Gladys Cardiff facts for kids

Gladys Cardiff, born in 1942, is a talented poet and a former university professor. She is a member of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Her work often explores Native American, African-American, and American literature stories and ideas. She taught at Oakland University for many years, from 1999 to 2013.

Growing Up and Learning

Gladys Cardiff was born in Browning, Montana. Her father, Henry Owl, was from the Owl clan of the Cherokee people. Her grandmother was Catawba, another Native American group. On her mother's side, Gladys has Irish and Welsh family roots. She is an official citizen of the Eastern Band of Cherokee Indians. Gladys often uses her rich family history and Cherokee place names in her poems.

She went to the University of Washington to study. There, she learned from a famous poet named Theodore Roethke. Later, she earned a special degree called a PhD in literature from Western Michigan University.

Her Books and Awards

Gladys Cardiff has written several books of poetry. Her first book, To Frighten a Storm, won the Washington State Governor's Award in 1976. She also published A Bare Unpainted Table in 1999.

She received awards from the Seattle Arts Commission in 1985 and 1986. In 1988, she shared the Louisa Kerns Award from the University of Washington for her writing. Her poems have also been featured by The Poetry Foundation.

External Links

• Staff page at Oakland University