, Ph.D., 1971. Teaching assistant and instructor at the University of Alabama, 1967-1970;…

Biography: Journalist. Born– September 22, 1919, Brighton, Ala. Parents– George Mason and Roxie Cordelia (Gurley) Atkinson. Married– Barbara Elaine Conway, May 28, 1943. Children– Three. Education– University of Alabama, B.A., 1948.  Served in U. S. Marine Corps, WWII, 1940-44.  Worked for the Birmingham Age Herald, 1948-1950; and the Birmingham Post Herald after 1950, when it…

Biography: Writer; homemaker; nurse. Born– December 1, 1912, Perry County. Parents– Monte Zuma and Dovie (Stone) Hughey. Married– Leonard Brasher, April 19, 1938. Children– Four. Education– Attended high school in Perry County and the University of Alabama at Birmingham. Trained as a licensed practical nurse. Wrote a column in the Birmingham Post-Herald called “Page From a Diary,” 1966-1974;…

Biography: University professor of theatre; playwright. Born– April 5, 1939, Mobile. Parents– Jack R. and Sadie B. (Daves) Atkins. Married– Mary Ellen O’Brien, April 14, 1964. Children– Two. Education– Duke University, B.A., 1961; Yale University, M.F.A., 1964. Taught at Vassar College, 1964-1965; Hollins College, 1965-1982; University of New Orleans, 1982-. Contributed articles and plays to…

Biography: Attorney, professor of law; university administrator. Born– October 8, 1917, Duncan, S.C. Parents– William Arthur and Ruby (Thomas) Christopher. Married– Evelyn Montez Hawkins, October 25, 1950. Children–one. Married– Goldie Wood Gambrell, 1985,  Education– Washington and Lee University, A.B., 1939; University of Alabama, LL.B., 1948; New York University, LL.M., 1950; University of Alabama, J.S.D., 1957.…

Biography: Chamber of Commerce employee, accountant. Born– October 31, 1924, Fort Payne. Parents– James Lester and Janie (Ashley) Tumlin. Married– John Alexander, March 2, 1941. Children– Four. Education– Fyffe High School, 1941; Snead State Junior College, 1966. Worked for the Chamber of Commerce in Boaz, Ala., as secretary, 1965-1967, and director, 1967-1971; in 1971 she…

Biography: Teacher, writer. Born– July 24, 1855, Tuscaloosa. Parents– Thomas Finley and Virginia (Owen) Greene. Sister of Frances Nimmo Greene. Married– Eugene Levert Brown, July 10, 1883.  Children– two. Education– At home by her mother; Tuscaloosa Female Academy, earning the M.A. degree. Taught in the public schools for some time and at a college for…

Biography: University professor. Born– December 16, 1921, Mantee, Miss. Parents– John and Mattie (George) Carter. Married– Frances Larraine Tunnell, March 16, 1946. Children– Two. Education– Mississippi State University, B.S.; University of Tennessee, M.S, 1948; University of Illinois, Ed.D., 1954 Served in the U.S. Army, 1943-1945; decorated with the Bronze Arrowhead. Principal in Maben, Miss.; taught at…

Biography: Historian. Born– January 1, 1915, Union Springs. Parents– John and Willella (Mays) Clarke. Married– Eugenia Evans, December 24, 1961. Children– Three. Married– Sybille Williams, 1997. Education– New York University, 1948-1952; New School for Social Research, 1956-1958. U.S. Army Air Force, WWII.Feature writer for the Pittsburgh Courier, Pittsburgh, and for the Ghana Evening News, Accra,…