Clifford Lindsey Alderman
Clifford Lindsey Alderman was an American author and editor, born on August 5, 1902, in Springfield, Massachusetts. He graduated from the U.S. Naval Academy in 1924 and served in the navy during World War II, achieving the rank of commander. Alderman worked in various roles, including as an assistant chemist and an engineer, before transitioning to editing publications such as Shipping Digest and Our Navy. He is particularly noted for his contributions to children's and young adult literature, writing biographies that highlight historical figures like Samuel Adams and Annie Oakley. His work often focused on New England history, with titles exploring local themes, such as witchcraft and the triangular trade. Alderman was also a proud descendant of a family that participated in the American Revolution. After a prolific writing career, he retired to Florida, where he passed away in 1988. His research materials are housed in the Grummond Children's Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi.
On this Page
Subject Terms
Clifford Lindsey Alderman
Writer
- Born: August 5, 1902
- Birthplace: Springfield, Massachusetts
- Died: June 11, 1988
- Place of death: Florida
Biography
Clifford Lindsey Alderman was born in Springfield, Massachusetts, on August 5, 1902, the son of Charles Henry Alderman and Susie Lindsey Alderman. He graduated with a B.S. from the U. S. Naval Academy in 1924. In 1934, he married Mildred Jordan.
Alderman worked as an assistantchemist at New England Laboratories in Springfield from 1925 to 1927, and then as an engineer for the U.S. Bureau of Mines in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, from 1927 to 1929. He edited several publications, including Shipping Digest from 1929 to 1940 and Our Navy from 1940 to 1942. He also worked as an editor for the Port Authority of New York in New York City from 1948 to 1955. He served in the navy during World War II, attaining the rank of commander.
Although Alderman wrote historical novels for adults, he is best known as a writer for children and young adults. He produced biographies such as Samuel Adams: Son of Liberty (1961) and Annie Oakley and the World of Her Time (1979). The latter, a widely read book, emphasized Oakley’s role as a sharpshooter and one of the entertainers in Buffalo Bill’s Wild West shows. Alderman published several books about New England history, including Devil’s Shadow: The Story of Witchcraft in Massachusetts (1967) and Rum, Slaves and Molasses: The Story of New England’s Triangular Trade (1972). He was a proud descendant of a family that had fought in the American Revolution.
Alderman traveled to many of the places he wrote about to conduct research for his books. He retired to Florida, where he died in 1988. His papers at the Grummond Children’s Collection of the University of Southern Mississippi contain his research files and other documents relating to the writing and production of his books.