American author of children's books
Miriam Evangeline Mason (1900 – 1973) was an American writer best known for her books for children.
Biography
Mason was born on January 23, 1900, in Goshen, Indiana .[ 1] Her parents, Benjamin Franklin Mason and Laura Gessaman Mason, were farmers with a family of seven.[ 2] Mason was Lutheran .[ 3] [ 4]
When she was a student, she lived in Martinsville, Indiana .[ 5] She attended Martinsville High School , Indiana University, the University of Missouri , and Ball State University .[ 6] She married M.M. Swain in 1924. They divorced. She had one daughter, Kathleen.[ 3]
Mason taught for several years and also worked in advertising and publishing.[ 3] [ 4]
Her books were published under her maiden name of Miriam E. Mason .[ 7] Six of her books received starred reviews from Kirkus Reviews : Matilda and Her Family ;[ 8] The Middle Sister ;[ 9] A Lion for Patsy ;[ 10] Caroline and Her Kettle Named Maud ;[ 11] A Small Farm for Andy ;[ 12] and Becky and Her Brave Cat, Bluegrass .[ 13] In addition to her books for children, she wrote hundreds of articles, short stories, and plays.[ 2]
She made appearances to speak to children and adults throughout her career as an author.[ 14] [ 7] [ 5]
She died on February 20, 1973, in Batesville, Indiana , at her home.[ 2] [ 15] [ 16] [ 17] [ 18] She had lived in Batesville since the early 1940s.[ 19]
Her papers are held at Indiana State University.[ 20]
Selected works
Children's books
The Little Story House . Illustrated by Elfreda Burns. Beckley-Cardy, 1935.[ 21]
Smiling Hill Farm . Illustrated by Kate Seredy . Junior Literary Guild and Ginn, 1937.
O Happy Day! Illustrated by Mabel Woodbury. Frederick A. Stokes Company, 1939.
Home is Fun . Photographs by J.C. Allen and son. Beckley-Cardy, 1939.
Susannah, the Pioneer Cow . Illustrated by Maud and Miska Petersham . Macmillan, 1941.[ 22]
Matilda and Her Family . Illustrated by Meg Wohlberg. Macmillan, 1942.[ 8]
Timothy Has Ideas . Illustrated by Berta Hader and Elmer Hader . Macmillan, 1943.[ 9]
Little Jonathan . Illustrated by George and Doris Hauman . Macmillan, 1944.
Happy Jack . Illustrated by George and Doris Hauman. Macmillan, 1945.[ 23]
The Middle Sister . Illustrated by Grace Paull . Macmillan, 1947.[ 24]
A Lion for Patsy . Illustrated by Vera Neville. McKay, 1947.[ 10] [ 25]
Hoppity . Illustrated by Kurt Wiese . Macmillan, 1947.[ 26]
A Pony Called Lightning . Illustrated by Clarence William Anderson . Macmillan, 1948.
A House for Ten . Illustrated by Kate Seredy. Ginn, 1949.
This Is Our Valley . With Sister Marguerite McArdle. Illustrated by Charlotte Ware. Ginn, 1949.[ 27]
Herman, the Brave Pig . Illustrated by George and Doris Hauman. Macmillan, 1949.[ 28]
The Gray-Nosed Kitten . Illustrated by Marie C. Nichols. Houghton Mifflin, 1950.[ 29] [ 30]
Hominy and His Blunt-nosed Arrow . Illustrated by George and Doris Hauman. Macmillan, 1950.
Three Ships Came Sailing in: a Story of John Smith's Jamestown . Illustrated by Charles V. John. Bobbs-Merrill, 1950.[ 31]
Caroline and Her Kettle Named Maud . Illustrated by Kathleen Voute. Macmillan, 1951.[ 11] Later edition illustrated by Joseph Escourido.[ 32]
Young Mr. Meeker and His Exciting Journey to Oregon . Illustrated by Sandra James. Bobbs-Merrill, 1952.
Yours with Love, Kate . Illustrated by Barbara Cooney . Houghton Mifflin, 1952.
