Franklin Folsom
Franklin Folsom was an American educator and writer, born in 1907 in Boulder, Colorado. He began his higher education at Dartmouth College before transferring to the University of Colorado, where he earned his bachelor's degree in 1928. Shortly thereafter, Folsom began teaching at Swarthmore College for two years. His academic pursuits continued at Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar, obtaining another bachelor's degree in 1932 and a master's degree in 1964. Folsom's career included significant roles such as executive secretary for the League of American Writers and director of adult education at the Downtown Community School in New York City, though he later transitioned to freelance writing. He specialized in children's nonfiction and collaborated with his wife, Mary Elting, on several books. Among his notable works is his memoir, *Days of Anger, Days of Hope*, which reflects on his experiences with the League. Franklin Folsom passed away on April 30, 1995, in Nassau, the Bahamas, leaving behind a legacy of literary contributions and educational impact.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Franklin Folsom
Nonfiction Writer
- Born: July 21, 1907
- Birthplace: Boulder, Colorado
- Died: April 30, 1995
- Place of death: Nassau, the Bahamas
Biography
Franklin Folsom was born in Boulder, Colorado, in 1907 and spent his formative years in Boulder before leaving to attend Dartmouth College in New Hampshire in 1924. After a year at Dartmouth, Folsom returned to his home state to attend the University of Colorado, earning his bachelor’s degree in 1928. That same year Folsom began teaching at Swarthmore College in Pennsylvania, a position he held for two years.
Folsom then attended Oxford University, where he was a Rhodes Scholar and earned a second bachelor’s degree in 1932 and a master’s degree in 1964. Folsom married writer Mary Elting in 1936, with whom he had two children. In 1937, he became the executive secretary for the League of American Writers. In 1942, Folsom took a position as the director of adult education at the Downtown Community School in New York City, but he left after a year to become a freelance writer.
The focus of much of Folsom’s writing was children’s nonfiction and he wrote several books with his wife. He also wrote a noted memoir recounting his experiences with the League of American Writers, Days of Anger, Days of Hope: A Memoir of the League of American Writers, 1937-1942 (1994). Under various pseudonyms, Folsom contributed juvenile nonfiction books to the First Book and the Real Book series. Folsom won several awards for his writing, including the Boys Club of American Junior Literary Award Certificate. He died on April 30, 1995 in Nassau, the Bahamas.