Upper Peninsula: Region One
Magnaghi, Russell M.
October 12, 1943 -
Place of Birth: San Francisco, CA
Place of Principal Residence: Marquette, Michigan
Biography:
Russell Magnaghi was born to Grace and Mario Magnaghi in San Francisco, CA on October 12, 1943. Magnaghi was raised in an Italian-American community and attended the University of San Francisco, graduating with a BA in 1965. He continued his studies at St. Louis University, earning an MA and PhD in 1967 and 1970, respectively. Magnaghi has been a history professor at Northern Michigan University since 1969, but has also taught at Loyola University, the University of San Francisco, and Florissant Valley Community College. Although originally focusing on Latin-American history in his studies, Magnaghi now is an avid scholar of Northern Michigan history and has published many books and scholarly works on the subject. He lives in Marquette, MI with his wife, Diane, and his daughter Emily.
Selected Works:
- A Sense of Place: Michigan’s Upper Peninsula: Essays in Honor of William & Margery Vandament
- Italians in Michigan
- Cornish in Michigan
Awards:
- Charles Follo Award
- Award of Merit, Historical Society of Michigan
- Distinguished Faculty Award, Northern Michigan University
- Peter White Scholar
- Helen Longyear Paul Award, Marquette County Historical Society
- Gov. Blanchard appointment to the Michigan Christopher Columbus Quincentenniary Jubilee Commission and reappointment by Gov. Engler
Critical Reception:
For Herbert E. Bolton and the Historiography of the Americas
...this book should be required reading for everyone working in the history of the United States, even if they do not subscribe to a greater Americas viewpoint.
- Western Historical Quarterly
Relevance of Place to the Author’s Work:
Magnaghi devotes his research and writing to the history of Northern Michigan. He is actively engaged with the Michigan community in pursuing a deeper knowledge of Michigan’s past by being involved in many locally run research projects.
Ohman-Youngs, Anne C.
1939—
Place of Birth: Marquette, MI
Place of Principal Residence: Escanaba, MI
Biography:
Anne C. Ohman-Youngs was born to Clifford and Anne Long on June 25, 1939 in Marquette, Michigan. She earned her B.S. and M.A. from Northern Michigan University in 1981 and 1986, respectively. Between 1981 and 1985 she worked as an English instructor at Bay de Noc Community College, and subsequently transferred to Northern Michigan University as an English instructor in 1987. Her work has been published in many literary magazines, including the Mid-American Review and the Midwest Quarterly. In addition, she has authored two chapbooks, both of which earned awards, and was an editor for Passages North. Currently Ohman-Youngs lives in Escanaba, MI and has three children: Jeffrey, James, and Neil.
Selected Works:
- The Third Coast: Contemporary Michigan Poetry (1976)
- Markers (1988)
- Contemporary Michigan Poetry: Poems From the Third Coast (1988)
- Patchwork—Selected Work by U.P. Writers (1989)
Awards:
- Prize winning entry, National Poetry Chapbook Competition<?li>
- 1987 Chester H. Jones Foundation Anthology of National Poetry Competition Winners
- 1998 Quentin R. Howard Poetry Prize
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work
Ohman-Youngs has lived and worked in Escanaba, MI since 1979. She currently is a professor at Northern Michigan University and has penned poetry based on Michigan, as can be seen in her 1988 publication Contemporary Michigan Poetry: Poems From the Third Coast.
Paterson, Isabel
1886—1961
Place of Birth: Manitoulin Island, Canada
Place of Principal Residence: Princeton, NJ
Biography:
Isabel Paterson was born in rural Ontario in 1886, but her family emigrated to a rural farm in the Upper Peninsula, Michigan. She became a United States citizen in 1928. Her family was quite poor and she had 8 siblings. Paterson worked as a waitress, stenographer, and a bookkeeper during her childhood. Although she only received 2 years of country schooling, she taught herself to be quite a good reader. Paterson eventually became known as one of the three founding mothers of American libertarianism, along with Rose Wilder Lane and Ayn Rand. Early on she wrote for newspapers called The World and the American in New York and put out two western novels. Subsequently, Paterson wrote for the Herald Tribune, and penned three historical novels. She wrapped up her writing career with three more novels, one of which was the libertarianism-guided The God of the Machine. Paterson continued to write until her death in 1961.
Selected Works:
- The Magpie’s Nest (1913)
- The Shadow Riders (1913)
- The Singing Season (1924)
- Never Ask the End (1933)
- The God of the Machine (1943)
Critical Reception
Paterson’s unfashionable political views and her book The God of the Machine led to her being fired by Herald Tribune. However, many libertarians see the book as being the foundation of their philosophy.
Piirto, Jane M.