Broomtail, Brother of Lightning . Illustrated by Barbara Cooney. Houghton Mifflin, 1952.[ 33]
The Major and His Camels . Illustrated by Zhenya Gay . Macmillan, 1953.
The Sugarbush Family . Illustrated by Zhenya Gay. Macmillan, 1954.[ 34]
Miss Posy Longlegs . Illustrated by Maud and Miska Petersham. Macmillan, 1955.[ 35]
Benjamin Lucky . Illustrated by Vee Guthrie . Macmillan, 1956.[ 36]
Freddy . Illustrated by Vee Guthrie. Macmillan, 1957.[ 37] [ 38]
Katie Kittenheart . Illustrated by Charles Geer . Macmillan, 1957.[ 39]
A Small Farm for Andy . Illustrated by Vee Guthrie. Macmillan, 1958.[ 12] [ 40]
John Smith: Man of Adventure . Illustrated by Charles Freeman. Houghton Mifflin, 1958.[ 41]
Mr. Meadowlark . Illustrated by Marie C. Nichols. Hastings House, 1959.[ 42] [ 43] [ 44]
The Baby Jesus . Illustrated by Johannes Troyer. Macmillan, 1959.[ 45]
Becky and Her Brave Cat, Bluegrass . Illustrated by Robert MacLean. Macmillan, 1960.[ 13] [ 46]
Miney and the Blessing . Illustrated by Dorothy Bayley Morse. Macmillan, 1961.[ 47]
Hoppity . [different edition] Illustrated by Cyndy Szekeres . Macmillan, 1962.
Stevie and His Seven Orphans . Illustrated by John Gretzer. Houghton Mifflin, 1964.[ 48]
Scared Kitten . Illustrated by Adrina Zanazanian. Macmillan, 1967.[ 49]
Caroline and the Seven Little Words . Illustrated by Paul Frame. Macmillan, 1967.
Sara and the Winter Gift . Illustrated by Paul Frame. Macmillan, 1968.[ 50]
Childhood of Famous Americans series
Dan Beard, Boy Scout . Illustrated by Paul Laune . Bobbs-Merrill, 1953.
Daniel Boone: Wilderness Trailblazer . Illustrated by Harve Stein. Houghton Mifflin, 1961.
Frances Willard, Girl Crusader . Illustrated by Leslie Goldstein. Bobbs-Merrill, 1961.[ 51]
John Audubon, Young Naturalist. Also published with the title Young Audubon, Boy Naturalist . Illustrated by Cathy Morrison. Bobbs-Merrill, 1943 . Patria Press, 2006 .[ 52]
Kate Douglas Wiggin, the Little Schoolteacher . Illustrated by Vance Locke. Bobbs-Merrill, 1958.
Mark Twain, Boy of Old Missouri . Illustrated by Henry S. Gillette. Bobbs-Merrill, 1962.
Mary Mapes Dodge, Jolly Girl . Illustrated by Sandra James. Bobbs-Merrill, 1962.[ 53]
William Penn, Friendly Boy . Illustrated by Lawrence Dresser. Bobbs-Merrill, 1962.
Magic Bridge Readers
Other works
References
^ "Our Land, Our Literature: Literature - Miriam E. Mason" . digitalresearch.bsu.edu . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ a b c "Miriam Evangeline Mason." Gale Literature: Contemporary Authors, Gale, 2007. Gale Literature Resource Center. Accessed 15 Mar. 2023.
^ a b c "Miriam E(vangeline) Mason (1900-)." Something About the Author, edited by Anne Commire, vol. 2, Gale, 1971, pp. 183-185. Gale Literature: Something About the Author. Accessed 15 Mar. 2023.
