Iris Noble
Iris Noble was a Canadian biographer and author, born in Calgary, Alberta, in 1922. After relocating to the United States in 1933, she married author Hollister Noble in 1940. Noble earned her B.A. from the University of Oregon and pursued graduate studies at Stanford University. Her early career included serving as the publicity director for the Earl Carroll Theater in Hollywood and contributing essays to various periodicals. She is particularly known for her young adult novels that address teen issues, with her first fiction work, "One Golden Summer," published in 1959. However, her legacy primarily rests on her numerous biographies aimed at young adults, beginning with "Nellie Bly: First Woman Reporter" in 1955. Among her notable works are biographies of historical figures like William Shakespeare and Joseph Pulitzer. Her biography of Emily Barringer, "First Woman Ambulance Surgeon," won a Silver Medal from the Commonwealth Club of California in 1962. Iris Noble was a member of the Authors Guild and the Authors League of America, and she passed away in 1986.
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Subject Terms
Iris Noble
Author
- Born: February 22, 1922
- Birthplace: Calgary, Alberta, Canada
- Died: June 30, 1986
- Place of death: Patzcuaro, Mexico
Biography
Iris Noble, a twentieth century biographer, was born in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, in 1922, the daughter of Franklin Thomas Davis and Lillian Piel Davis. In 1933, her family moved to the United States. In 1940, she met and married Hollister Noble, an author. Noble received a B.A. degree from the University of Oregon in the early 1940’s, and then conducted her graduate studies at Stanford University in Palo Alto, California. During this time, she served as the publicity director of the Earl Carroll Theater in Hollywood, California, and published many freelance essays in various periodicals.
Noble wrote several young adult novels centered on teen issues. Her first fiction title, One Golden Summer, was published in 1959, and she published three other young adult novels. However, she is best remembered for her numerous biographies written for young adults. In 1955, Noble published her first biography, Nellie Bly: First Woman Reporter, and subsequently wrote biographies of William Shakespeare, Joseph Pulitzer, and many other historical figures. In 1962, her book First Woman Ambulance Surgeon: Emily Barringer received a Silver Medal from the Commonwealth Club of California.
Iris Noble belonged to the Authors Guild and the Authors League of America. She died in 1986.