Abbott, Dr. O. Lawrence
July 19 1900—November, 1978
Place of Birth: Conesville, IA
Place of Principal Residence: East Lansing, MI
Biography
Orville Lawrence Abbott was born to I.S. and Nan Abbott in Conesville, IA on July 19, 1900. He attended the University of Northern Iowa where he earned his Bachelors Degree in 1923. Abbot went on to get his Masters at the University of Iowa in 1928 and worked as a high school teacher before going back to school. In 1953 he earned his PhD from Michigan State University and was hired there as an associate professor of foreign languages. Both Abbott and his wife, Margaret, enjoyed writing poetry, publishing their work in newspapers and magazines. Yet it was not until Abbott reached his sixties that the couple co-authored two books. In addition to their writing they had three children: Helen, Jane, and John. Abbott passed away in November of 1978.
Selected Works
- Matched Pair (1963)
- Beyond Now (1968)
Awards
- 1964 Michigan Poets Award following the poem “Matched Pair”
- Listed in Michigan Authors, 2nd ed. in 1980