Doris Shannon Garst
Doris Shannon Garst was an American author born in 1899 in Ironwood, Michigan, who made significant contributions to the field of children's literature, particularly biographies. After moving to Denver, Colorado, at the age of four, her life was marked by personal tragedy, including the death of her father in a mining accident. Garst's educational journey took her through public schools, and later, she transitioned from teaching to a civil service role in Wyoming, where she married attorney Joseph Garst and raised three children. Her passion for writing emerged early in her life, influenced by her experiences and her desire to share stories, particularly those of Western heroes. Garst is best known for her biographies aimed at young adults, featuring historical figures like Crazy Horse and Kit Carson. Her work earned her multiple accolades, including the Young Reader's Choice Award and the Wyoming State Historical Award. Through her writing, Garst aimed to educate and inspire young readers about notable figures from the American West, leaving a lasting impact on children's literature.
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Subject Terms
Doris Shannon Garst
Writer
- Born: July 24, 1899
- Birthplace: Ironwood, Michigan
- Died: September 1, 1981
- Place of death: Denver, Colorado
Biography
Doris Shannon Garst was born in Ironwood, Michigan, in 1899. She was the daughter of Julius and Zenta Shannon Jensen. When Garst was four years old, the family moved to Denver, Colorado. Garst’s father worked for a mining company in Colorado, and he was often away from home while she was growing up. While Garst was still young, her father was killed in a mining accident. Garst attended the Denver public schools until she was a senior in high school, when the family moved to Hood River, Oregon, where they had purchased a fruit orchard. After teaching school for several years, Garst accepted a civil service job and moved to Wyoming. While in Wyoming, she married attorney Joseph Garst, with whom she had three children.
A prolific writer, Garst believed that she was born with the urge to write, and often wrote stories during her childhood. She later wrote stories to entertain her children. However, Garst admitted that if her daughter Barbara had not contracted scarlet fever and been quarantined at home, she might not have written her first book.
After growing up in the West, Garst had an interest in the real-life heroes of the region, and she wrote numerous biographies about figures such as Crazy Horse, Kit Carson, George Armstrong Custer, and Geronimo, among others. Her biographies are geared toward the young-adult audience, and she received numerous awards for her writing. Her awards include the Young Reader’s Choice Award of the Pacific Northwest Library Association, the Boys Club of America Junior Book Award, and the Wyoming State Historical Award in 1961. She also received several awards from the National Federation of Press Women.