Mignon, Francois, 1899-1981.

Francois Mignon claimed to have been born and educated in France. In actuality, Mignon was born May 9, 1899 in Cortland, New York to Walter Fish Mineah and Mary Ella Mineah. Mignon's given name at birth was Frank VerNooy Mineah. Although many details of his early life are unknown, it is known that Mignon attended school in Cortland and was an undergraduate at Columbia University during late 1921 and early 1922. Mignon's interests were well beyond Cortland, and eventually he moved to New York City.

Mignon long had a fascination with French culture, and according to unconfirmed sources, may have traveled there as a child. Testimony from a coworker provides evidence that Mignon had begun using his French psuedonym as early as 1935. Mignon worked at B. Westermann Company, an international bookstore in New York City from 1932 through 1939. Around this time, Mignon's eyesight had begun to dramatically deteriorate, a condition that would continue the rest of his life.

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