Constance Lindsay Skinner
Encyclopedia
Constance Lindsay Skinner (December 7, 1877 – March 27, 1939) was a Canadian writer, critic, historian and editor best known for having conceived the Rivers of America Series
for the publisher Farrar & Rinehart
.
, British Columbia
, Canada
to Robert and Annie (Lindsay) Skinner, Skinner later substituted her mother's maiden name for the middle name that appeared on her birth certificate. Her father was an agent for the Hudson's Bay Company
.
In 1891 the family relocated to Vancouver
, British Columbia. By this time, Skinner was already writing, completing her first published work, Gederland, during her teen years. In 1893, Skinner went to live with her aunt in California
. While little is known of her childhood, much of the history and many of the novels and stories she wrote in later years were related to the northwest, Canada, and the gold rush
.
Between 1902 and 1907 she moved from California to New York City
, where she expanded her repertoire to include plays and criticism. She was a regular theater critic for the New York Herald Tribune
. While it is unclear when her first novel was published, by 1917, one of her novels, Good-Morning Rosamond!, had been adapted into a three act comedy and performed at the Shubert Theatre
.
with arteriosclerosis
. She died at her desk, editing the sixth volume in the Series, The Hudson, by Carl Carmer
. The Series would eventually reach 65 volumes. Her papers are at the New York Public Library
.
The Women's National Book Assocation's Constance Lindsay Skinner Award was named in her honor.
Rivers of America Series
The Rivers of America Series is a landmark series of books on American rivers, for the most part written by literary figures rather than historians. The series spanned three publishers and thirty-seven years.- History :...
for the publisher Farrar & Rinehart
Farrar & Rinehart
Farrar & Rinehart was a United States book publishing company founded in New York. Farrar & Rinehart enjoyed success with both nonfiction and novels, notably, the landmark Rivers of America Series and the first ten books in the Nero Wolfe corpus of Rex Stout...
.
Early life and career
Born Constance Annie Skinner on December 7, 1877, at QuesnelQuesnel, British Columbia
-Demographics:Quesnel had a population of 9,326 people in 2006, which was a decrease of 7.1% from the 2001 census count. The median household income in 2005 for Quesnel was $54,044, which is slightly above the British Columbia provincial average of $52,709....
, British Columbia
British Columbia
British Columbia is the westernmost of Canada's provinces and is known for its natural beauty, as reflected in its Latin motto, Splendor sine occasu . Its name was chosen by Queen Victoria in 1858...
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
to Robert and Annie (Lindsay) Skinner, Skinner later substituted her mother's maiden name for the middle name that appeared on her birth certificate. Her father was an agent for the Hudson's Bay Company
Hudson's Bay Company
The Hudson's Bay Company , abbreviated HBC, or "The Bay" is the oldest commercial corporation in North America and one of the oldest in the world. A fur trading business for much of its existence, today Hudson's Bay Company owns and operates retail stores throughout Canada...
.
In 1891 the family relocated to Vancouver
Vancouver
Vancouver is a coastal seaport city on the mainland of British Columbia, Canada. It is the hub of Greater Vancouver, which, with over 2.3 million residents, is the third most populous metropolitan area in the country,...
, British Columbia. By this time, Skinner was already writing, completing her first published work, Gederland, during her teen years. In 1893, Skinner went to live with her aunt in California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. While little is known of her childhood, much of the history and many of the novels and stories she wrote in later years were related to the northwest, Canada, and the gold rush
Gold rush
A gold rush is a period of feverish migration of workers to an area that has had a dramatic discovery of gold. Major gold rushes took place in the 19th century in Australia, Brazil, Canada, South Africa, and the United States, while smaller gold rushes took place elsewhere.In the 19th and early...
.
Between 1902 and 1907 she moved from California to New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
, where she expanded her repertoire to include plays and criticism. She was a regular theater critic for the New York Herald Tribune
New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald Tribune was a daily newspaper created in 1924 when the New York Tribune acquired the New York Herald.Other predecessors, which had earlier merged into the New York Tribune, included the original The New Yorker newsweekly , and the Whig Party's Log Cabin.The paper was home to...
. While it is unclear when her first novel was published, by 1917, one of her novels, Good-Morning Rosamond!, had been adapted into a three act comedy and performed at the Shubert Theatre
Shubert Theatre
Shubert Theatre or Shubert Theater may refer to:Theatres*Shubert Theatre , New York City, built in 1913.*Shubert Theatre , Connecticut, built in 1914.*Shubert Theatre , California, demolished in 2002....
.
Rivers of America series
In 1936 Skinner became the architect and first editor of the Rivers of America Series for the publishers Farrar & Rinehart. In an essay published in the early volumes of the Series she described the Series as being an exploration and interpretation of American folklife through the history, exploration, and flow of America’s rivers. Originally conceived as 24 volumes, Skinner died March 27, 1939, from a coronary occlusionCoronary occlusion
A coronary occlusion is the partial or complete obstruction of blood flow in a coronary artery. This condition may cause a heart attack.In some patients coronary occlusion causes only mild pain, tightness or vague discomfort which may be ignored: the myocardium is however damaged....
with arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis
Arteriosclerosis refers to a stiffening of arteries.Arteriosclerosis is a general term describing any hardening of medium or large arteries It should not be confused with "arteriolosclerosis" or "atherosclerosis".Also known by the name "myoconditis" which is...
. She died at her desk, editing the sixth volume in the Series, The Hudson, by Carl Carmer
Carl Carmer
Carl Lamson Carmer was an author of nonfiction books, memoirs, and novels, many of which focused on Americana such as myths, folklore, and tales. His most famous book, Stars Fell on Alabama, was an autobiographical story of the time he spent living in Alabama...
. The Series would eventually reach 65 volumes. Her papers are at the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
.
The Women's National Book Assocation's Constance Lindsay Skinner Award was named in her honor.
Non-fiction
- Adventurers of Oregon (Yale University PressYale University PressYale University Press is a book publisher founded in 1908 by George Parmly Day. It became an official department of Yale University in 1961, but remains financially and operationally autonomous....
, New Haven, 1920) - Pioneers of the Old Southwest: a Chronicle of the Dark and Bloody Ground (Yale University Press, New Haven, 1921)
- The Tiger Who Walks Alone (Macmillan Company, New York, 1927)
- Songs of the Coast Dwellers (Coward-McCann, New York, 1930)
- Beaver, Kings and Cabins (Macmillan Company, New York, 1933)
Fiction
- Good Morning Rosamond
- The Search Relentless (Methuen, London, 1925)
- Silent Scot: Frontier Scout (Macmillan Company, New York, 1925)
- The White Leader (Macmillan Company, New York, 1926)
- Becky Landers Frontier Warrior (Macmillan Company, New York, 1927)
- Roselle of the North (Macmillan Company, New York, 1927)
- Andy Breaks Trail (Macmillan Company, New York, 1928)
- The Ranch of the Golden Flowers (Macmillan Company, New York, 1928)
- Red Man's Luck (Coward-McCann, New York, 1930)
- Debby Barnes, Trader (Junior Literary GuildJunior Literary GuildThe Junior Literary Guild was the name of a commercial book club devoted to juvenile literature that has become the contemporary Junior Library Guild. It was created in 1929 as one of the enterprises of the Literary Guild, which was an adult book club created in 1927 by Samuel W. Craig and Harold...
, New York, 1932) - Rob Roy, The Frontier Twins (Macmillan Company, New York, 1934)
Plays
- Lady of Grey Gables (with Herbert Heron)
- Birthright (written 1905, first produced Chicago 1912, first Canadian production Vancouver, 2003)