Parker, Virginia Bailey
September 25, 1947 -
Place of Birth: Chillicothe, OH
Place of Principle Residence: Canton, MI
Biography:
Virginia Bailey Parker was born to Virginia and John Bailey in Chillicothe, Ohio. She graduated with an AA degree from Henry Ford Community College in 1967 and a BA in history from Michigan State University in 1969. After earning her MS degree in historic preservation at Eastern Michigan University, Parker took additional graduate credits at the University of Michigan on heritage interpretation. Parker started off as a history teacher at Crestwood High School before becoming a professional writer and lecturer. She has led many workshops, including business and writing workshops at Ford Motor Company at various universities. In addition to writing and lecturing, Parker owns Snowy Creek Press that publishes books and offers a wide variety of writing and editing services, professional development seminars, and special projects including writing company histories. During her writing career she has researched and written about local folklore and has written many articles for magazines and newspapers. Her book The Water’s Edge won two national awards, including Book of the Year award from ForeWord magazine. She currently lives in Canton, MI with her husband Donald Parker.
Selected Works:
- The Water’s Edge (2001)
- An Oral History of Our Community (1995)
- Canton Township: A Community in Transition (1991)
Awards:
- 1995 Historical Society of Michigan Award of Merit for Canton Memories
- 1995 Historical Society of Michigan Award of Merit for Crossroads of Canton
- 1998, 1999 Managing editor of Michigan Psychiatric Society Newsletter when publication received two Certificates of Honorable Mentions and an Award for Five Years of Continued Excellence from the American Psychiatric Association
- 1997 Nominated for a national Oral History Association Media Award for the archival video series, Canton Memories
Critical Reception:
For The Water’s Edge:
The author has done her homework with this novel, which is filled with good historical research. And although this book is by no means something I would label feminist literature, it certainly has an underlying theme on the plight of seventeenth century English women, such as the fact that midwives were licensed by bishops because childbirth was considered more a religious matter than a medical one—and, even worse, that any midwife discovered doing anything to ease suffering during childbirth would have her license revoked. Highly recommended.
- The Historical Novels Review Magazine of the Historical Novel Society
Relevance of Place to Author’s Work:
Parker has devoted much time and energy into researching the local folklore of Canton, MI where she currently resides. In addition she has earned degrees in history, historical preservation, and heritage interpretation at Michigan universities.