Margaret Larkin
Encyclopedia
Margaret Larkin was an American
writer, poet, singer-songwriter, researcher, journalist and union activist.
She wrote The Hand of Mordechai on a kibbutz
in Israel
, Seven Shares in a Gold Mine about a murder conspiracy in Mexico
, and the Singing Cowboy, a collection of Western folk songs. She won awards for her poem Goodbye—To My Mother and her play El Cristo.
to parents from English and Scottish descent. She studied at the University of Kansas
. In 1922 she won the Poetry Prize of the Kansas Author Club.
After moving to the East Coast, she married Liston Oak and became a trade union
activist. In 1926 she wrote the titles of the silent film The Passaic Textile Strike
. In the thirties she was active as a singer/songwriter and composer of folk songs
.
After divorcing her first husband she met writer Albert Maltz
in 1935. Maltz was 9 years younger. They married in 1937. Maltz was blacklisted as one of the Hollywood Ten due to his refusal to tell the House Un-American Activities Committee
whether he was a member of the American Communist Party.
Larkin, her husband, and their two children moved to Mexico City
in 1951. In 1964 they were officially divorced, after Maltz had already returned to the United States.
Larkin assisted anthropologist Oscar Lewis
in the research and writing of La Vida - A Puerto Rican Family in the Culture Of Poverty (1966). Her last book was The Hand of Mordechai, on kibbutz Yad Mordechai
around the Israeli War of Independence. It was published in Hebrew (1966), Yiddish (1967) and posthumously in English
(1968). In 1970 this book was also published in German. Larkin was represented by literary agent Barthold Fles
.
She died in Mexico City on May 7, 1967, aged 67. Her granddaughter, Mira Larkin, is an actress and production manager.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
writer, poet, singer-songwriter, researcher, journalist and union activist.
She wrote The Hand of Mordechai on a kibbutz
Kibbutz
A kibbutz is a collective community in Israel that was traditionally based on agriculture. Today, farming has been partly supplanted by other economic branches, including industrial plants and high-tech enterprises. Kibbutzim began as utopian communities, a combination of socialism and Zionism...
in Israel
Israel
The State of Israel is a parliamentary republic located in the Middle East, along the eastern shore of the Mediterranean Sea...
, Seven Shares in a Gold Mine about a murder conspiracy in Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
, and the Singing Cowboy, a collection of Western folk songs. She won awards for her poem Goodbye—To My Mother and her play El Cristo.
Life
Larkin was born on July 7, 1899 in Las Vegas, New MexicoLas Vegas, New Mexico
Las Vegas is a city in San Miguel County, New Mexico, United States. Once two separate municipalities both named Las Vegas, west Las Vegas and east Las Vegas , divided by the Gallinas River, retain distinct characters and separate, rival school districts. The population was 14,565 at the 2000...
to parents from English and Scottish descent. She studied at the University of Kansas
University of Kansas
The University of Kansas is a public research university and the largest university in the state of Kansas. KU campuses are located in Lawrence, Wichita, Overland Park, and Kansas City, Kansas with the main campus being located in Lawrence on Mount Oread, the highest point in Lawrence. The...
. In 1922 she won the Poetry Prize of the Kansas Author Club.
After moving to the East Coast, she married Liston Oak and became a trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
activist. In 1926 she wrote the titles of the silent film The Passaic Textile Strike
The Passaic Textile Strike (film)
The Passaic Textile Strike is a 1926 American silent film directed by Samuel Russak. The film was produced to raise public awareness and financial support for the 1926 Passaic Textile Strike, which involved over 15,000 New Jersey textile mill workers in a work stoppage lasting more than a year...
. In the thirties she was active as a singer/songwriter and composer of folk songs
Folk music
Folk music is an English term encompassing both traditional folk music and contemporary folk music. The term originated in the 19th century. Traditional folk music has been defined in several ways: as music transmitted by mouth, as music of the lower classes, and as music with unknown composers....
.
