Essayists
Pitcher, Emma Bickham
September 20, 1915 -
Place of Birth: Chicago, IL
Place of Principle Residence: Kalamazoo, MI
Biography:
Emma Bickham Pitcher was born to Edith and Martin Bickham in Chicago, IL. Despite her later career as a naturalist and writer, Pitcher was not much interested in nature as a child. She graduated with a BA from the University of Chicago in 1937, and married, moving with her husband to Buffalo. Five years later they returned and attended the University of Chicago, and had four children: Hugh, Elizabeth, Charles, and Catherine. During the summer the family traveled to the Indiana Dunes, and it was during this time that Pitcher’s love for nature was born. She has published three books, all geared towards the power of observing the outdoors. In addition, she has written poetry and essays, most of which deal with her hobby as a naturalist. Pitcher served as the Dean of Students for the Graduate School of Business, retiring in 1980. She currently lives in Kalamazoo, Michigan and is an active volunteer at the Kalamazoo Nature Center.
Selected Works:
- Of Woods and Other Things (1996)
- Up and Down the Dunes (1987)
- Ramblings (2001)
Awards
- 1990 Public Media Award, Michigan Audubon Society
- Several National Park Volunteer Commendations
- “Sagamore of the Wabash” Award from the Governor of Indiana -the highest honor possible for service to the state
Critical Reception:
Pitcher has received several honors for her work, including the Public Media Award from the Michigan Audubon Society.
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work:
An adamant enthusiast of nature, Pitcher volunteers at The Kalamazoo Nature Center and for thirteen years has written essays on nature for the Kalamazoo Gazette.
Plano, Jack C.
November 25, 1921 - November 21, 2002
Place of Birth: Merrill, WI
Place of Principle Residence: Kalamazoo, MI
Biography:
Jack C. Plano was born to Minna and Victor Plano in Merrill, WI. He received business training at Merrill Community College in 1940, and joined the US Army in the Corps of Engineers. Plano left the army in 1945 and earned his BA at Ripon College in 1949. In 1950 and 1954 he earned his MA and PhD consecutively in international relations. From 1953 to 1987 he served as a professor in the Political Science department at Western Michigan University, teaching courses in international relations, international organization, and American foreign policy on both undergraduate and graduate levels. In 1962 he co-authored a new type of encyclopedia-dictionary, The American Political Dictionary that has been widely adopted as a supplemental text for basic courses in American government. By the time of Plano’s death, the book had gone through eleven editions. Due to the success of his first dictionary, Plano co-authored a series of political dictionaries with his colleagues and in 1980 was chosen as the series editor for ABC-Clio Dictionaries in Political Science. Plano covered topics relating to international relations, political science, political analysis, Latin America, and Soviet and East European governments and politics. In 1971, Plano was invited to the University of Sussex to lecture and do research, and in addition he presented papers on sea pollution and seabed problems for the Institute for the Study of International Organization. He has published a number of monographs, and in 1974 founded the New Issues Press of Western Michigan University and served as its press-managing editor until his retirement. Plano received several awards, including the first ever recipient of the Outstanding Emeritus Scholar Award at Western Michigan University. During his retirement ,Plano published a series of memoirs relating to his life experience. He died in 2007 and was survived by his wife, Ellen, and his children Jay, Gregory, and Vicki.
Selected Works:
- American Political Dictionary (1962)
- Latin America Political Dictionary (1980)
- United Nations (1988)
Awards:
- 1997 Outstanding emeritus Scholar Award-Western Michigan University
- 1981 Phi Beta Kappa - Ripon College
- 1981 Hubert Herring Award for Best Reference Book on Latin America
- 1997 Outstanding Emeritus Scholar Award at Western Michigan University
Critical Reception:
Plano’s first book, The American Political Dictionary, is still used in classrooms across the U.S. as a basic supplemental text in American Government. He has received several awards for his work, including the Hubert Herring Award for Best Reference Book on Latin America.
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work:
Plano taught at Western Michigan University for thirty-five years where he taught and pursued his research on political science. He co-authored several dictionaries/encyclopedias on a variety of topics with his colleagues. During his retirement he published several memoirs on his experience as an educator.
