John
Koethe (1945- ) Professor of Philosophy at UW-Milwaukee
Born in San Diego, California, Koethe was educated at Princeton and Harvard Universities.
He is the author of several collections of poetry, including “Blue
Vents,” “The
Late Wisconsin Spring,” “The
Constructor,” and “North
Point North: New and Selected Poems.” His 1973 book of poems, “Domes,” won
the 1973 Frank O’Hara Award for Poetry, and his 1997 collection, “Falling
Water,” received the 1998 Kingsley Tufts Poetry Award. In 2000, John
Koethe was named Milwaukee’s first poet laureate.
Frederic
Cassidy (1907-2000) Taught in Madison
Cassidy was born in Kingston, Jamaica. He earned his bachelor's and master's
degrees at Oberlin College and his Ph.D. at the University of Michigan. From
1939-1979, Cassidy taught at the University of Wisconsin-Madison where his courses
included Beowulf, Old English, Old English Poetry, Middle English, and the history
of the English language. He authored numerous published works, but will be best
remembered as the chief editor of "The
Dictionary of American Regional English," a massive compilation of slang,
regionalisms, and folk language.
2001
Francis
Paul Prucha, S.J. (1921- ) Born in River Falls
A Jesuit priest, Prucha is a professor of history
at Marquette University, where he has taught since 1960. In his many
writings he explores the complex and sometimes tempestuous relations
of the American Indians with the dominant white society.
Frederick
Jackson Turner (1861-1932) Born in Portage
A graduate from the State University (Wisconsin) in 1884, Turner became
a professor at the University of Wisconsin, where he drew the inspiration
for his essay "The
Significance of the Frontier in American History" which addresses
American territorial expansion and its impact on the growth of democracy.
An author of numerous books, his name is synonymous with the western
frontier.
2000
John
Gurda(1947-
)
Born in Milwaukee
As Milwaukee’s local historian and author of "The
Making of Milwaukee," Gurda has chronicled the histories
of Milwaukee area neighborhoods, churches and industries. A graduate
of Boston College and holding a master’s degree from the University
of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, he is also a photographer, lecturer and local
history columnist for the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
1999
Lois Ehlert
(1934- ) Born in Beaver Dam, resides in Milwaukee
The talented author and illustrator of over 30 books for young children,
Ehlert is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee and the
Layton School of Art. Her simple and fun concept books abound with brightly
colored collages of tone and texture. She received a Caldecott Honor
for "Color
Zoo" and has delighted children with her colorful creatures
in "Circus,"
"Feathers
for Lunch," and "Cuckoo:
A Mexican Folktale" among others.
1998
Marguerite
Henry (1902-1997) Born and raised in Milwaukee
The beloved children's author wrote 60 books in her lifetime. Educated
at Riverside High School and Milwaukee State Teachers College (UW-Milwaukee),
she found an enthusiastic audience of young readers for her books about
animals, especially horses. Awarded many honors in her lifetime, she
won the 1949 Newbery medal for "King
of the Wind." Her best-known book, "Misty
of Chincoteague," and the popular "Justin
Morgan Had a Horse" and "Brighty
of the Grand Canyon" were made into films.
1997
August
Derleth(1909-1971) Life-long resident of
Sauk City
Wisconsin’s most prolific writer, Derleth published more than 150
books ranging from historical novels and poetry to themes of the macabre. "The
Hills Stand Watch" describes political Wisconsin as it emerged
from a territory to a state.
Edna
Ferber (1887-1968) Childhood home in Appleton Once a reporter for the "Milwaukee Journal," Ferber’s
book "A
Peculiar Treasure" describes her early impressions of Appleton.
She wrote several best-selling novels including "Giant"
and "Show
Boat," and won a Pulitzer Prize for "So
Big."
Zona Gale
(1874-1938) Born in Portage Edna Ferber recalls being in awe of this "real" writer
who visited the "Milwaukee Journal" while she was a reporter.
Gale also wrote for the "Milwaukee Journal" but is best
known for her novels, plays and short stories which reflect her passion
for politics, pacifism, education, social reform and feminism She
received a Pulitzer Prize for her play "Miss
LuLu Bett."
Aldo
Leopold(1886-1948) Lived and worked in Madison Leopold was a pioneer ecologist whose concept of wilderness preservation
is outlined in "A
Sand County Almanac." This collection of essays uses spare,
eloquent prose to champion the need for an environmental code of behavior
for humankind.
John
Muir (1838-1914) Boyhood home in rural Montello Born in Scotland, Muir came to Wisconsin in 1849. "The
Story of My Boyhood and Youth" describes his early years
in rural Montello. Naturalist, inventor, writer and conservationist,
Muir is recognized as the father of the national park system and founder
of the Sierra Club.
Lorine
Niedecker(1903-1970) Born in Fort Atkinson, lived on Blackhawk Island Niedecker is a poet of a single location, the area around Blackhawk
Island. "I spent my childhood outdoors - red-winged blackbirds,
willows, maples, boats, fishing..." wrote Niedecker. She worked
for a time as a library assistant in the Dwight Foster Public Library.
Her works include "New Goose,"
"My Friend Tree" and "My Life By Water."
Sterling
North (1906-1974) Born in Edgerton Life on a farm near Edgerton became the setting for North’s
"The
Wolfling" and "Morning in the Land." A reporter,
literary editor and publisher of North Star Books, Sterling North
is best known for his exploits with his pet raccoon which he chronicled
in the novel "Rascal,"
later made into a Disney film.
Ellen
Raskin (1928-1984) Born in Milwaukee Ellen Raskin received an art degree from UW-Madison and established
a New York career in freelance commercial art, as well as writing
and illustrating children’s books. In 1966 Raskin wrote "Nothing
Ever Happens on My Block," which was named one of the 10
best illustrated children’s books of the year by the New York
Times. She received the Newbery Medal and Banta Award for "The
Westing Game" which is set in Sheboygan.
Carl
Sandburg (1878-1967) Lived in Milwaukee as a journalist Poet, historian, novelist and biographer, Carl Sandburg lived
in Wisconsin from 1907 to 1912. He worked as a reporter for the Milwaukee
Journal and Milwaukee Sentinel. He later became best known for his
biographies of Lincoln, winning a Pulitzer Prize for history for "Abraham
Lincoln: The War Years" and for poetry with "Collected
Poems."
Laura
Ingalls Wilder(1867-1957) Born in Pepin The famous author of the "Little House" books was born
in Pepin, Wisconsin in 1867. The series of family stories describing
both the joys and hardships of life on the frontier began with "Little
House in the Big Woods." This first book describes Wilder’s
years in Wisconsin living in a log cabin with her family. The "Little
House" books inspired the long-running television series "Little
House on the Prairie."
Thornton
Wilder (1897-1975) Born in Madison Playwright and novelist, Wilder grew up in Madison and spent his
first nine years investigating the city’s library, lakes, and
the newspaper office. In 1928 he won the Pulitzer Prize for fiction
for "The
Bridge of San Luis Rey." His popular play "The
Matchmaker" was made into the musical "Hello Dolly!"
and he won Pulitzer Prizes for both "Our
Town" and "The
Skin of Our Teeth." In 1974 he received the first Banta Award
for his novel "Theophilus
North."
