Clara Ingram Judson facts for kids
Clara Ingram Judson (born May 4, 1879 – died May 24, 1960) was an amazing American author. She wrote over 70 books, mostly for children! Many of her books were nonfiction, including biographies about famous American presidents. In 1960, she won a special award called the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal. This award celebrates authors or illustrators whose books have made a big and lasting impact on children's literature in the United States. Sadly, Clara Judson passed away before she could receive this honor.
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About Clara Judson's Life
Clara Ingram Judson was born in Logansport, Indiana, on May 4, 1879. She married James McIntosh Judson in 1901. Her very first book, Flower Fairies, came out in 1915. She became well-known for her "Mary Jane" series, writing 19 books in this collection between 1918 and 1939.
Her Famous Books
Clara Judson was a finalist for the Newbery Medal three times. The Newbery Medal is a very important award for children's books in the United States.
- In 1951, she was nominated for Abraham Lincoln, Friend of the People.
- In 1954, she was nominated for Theodore Roosevelt, Fighting Patriot. Both of these books were about US presidents.
- In 1957, she was nominated for Mr. Justice Holmes, a book about Oliver Wendell Holmes, Jr., a famous judge.
Other Achievements
Clara Judson was also the president of the Illinois Woman's Press Association from 1923 to 1925. She wrote articles for popular magazines like Ladies' Home Journal and Child Life. In 1928, she started her own radio show about homemaking. This made her one of the first women to have a show on the radio!
Clara Judson passed away on May 24, 1960, in Evanston, Illinois. This was just before she would have received the Wilder Medal. That same year, a new award was created in her honor. It was called the Clara Ingram Judson Award. This award recognized the best creative writing for children in the Midwest United States.
Awards She Won
Some of Her Books
- Flower fairies (1915)
- Good-night stories (1916)
- Billy Robin and his neighbors (1917)
- The Junior Cook Book (1920)
- Mary Jane in Canada (1924)
- Mary Jane's summer fun (1925)
- Virginia Lee (1926)
- Mary Jane in Italy (1933)
- Mary Jane in Spain (1937)