Pokagon, Simon
1830 - 1899
Place of Birth: Indian village on St. Joseph River, near or on Indiana border, Berrien
County, MI
Biography:
Simon Pokagon was born to Elizabeth and Leopold (famous Potowatomi chief) Pokagon in Berrien County, MI. He was educated at Notre Dame University and Oberlin College, and throughout his life became known as the best educated full-blooded Indian in North America. He served as the chief of the Potowatomi tribe and spent much of his life convincing his fellow Indians to educate themselves and integrate into other cultures, as well as campaigning for Indian rights and trying to get payment for the land his father sold to the US government. Pokagon met with President Lincoln twice and smoked a pipe-of-peace with President Grant, both with the purpose of receiving payment for his tribe. When he attended the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893, Pokagon was outraged to discover that no American Indian had been asked to serve in any official position at the World’s Fair when dignitaries came from all over the world to attend. He wrote a defense entitled The Red Man’s Greeting, that was originally published on birch park and sold by Indians at the exposition before being picked up by the Chicago Press, reviewed by the National Press, and quoted in journals in England in Europe. This defense brought world fame to Pokagon, and paved the way for more of his work, including defense and persuasive pieces. The Chicago mayor asked Pokagon to be the keynote speaker for Chicago Day at the Exposition, where thousands arrived to hear Pokagon speak. He wrote ten articles for The Forum, Harper’s, The Chautauguan, Review of Reviews, and The Arena on topics including the future of the Indian, problems of race, Indian legends, and the Fort Dearborn Massacre. In addition to his articles, Pokagon wrote one book, Queen of the Woods that reflected on his early courtship with his wife, Londinaw, using nature to express ideas and abstract thought. Pokagon died in 1899.
Selected Works:
- The Red Man’s Greeting (1893)
- The chi-kog-ong of the red man (1897)
- Algonquin Legends of South Haven (1900)
Critical Review:
“He was a man of great moral strength. His appetites and passions were always under control of an awakened conscience. There was also something of the woman’s tenderness and sweetness in a nature that could be stern when wrongs were to be denounced. He was a poet, orator and philosopher. In his creations there not infrequently flashed forth much of the fire and impassioned the great chieftains of the Algonquins, and which not infrequently suggest the old prophets of Israel when they fearlessly denounced wrong and justice. With his death there passed from view one of the noblest children of the red race – a man whose life, thought and deeds proved how closely akin are the noble natures of all races, ages, and times.”
- Literary Digest
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work:
Pokagon’s book, Queen of the Woods, included much imagery on nature, as well as his love for the forest woodlands of Michigan. As chief of his people, Pokagon tirelessly campaigned for their rights, especially in receiving payment for their land.
Rosewall, Ellen
February 8, 1952—
Place of Birth: Binghamton, NY
Place of Principal Residence: Summer: Petoskey, MI Winter: De Pere, WI
Biography
Ellen Rosewall was born to John Wetherbee and Mary Lewis on February 8, 1952 in Binghamton, New York. She is the author of the book Sparkle Island: Stories of Love, Life, and Walloon Lake, a collection of essays about nostalgic life at the 100 year old cottage that has been in her family for generations. Ms. Rosewall is a Professor of Arts Management at the University of Wisconsin in Green Bay. She was a 1975 graduate of Ohio State University with a degree in Music and also graduated from the University of Minnesota with an MFA. Rosewall’s professional career began as a singer, voice coach, coordinator for the vocal department at an arts center before she began a a distinguished career in arts management, where she has held many executive and consulting positions in arts and cultural organizations. She has also been an active advocate for the promotion and support of the arts at the local and state levels. Aside from her current teaching position and involvement in various commitees and organizations, Rosewall is also the founder and owner of Art for Pete’s Sake!, a booking agency for local musicians in the Wisconsin area.
Sparkle Island was what Rosewall called a “side project,” which she undertook to commemorate the 100th birthday of Ja-Ma-Ca cottage on Walloon Lake. The idyllic summer getaway (a short distance from the childhood home of Ernest Hemingway) is located in northern Michigan and was purchased by her grandfather in 1930. Rosewall lives in De Pere, Wisconsin with her husband Michael and her son Peter, but her family spends summers in Petoskey, Michigan.
Selected Works
- Sparkle Island: stories of love, life and Walloon Lake(2000)
- Voices of Michigan: An Anthology of Michigan Writers(2000)
Critical Reception
For Sparkle Island:
“Like finding a Petoskey stone in a dresser drawer, this book evokes marvelous memories of Michigan magic.”
