SHOW ME! AUTHORS

These famous authors hail from Missouri:

Clemens, Samuel Langhorne (Mark Twain) - was born in Florida, Missouri. He grew up in Hannibal. Although he traveled the world, he drew heavily on Missouri scenes for the locale of books that made him one of American's greatest writers, who wrote " "Tom Sawyer."

Disney, Walter (Walt Disney) - grew up in Marceline, Missouri. Throughout his childhood he continued to enroll in correspondence school cartoon courses. He created many animated and live-action feature-length films, true-life adventure films, television series, and adapted Disney films to book form.

Eliot, T.S. - born in St. Louis. Eliot wrote "Old Possum's Book of Practical Cats," on which the Broadway musical "Cats" is based. His grandfather was a prominent St. Louis educator. Eliot became a naturalized British subject in 1927 and lived in London until his death.

Field, Eugene - born in St. Louis, Field was called the "Poet of Childhood." His father, Roswell Field, was the lawyer who defended the fugitive slave, Dred Scott, in the first trial of Scott's historic case. Field believed children grow best in an atmosphere of fancy, rather than in one of cold facts, and he wrote his poems to give this atmosphere for his eight children. Famous poems include "Wynken, Blyken, and Nod" and the "Gingham Dog and the Calico Cat" from "The Duel."

Hughes, Langston - born in Joplin. He is best known as a poet. Always his writings were representations of his own experience and of his belief in individual achievement as a means of overcoming indifference an prejudice. Hughes wrote about life as he saw, and it was a colorful one. His first book "The Weary Blues," was inspired by the sound of a voice remembered from his childhood in Kansas City.

Lane, Rose Wilder - grew up in Mansfield, Missouri. She is the daughter of Laura Ingalls Wilder. She wrote novels, short stories and articles for periodicals. "Let the Hurricane Roar," is now regarded by many as the first "junior novel" for young adults ever written.

McBride, Mary Margaret - born in Missouri, McBride was an author and journalist. She won wide recognition as the "First Lady of Radio." During her radio Interview programs, she drew frequently upon her Missouri background. She wrote, "A Long Way From Missouri," and "The Growing Up of Mary Elizabeth" that captures delightful memories of her own happy childhood on a farm near Paris.

Mosley, Jean Bell - born in Elvins, Missouri, she spent the early years of her life in the Ozark area. Much of her writing mirrors her interest in the philosophical attitude of the sturdy, independent people with whom she grew up. She has received local, state and national honors. She is also a newspaper columnist for The Southeast Missourian.

O'Neill, Rose - moved to the Ozarks in Missouri when she was 19. Rose wrote and illustrated over 5,000 Kewpie stories and poems. Four books were also published.

Potter, Marian - born in Blackwell, Missouri. She began writing children's stories for her own children. "Milepost 67" is about her childhood in Southeast Missouri, where her father was an agent for the railroad. Potter's "The Little Red Caboose" is still among the best loved children's books.

Teasdale, Sara - one of America's greatest lyric poets, was born in St. Louis. Her verse received early recognition and honors. "Stars Tonight: Verses New and Old for Boys and Girls," is a book of rare beauty that every child should have the opportunity to know.

Thompson, Kay - born in St. Louis, she began her career in 1928 as a pianist with the St. Louis Symphony. Beside her writing, she was a successful singer pianist, choreographer, actress, and creator of nightclub and television acts. As a writer she is best known for her "Eloise" series. The entire series is about a six-year old child impersonating by an adult.

Wilder, Laura Ingalls - moved to Missouri in 1894. At her Rocky Ridge Farm home near Mansfield, Missouri, she wrote her Little House books - pioneer stories of her own childhood as her family moved from Wisconsin to Kansas, to Michigan and Iowa, to Dakota, and finally to Missouri.

Wright, Harold Bell - thousands of tourists watch the reenactments of "Shepherd of the Hills" dramatization each season in Branson. Wright wrote 18 more books. For a period of about 20 years, only the sale of the Bible exceeded the combined sale of his books.