Carolyn Sherwin Bailey

Born in Hoosick Falls, New York, in 1875, Carolyn Sherwin Bailey became one of the most prolific American writers for young readers of her era. She studied at Teachers College, Columbia University, graduating in 1896, and went on to write for children over many decades.

Bailey published books, stories, and collections that drew on folklore, everyday life, and classroom reading. She also contributed to magazines, and her long career reflected a strong interest in children’s education as well as entertainment.

She is most widely remembered for Miss Hickory, the novel that received the Newbery Medal in 1947. Bailey died in 1961, but her work remains part of the long tradition of early twentieth-century American children’s literature.