After divorcing her first husband she met writer Albert Maltz
Albert Maltz
Albert Maltz was an American author and screenwriter. He was one of the Hollywood Ten who were later blacklisted by the Hollywood movie studio bosses....
in 1935. Maltz was 9 years younger. They married in 1937. Maltz was blacklisted as one of the Hollywood Ten due to his refusal to tell the House Un-American Activities Committee
House Un-American Activities Committee
The House Committee on Un-American Activities or House Un-American Activities Committee was an investigative committee of the United States House of Representatives. In 1969, the House changed the committee's name to "House Committee on Internal Security"...
whether he was a member of the American Communist Party.
Larkin, her husband, and their two children moved to Mexico City
Mexico City
Mexico City is the Federal District , capital of Mexico and seat of the federal powers of the Mexican Union. It is a federal entity within Mexico which is not part of any one of the 31 Mexican states but belongs to the federation as a whole...
in 1951. In 1964 they were officially divorced, after Maltz had already returned to the United States.
Larkin assisted anthropologist Oscar Lewis
Oscar Lewis
Oscar Lewis was an American anthropologist who is best known for his vivid depictions of the lives of slum dwellers and for postulating that there was a cross-generational culture of poverty among poor people that transcended national boundaries...
in the research and writing of La Vida - A Puerto Rican Family in the Culture Of Poverty (1966). Her last book was The Hand of Mordechai, on kibbutz Yad Mordechai
Yad Mordechai
Yad Mordechai is a kibbutz in southern Israel. Located 10 km south of Ashkelon, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hof Ashkelon Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 710.-History:...
around the Israeli War of Independence. It was published in Hebrew (1966), Yiddish (1967) and posthumously in English
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
(1968). In 1970 this book was also published in German. Larkin was represented by literary agent Barthold Fles
Barthold Fles
Barthold Fles was a Dutch-American literary agent, author, translator, editor and publisher. Among his many clients were Raymond Loewy, Heinrich Mann, Joseph Roth, Felix Salten, Ignazio Silone, Bruno Walter and Arnold Zweig.-Life and career:Barthold "Bart" Fles was born in Amsterdam into an...
.
She died in Mexico City on May 7, 1967, aged 67. Her granddaughter, Mira Larkin, is an actress and production manager.
Books
- 1926 - El Cristo, a drama in one act
- 1931 - Singing Cowboy, a book of western songs
- 1958 - Seven Shares in a Gold Mine
- 1966 - The Hand of Mordechai (a.k.a. The Six Days of Yad MordechaiYad MordechaiYad Mordechai is a kibbutz in southern Israel. Located 10 km south of Ashkelon, it falls under the jurisdiction of Hof Ashkelon Regional Council. In 2006 it had a population of 710.-History:...
)
Poetry
- 1922 - "Goodbye—To My Mother" in The Poets of the Future, A College Anthology for 1921-1922: 156
- 1924 - "Four Poems", The Midlands 10: 385.
Articles
- 1927-03 - "A Poet for the People: A Review" (of Langston HughesLangston HughesJames Mercer Langston Hughes was an American poet, social activist, novelist, playwright, and columnist. He was one of the earliest innovators of the then-new literary art form jazz poetry. Hughes is best known for his work during the Harlem Renaissance...
: Fine Clothes to the Jew), Opportunity 3: 84-85. - 1929-10-09 - "Ella May's Songs". The NationThe NationThe Nation is the oldest continuously published weekly magazine in the United States. The periodical, devoted to politics and culture, is self-described as "the flagship of the left." Founded on July 6, 1865, It is published by The Nation Company, L.P., at 33 Irving Place, New York City.The Nation...
129 (3353): 382-383. - 1933-02 - "Revolutionary music", New Masses: 27.
- 1934-09-05 - "Beale Street: Where the Blues Began (Book review)". The Nation 139 (3609): 279.
- 1966-11-14 - "As Many as God Sends? Family Planning in Mexico", The Nation 203 (16): 508-511.
Filmography
- 1926 - The Passaic Textile StrikeThe Passaic Textile Strike (film)The Passaic Textile Strike is a 1926 American silent film directed by Samuel Russak. The film was produced to raise public awareness and financial support for the 1926 Passaic Textile Strike, which involved over 15,000 New Jersey textile mill workers in a work stoppage lasting more than a year...
- title writer
Awards
- 1922 - Best Poem submitted to the Kansas Authors' Club for Goodbye—To My Mother
- 1926 - David Belasco Cup for El Cristo
- 1926 - Samuel French Prize for El Cristo