Edith Ogden Harrison

Born in New Orleans in 1862, Edith Ogden Harrison became a noted American writer of children's books and fairy tales. Her work reached young readers in the early decades of the 20th century, and titles such as Prince Silverwings and Other Fairy Tales helped build her reputation as a warm, imaginative storyteller.

She was married to Carter H. Harrison Jr., who served five terms as mayor of Chicago, and she became part of one of the city's best-known public families. That connection placed her near the center of Chicago social and civic life while she continued her own literary career.

Harrison died in 1955, leaving behind a body of work remembered for its fantasy, gentleness, and appeal to children. Today she is chiefly associated with classic juvenile literature from an era when fairy tales were a beloved part of family reading.