Teale, Edwin Way, 1899-1980

Variant names
Dates:
Birth 1899-06-02
Death 1980-10-18

Biographical notes:

Naturalist and photographer, of Hampton, Conn.; d. 1980.

From the description of Edwin Way Teale papers, 1799-1995. (University of Connecticut). WorldCat record id: 28420481

Naturalist, author, photographer. Born Joliet Ill. 6/2/99; died Norwich, Conn. 10/18/80. Staff writer for Popular science, 1928-41; free-lance writer & photographer, 1941-80; contributing editor for Audubon, 1942-80. Winner of John Burroughs Medal (1943), Pulitzer Prize (1966), & numerous other awards & honors. Member of various organizations promoting advancement of sciences & appreciation & protection of natural world; pres. of N.Y. Entomological Soc. (1944), of Thoreau Soc. (1958). Frequent visitor to Concord, Mass. Left Hampton farmhouse (Trail Wood) to Conn. Audubon Soc.

From the description of Edwin Way Teale papers relating to Thoreau and to Concord, Mass., 1918-1980 (bulk 1940-1980). (Concord Public Library). WorldCat record id: 33193219

Edwin “Way” Teale (christened Edwin Albert Teale ) was born on 2 June 1899 in Joliet, Illinois . His father, Oliver Cromwell Teale, was British and had emigrated from England in 1884. After working in New York and then Illinois as a railroad mechanic, he met his future wife, Clara Louise Way at a party hosted by her parents. The future Mrs. Oliver Teale had grown up on “Lone Oak” farm, which Edwin fondly wrote about in his book Dune Boy . Edwin's early years were kept busy with church, school, and more “school” at home, his mother having been a teacher. Although he always felt connected with nature, it was only during the summers, visiting his grandparents at Lone Oak farm, that he was able to roam free. Edwin kept a journal from very early on, documenting the natural world and things he found interesting.

In 1918, Edwin Way Teale enlisted in the Student Army Training Corps, but was discharged only two months later. He then transferred to Earlham College, where his uncle, David Edwards, was President. It was at Earlham where he met Nellie Imogene Donovan . She was instrumental in his life as a wife, friend, assistant and editor. Edwin's major in college was English, and he was active in many clubs and sports teams including the Football Team, Oratory Club and Debating Team.

After graduating from Earlham in 1922, Edwin took a job as head of the department of public speaking and debate at Friend's University in Wichita, Kansas . Nellie graduated in the spring of 1923 and they were married on 1 August. The Teales stayed for one more year at Friend's, Edwin continued teaching while Nellie became the athletic director.

The Teales then journeyed to New York, where Edwin entered Columbia University . While obtaining his Masters degree and working on his thesis paper entitled Jeffries Criticism of Wordsworth and Scott he submitted his editorials to Dr. Crane, a noted editorial writer. During this time the Teales had their only child, David. After graduating, Teale had hopes of getting a job on the editorial staff of Columbia Dispatch, but after several months of waiting for the official offer and a dwindling bank account, Edwin was forced to try his luck in New York. It was here where he began his decade long career at Popular Science . Edwin wrote on average, four articles an issue, some ghost-written, anonymous or written using pen names. In 1942, after having success with freelance articles, and his first few books ( A Book About Gliders, The Golden Throng ), he resigned to work full time for himself.

The following years were filled with happiness and great sadness. Although Edwin's career as a writer, photographer and public speaker prospered, David joined the army at 18. While on a reconnaissance mission in Germany, David was killed when a bomb sunk the small boat he was on. David and several others drowned. For almost a year, David's status was Missing in Action. After months of inquiries they finally discovered most of what happened and were given the official letter by the government. As Edwin stated, the only thing that kept them from despair was their love of nature.

In 1959, Edwin and Nellie decided to move from their home in Baldwin, New York, to a more rural area. After touring the area in a hot-air balloon they decided to purchase a seventy-nine acre property in Hampton, Connecticut they named “Trail Wood”. He documented their quest for the perfect home in his book entitled A Naturalist Buys an Old Farm . Frequently the Teales welcomed visitors: fans, hikers and naturalists wishing a tour, or just to explore the property.

Edwin and Nellie were members of such organizations and societies as the Thoreau Society, the Explorer's Club, the John Burroughs Memorial Association and the New York Entomological Society . They were good friends with many other naturalists and kept extensive correspondence, with relatives, friends, fans, and other influential people including Rachel Carson, Roger Tory Peterson, William T. Davis, and Julian Burroughs . His 32 books have been published in many languages, as well as in Braille. He won the Pulitzer prize in 1966, and received the Burroughs Medal in 1943 for his book, Near Horizons, among other awards and honors. His fans continued to send Edwin and Nellie letters even after his death in October 1980. Edwin and Nellie chose to donate their materials to the University of Connecticut Libraries and preserved Trail Wood by donating it to the Connecticut Audubon Society . It is now known as the Edwin Way Teale Memorial Sanctuary and is seasonally open for tours.

From the guide to the Edwin Way Teale Papers, undated, 1799-1995., (Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries)

Links to collections

Comparison

This is only a preview comparison of Constellations. It will only exist until this window is closed.

  • Added or updated
  • Deleted or outdated

Information

Permalink:
SNAC ID:

Subjects:

  • A Conscious Stillness
  • Adventures in Nature
  • Authors, American
  • American Seasons
  • A Naturalist Buys An Old Farm
  • Ann Zwinger
  • Audubon's Wildlife
  • Autumn Across America
  • A Walk Through the Year
  • Byways to Adventure
  • Circle of the Seasons
  • Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
  • Days Without Time
  • Dune Boy
  • Edwin Teale
  • Edwin Way Teale
  • Grassroot Jungles
  • Green Mansions
  • Green Treasury
  • Insect Friends
  • Journey Into Summer
  • Private libraries
  • Natural history
  • Natural history
  • Natural history
  • Naturalists
  • Nature photography
  • Nature Writers
  • Near Horizons
  • North With the Spring
  • Notebooks
  • Photographs of American Nature
  • Proofs (Printing)
  • Scrapbooks
  • Springtime in Britain
  • The Book of Gliders
  • The Golden Throng
  • The Insect World of J. Henri Fabre
  • The Junior Book of Insects
  • The Junior Book of Photography
  • The Lost Dog
  • The Lost Woods
  • The Strange Lives of Familiar Insects
  • The Thoughts of Thoreau
  • The Wilderness World of John Muir
  • Walden
  • Wandering Through Winter

Occupations:

  • Authors
  • Naturalist
  • Naturalists
  • Photographers
  • Photographers

Places:

  • United States (as recorded)
  • United States (as recorded)
  • Concord (Mass.) (as recorded)
  • Hampton (Conn.) (as recorded)
  • Connecticut (as recorded)
  • Connecticut (as recorded)

SNAC Cooperative Logo

Social Networks and Archival Context

SNAC is a discovery service for persons, families, and organizations found within archival collections at cultural heritage institutions.

Sponsors

The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation
Institute of Museum and Library Services
National Endowment for the Humanities

Hosts

University of Virginia Library
National Archives and Records Administration