Non-fiction Writers
Arnold, Edmund
June 25, 1913 - February 2, 2007
Place of Birth: Bay City, MI
Biography:
Edmund Arnold was born to Anne and Ferdinand Arnold in Bay City, MI in 1913. He graduated from Arthur High School and Bay City Junior College in 1934. Arnold served as a combat correspondent during WWII, and afterwards bought the Frankenmuth News with a friend in 1946. Arnold was an early consultant and educator in graphic art design and pioneered cleaner displays of stories and pictures to hundreds of newspapers, including the Chicago Tribune, Christian Science Monitor, Newsday, New Orleans Times – Picayune, Boston Globe, Toronto Star, and National Observer. Arnold spent four decades as a design consultant and made changes in newspaper design that have now become standard practice. He installed bigger type, six columns of print instead of eight, and a modular layout that organized stories into squares instead of long, haphazard chunks of text overlapping one another. Besides working as an editor for Frankenmuth News, Arnold served as a picture editor for Saginaw News, a night editor for The State Journal, a Linotype News editor, a director of trade relations for Mergenthaler Linotype Company, and a Distinguished Professor of Journalism at Virginia Commonwealth University. Arnold published several books in his field, including Functional Newspaper Design in 1956 and Ink on Paper 2 in 1971. In 1957 he was given the George Polk Award for his contribution to typographic redesign, and the Society for News Design’s lifetime achievement award in 2000. Arnold died on February 2, 2007 and was survived by Viola (his wife of sixty-five years), his three children Kathleen, Bethany, and Bruce, and five grandchildren.
Selected Works:
- The Trailblazers: The Story of the 70th Infantry Division (1989)
- Improving Your Publication (1985)
- Editing the Organizational Publication (1982)
- Arnold’s Ancient Axioms (1978)
- Ink on Paper 2 (1972)
- Modern Newspaper Design (1969)
- Feature Photos That Sell (1960)
Awards:
- 2000 Lifetime Achievement Award, Society for Newspaper Design
- 1999 Lifetime Service Award, American Press Institute
- 1980 L.H.D., Wagner College
- 1983 Gold Key Award, Columbia University
- 1981 Arts and Sciences Lecturer Award (initial)
- 1971 The Friars’ Award, St. Bonaventure University
- 1990 Professional Honors: Army Distinguished Civilian Service Medal
- 1988 American Press Institute Award for Service to Journalism
- 1984 Photo-Journalism Award, United States Navy
- 1983 Distinguished Alumnus, School of Journalism, Michigan State University
- 1983 Honorary Life Membership, Virginia Press Association
- 1979 Army Outstanding Civilian Service Medal
- 1978 Journalism Pioneer Medal, the Newspaper Fund
- 1973 The John Fields Memorial Award, Central Michigan University
- 1968 The Carl Towley Memorial Award, Journalism Education Association
- 1960 U.S. Army Certificate of Appreciation
- 1958 Award of Appreciation, National Editorial Association
- 1957 George Polk Memorial Award, The Overseas Press Club
Critical Reception:
Considered the “Father of Modern Newspaper Design,” Arnold has received a plethora of awards, including a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Society for Newspaper Design and an Award of Appreciation from the National Editorial Association.
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work:
Arnold launched his newspaper career with the Frankenmuth News (from Frankenmuth, Michigan) where he began his crucial changes to newspaper design. He graduated from Bay City Junior College and got a B.A. at Michigan State University.
Arrathoon, Leigh Adelaide
November 30, 1942 -
Place of Birth: Manhattan, NY
Place of Principle Residence: Rochester, MI
Biography:
Leigh Adelaide Arrathoon was born to Henry Elkin and Peggy Walles in Manhattan, New York. For one year she attended Centre d’art dramatique, a New York French Acting School, with a full tuition scholarship in 1957 to represent Forest Hills High School. She received her AB in French and Spanish from Hunter College Park Avenue in 1963 and enrolled in summer school at the Universities of Geneva, Lausanne, and Lille at Boulogne sur Mer, between 1961 and 1963 to study French language, literature, and culture. In 1966 and 1968 Arrathoon got her MA in French literature and Spanish literature respectively, and her MA and PhD in French Medieval Language and Literature in 1975. She was one of the first four women admitted to graduate school at Stanford. Arrathoon has worked as a teacher at many schools as a French, Spanish, or medieval literature teacher at schools including Princeton University and Oakland University. Many of her stories and articles have appeared in publications like The South Hill Gazette, Verses Magazine, and The Dana Literary Society. Ball State University forum nominated her article “The Two Saras of Chaucer’s Merchant’s Tale” for the Pushcart prize. She has published a seven-book series about Michigan and short historical fictions for children, as well as historical novels for young adults. One of her historical novels, Summer of the Bear, won the Michigan State History Award.
Selected Works:
- The Lady of Bergi (1984)
- Mirror of Love (1991)
- Great Places: Jody’s Michigan Adventures (1999)
- The Summer of the Bear (2002)
Awards:
- 2001 Appeared on Michigan Magazine
- 2007 Michigan State History Award
- n/a nominated for Pushcart Prize
Critical Reception:
Arrathoon’s work on medieval history, literature, and poetics has received academic attention, as demonstrated in her nomination for the Pushcart Prize for her article “The Two Saras of Chaucer’s Merchant’s Tale.” In addition, her historically researched children’s novels have been well received, including a Michigan State History Award in 2007.
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work:
Arrathoon has published several books of children’s stories about Michigan, including a seven-book series entitled Jody’s Michigan Adventures, focusing on different locations like Detroit, Greenfield Village, and Mackinac Island. Her work won the Michigan State History Award in 2007.
