Patricia Clapp facts for kids

Patricia Clapp (born June 9, 1912 – died December 10, 2003) was an American author. She wrote many exciting stories for children and young adults. Her books often brought history to life in a fun way.

Her very first novel, Constance: A Story of Early Plymouth (1968), was special. It was based on the life of her own ancestor, Constance Hopkins. Constance was a passenger on the famous Mayflower ship! This book was so good that it was nominated for a big award, the National Book Award, in 1969.

Patricia Clapp also wrote a popular ghost story called Jane-Emily (1969). It's known as one of the best children's ghost stories ever. It features a spooky girl who isn't happy when someone new comes to her old house.

About Patricia Clapp's Life

Patricia Clapp was born in Boston, Massachusetts. Her father passed away when she was very young. Her mother, Elizabeth Blatchford Clapp, supported the family by running a business that imported toothbrushes.

Later, her family moved to Montclair, New Jersey, where Patricia grew up. As a young woman, she studied journalism at Columbia University. She married Edward della Torre Cone in 1933.

When her daughter was young, Patricia started writing plays for her Girl Scout troop. This led to her publishing over 20 plays for young actors. She also wrote three plays for adult groups.

How Patricia Clapp Wrote Her Books

Patricia Clapp's career as a novelist began in an interesting way. She was working on a project to learn about her family history. During this, she found out she was related to Constance Hopkins, who sailed on the Mayflower.

She spent a lot of time thinking about Constance. Imagine being 14 years old and leaving your home in London to travel to a new land! This idea inspired her to write Constance: A Story of Early Plymouth.

Many of Clapp's novels are based on real historical events. She loved to explore the past and make it exciting for her readers.

• Dr. Elizabeth: The Story of the First Woman Doctor (1974) tells the story of Elizabeth Blackwell. She was the first woman to earn a medical degree in the United States.
• I'm Deborah Sampson: A Soldier in the War of the Revolution is about Deborah Sampson. She was a brave young woman who dressed as a man to fight in the American Revolutionary War.
• Witches' Children: A Story of Salem (1982) explores the history of the Salem Witch Trials.
• The Tamarack Tree: A Novel of the Siege of Vicksburg (1986) is set during the American Civil War and focuses on the Siege of Vicksburg.

Patricia Clapp stopped publishing books after 1986. She enjoyed writing because she could do it when she wanted, not because she had to. She loved to research and imagine herself living in different times with her characters.

Her writings and papers are kept safe at the De Grummond Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi.