Catherine Christian facts for kids

Catherine Christian (1901–1985) was an English writer. She was famous for her children's books. She also wrote stories about the legends of King Arthur.

Catherine Christian wrote many books. She published 45 different stories in English and French. Her books can be found in over a thousand libraries! She was also very involved with the Girl Guides movement. For some of her books for girls, she used a special pen name, which is a fake name writers sometimes use. Her pen name was Patience Gilmour.

Catherine Christian's Early Life

Catherine Christian was born on June 22, 1901. She was born in Chelsea, London, England. Her father, Christian John Mühlenkamp, was German. Her mother, Catherine Harriett, was English.

Catherine's birth name was Mamie Muhlenkamp. Her family might have changed their last name during World War I. This was a common thing to do at that time. Even though her school records still showed "Mulenkamp," she later became known as Catherine Mary Christian.

School Days

Mamie went to Croydon High School for girls. She attended from 1911 to 1920. First, she went to the school's Purley location. Then, from 1914, she moved to the main school.

In 1919, her school records showed she did very well. She studied English, History, and Religious Knowledge. She also learned French, German, Mathematics, and Botany. After finishing school, she went back to live at home.

Catherine Christian's Later Life and Work

Catherine Christian was a busy writer from 1930 to 1970. She was also the editor of "The Guide" magazine. She worked on this magazine from 1939 to 1945. She also wrote for "The Guider," another magazine. Her friend Margaret Tennyson edited "The Guider."

After World War II, Catherine moved to Devon, a county in England. There, she became the Curator of the Salcombe National Trust Museum. This museum is called Overbeck's.

Catherine was also part of the Guide International Service. This group helped people around the world. She helped Olga Drahonowska-Małkowska. Olga was a former Polish Chief Guide. She also started scouting in Poland. Olga ran a home for Polish children in Devon.

Catherine Christian passed away on November 12, 1985.

Books by Catherine Christian

Here are some of the books Catherine Christian wrote under her own name:

• L'aube de la Liberté
• Greenie and the Pink 'Un: a Girl Guide story (around 1925)
• The Luck of the Scallop Shell (1929)
• Syringa Street (1930)
• Cherries in Search of a Captain (around 1935)
• The Legions Go North (1935)
• The Wrong Uncle Jim (1935)
• Great Stories of All Time (around 1936)
• Baker's Dozen: thirteen stories for girls (1937)
• The Marigolds Make Good (1937)
• A Schoolgirl from Hollywood (1939)
• Diana Takes a Chance (1940)
• The Pharaoh's Secret (1940)
• Harriet: The Return of Rip Van Winkle (1941)
• Harriet Takes The Field (1942)
• The Kingfishers See It Through (1942)
• The School at Emerys End (1944)
• The Silver Unicorn London (1946)
• Phyllida's Fortune (1947)
• The Big Test: The Story of the Girl Guides in the World War (1947)
• The Seventh Magpie (around 1948)
• Sally and the Sixpenny Pig (1960)
• A Stranger Passed (1961)
• Sidney Seeks Her Fortune (1965)
• Sally Joins the Patrol (1966)
• The Pendragon (1978) (also known as The Sword and the Flame)

Books by Patience Gilmour

These are the books Catherine Christian wrote using her pen name, Patience Gilmour:

• Three’s a Company (1935)
• The Seven Wild Swans: A Story for Rangers (1936)
• The Quest of the Wild Swans (1941)
• The Cygnets Sail Out (1943)