Coggin Heeringa, of Interlochen Center for the Arts in Traverse City, Michigan
“Sparkle Island reminds me of Lake Wobegon the writing is so clean, clear, honest and from the heart.”
Jane Winston, Editor and Publisher of Voices of Michigan, an Anthology of Michigan Writers
“Sparkle Island is a touching recollection of multi-general stories that hark back to a slower paced yesteryear, when life was filled with tales and all one had to do was sit back and listen. From Ernest Hemingway Sat Here, Lost in the Lake, and A Boat is a Hole You Pour Money Into, to Gimme That Old Time Religion, Cheap Thrills, and I’ll Gladly Pay You Tuesday for a Memory Today, Ellen Rosewall’s short stories and vignettes are entertaining, occasionally insightful, often humorous, thoroughly engaging, and highly recommended.”
The Midwest Book Review
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work
Rosewall described her book, Sparkle Island, as being “about Ja-Ma-Ca and our family, but it’s also about love, and life, and those very special places that help us clear our heads, open our senses and make the world come alive.” And indeed, one derives a genuine sense of the author’s deep connection to the charming cottage and her fond memories of blissful existence in the natural scenery of Walloon Lake. One passage in the book describes how the fondness for Ja-Ma-Ca was contagious to all those who came to know the place: “Most of us have been going to Ja-Ma-Ca since we were babies. Some of us have joined later by marrying into the family. We’ve all been going long enough that all it takes is to step onto the front porch and we feel our muscles relaxing, our eyes opening and our senses coming alive.”
Sachs, Harley L.
January 31, 1931—
Place of Birth: Chicago, IL
Place of Principle Residence: Houghton, MI and Portland, OR
Biography
Harley L. Sachs was born to Miriam and Jack Sachs in Chicago, IL on January 31, 1931. Although he spent his childhood years in Illinois and Indiana, Sachs traveled a considerable amount in his earlier years. Before settling down and raising a family with his wife, Ulla Deborah, Sachs lived in Germany, Sweden, Denmark, and Scotland. He attended Indiana University from 1953 – 1957 earning his M.A.T. and B.A. respectively, and also Indiana Christian where he received his PhD in 1971. Sachs got his start writing trade magazine articles and has been a freelance writer since the 1950’s. He is currently a freelance author and contributing editor for the Northern Express (weekly newspaper of Traverse City, MI). The majority of Sachs writings are fiction novels, but he has also written numerous essays, articles, and a collection of poetry. Sachs and Ulla have three children: Anna-Lena, Belinda, and Cynthia, and live in Houghton, MI and Portland, OR.
Selected Works:
- Irma Quarterback Reports
- Threads of the Covenant
- Never Trust a Talking Horse
- Scratch Out
Awards:
- 1981 Upper Peninsula of Michigan Writers Association’s Writer of the Year
- 1988 First prize for essay Alzheimers by the H.G. Roberts Foundation
- 1989 Award of excellence for Mouse Traps in the Classroom from Chicago chapter of STC
- 1989 Society for Technical Communication Award for Excellence
- 1990 Ed Powers Humor Award for Getting the Boating Bug from Irma Quarterdeck Reports
- 1990 Ed Powers Humor Award, Upper Peninsula of Michigan Writers
- 1992 UP Writers Association First Prize for essay, Summer’s Last Hurrah
- 1997 Ed Powers Memorial Award for Humor for Ejaculating with Zane Grey
- 1997 Upper Peninsula of Michigan Writers prize for My Brag Book
Critical Response:
Critics and readers alike praise Sachs for his stylistic humor and ability to create fun, entertaining characters in his fiction. Labeled as a “sharp-witted, imaginative crafter of mysteries”, Sachs has been praised for his talent for producing “sizzling” plots full of adventure and humor that instantly pull readers into the story.
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work
Throughout his life, Harley L. Sachs has always enjoyed traveling and the variety of going to different places. For the last several years, Sachs and his wife have continued to travel by splitting their year between Portland, Oregon, and Newbury, Michigan—located in the Upper Peninsula. It is in the Upper Peninsula where Sachs feels inspired to write, and dedicates every summer to writing a book.