author
Clara Kern Bayliss
1848–1948
A pioneering educator and children's writer, she brought curiosity, science, and folklore together in books that invited young readers to look closely at the world. Her long career also reached beyond publishing into work for schools, parents, and civic life.
2 Audiobooks
A Treasury of Eskimo Tales
by Clara Kern Bayliss
Philippine Folk-Tales
by Clara Kern Bayliss, Laura Estelle Watson Benedict, Fletcher Gardner, Berton L. (Berton Lewis) Maxfield, W. H. Millington
About the author
Born near Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1848, Clara Kern Bayliss studied at Hillsdale College and became its first woman graduate in 1871. She later built a career as both a teacher and writer, and spent much of her professional life in Illinois, including many years connected with Illinois Wesleyan University.
Bayliss wrote widely for young readers. Her books drew on natural history, everyday observation, and traditional stories, and she became especially known for collections of tales and for children's writing that introduced readers to cultures beyond their own. That mix of education and storytelling gave her work a warm, practical character.
She also took an active role in education reform and community organizations, including efforts that encouraged stronger cooperation between schools and parents. Living nearly a full century, she died in 1948, leaving behind a body of work shaped by teaching, civic engagement, and a strong belief in learning.