Anderson, William
February 5, 1952—
Place of Birth: Flint, MI
Place of Principal Residence: Lapeer, MI
Biography
William Anderson was born to Wilma and Thomas Anderson in Flint, MI on February 5, 1952. His interest in history and writing struck early when in third grade his teacher read to the class Little House on the Prairie by Laura Ingalls Wilder. Anderson was hooked. After that experience, he contacted her surviving relatives for first-hand accounts of Laura’s life and visited family sites of the Ingalls. Anderson’s parents encouraged his interest and made sure to stop at these sites for his benefit. At 15 years of age, he published a booklet called The Story of the Ingalls. The booklet was for the benefit of the museum at the Wilder home in Mansfield. Anderson earned his B.A. at Albion College in 1974 and a M.A. from South Dakota State University in 1982. During graduate school Anderson began writing for magazines, which fostered his love for research and writing. He has served as a consultant for Harper Collins Publishers and for Arts and Entertainment Network, and has been interviewed extensively, including by C-span ‘Book Notes.’ Today Anderson is a teacher, historian, speaker, and freelance writer and resides in Lapeer, MI.
Selected Works
- River Boy: The Story of Mark Twain
- Pioneer Girl
- The World of Louisa May Alcott
- Laura Ingalls Wilder
- The World of the Trapp Family
Awards
- Western History Association’s Billington Award
- National Endowment for Humanities scholar 1983, 1984, 1986, 1987
- Hoover Presidential Library Scholar 1986, 1987
- Best Article of the Year Award from the Herbert Hoover Library Association 1985
Critical Reception
Anderson is a well-known historian. But, also of note, the people whom he writes about appreciate and support the work he has done. The Ingalls family remains in contact and the Trapp family went to book signings. He is an accepted author and historian by both subjects and readers.
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work
Not only did Anderson visit the places he wrote about as a child, he continues to do so today. Before writing the book, Anderson visits the place where the action occurred. From Ingalls to vonTrapp, Anderson makes sure to explore a place before completing a project. After compiling his research, Anderson works extensively at his home studio. In addition to writing, Anderson is sure to pass on his dedication and knowledge through local teaching.