Ann Petry facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Ann Petry
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| Born | Ann Lane October 12, 1908 Old Saybrook, CT, US |
| Died | April 28, 1997 (aged 88) Old Saybrook, CT, US |
| Pen name | Arnold Petri |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Language | English |
| Nationality | American |
| Education | Ph.G. |
| Alma mater | Connecticut College of Pharmacy |
| Years active | 1946–71 |
| Notable works | The Street (1946) The Narrows (1953) |
| Spouse | George Petry |
| Children | Liz Petry |
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Ann Petry (born October 12, 1908 – died April 28, 1997) was an amazing American writer. She wrote novels, short stories, and even books for children. She also worked as a journalist. Her first novel, The Street, came out in 1946. It was a huge success! It was the first book by an African-American woman to sell over a million copies. Later, in 2019, the Library of America honored her work. They published a special book with The Street, her 1953 novel The Narrows, and some other writings.
Contents
Ann Petry's Early Life
Ann Petry was born Anna Houston Lane in Old Saybrook, Connecticut. She was the youngest of three daughters. Her parents were Peter Clark Lane and Bertha James Lane. Her family was part of the small Black community in their town. Ann's father was a pharmacist, and her mother owned a shop. Her mother also worked as a chiropodist and hairdresser. Ann was also the niece of Anna Louise James.
Growing Up in New England
Ann and her sisters grew up in a classic New England way. They learned to be efficient, thrifty, and practical. They had big dreams for their future. These dreams might have been different if they had lived in a big city. In cities, many poor Black people had difficult jobs.
In 1925, Ann finished high school. She was the only person of African-American descent in her graduating class.
Family Life and Challenges
Ann's family did not have a lot of money when she was young. Her mother worked in a factory before becoming a businesswoman. Her sisters worked as maids. The Lane girls were mostly protected from the hardships many Black people faced. However, they still experienced racial discrimination.
Ann wrote about one upsetting event in 1946. A racist person did not want her on a beach. Her father also wrote a letter in the 1920s. He complained about a teacher who refused to teach his daughters and niece. Another teacher made Ann feel bad. She made Ann read the part of an illiterate ex-slave in a story.
Ann had a strong family. Her uncles traveled a lot and told great stories. Her father overcame racial problems to open his pharmacy. Her mother and aunts were strong role models. Ann said in 1992 that these women never thought there were things they couldn't do. They believed they could achieve anything, even as women.
Ann Petry's Career as a Writer
Ann Petry first wanted to be a writer in high school. Her English teacher read her essay to the class. The teacher told her, "I honestly believe that you could be a writer." But her family wanted her to become a pharmacist.
Education and Early Work
After high school in 1929, Ann went to college. She earned a pharmacy degree (Ph.G.) in 1931. She graduated from the University of Connecticut College of Pharmacy in New Haven. For several years, she worked in her family's pharmacy. During this time, she also started writing short stories.
Moving to New York and Journalism
On February 22, 1938, Ann married George D. Petry. They moved to New York City. She worked as a journalist for newspapers. These included The Amsterdam News (1938–1941) and The People's Voice (1941–1944). She also published short stories in magazines like The Crisis and Phylon. Her first story appeared in The Crisis in 1943.
From 1944 to 1946, she studied creative writing. She attended Columbia University. She also worked at an after-school program in Harlem. During this time, she saw what many Black people in the U.S. faced daily. She walked the streets of Harlem and lived among many poor Black people. She saw neglected children up close. These experiences deeply affected her.
Writing The Street
Ann Petry decided to write about her experiences. Her daughter, Liz, explained this to The Washington Post. Liz said that writing The Street was her mother's way of dealing with the problems she saw. It was something people who grew up in Harlem might not have been able to do.
Petry's first and most famous novel, The Street, came out in 1946. It won the Houghton Mifflin Literary Fellowship. The book sold over a million copies! She was even featured in a short film about winning the award.
Later Works and Legacy
In 1947, Ann Petry moved back to Old Saybrook. She wrote Country Place (1947) and The Narrows (1953). She also wrote other stories and books for children. However, these books did not become as famous as The Street. She used her own experience with a hurricane in Old Saybrook for Country Place. Even though the novel is set after World War II, the storm in the book was inspired by the 1938 New England hurricane.
Petry was also a member of the American Negro Theater. She appeared in plays like On Striver's Row. She gave lectures at several universities. These included University of California, Berkeley, Miami University, and Suffolk University. She was also a Visiting Professor of English at the University of Hawaii.
Ann Petry passed away in Old Saybrook on April 28, 1997. She was 88 years old. Her husband, George, passed away in 2000. Her only daughter, Liz Petry, survived her.
In 2018, author Tayari Jones asked for Ann Petry's work to be celebrated again. Jones wrote that Petry "is the writer we have been waiting for." She said Petry's stories help us understand important questions of today. They are also exciting to read.
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Ann Petry, a talented American writer.