^ a b "Miriam M. Swain, Authoress, Former Resident, Dies" . The Reporter-Times . 1973-02-22. p. 14. Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ a b "Author Speaks" . The Indianapolis Star . 1967-03-26. p. 65. Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ "Hoosier Author Dies at Home in Goshen" . The Terre Haute Tribune . 1973-02-22. p. 19. Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ a b "Children's Author Will Speak Here Friday During Book Week" . Palladium-Item . 1953-11-15. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ a b "Book Review: Matilda and Her Family" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ a b "Book Review: Timothy Had Ideas" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ a b "Book Review: A Lion for Patsy" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ a b "Book Review: Caroline and Her Kettle Named Maud" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ a b "Book Review: A Small Farm for Andy" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ a b "Book Review: Becky and Her Brave Cat, Bluegrass" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ "Hoosier Author to Address A.C.E." Journal and Courier . 1952-04-14. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ "Miriam Mason Swain Obit" . The Indianapolis News . 1973-02-21. p. 5. Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ "More about Miriam Mason Swain" . The Indianapolis News . 1973-02-21. p. 4. Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ "Author of Children's Books -- Rites at Batesville for Mrs. Swain, 73" . Greensburg Daily News . 1973-02-22. p. 8. Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ "Alpine House Setting for Children's Story" . The Times-Mail . 1971-08-01. p. 20. Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ Struewing, S. Jean (2009). The Batesville Area . Arcadia Publishing. ISBN 978-0-7385-6132-5 .
^ "Collection: Miriam E. Mason collection | ArchivesSpace Public Interface" . archives.isl.lib.in.us . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ Catalog of Copyright Entries: Books . Library of Congress, Copyright Office. 1936.
^ Mason, Miriam E. (1941). Susannah, the Pioneer Cow; Illustrations by Maud and Miska Petersham . Macmillan.
^ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1974). Catalog of Copyright Entries. Third Series: 1972: July-December . Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
^ "Book Review: The Middle Sister" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ The Publishers Weekly . F. Leypoldt. July 1947.
^ "Book Review: Hoppity" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ "This is our valley | WorldCat.org" . www.worldcat.org . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ "Book Review: Herman, The Brave Pig" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ "Book Review: The Gray-Nosed Kitten" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1951). Catalog of Copyright Entries. Third Series: 1950 . Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
^ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1949). Books and Pamphlets, Including Serials and Contributions to Periodicals . U.S. Government Printing Office.
^ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1965). Catalog of Copyright Entries, Third Series: Maps and atlases . U.S. Library of Congress, Copyright Office.
^ "Book Review: Broomtail" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ "Book Review: The Sugarbush Family" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1956). Catalog of Copyright Entries. Third Series: 1955: January-June . Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
^ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1957). Catalog of Copyright Entries. Third Series: 1956 . Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
^ "Book Review: Freddy" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1958). Catalog of Copyright Entries. Third Series: 1957 . Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
^ "Book Review: Katie Kittenheart" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ Kunitz, Stanley; Loizeaux, Marie Duvernoy (1958). Wilson Library Bulletin . H.W. Wilson Company.
^ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1959). Catalog of Copyright Entries. Third Series: 1958: July-December . Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
^ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1960). Catalog of Copyright Entries. Third Series: 1959: January-June . Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
^ Franciscan Message . Franciscan Fathers. 1960.
^ Education . New England Publishing Company. 1959.
^ "Book Review: The Baby Jesus" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ Appalachian Children's Literature: An Annotated Bibliography . McFarland. 2010-04-13. ISBN 978-0-7864-6019-9 .
^ "Book Review: Miney and the Blessing" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ "Book Review: Stevie and His Seven Orphans" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ Office, Library of Congress Copyright (1971). Catalog of Copyright Entries. Third Series: 1967: July-December . Copyright Office, Library of Congress.
^ "Book Review: Sarah and the Winter Gift" . Kirkus Reviews . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
^ Mason, Miriam E. (1961). Frances Willard .
^ "John Audubon: Young Naturalist." Children's Bookwatch, vol. 16, no. 10, Oct. 2006. Gale Literature Resource Center. Accessed 15 Mar. 2023
^ Brown, Ralph Adam (1949-07-17). "Varied Lives" . The New York Times . ISSN 0362-4331 . Retrieved 2023-03-16 .
^ The National Union Catalog, Pre-1956 Imprints: A Cumulative Author List Representing Library of Congress Printed Cards and Titles Reported by Other American Libraries . Mansell. 1975. ISBN 978-0-7201-0460-8 .
^ "Indiana authors and their books 1917-1966" . webapp1.dlib.indiana.edu . Retrieved 2023-03-15 .
Information related to Miriam E. Mason