Born: 1948 Ohio connection: Resident Kent Poet, editor, and educator, Maggie Anderson was born in New York City on September 23, 1948, to a mother from Pennsylvania and a father from West Virginia. Anderson has described a childhood of “moving around a lot” but visiting West Virginia every summer. The family moved to West Virginia …
Read More Maggie AndersonBorn: January 27, 1917Died: July 18, 2007 Ohio connection: Birth Cleveland Born in Cleveland, Ohio, writer and historian James Maher was an influential voice, an outstanding cultural critic of jazz and American popular music. A passionate fan of jazz and American popular music since childhood, Maher began his career as a journalist in 1934 at …
Read More James T. MaherBorn: January 20, 1855Died: December 23, 1914 Ohio connection: Birth Cleveland The son of Isaac Lewis (a carpenter), Alfred Henry Lewis was born January 20, 1855, in Cleveland, Ohio. At the age of 23, Lewis was a prosecuting attorney for Cleveland; but, in 1881, he decided to give up legal work to become a journalist. He was employed …
Read More Alfred Henry LewisBorn: May 3, 1907 Died: January 16, 1987 Ohio connection: Birth Rockford, Mercer County Harvey Earl Wilson, son of Arthur Earl and Cloe (Huffman) Wilson, was born in 1907 in Rockford, Ohio, in Mercer County. A budding career as a news reporter began while he was in high school when he worked as a sportswriter for a …
Read More Earl WilsonBorn: January 10, 1872 or 1873Died: March 3, 1952 Ohio connection: Birth Morgan County Howard Chandler Christy was born in Morgan County, Ohio. There are differing accounts regarding the year of his birth (1872 or 1873), but the talent and versatility of this artist/illustrator is quite clear. While growing up on his parents’ farm in Duncan Falls in …
Read More Howard Chandler Christy(Sorche Nic Leodhas) Born: May 20, 1898Died: November 14, 1969 Ohio connection: Birth Youngstown Born Leclaire Gowans on May 20, 1898, in Youngstown, Ohio, to Louis P. and Anna Gowans. Leclaire Alger wrote most of her books under the Gaelic pen-name Sorche Nic Leodhas (pronounced “Sore-ka Nik Le-oh-das”), which means “Claire, daughter of Louis.” Writing under the Gaelic …
Read More Leclaire AlgerBorn: July 23, 1939 Ohio connection: Birth Canton Museum administrator, writer, arts scholar, and educator, Manuel Joseph Albacete was born on July 23, 1939, in Canton, Ohio. After graduating from McKinley High School in 1957, Albacete served two years in the United States Navy aboard the aircraft carrier U.S.S. Essex. The tour of duty allowed Albacete to …
Read More M. J. AlbaceteBorn: 1954 Ohio connection: Birth Painesville Elizabeth A. Alder was born in 1954 in Painesville, Ohio. An award-winning author of historical fiction for children and young adults, Alder’s path toward becoming a writer has its roots in dinner table conversations with her father, a gifted storyteller who helped found the Lake County Public Defender’s Office. It …
Read More Elizabeth AlderBorn: 1951 Ohio connection: Birth Cincinnati Karen Ackerman was born on October 9, 1951, in Cincinnati, Ohio, she graduated from Woodward High School in 1969. Although she was never inspired to be an author while growing up, Ackerman knew she had stories to tell, or to write. Her books focus on families and the benefits …
Read More Karen AckermanBorn: February 15, 1926 Ohio connection: Birth Cleveland Hazard Adams was born on February 15, 1926 in Cleveland. Adams and his family moved to Seattle, Washington when he was eight years old. Adams received an A.B. from Princeton University in 1948 and received an M.A. and a PhD. from the University of Washington in 1949 and …
Read More Hazard Adams