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Elizabeth Yates

エリザベス・イェーツ

Elizabeth Yates

Aliases: Elizabeth Yates McGreal / Mary Elizabeth Yates

Profile

Gender
Female
Born
1905-12-06 （Buffalo, New York, US）
Died
2001-07-29 （Concord, New Hampshire, US (hospice)） age 95
Nationality
American
Languages
English
Residence History
Buffalo, New York (birth) → Manhattan, New York City → England (circa 1929–1939) → Peterborough, New Hampshire (long-term residence) → Concord, New Hampshire (death)

Career

Occupations
Writer, Journalist, Workshop instructor
Active Years
1928-2001
Affiliations
New Hampshire Association for the Blind, University of New Hampshire (conducted workshops), University of Connecticut (conducted workshops), Indiana University (conducted workshops)
Memberships
New Hampshire Association for the Blind (served as board president)
Influenced By
Dorothy Canfield Fisher (influence / subject of biographical interest)

Education

Franklin School
Period: 1924
Country: United States
Attended as part of early secondary schooling
Oaksmere (private school near New York City)
Period: 1924–1925（約1年間）
Country: United States
Attended about one year at a private school founded by Winifred Edgerton Merrill

Awards

Newbery Medal
1951
Work: Amos Fortune, Free Man
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: 受賞
Newbery Honor
1944
Work: Mountain Born
Organization: American Library Association (ALA)
Result: 受賞（オナー）
New York Herald Tribune Award
1943
Work: Patterns on the Wall
Organization: New York Herald Tribune
Result: 受賞
New York Herald Tribune Award
1951
Work: Amos Fortune, Free Man
Organization: New York Herald Tribune
Result: 受賞
William Allen White Children's Book Award (inaugural)
1951
Work: Amos Fortune, Free Man
Organization: William Allen White Children's Book Award organization
Result: 受賞
Jane Addams Children's Book Award
1955
Work: Rainbow 'round the World: A Story of UNICEF
Organization: Women's International League for Peace and Freedom
Result: 受賞
Sarah Josepha Hale Award
1970
Organization: Richards Free Library (award information)
Result: 受賞

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

High Holiday

1938 Adult novel (early work)

An adult novel set in the Swiss Alps; Yates's first published book.

naturehuman relationships

Climbing Higher

1939 Children's / YA

An early work focusing on youth and nature.

coming of agechallenge

Patterns on the Wall

1943 Children's literature / young readers

A story inspired by the discovery of old artwork during farmhouse restoration; draws on Yates's personal experiences.

historydiscoveryfamily

Mountain Born

1943 Children's literature

A children's story set in the mountains; named a Newbery Honor book in 1944.

naturecommunitycoming of age

Amos Fortune, Free Man

1950 Children's biographical novel

A biographical children's novel about the real-life Amos Fortune; Yates's best-known work and winner of the 1951 Newbery Medal.

freedomhuman dignityhistorical remembrance

A Place for Peter

1952 Children's literature

A warm story about a child and animals.

animalsfamily

Rainbow 'round the World: A Story of UNICEF

1954 Children's book / social awareness

A children's book introducing UNICEF's work; recipient of the 1955 Jane Addams Children's Book Award.

international cooperationchild welfare

Prudence Crandall, Woman of Courage

1955 Biographical / children's

A biographical work portraying the courage of educator Prudence Crandall.

courageeducationcivil rights

Pebble in a Pool: The Widening Circles of Dorothy Canfield Fisher's Life

1958 Biography / memoir

A biographical account tracing the life and influence of writer Dorothy Canfield Fisher.

remembrancecultural influence

The Lighted Heart

1960 Children's literature / essayistic

A mid-career work addressing growth of the heart and values.

personal growthethics

Someday You'll Write

1962 Children's / YA

A work encouraging future creative writing and aspirations.

creativityencouragement

Carolina's Courage

1964 Children's literature

A story about a protagonist's courage and growth.

couragecoming of age

Skeezer, Dog with a Mission

1973 Children's literature (animal story)

A children's tale about a dog with a mission.

animalspurpose

My Diary—My World

1981 Memoir / autobiography (vol. 1)

First volume of a three-volume autobiography covering the early years of her writing life.

remembrancethe creative process

My Widening World

1983 Memoir / autobiography (vol. 2)

Second volume of autobiography, recording the widening horizons of her life and career.

life historyliterary career

One Writer's Way

1984 Memoir / autobiography (vol. 3)

Third volume of autobiography including reflections on craft and life.

writing philosophyretrospective

Bibliography

  • High Holiday (1938)
  • Climbing Higher (1939)
  • Patterns on the Wall (1943)
  • Mountain Born (1943)
  • Amos Fortune, Free Man (1950)
  • A Place for Peter (1952)
  • Rainbow 'round the World: A Story of UNICEF (1954)
  • Prudence Crandall, Woman of Courage (1955)
  • Pebble in a Pool: The Widening Circles of Dorothy Canfield Fisher's Life (1958)
  • The Lighted Heart (1960)
  • Someday You'll Write (1962)
  • Carolina's Courage (1964)
  • Skeezer, Dog with a Mission (1973)
  • My Diary—My World (1981)
  • My Widening World (1983)
  • One Writer's Way (1984)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
realistic, biographical children's literatureclear, accessible prose
Recurring Motifs
nature and animalscourage and ethicshistory and personal dignity

Legacy

Elizabeth Yates is highly regarded in children's literature; her best-known book, Amos Fortune, Free Man, won the 1951 Newbery Medal. Her works often treat historical subjects and human dignity. Her legacy includes the Elizabeth Yates Award established by the Concord Public Library and contributions to the New Hampshire Association for the Blind.

Academic Societies

  • Organizations related to the New Hampshire Association for the Blind

Archives

  • Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College (Elizabeth Yates Papers)
  • Howard Gotlieb Archival Research Center, Boston University (archival holdings)

In Popular Culture

  • The Elizabeth Yates Award established by the Concord Public Library

Trivia

  • She was the seventh of eight children.
  • She began her career as a journalist, contributing travel articles and book reviews.
  • Many of her books were illustrated by British artist Nora S. Unwin.
  • She was widowed in 1963 (husband William McGreal).
  • The Concord Public Library created the Elizabeth Yates Award to honor individuals who inspire young people to read.