Stephen W. (Stephen Warren) Meader

Born in Providence, Rhode Island, on May 2, 1892, Stephen W. Meader grew up in a Quaker family and spent part of his youth in rural New Hampshire after his father left teaching for work in the timber country. That background stayed with him: the outdoor world, hard work, and self-reliance became lasting themes in his fiction.

Meader went on to write more than forty books for young readers, many of them adventure stories or historical novels. His work was known for its upbeat tone and for young protagonists who build businesses, face setbacks, and learn independence. One of his best-known books, Boy with a Pack, received a Newbery Honor.

He later lived in Moorestown, New Jersey, where he was active in community and library work while also working in advertising for N. W. Ayer & Son. He died on July 18, 1977, but his stories still reflect a warm belief in courage, practical skill, and the rewards of persistence.