Ethel Calvert Phillips

An American children's author, she was born on September 12, 1882, in Jersey City, New Jersey, and died on February 6, 1947, in Nutley, New Jersey. Library and catalog records consistently connect her with books for young readers, and the Denver Public Library describes her as best known for stories including Black-Eyed Susan, A Story of Nancy Hanks, and The Santa Claus Brownies.

Her surviving bibliography shows a wide range of children's fiction, including titles such as The Saucy Betsy, Jeanne-Marie and Her Golden Bird, Pyxie: A Little Boy of the Pines, and Brian's Victory. The settings and subjects suggest a writer drawn to spirited children, historical figures, and regional American life.

Although detailed biographical information is hard to confirm from reliable public sources, her books and library records make clear that she was a steady presence in American children's publishing in the first half of the twentieth century. For listeners coming to her work now, the appeal is in its straightforward storytelling, period charm, and affection for childhood adventure.