Joseph Seamon Cotter Jr. facts for kids
Joseph Seamon Cotter Jr. was an American writer, poet, and playwright. He was born on September 2, 1895, in Louisville, Kentucky, and passed away on February 3, 1919. He is best known for his play On The Fields of France, which was published after his death, and for his many poetry books.
Growing Up in Louisville
Joseph Seamon Cotter Jr. spent his early life in Louisville, Kentucky. He went to Central High School and graduated in 1911. His father, Joseph Seamon Cotter Sr., was also a famous African-American playwright. Interestingly, his father was the principal of the high school when Cotter Jr. graduated!
His College Years
After high school, Cotter Jr. went to Fisk University in Nashville, Tennessee. While he was there, he became sick with tuberculosis. This was a serious illness that also caused the death of his sister, Florence Olivia, in 1914.
His Writing Career
Because of his illness, Cotter Jr. returned to Louisville. He started working as a journalist for a newspaper called the Leader. Cotter Jr. wanted to create his own unique style of writing. He did not try to copy his father's writing. Instead, he experimented with different ways of writing poetry, including free verse and rhythmic styles, like in his work Rain Music.
After Joseph Seamon Cotter Jr. passed away in 1919, his father worked hard to share his son's writings with the world. Many people believed that Cotter Jr. had the potential to become one of the greatest poets of his time.
