C.B. Colby
Encyclopedia
C.B. Colby was a prolific children's book writer of mostly non-fiction works. He wrote approximately 93 books that were widely circulated in public and school libraries in the United States
.
, Colby graduated from Stevens High School in 1922, then attended the School of Practical Art
in Boston
, graduating in 1925.
He sailed to Puerto Rico
with the intention of being a free-lance artist, but his failure led him to join the U.S. Customs Service
during the Prohibition era
. He married Lila Thoday in November 1928, having two children, Fred and Susan M. Colby.
Colby sold his first fiction story in 1929.
Learning to fly glider aircraft
in 1931, Colby began writing and illustrating articles for various aviation
magazines, becoming an editor of Air Trails and Air Progress magazines that were Street & Smith
publications. He co-authored the Junior Birdmen Standard Aviation Dictionary for the Junior Birdmen of America. In 1943 he became aviation editor of Popular Science
magazine and became a war correspondent
with the U.S. Army Air Forces
in Newfoundland, Labrador
, and Alaska
. He left the magazine in 1946 to free-lance articles. Colby enlisted and served as an officer with the Civil Air Patrol
.
His first book was Gabbit the Magic Rabbit published in 1950; he began his non-fiction book writing with Our Fighting Jets in 1951. Colby's books specialised in outdoor subjects such as hunting, fishing, camping, and firearms. He wrote many non-fiction books on military and public safety organisations and new technology designed to be understood by children.
In 1959, Colby wrote his most popular book entitled, Strangely Enough. This was a collection of short stories about true life adventure, supernatural mysteries, UFO's and other fantastic tales. An urban legend was created when Scholastic Publishers reprinted the book with missing stories from the original printing.
Colby said the secret of successful writing for children was to actually "like writing, [like] youngsters, and [like] what they like".
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
.
Biography
Born in Claremont, New HampshireClaremont, New Hampshire
There were 5,685 households out of which 27.4% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 45.5% were married couples living together, 10.3% had a female householder with no husband present, and 39.7% were non-families. 32.2% of all households were made up of individuals and 14.7% had...
, Colby graduated from Stevens High School in 1922, then attended the School of Practical Art
The Art Institute of Boston
The Art Institute of Boston is a private, not-for-profit art school in Boston, Massachusetts, and a part of Lesley University. Undergraduate degree programs include animation, design, fine arts, illustration, and photography. Graduate degree programs focus on fine arts and photography, with an art...
in Boston
Boston
Boston is the capital of and largest city in Massachusetts, and is one of the oldest cities in the United States. The largest city in New England, Boston is regarded as the unofficial "Capital of New England" for its economic and cultural impact on the entire New England region. The city proper had...
, graduating in 1925.
He sailed to Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico
Puerto Rico , officially the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico , is an unincorporated territory of the United States, located in the northeastern Caribbean, east of the Dominican Republic and west of both the United States Virgin Islands and the British Virgin Islands.Puerto Rico comprises an...
with the intention of being a free-lance artist, but his failure led him to join the U.S. Customs Service
United States Customs Service
Until March 2003, the United States Customs Service was an agency of the U.S. federal government that collected import tariffs and performed other selected border security duties.Before it was rolled into form part of the U.S...
during the Prohibition era
Prohibition in the United States
Prohibition in the United States was a national ban on the sale, manufacture, and transportation of alcohol, in place from 1920 to 1933. The ban was mandated by the Eighteenth Amendment to the Constitution, and the Volstead Act set down the rules for enforcing the ban, as well as defining which...
. He married Lila Thoday in November 1928, having two children, Fred and Susan M. Colby.
Colby sold his first fiction story in 1929.
Learning to fly glider aircraft
Glider aircraft
Glider aircraft are heavier-than-air craft that are supported in flight by the dynamic reaction of the air against their lifting surfaces, and whose free flight does not depend on an engine. Mostly these types of aircraft are intended for routine operation without engines, though engine failure can...
in 1931, Colby began writing and illustrating articles for various aviation
Aviation
Aviation is the design, development, production, operation, and use of aircraft, especially heavier-than-air aircraft. Aviation is derived from avis, the Latin word for bird.-History:...
magazines, becoming an editor of Air Trails and Air Progress magazines that were Street & Smith
Street & Smith
Street & Smith or Street & Smith Publications, Inc. was a New York City publisher specializing in inexpensive paperbacks and magazines referred to as pulp fiction and dime novels. They also published comic books and sporting yearbooks...
publications. He co-authored the Junior Birdmen Standard Aviation Dictionary for the Junior Birdmen of America. In 1943 he became aviation editor of Popular Science
Popular Science
Popular Science is an American monthly magazine founded in 1872 carrying articles for the general reader on science and technology subjects. Popular Science has won over 58 awards, including the ASME awards for its journalistic excellence in both 2003 and 2004...
magazine and became a war correspondent
War correspondent
A war correspondent is a journalist who covers stories firsthand from a war zone. In the 19th century they were also called Special Correspondents.-Methods:...
with the U.S. Army Air Forces
United States Army Air Forces
The United States Army Air Forces was the military aviation arm of the United States of America during and immediately after World War II, and the direct predecessor of the United States Air Force....
in Newfoundland, Labrador
Labrador
Labrador is the distinct, northerly region of the Canadian province of Newfoundland and Labrador. It comprises the mainland portion of the province, separated from the island of Newfoundland by the Strait of Belle Isle...
, and Alaska
Alaska
Alaska is the largest state in the United States by area. It is situated in the northwest extremity of the North American continent, with Canada to the east, the Arctic Ocean to the north, and the Pacific Ocean to the west and south, with Russia further west across the Bering Strait...
. He left the magazine in 1946 to free-lance articles. Colby enlisted and served as an officer with the Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol
Civil Air Patrol is a Congressionally chartered, federally supported, non-profit corporation that serves as the official civilian auxiliary of the United States Air Force . CAP is a volunteer organization with an aviation-minded membership that includes people from all backgrounds, lifestyles, and...
.
His first book was Gabbit the Magic Rabbit published in 1950; he began his non-fiction book writing with Our Fighting Jets in 1951. Colby's books specialised in outdoor subjects such as hunting, fishing, camping, and firearms. He wrote many non-fiction books on military and public safety organisations and new technology designed to be understood by children.
In 1959, Colby wrote his most popular book entitled, Strangely Enough. This was a collection of short stories about true life adventure, supernatural mysteries, UFO's and other fantastic tales. An urban legend was created when Scholastic Publishers reprinted the book with missing stories from the original printing.
Colby said the secret of successful writing for children was to actually "like writing, [like] youngsters, and [like] what they like".