Alice Curtis Desmond
Alice Curtis Desmond was an American author renowned for her biographies of historical women, covering figures from Cleopatra to the mother of George Washington. Born in 1897 in Southport, Connecticut, she hailed from a family with notable lineage, being a descendant of Plymouth Colony governor William Bradford. Desmond attended Parson's Art School after finishing high school in 1916 and had two marriages, the first to Thomas A. Desmond in 1923 and later to congressman Hamilton Fish in 1976.
In 1946, she achieved significant recognition by receiving the Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences Fellowship and earning a doctorate of letters from Russell Sage College. Her literary contributions primarily targeted young adults and included both fiction and nonfiction, as well as various short stories, poems, and articles published in newspapers and magazines. Desmond's works have been translated into multiple languages, reflecting her international appeal. Her extensive travels to regions such as Alaska, South America, and Australia enriched her writing and research. She passed away in 1990 at the age of ninety-three, leaving behind a legacy of literary contributions.
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Alice Curtis Desmond
Writer
- Born: September 19, 1897
- Birthplace: Southport, Connecticut
- Died: October 1, 1990
Biography
Alice Curtis Desmond is best known as the author of numerous biographies of historical women, ranging from Cleopatra to George Washington’s mother. She was born in Southport, Connecticut, in 1897, and grew up in New England with her parents, Lewis Beers Curtis and Alice Beardsley Curtis. She was a descendant of William Bradford, the governor of the Plymouth Colony.
Desmond graduated from high school in 1916 and attended Parson’s Art School until about 1920. She married twice, first to Thomas A. Desmond, whom she wed in 1923, and then to Hamilton Fish, a congressman she married in 1976. She was awarded the Rochester Museum of Arts and Sciences Fellowship in 1946, and that year she also earned her doctorate of letters from Russell Sage College. In 1949, she received the National League of American Pen Women Juvenile Award.
Desmond’s books were primarily for young adults and included fiction and nonfiction works. In addition, she contributed short stories, poems, and articles to newspapers and magazines. Her work also was included in several anthologies, including Roads to Travel: A Collection of Travel Selections. Her books were translated into several different languages, including Portuguese and Dutch. For some of her stories, she was able to gather materials from her three world tours and trips to Alaska, South America, and Australia. Desmond died in 1990 at the age of ninety-three.