Sperry, Armstrong, 1897-1976

Armstrong Sperry was born in New Haven, Conn. in 1897. This Newbery Medal-winning author produced historical fiction and nonfiction for children and young adults.

American author and illustrator of children's and young adult fiction and non-fiction.

American author and illustrator of children's books.

American author and illustrator of children's and young adult fiction and non-fiction; Newbery Award winner, 1941.

Armstrong W. Sperry was born November 7, 1897, in New Haven, Connecticut, and died April 28, 1978, in Hanover, New Hampshire. He was educated at the Yale School of Fine Arts, continuing his education in New York City and Paris. He served in the U.S. Navy in 1917. His naval experience, plus his experiences as an ethnologist in the 1920s in the French-controlled islands of the South Pacific, led to a life-long interest in the sea-faring history and legends of that region, and shaped his literary work. He began his artistic career as an illustrator, and shifted to writing stories for children as well, although he continued to illustrated the works of others throughout his long career. He published his first work in 1932, and in 1940 published Call It Courage, which won the 1941 Newbery Award. Most of Sperry's books for children and young adults feature themes of adventure. He also wrote war stories set during World War II. While some of his work may appear overly-sentimental or dated in its depictions of various ethnic groups and historical figures, his works, for the dates of their publication, were quite sympathetic and introduced many young readers to an area unfamiliar to them--the South Pacific.

Armstrong W. Sperry was born November 7, 1897, in New Haven, Connecticut, and died April 28, 1978, in Hanover, New Hampshire. He was educated at the Yale School of Fine Arts, continuing his education in New York City and Paris. He served in the U.S. Navy in 1917. His naval experience, plus his experiences as an ethnologist in the 1920s in the French-controlled islands of the South Pacific, led to a life-long interest in the sea-faring history and legends of that region, and shaped his literary work. He began his artistic career as an illustrator, and shifted to writing stories for children as well, although he continued to illustrated the works of others throughout his long career. He published his first work in 1932, and in 1940 published Call It Courage, which won the 1941 Newbery Award. Most of Sperry's books for children and young adults feature themes of adventure. He also wrote war stories set during World War II. While some of his work may appear overly-sentimental or dated in its depictions of various ethnic groups and historical figures, his works, for the dates of their publication, were quite sympathetic and introduced many young readers to an area unfamiliar to them--the South Pacific.

Biographical Sources: Something About the Author, vols. 1, 27