Steele, Wilbur Daniel, 1886-1970

American short-story writer, novelist and dramatist.

From the description of ALS, 1926 Sept. 26, Nantucket, to Mrs. Helen Warren Harrison, Toledo. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122500032

American writer.

From the description of ALS, 1960 Nov. 6, Old Lyme, Conn., to Don E. Connors, Phoenix Union High School. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122500097

Author, Wilbur Daniel Steele was born in 1886 in Greensboro, North Carolina. He traveled widely in Africa and Europe, basing many of his stories on places he lived or visited. He was several times a winner of the O. Henry Short Story Prize.

From the description of Daniel Wilbur Steele papers, 1907-1970. (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 122546287

Biographical Note

Wilbur Daniel Steele was born in 1886 in Greensboro, N.C. His father became Professor in Iliff School of Theology and University of Denver in 1893 where Wilbur D. Steele had his early education and later won a two year scholarship to the University of Denver where he was active in athletics.

His love of art brought him to Boston where he attended the school of fine arts attached to the Boston Museum. He showed great promise in art, but began to write short stories.

In 1913 he married Margaret Thurston who was a talented painter. They had two sons. In 1931 Mrs. Steele died.

In 1932 he married Norma Mitchell, an actress and playwright with whom he collaborated on several plays. They make their home at Lynne, Connecticut where they still reside.

He was several times winner of the coveted O. Henry Short Story Prize. He traveled widely in Africa and Europe, basing many of his stories from various places he lived or visited.

• 1886: Born Mar. 17, Greensboro, N.C. (of damyankee parents).
• 1890 - 1892 : Binney's Compend of Theology.
• 1893 - 1907 : Grade, Prep & College (A.B.), University Park, Denver. Letters in 5 sports, captain in 2.
• 1907 - 1908 : Boston Museum of Fine Arts (school attached to same)
• 1908 - 1909 : Paris, various art courses - began writing there & in Italy.
• 1909 - 1920 : Provincetown, Mass. Co-founder of Provincetown Players. Married Margaret Thurston, 1913 - sons, Thurston, `15, Peter, `18 - and during this period, following breaks.
• 1917: Travel (for Harpers Mag.) in lesser Antilles & Demarara.
• 1918: Correspondent, attached to Navy, for Cosmopolitan Mag., Eng., Ireland & France.
• 1919 - 1920 : Bermuda
• 1920 - 1922 : North Africa (for Harpers) Riviera & England.
• 1922: Removed from Provincetown to Nantucket - resided there until `29 -- during which following breaks (winters):
• 1922 - 1923 : So. Norwalk, Conn. 23-4, France. 24-5, Westport, Conn. 25-6, Switzerland. 26-7 & 27-8, Charleston, S.C. (There's a winter missing, be dogged if I know where.)
• 1929: Removed from Nantucket. 29-31, Chapel Hill, N.C. Wife, Margaret, died there.
• 1932: Married Norma Mitchell (actress & playwright) in London -- removed to her home (then new) in country neighboring Lyme, Conn. Resided there ever since. With following breaks: winters: 32-33 & 33-4, Hollywood (very sad) 34-5 35-6 & 38-9, N.Y.C. 39-40, Hollywood (still sadder). 1944, I made extended trip around South America, flying.

Both my sons are now married, with children, boys.

Both graduated from Brown Univ.

From the guide to the Wilbur Daniel Steele papers, 1907-1970, (Department of Special Collections and University Archives)