Elizabeth Stevenson
Born(1919-06-13)June 13, 1919
Ancón, Panama
DiedJuly 30, 1999(1999-07-30) (aged 80)
Decatur, Georgia
Notable awardsBancroft Prize (1956), Guggenheim Fellowship (1951 and 1958)

Elizabeth Stevenson (June 13, 1919 – July 30, 1999) was an American author. In 1956, Stevenson became the first woman recipient of the Bancroft Prize when she won it for her book Henry Adams: A Biography. She was also awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship in 1951 and 1958.

Early life and education

In the Panama Canal Zone, Stevenson's birth occurred at Ancón, Panama on June 13, 1919.[1][2] She grew up in Great Falls, Montana during her childhood.[3] Niven started living in Atlanta, Georgia as a teenager.[4] She graduated from Agnes Scott College with a Bachelor of Arts and majoring in English and history.[5]

Career

Stevenson began her career at Southern Bell during the 1940s.[4] She also worked for the War Production Board and War Assets Administration by 1947.[6] The following year, she joined the Atlanta Public Library as an assistant and remained there until 1956.[2] In 1960, she worked at Emory University as a dean's assistant until 1974 when she began teaching American studies.[3] During the mid 1970s, she was the "first female faculty member" at the Institute for the Liberal Arts with Emory.[7] Stevenson remained at the university until her retirement in 1986 and given the title of emeritus.[8]

As an author, Stevenson wrote about Henry James with her 1949 book titled The Crooked Corridor: A Study of Henry James.[9] In 1955, Stevenson moved on to Henry Adams with Henry Adams: A Biography.[10] Stevenson continued her publications on Adams as the editor for A Henry Adams Reader during 1958.[11] In 1960, Stevenson was chosen to be part of the National Book Awards as a judge for the nonfiction category.[12][13]

She then moved on to Lafcadio Hearn when she released Lafcadio Hearn: A Biography the following year.[2] As a contributor, she was a part of Pride and Prejudice's 1962 re-release.[14] She expanded her writings in 1967 with the release of Babbitts and Bohemians: The American 1920s.[15] Her book on Frederick Law Olmsted, Park Maker: A Life of Frederick Law Olmsted, was released ten years later.[16]

Awards and honors

From the Georgia Writers Association, The Crooked Corridor won the Literary Achievement category in 1950.[17] Henry Adams was the non-fiction recipient during the 1956 edition of the GWA awards.[18] That year, Henry Adams received the Bancroft Prize.[19] With her win, Stevenson was the Bancroft Prize's first female recipient.[20][21] While in Atlanta, Stevenson won the city's 1955 Woman of the Year in Arts award during 1956.[4] Her book on Hearn was selected as a GWA winner in 1962.[22]

Stevenson was awarded the Guggenheim Fellowship twice in 1951 and 1958.[23] She received a research stipend for her Olmsted biography from the National Endowment for the Humanities in 1974.[24] The following year, she was given a grant from the American Council of Learned Societies for this book.[25]

Death

Stevenson died of cancer on July 30, 1999, at Peachtree Hospice in the DeKalb Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia. Her remains were cremated and a memorial service was held at Decatur on August 1, 1999.[26]

References

  1. ↑ Broer, Lawrence R.; Walther, John Daniel, eds. (1990). Dancing Fools and Weary Blues: The Great Escape of the Twenties. Bowling Green State University Popular Press. p. 120. ISBN 0879724579.
  2. 1 2 3 May, Hal; Lesniak, James G., eds. (1989). "Stevenson, Elizabeth 1919-". Contemporary Authors. New Revision. Vol. 26. Detroit: Gale Research Inc. p. 406. ISBN 0810319802. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  3. 1 2 Saunders, Sally (July 26, 1979). "Acclaimed biographer Stevenson getting back in touch with her Montana roots". Great Falls Tribune (Great Falls, Montana). p. 6.
  4. 1 2 3 Davis, Edwina (January 9, 1956). "Miss Stevenson WOTY in Arts". The Atlanta Journal. p. 6.
  5. ↑ Rosenberger, Francis Coleman (1973–1974). "Introduction". Records of the Columbia Historical Society, Washington, D.C. 49: xvi–xvii.
  6. ↑ "Great Falls Woman Has New Book Published Monday". The Independent Record. November 13, 1949. p. Six.
  7. ↑ "History of the ILA". Institute for the Liberal Arts. Emory College of Arts and Sciences. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  8. ↑ "EmoryFindingAids : Elizabeth Stevenson papers, ca. 1950-1999". EmoryFindingAids. Retrieved February 20, 2018.
  9. ↑ Wagenknecht, Edward (December 25, 1949). "A New Study of Works of Henry James". Chicago Tribune. Part 4 p. 4.
  10. ↑ "Former Falls Girl Publishing Second Biographical Work". Great Falls Tribune. November 27, 1955. p. 10.
  11. ↑ Fuigham, Matthew T. (March 23, 1958). "Introduction To Henry Adams' Works Shows Wide Range Of His Scholarship". Daily Press. Newport News, Virginia. p. 4D.
  12. ↑ Lochridge, Betsy Hopkins (January 31, 1960). "Atlantian Will Help Judge Book Award". The Atlanta Journal. p. 2-E.
  13. ↑ "National Book Awards 1959". National Book Foundation. Retrieved October 26, 2023.
  14. ↑ Daniel, Frank (March 5, 1962). "A Good Book Is Larger Than the Author". The Atlanta Journal. p. 23.
  15. ↑ Appel, David (September 17, 1967). "Babbitts, Bohemians In Mad, Mad Years". The Philadelphia Inquirer. p. sec. 7 p. 7.
  16. ↑ Murphy, Ray (June 21, 1977). "Park pioneer". Boston Evening Globe. p. 17.
  17. ↑ "Atlantian Wins Literary Prize Of Writer Group". The Atlanta Journal. June 26, 1950. p. 9.
  18. ↑ "Georgia Authors Slated For Achievement Awards". The Atlanta Journal. November 2, 1956. p. 28.
  19. ↑ "Atlantian Gets Bancroft Prize for Writing". The Atlanta Journal. April 24, 1956. p. 24.
  20. ↑ Coats, Clara Beth (May 20, 1956). "Bancroft Prize Goes to Woman for 1st Time for Biography of Henry Adams". The Abilene Reporter-News. p. 13-C.
  21. ↑ "The Bancroft Prizes: Previous Awards". Columbia University Libraries. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  22. ↑ "6 Georgia Authors To Receive Honors". The Atlanta Journal. October 23, 1962. p. 13.
  23. ↑ "Elizabeth Stevenson". John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. Retrieved February 12, 2018.
  24. ↑ "NEH grant details: To Complete: Life and Times of Frederick Law Olmstead". National Endowment of the Humanities. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  25. ↑ "Elizabeth Stevenson". American Council of Learned Societies. Retrieved October 22, 2023.
  26. ↑ Sibley, Celia (August 1, 1999). "Obituary. Elizabeth Stevenson". The Atlanta Constitution. p. 40. ISSN 1539-7459. OCLC 1035119455. Retrieved December 20, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
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