Born: June 3, 1886Died: June 22, 1947 Ohio connection: Birth St. Mary’s Jim Tully was a colorful character, boxer, and American writer has been described as a “hobo novelist.” He achieved both critical and commercial success during the 1920s and 1930s, and Tully biographers Paul J. Bauer and Mark Dawidziak described him as “the greatest …
Read More Jim Tully(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 approximately like “sorsha nick leoh-as”), which means “Claire, daughter of Louis.” Writing under …
Read More Leclaire AlgerBorn: 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 explore …
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 in 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 of intergenerational …
Read More Karen AckermanBorn: February 15, 1926 Died: February 24, 2023 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 …
Read More Hazard AdamsBorn: July 22, 1900 Died: April 25, 1994 Ohio connection: Birth Cincinnati John R. Adams was born July 22, 1900, in Cincinnati, son of Thomas (an engraver) and Margaret (Morse) Adams. Adams graduated from high school at age 15. He earned a B.A. and M.A. from the University of Michigan in 1920 and 1922 respectively. While attending …
Read More John R. AdamsBorn: May 27, 1941Died: April 14, 2017 Ohio connection: Birth Painesville Journalist and writer of novels and short stories, Robert Halsall Abel was born in Painesville; the son of Robert H. (a textile worker) and Lora Constance Logan (a school bus driver). Robert Abel attended the College of Wooster from 1959-1964; he left college in …
Read More Robert Halsall AbelBorn: 1940 Ohio connection: Resident Columbus Born in Dallas, Texas, William Allen attended North Texas State University with famous classmates such as journalist Bill Moyers. After he received a BA in English from California State University at Long Beach in 1968, Allen was invited to be part of the University of Iowa Writers Workshop. In …
Read More William AllenBorn: 1951 Ohio connection: Resident Yellow Springs Author, poet, musician, and educator Jaime Adoff was born in New York City, NY. Adoff, son of acclaimed authors Virginia Hamilton and Arnold Adoff, was raised in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Jaime Adoff received a Bachelor of Music degree in 1990 from Central State University, Wilberforce, Ohio, where his focus was …
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