Albert A. (Albert Allis) Hopkins

Born in 1869, Albert Allis Hopkins was an American writer and editor whose work blended practical science with popular entertainment. Reliable library and reference sources identify him as the author or editor of books on mechanics, formulas, inventions, and magic, including Magic: Stage Illusions and Scientific Diversions, Including Trick Photography.

Hopkins spent much of his career with Scientific American. One reference source describes him as an associate editor of the magazine for forty-four years, which fits the broad picture of a writer deeply involved in explaining technical subjects to everyday readers. His books often aimed to show how things worked, whether the subject was machinery, household know-how, or the clever principles behind stage illusions.

He died in 1939, but his work still appeals to readers curious about the meeting point of science, invention, and showmanship. Today he is remembered less as a novelist than as a clear, energetic popularizer who helped turn complex ideas into satisfying reading.