Elizabeth Gregg Patterson
Encyclopedia
Elizabeth Gregg Patterson was born in Newport, Arkansas
on August 8, 1904, and lived there until attending Smith College
where she graduated in 1926.
She moved to New York City and soon after, her career as a writer of short fiction began. For two decades, her stories appeared in such magazines as Charm, Collier's
, Cosmopolitan
, The New Yorker
, Atlantic Monthly, Saturday Evening Post and many more. Throughout her career, she was represented by Harold Ober Associates
of New York City.
In 1942, Patterson became a Fellow, at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference
, Middlebury College
, and later, her short story, "Homecoming", was awarded third prize in the 1951 O. Henry Award
for short fiction.
She married Kenneth C. Patterson in 1930, and moved to Saginaw, Michigan
, where she did much of her published writing. Elizabeth was devoted to Newport and had many relatives in that area. She returned there often. As the market for short fiction began to wane, she retired from writing in the late 1950s and divided her time and interests between world travel and living in Ann Arbor, Michigan
.
In 1983, Patterson suffered a debilitating stroke and soon after, her son, J. David Patterson, relocated Elizabeth to Key West, Florida
, where he and his wife owned a sportfishing charter business. She died on March 15, 1987, in Key West, and was buried in the Gregg family plot in Newport. Following her death, The Newport Library set aside a section dedicated to the display of a collection of her work, including many original magazines and telegrams from her agent, Dorothy Olding and Harold Ober, informing her of the sale of a story.
Included among her literary friends were Wallace Stegner
, Theodore Roethke
, Norman Cousins
.
Newport, Arkansas
Newport is a city in Jackson County, Arkansas, northeast of Little Rock, on the White River. In 1900, 2,866 people lived in Newport, Arkansas; in 1910, 3,557. The population was 7,811 at the 2000 census. The city is the county seat of Jackson County....
on August 8, 1904, and lived there until attending Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
where she graduated in 1926.
She moved to New York City and soon after, her career as a writer of short fiction began. For two decades, her stories appeared in such magazines as Charm, Collier's
Collier's Weekly
Collier's Weekly was an American magazine founded by Peter Fenelon Collier and published from 1888 to 1957. With the passage of decades, the title was shortened to Collier's....
, Cosmopolitan
Cosmopolitan (magazine)
Cosmopolitan is an international magazine for women. It was first published in 1886 in the United States as a family magazine, was later transformed into a literary magazine and eventually became a women's magazine in the late 1960s...
, The New Yorker
The New Yorker
The New Yorker is an American magazine of reportage, commentary, criticism, essays, fiction, satire, cartoons and poetry published by Condé Nast...
, Atlantic Monthly, Saturday Evening Post and many more. Throughout her career, she was represented by Harold Ober Associates
Harold Ober
Harold Ober was an American literary agent.In 1907 — two years after graduating from Harvard with a degree in literature — Harold Ober became a literary agent at the Paul R. Reynolds Literary Agency. By 1908 he was representing such authors as Jack London and H. G. Wells. In 1929, he opened his...
of New York City.
In 1942, Patterson became a Fellow, at the Bread Loaf Writers' Conference
Bread Loaf Writers' Conference
The Bread Loaf Writers' Conference is a writers' conference held every summer at the Bread Loaf Inn, near Bread Loaf Mountain, east of Middlebury, Vermont...
, Middlebury College
Middlebury College
Middlebury College is a private liberal arts college located in Middlebury, Vermont, USA. Founded in 1800, it is one of the oldest liberal arts colleges in the United States. Drawing 2,400 undergraduates from all 50 United States and over 70 countries, Middlebury offers 44 majors in the arts,...
, and later, her short story, "Homecoming", was awarded third prize in the 1951 O. Henry Award
O. Henry Award
The O. Henry Award is the only yearly award given to short stories of exceptional merit. The award is named after the American master of the form, O. Henry....
for short fiction.
She married Kenneth C. Patterson in 1930, and moved to Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw, Michigan
Saginaw is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the seat of Saginaw County. The city of Saginaw was once a thriving lumber town and manufacturing center. Saginaw and Saginaw County lie in the Flint/Tri-Cities region of Michigan...
, where she did much of her published writing. Elizabeth was devoted to Newport and had many relatives in that area. She returned there often. As the market for short fiction began to wane, she retired from writing in the late 1950s and divided her time and interests between world travel and living in Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor, Michigan
Ann Arbor is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of Washtenaw County. The 2010 census places the population at 113,934, making it the sixth largest city in Michigan. The Ann Arbor Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 344,791 as of 2010...
.
In 1983, Patterson suffered a debilitating stroke and soon after, her son, J. David Patterson, relocated Elizabeth to Key West, Florida
Key West, Florida
Key West is a city in Monroe County, Florida, United States. The city encompasses the island of Key West, the part of Stock Island north of U.S. 1 , Sigsbee Park , Fleming Key , and Sunset Key...
, where he and his wife owned a sportfishing charter business. She died on March 15, 1987, in Key West, and was buried in the Gregg family plot in Newport. Following her death, The Newport Library set aside a section dedicated to the display of a collection of her work, including many original magazines and telegrams from her agent, Dorothy Olding and Harold Ober, informing her of the sale of a story.
Included among her literary friends were Wallace Stegner
Wallace Stegner
Wallace Earle Stegner was an American historian, novelist, short story writer, and environmentalist, often called "The Dean of Western Writers"...
, Theodore Roethke
Theodore Roethke
Theodore Roethke was an American poet, who published several volumes of poetry characterized by its rhythm, rhyming, and natural imagery. He was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for poetry in 1954 for his book, The Waking.-Biography:...
, Norman Cousins
Norman Cousins
Norman Cousins was an American political journalist, author, professor, and world peace advocate.-Early life and education:...
.