Franklin Folsom facts for kids

Franklin Brewster Folsom (born July 21, 1907 – died April 30, 1995) was an American author. He wrote many popular books, especially for children and young people. His books covered topics like archaeology (studying old human history) and anthropology (studying human societies and cultures). He published over 80 books using his own name and several other names, called pseudonyms. He was also involved in politics and supported the Soviet Union.

About Franklin Folsom

Franklin Folsom went to the University of Colorado Boulder and finished in 1928. He then taught at Swarthmore College for two years. In 1930, he went to Merton College, Oxford in England on a special scholarship called a Rhodes Scholarship.

Becoming a Writer

After finishing his studies, Franklin Folsom decided to become a full-time writer. He started publishing books about history and archaeology. Some of these books were written with his wife, Mary Elting Folsom. He also worked as a guide in the Rocky Mountains. During the Second World War, he served as a sailor in the U.S. Merchant Marine.

Standing Up for Rights

Franklin Folsom cared deeply about the rights of Native and Black Americans. This led him to join groups that worked for social change. He was one of the people who helped start the League of American Writers. He worked as its executive secretary from 1937 to 1943. This group often worked closely with the Communist Party. Folsom himself was an active member of the Communist Party.

Writing Under Different Names

During a time in American history known as McCarthyism, people who were thought to have communist ideas faced difficulties. To continue publishing his books, Franklin Folsom used different names, called pseudonyms. These names included Benjamin Brewster, Chase Elwell, Michael Gorham, Lyman Hopkins, Horatio D. Jones, Troy Nesbit, and Philip Stander.

His Family Life

His wife, Mary Elting (1906—2005), was also a writer and a journalist. They were married from 1936 until Franklin's death in 1995. They had two children: a son named Michael (1938-1990) and a daughter named Rachel (born in 1944).

Books by Franklin Folsom

Franklin Folsom wrote many books, both under his own name and his pseudonyms. Here are some of the books he published using his real name:

• Search In The Desert (1955)
• Exploring American Caves: Their History, Geology, Lore, and Location: a Spelunker's Guide (1956)
• Fury and The Mystery At Trappers' Hole (1959)
• Wagon Train (1959)
• The Story of Archaeology of The Americas (1960) with Mary Elting Folsom
• America's Ancient Treasures: A Guide To Archaeological Sites and Museums In The United States and Canada (1962) with Mary Elting Folsom
• Famous Pioneers (1963)
• The Language Book: From Tom Toms To Telstar (1963), illustrated by John Hull & Tran Hawicke
  • Russian translation: Книга о языке (1974) М. Прогресс
  • French translation: Du tam-tam à telstar, l'aventure du langage
  • Extended version: The whole dramatic story of language: What it is . . . How it began . . . How it changes (1963)
• Soviet Union : The View from Within (1965)
• Science and The Secret of Man's Past (1966)
• The Answer Book of History (1966) with Mary Elting Folsom
• Flags of All Nations and The People Who Live Under Them (1967) with Mary Elting Folsom
• If You Lived In The Days of The Wild Mammoth Hunters (1968) with Mary Elting Folsom
• The Life and Legend of George McJunkin: Black Cowboy (ages 10 & up; 1973)
• Red Power On The Rio Grande: The Native American Revolution of 1680 (1973)
• Indian Uprising On The Rio Grande: The Pueblo Revolt of 1680 (1996)
• Impatient Armies of The Poor: The Story of Collective Action of The Unemployed, 1808—1942 (1991)
• Days of Anger, Days of Hope: A Memoir of The League of American Writers, 1937—1942 (1994)