Clara E. (Clara Elizabeth) Laughlin

Born in New York City in 1873 and raised in Chicago, Clara E. Laughlin built a remarkably wide-ranging career as a writer, editor, and broadcaster. She graduated from Chicago High School in 1890 and went on to become literary editor of The Interior while still very young, later writing for major magazines and newspapers.

Laughlin is best remembered for her energetic travel writing. She wrote more than 35 books, including the well-known "So You're Going to..." travel guides, along with biographies, novels, and practical nonfiction. Her work helped make travel feel approachable and exciting for general readers at a time when international touring was becoming more imaginable for a broader public.

Later in life, she also became known as a radio personality and operated a travel service, extending her role from writer to guide in a very direct sense. She died in 1941, leaving behind a body of work that mixed information, enthusiasm, and a clear desire to open the world to her readers.