December 19, 1941 -
Place of Birth: Negaunee, MI
Place of Principle Residence: Ashland, OH
Biography:
Jane M. Piirto was born to Pearl Eskilinen and George Piirto in Negaunee, MI. She earned her BA in English/Liberal Arts from Northern Michigan University in 1963 and her MA in English from Kent State University in 1966. She worked as an English instructor at Northern Michigan University before going back to school for her M.Ed in counseling at South Dakota State University in 1974, and subsequently her Ph.D. in Educational Administration and Supervision at Bowling Green State University in 1977. Upon graduation, Piirto worked for several schools, including Hunter College Campus Schools where she served as the Principal and Department Chair. Currently she is an Ashland University Trustees’ Professor in Graduate Education teaching graduate courses in the Masters Education department, qualitative research in the Education department, and undergraduate courses in educational psychology and creativity. In addition, she is a consultant, author, and speaker and has traveled throughout the US and abroad. Piirto specializes in fiction, non-fiction, and poetry, and has received many awards for her work, including Individual Artist Fellowships in both poetry and fiction from the Ohio Arts Council. Currently Piirto lives in Ashland, OH and has two children: Steven and Denise.
Selected Works:
- My Teeming Brain: Understanding Creative Writers (2001)
- Between the Memory and the Experience (1996)
- Three Week Trance Diet (1985)
Awards:
- 1999 Parents’ Choice Award and Arizona Glyph Award for Understanding Those Who Create
- 1985 Carpenter Press First Novel Award
- 1980 Finalist, Iowa Short Fiction Contest
- 1993 Individual Artist Fellowship in Poetry, Ohio Arts Council
- 1982 Individual Artist Fellowship in Fiction, Ohio Arts Council
Critical Reception:
For Understanding Creativity:
“a unique adventure into the world of creative individuals, past and present…a valuable addition to the field of education.”
- Colleen Harsin, Davidson Institute
“!!!!!Must Read”
- Today’s Books
“many hidden treasures…an excellent book for anyone interested in creativity”
- Northwestern University, Center for Talent Development
“I can’t imagine a more complete publication anywhere about creativity”
- CAG Communicator, Summer, 2004
“issues she raised were very real, and they resonated with my observations and experiences with creative personalities, children and adults.”
-Gifted and Talented International, Spring, 2004
“offers advice on how to plan adventures while incorporating creativity values into one’s own family or classroom culture…entertaining.”
- Gifted Child Today, Fall, 2004
With Understanding Creativity, Jane Piirto undoubtedly makes a significant contribution to the field of creativity studies.”
-Roeper Review, Winter, 2005
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work:
Piirto grew up in Negaunee Michigan, and earned her BA at Northern Michigan University and in addition taught at the same university for five years. In her poetry, some of her themes revolve around the landscape she experienced while growing up in Michigan.
Pitrone, Jean
Place of Birth: Ishpeming, MI
Place of Principle Residence: Trenton, MI
Biography:
Jean Amelia Maddern Pitrone was born to Gladys and William Maddern in Ishpeming, MI. Early on in her childhood she has a love for music and writing, a passion that later manifested in her published works. Pitrone graduated from Ishpeming High School in 1938 and in 1940 married her husband, Anthony Pitrone. The couple moved to Detroit where Pitrone enthusiastically pursued historical research, writing many short stories and articles on her findings for a wide variety of publications such as Family Digest and the Chicago Tribune. In addition to her writing, Pitrone served as an organist and music director for different churches, and also served as a short story writing instructor for the Writer’s Digest School. During her time in Detroit, Pitrone was the president of Detroit Women Writers, and worked as a staff member and speaker for the Oakland University Writer’s Conference. Her book, Tangled Web: Legacy of the Auto Pioneer John F. Dodge, appeared on “Kelly & Company,” “Unsolved Mysteries,” and the “Phil Donahue Show.” Pitrone died on March 12, 2008 in Trenton, MI.
Selected Works:
- Hudson’s: Hub of America’s Heartland (1991)
- The Dodges: the Auto Family Fortune & Misfortune (1981)
- Chavez: Man of the Migrants (1972)
- The Great Black Robe (1963)
Awards:
- 1990 Book of Distinction Award, International Society of Automotive Historians
- 1982 Books Across the Sea Selection
- 1970 First Place Award, Friends of American Writers
Critical Reception:
Pitrone has received several awards, including the First Place Award from Friends of American Writers. Her book, Tangled Web: Legacy of the Auto Pioneer John F. Dodge, has appeared on “Kelly & Company,” “Unsolved Mysteries,” and the “Phil Donahue Show.”
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work:
Pitrone spent her whole life in Michigan, the majority of which being in Detroit. She was an active member of the Detroit Womens Writers, and spent much of her time using resources in Detroit to pursue research for her books.