Hildegarde H. Swift (January 10, 1890 – January 10, 1977) was a writer of

children's book Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. In addition to conventional literary genres, modern children's literature is classified by the intended age of the reade ...

s. One of her

books A book is a structured presentation of recorded information, primarily verbal and graphical, through a medium. Originally physical, electronic books and audiobooks are now existent. Physical books are objects that contain printed material, mo ...

, '' Little Blacknose'' received the

Newbery Honor The John Newbery Medal, frequently shortened to the Newbery, is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC), a division of the American Library Association (ALA), to the author of "the most distinguished contr ...

Medal. She is best known for her book ''The Railroad to Freedom''. She won the

in 1933.

Biography

Hildegarde Swift was born in Clinton, New York on January 10, 1890. Her father, Author S. Hoyt was an

English Literature English literature is literature written in the English language from the English-speaking world. The English language has developed over more than 1,400 years. The earliest forms of English, a set of Anglo-Frisian languages, Anglo-Frisian d ...

professor at

Hamilton College Hamilton College is a Private college, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts college in Clinton, Oneida County, New York, Clinton, New York. It was established as the Hamilton-Oneida Academy in 1793 and received its c ...

. In her younger years, she had private tutors and attended European boarding schools. She later graduated from Auburn High School, moving on to further her education and graduate from

Smith College Smith College is a Private university, private Liberal arts colleges in the United States, liberal arts Women's colleges in the United States, women's college in Northampton, Massachusetts, United States. It was chartered in 1871 by Sophia Smit ...

. She continued her studies at the New York School of Social Work where she worked with children, which she credits gave her, her "first real knowledge of children." She married Arthur L. Swift, a pastor from New York. Their first son Hewson H. Swift was born November 8, 1920. In her later years, she taught

children's literature Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. In addition to conventional literary genres, modern children's literature is classified by the intended age of the reade ...

at the New School for Social Research. In 1929, she began to write children's books. Swift died in

Redlands, California Redlands ( ) is a city in San Bernardino County, California, United States. As of the 2020 United States census, 2020 census, the city had a population of 73,168, up from 68,747 at the 2010 United States Census, 2010 census. The city is located a ...

on January 10, 1977.

Legacy

Swift's book ''The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge'' has sold more than 400,000 copies. After the

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and Admiralty law, law enforcement military branch, service branch of the armed forces of the United States. It is one of the country's eight Uniformed services ...

's plans to tear down the Little Red Lighthouse, Swift's book was used by fans to help make the site a national landmark.

Eleanor Roosevelt Anna Eleanor Roosevelt ( ; October 11, 1884November 7, 1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist. She was the longest-serving First Lady of the United States, first lady of the United States, during her husband Franklin D ...

praised Swift for admonishing young people to care for the wilderness in her writings.

Works

*''Little Blacknose: The Story of a Pioneer'' (1929) *''The Railroad to Freedom'' (1933) *''House by the Sea'' (1938) *''The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge'', illustrated by

Lynd Ward Lynd Kendall Ward (June 26, 1905 – June 28, 1985) was an American artist and novelist, known for his series of wordless novels using wood engraving, and his illustrations for juvenile and adult books. His wordless novels have influenced ...

(1942) *''North Star Shining'' (1947)'''' *'' From the Eagle's Wing: A Biography of John Muir''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Swift, Hildegarde 20th-century American women writers 1890 births 1977 deaths Smith College alumni Columbia University School of Social Work alumni American children's writers Newbery Honor winners Writers from New York (state)