Baker, Ray Stannard
April 17, 1870 - July 12, 1946
Place of Birth: Lansing, MI
Biography:
Ray Stannard Baker was born to Joseph Stannard and Alice Baker in 1870. He achieved a B.S. at Michigan State University in 1889 and briefly studied Law and Literature at the University of Michigan. From 1892 to 1897 Baker was a reporter for the Chicago Daily Record, and then moved on to McClure Syndicate as manager in 1898. It was at this publication that Baker earned the reputation of being a prominent “muckraker” along with Ida Tarbell and Lincoln Steffens. During this time Baker also published children stories for Youth’s Companion along with a nine volume series of stories about rural living in America under the pen name of David Grayson. Troubled with the hard-hitting journalism in McClure, Baker left the magazine in 1906 to start his own publication called American Magazine. In 1908 Baker became the first well-known journalist to examine America’s social divide by writing the book Following the Color Line, which enjoyed great success. After supporting President Theodore Roosevelt, Baker experimented with socialism before supporting the candidacy of Woodrow Wilson in 1912. The two men struck a close friendship and in 1918 Wilson sent Baker to Europe to study the war situation. When it came to peace negotiations, Wilson appointed Baker as his press secretary at Versailles. Baker published fifteen volumes about Wilson and internationalism, including an eight-volume biography on Wilson, the last two of which won the Pulitzer Prize for biography in 1940. Baker died of heard attack in 1946 in Amherst, Massachusetts.
Selected Works:
- Seen in Germany (1901)
- Following the Color Line; an Account of Negro Citizenship in the American Democracy (1908)
- Adventures in Friendship (1910)
- Woodrow Wilson and World Settlement (1922)
- American Chronicle (1945)
Awards:
- Appleton’s Cyclopaedia of American Biography
- Contemporary American Literature
- Pulitzer Prize for Biography, for Woodrow Wilson: Life and Letters
Critical Reception:
Starting with his years as a muckraker, Baker became well known for his journalism and stories. After working closely with Woodrow Wilson, Baker was placed in a position of trust and took over important responsibilities such as being press secretary at Versailles and editing the President’s papers. Wilson once said, “I would rather have your [Baker’s] interpretation than that of anyone else I know.”
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work:
Baker received his education in Michigan,
Balducci, Carolyn
Feb. 13, 1946 –
Place of Birth: Pelham, NY
Place of Principal Residence: Ann Arbor, MI
Biography:
Carolyn Feleppa Balducci was born in Pelham, NY to Ernest and Rosaria Feleppa. She first got her interest in writing through art, being both an avid reader and an artist. During her education at Manhattanville College of the Sacred Heart in Purchase, NY she wavered between focusing on studio art and English. In the end, she chose studio art, but her interest in writing lived on. “As electives, I took a couple of creative writing courses,” Balducci said. “My best marks were in The History of the English Language — go figure!” After graduation Balducci taught Creative Writing at the University of Michigan. She became interested in theater and started translating plays, as well as writing her own for university productions. Years later Balducci felt the need to become more involved in her hometown, Montauk, and took up the job of program director for the Montauk library. Her job included organizing local actors to do dramatic readings, a task that required catering plays to the interest of the community as well as using the talents of acting companies to their best advantage. One of her translated plays, In Times of War by David Alan Moore, was performed by Stage Left in Chicago. Balducci has written books, articles, poems, plays, and screenplays. Currently she focuses her time on writing stage plays and screenplays.
Selected works:
- Margaret Fuller, A Life of Passion and Defiance (1991)
- A Self-Made Woman: the Life of Nobel Prize Winner Grazia Deledda (1975)
- Earwax (1972)
- Giovanni the Fearless (1971)
Awards:
- ALA Notable Book Award
- S.I.A.E. commendation for contributions to Italian theater in America
- Grants from Michigan Council for the Arts and Ohio Program in the Humanities
- American Library Association ‘Guest Editor’
- Mademoiselle Magazine ‘Who’s Who’
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work:
Working at University of Michigan sparked an interest in Balducci to get involved in writing and translating dramatic works, an occupation she continues today.
Carter, James L.
October 17, 1935—
Place of Birth: Marquette, MI
Place of Principal Residence: Marquette, MI
Biography:
James L. Carter was born to Cecille and Forest Carter in Marquette, MI on October 17, 1935. In 1961 he earned his BA in History at Aquinas College, followed by his MA in 1967 at Northern Michigan University. Between earning his BA and MA, Carter was a teacher at Sacred Heart School and Spring Lake Public Schools. When he graduated from Northern, Carter took over the University’s position of Assistant Director of Research and Development. Eight years later he became Director of the University Press until his retirement in 1996. His experience in journalism goes back to graduate school, where he worked as a reporter for the Mining Journal in addition to his studies. Carter’s first book, Grand Marais: Voyageurs’ Harbor was published in 1967, followed by other works including historical and book review articles for magazines and newspapers. Currently, Carter devotes his time to editing books on Great Lakes history. He and his wife, Nancy, live in Marquette, MI and have two children: Emily and Catherine.
Selected Works
- Grand Marais: Voyageurs’ Harbor (1967)
- The Grand Island Story (1974)
- The Story of Caribou Island, Lake Superior (2001)
Awards:
- 1978 Award of Merit, Historical Society of Michigan
- 1980 Superior-A State for the North Country
- 1991 Helen Longyear Paul Memorial Award, Marquette County Historical Society
- 1991 Charles Follo Award, Historical Society of Michigan
- 1996 Northern Michigan University Press Award
- 1997 Center for Native American Studies Humanitarian Award
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work:
Carter has devoted most of his life to researching and writing about the history of Michigan. In addition to publishing many of his own books on the topic, Carter reviews works of those who do the same.