Yates, Elizabeth, 1905-2001

Elizabeth McGreal Yates was born in Buffalo, New York in 1905. She wrote books for both adults and children, but is best remembered as an author of children's books. A notable success was her 1950 publication of Amos Fortune, a children's book based on the true story of an African prince who becomes a slave in America and later gains his freedom. The book won the John Newbery Award in 195l. She died in 2001 in Concord, New Hampshire.Biographical Source: Something About the Author, volume 128, p. 248.

Elizabeth Yates was born in Buffalo, NY; she attended schools there and in Mamorenek, NY. A well-known author of children's books, she also wrote books for adults. Yates lived in Europe for ten years, writing travel stories for newspapers and magazines. She later based many of her books on her experiences overseas. After returning to the United States before the beginning of World War II, she settled with her husband in Peterborough, NH, where she continued to write, lecture and serve on the boards of several charitable organizations. Yates received a number of awards including the Newbery Medal for Amos Fortune, Free Man, and received honorary degrees from several colleges including one from Franklin Pierce College in 1981.

Flyer for Elizabeth Yates' visit as Writer-in-Residence at Aurora College, November 16-20, 1964

Elizabeth Yates was born and educated in Buffalo, New York. She married William McGreal in 1929 and for ten years they traveled extensively and lived in London. After their return to the U.S., they made their home on a farm in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Yates was the author of more than twenty-one books for adults and children. Her best-known work is Amos Fortune: Free Man (1950) which won the Newberry Medal, the Herald Tribune Award, and the William Allen White Children's Award. Her book Rainbow Round the World won the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Award. In addition to writing, Yates served as staff member for various writers' conferences (such as those at the University of Connecticut, the University of Indiana, and the University of New Hampshire ), as a lecturer, and as the Director of the New Hampshire Association for the Blind.

Effie Douglass Putnam was the sister of Loretto Putnam, the second wife of Elizabeth Yates' grandfather. Effie was born in Flint, Michigan and went as a young girl to Paris to study the harp and remained there until she died in 1943. She published several books, including Margaret and The Singer's Story (1888) and Cirillo (1903).

Author.

Elizabeth Yates was born and educated in Buffalo, New York. She married William McGreal in 1929 and for ten years they traveled extensively and lived in London. After their return to the U.S., they made their home on a farm in Peterborough, New Hampshire. Yates was the author of more than twenty-one books for adults and children. Her best-known work is Amos Fortune: Free Man (1950) which won the Newberry Medal, the Herald Tribune Award, and the William Allen White Children's Award. Her book Rainbow Round the World won the Women's International League for Peace and Freedom Award. In addition to writing, Yates served as staff member for various writers' conferences (such as those at the University of Connecticut, the University of Indiana, and the University of New Hampshire), as a lecturer, and as the Director of the New Hampshire Association for the Blind.

Elizabeth McGreal Yates was born in Buffalo, New York in 1905. She wrote books for both adults and children, but is best remembered as an author of children's books. A notable success was her 1950 publication of Amos Fortune, a children's book based on the true story of an African prince who becomes a slave in America and later gains his freedom. The book won the John Newbery Award in 195l. She died in 2001 in Concord, New Hampshire.

Biographical Source: Something About the Author, volume 128, p. 248.