author
Clara Kern Bayliss
1848–1948
A pioneering educator and prolific writer, this Michigan-born author brought science, history, and folklore to young readers with warmth and curiosity. Her books ranged from nature studies to retellings of Native American and Arctic tales, reflecting a lifelong love of learning.
2 Audiobooks
Philippine Folk-Tales
by Clara Kern Bayliss, Laura Estelle Watson Benedict, Fletcher Gardner, Berton L. (Berton Lewis) Maxfield, W. H. Millington
A Treasury of Eskimo Tales
by Clara Kern Bayliss
About the author
Born near Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1848, Clara Kern Bayliss was part of a generation of women who pushed past the limits placed on their education. She became the first woman to graduate from Hillsdale College in 1871, then built a career as both a teacher and a writer.
Bayliss wrote widely for children and general readers, publishing books on nature, storytelling, and traditional cultures. Her works include In Brook and Bayou, A Treasury of Eskimo Tales, and A Treasury of Indian Tales from North America. She was especially interested in making knowledge approachable, whether she was writing about the natural world or adapting traditional stories for younger audiences.
She also remained active in education and civic life in Illinois, where her husband Alfred Bayliss served as a school official. Living to nearly 100, she died in 1948 after a long life spent encouraging curiosity, reading, and learning.