Alma Routsong
Encyclopedia
Alma Routsong was an American
novelist best known for her lesbian fiction
, published under the pen name
Isabel Miller.
November 26, 1924, the daughter of Carl and Esther Miller Routsong. During World War II
she served in the WAVES
, training at the Farragut, Idaho Naval Training Center and then working as a hospital apprentice. She graduated from Michigan State University
in 1949 with a degree in art.
Routsong's first two novels were published under her own name, with the later works under the pen name, a combination of an anagram of "Lesbia" and her mother's maiden name. Between 1968 and 1971 she worked as an editor at Columbia University. From the mid-1970s until 1986 she was a proofreader for Time Magazine
.
Routsong was an officer in the New York chapter of Daughters of Bilitis
and was arrested during a DOB police raid.
Alma Routsong died in Poughkeepsie, New York
on October 4, 1996.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
novelist best known for her lesbian fiction
Lesbian fiction
Lesbian fiction is a subgenre of fiction that involves one or more primary female homosexual character and lesbian themes. Novels that fall into this category may be of any genres, such as, but not limited to, historical fiction, science fiction, fantasy, horror, and romance.-History:The first...
, published under the pen name
Pen name
A pen name, nom de plume, or literary double, is a pseudonym adopted by an author. A pen name may be used to make the author's name more distinctive, to disguise his or her gender, to distance an author from some or all of his or her works, to protect the author from retribution for his or her...
Isabel Miller.
Biography
Alma Routsong was born in Traverse City, MichiganTraverse City, Michigan
Traverse City is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan. It is the county seat of Grand Traverse County, although a small portion extends into Leelanau County. It is the largest city in the 21-county Northern Michigan region. The population was 14,674 at the 2010 census, with 143,372 in the Traverse...
November 26, 1924, the daughter of Carl and Esther Miller Routsong. During World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
she served in the WAVES
WAVES
The WAVES were a World War II-era division of the U.S. Navy that consisted entirely of women. The name of this group is an acronym for "Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service" ; the word "emergency" implied that the acceptance of women was due to the unusual circumstances of the war and...
, training at the Farragut, Idaho Naval Training Center and then working as a hospital apprentice. She graduated from Michigan State University
Michigan State University
Michigan State University is a public research university in East Lansing, Michigan, USA. Founded in 1855, it was the pioneer land-grant institution and served as a model for future land-grant colleges in the United States under the 1862 Morrill Act.MSU pioneered the studies of packaging,...
in 1949 with a degree in art.
Routsong's first two novels were published under her own name, with the later works under the pen name, a combination of an anagram of "Lesbia" and her mother's maiden name. Between 1968 and 1971 she worked as an editor at Columbia University. From the mid-1970s until 1986 she was a proofreader for Time Magazine
Time (magazine)
Time is an American news magazine. A European edition is published from London. Time Europe covers the Middle East, Africa and, since 2003, Latin America. An Asian edition is based in Hong Kong...
.
Routsong was an officer in the New York chapter of Daughters of Bilitis
Daughters of Bilitis
The Daughters of Bilitis , was the first lesbian rights organization in the United States. It was formed in San Francisco in 1955, conceived as a social alternative to lesbian bars, which were considered illegal and thus subject to raids and police harassment...
and was arrested during a DOB police raid.
Alma Routsong died in Poughkeepsie, New York
Poughkeepsie (city), New York
Poughkeepsie is a city in the state of New York, United States, which serves as the county seat of Dutchess County. Poughkeepsie is located in the Hudson River Valley midway between New York City and Albany...
on October 4, 1996.
Works
republished asAwards and honors
- Friends of American Writers award (1954, for A Gradual Joy)
- Bread Loaf Writers' ConferenceBread Loaf Writers' ConferenceThe Bread Loaf Writers' Conference is a writers' conference held every summer at the Bread Loaf Inn, near Bread Loaf Mountain, east of Middlebury, Vermont...
Fellow (1957, for Round Shape) - American Library Association Gay Book Award (1971, for Patience and Sarah)
Reviews
- "After the G.I. Wedding," (review of A Gradual Joy), The New York TimesThe New York TimesThe New York Times is an American daily newspaper founded and continuously published in New York City since 1851. The New York Times has won 106 Pulitzer Prizes, the most of any news organization...
August 23, 1953 - "When Mother Moved In," (review of Round Shape), The New York Times September 6, 1959
- "Their love was a thing apart" (review of Patience and Sarah), The New York Times April 23, 1972