Elizabeth Borton de Treviño
Encyclopedia
Mary Elizabeth Borton de Treviño (September 2, 1904 - December 2, 2001) was an American author.
Elizabeth was born in Bakersfield, California
, the daughter of attorney Fred Ellsworth Borton and Carrie Louise Christensen. Her family were all enthusiastic readers; Fred Borton had published short stories and poems before becoming a lawyer. Elizabeth always wanted to become an author. She began writing poetry at age six, and had her first published poem at eight. Her parents strongly encouraged her ambitions.
She attended Stanford University
, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1925 with a bachelor's degree in Latin American history. After finishing college, she moved to Massachusetts
to study violin at the Boston Conservatory
, and then worked as a reporter.
On her marriage on August 10, 1935, to Luis Treviño Arreola y Gómez Sánchez de la Barquera (b. August 5, 1902), she moved to his hometown of Monterrey
, Mexico
. They had two sons, Luis Fredrico Treviño-Borton and Enrique Ricardo Treviño-Borton. After their sons were born, they lived in Monterrey for a time, then moved to Mexico City in 1941. In 1965, they made a final move to Cuernavaca
, Morelos
, known popularly as the "City of Eternal Spring"
Her book I, Juan de Pareja
(1965) won the Newbery Medal
in 1966.http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1563088134&id=bzeHhAwuM6UC&pg=PA256&lpg=PA256&sig=jAex0ooBg3l-nTIKc6QvJSoOPwA. It was inspired by her elder son Luis' interest in art, particularly painting. Luis told her the story of the artist Diego Velázquez
and his slave Juan de Pareja, model to one of Velázquez' most famous paintings, whom Velázquez instructed in painting and later freed. After seeing the original of Velázquez' painting of Juan, she was inspired to write about their relationship. Her younger son Enrique was the translator of the Spanish edition of the novel.
Among her other novels are: Nacar the White Deer, The Greek of Toledo, Casilda of the Rising Moon, El Güero: A True Adventure Story, Beyond the Gates of Hercules, and The Fourth Gift.
She also wrote five of the "Pollyanna" books: "Pollyanna in Hollywood", "Pollyanna's Castle in Mexico", "Pollyanna's Door To Happiness", "Pollyanna's Golden Horseshoe", and "Pollyanna and the Secret Mission".
In later life, Elizabeth Borton wrote several memoirs of her life as an American who had married into a traditional Mexican family: the best-seller My Heart Lies South and its sequels, Where the Heart Is, and The Hearthstone of My Heart. Her last book, Leona: A Love Story, was published in 1994, when she was 90 years of age.
Elizabeth Borton de Treviño died December 2, 2001 in Cuernavaca, Mexico, aged 97.
Her elder son Luis, an artist, never married; her younger son, Enrique, an attorney who lived in London for many years, married Sonia Rodríquez Vargas and had three children, Daniel Enrique, Elizabeth Victoria and León Ricardo.
Mrs Treviño also wrote a novel, The Music Within, that inspired American novelist Ray Downs
(Wind Across The Amazon; One More Mission) to become a writer. Downs was an English Teacher at the Colegio Americano de Cuernavaca and visited Mrs Treviño often. The above mentioned Daniel Enrique and Elizabeth Victoria were students of Ray's.
Elizabeth was born in Bakersfield, 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...
, the daughter of attorney Fred Ellsworth Borton and Carrie Louise Christensen. Her family were all enthusiastic readers; Fred Borton had published short stories and poems before becoming a lawyer. Elizabeth always wanted to become an author. She began writing poetry at age six, and had her first published poem at eight. Her parents strongly encouraged her ambitions.
She attended Stanford University
Stanford University
The Leland Stanford Junior University, commonly referred to as Stanford University or Stanford, is a private research university on an campus located near Palo Alto, California. It is situated in the northwestern Santa Clara Valley on the San Francisco Peninsula, approximately northwest of San...
, graduating Phi Beta Kappa in 1925 with a bachelor's degree in Latin American history. After finishing college, she moved to Massachusetts
Massachusetts
The Commonwealth of Massachusetts is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. It is bordered by Rhode Island and Connecticut to the south, New York to the west, and Vermont and New Hampshire to the north; at its east lies the Atlantic Ocean. As of the 2010...
to study violin at the Boston Conservatory
Boston Conservatory
The Boston Conservatory is a performing arts conservatory located in the Fenway-Kenmore region of Boston, Massachusetts, United States. It grants undergraduate and graduate degrees in music, dance and musical theater...
, and then worked as a reporter.
On her marriage on August 10, 1935, to Luis Treviño Arreola y Gómez Sánchez de la Barquera (b. August 5, 1902), she moved to his hometown of Monterrey
Monterrey
Monterrey , is the capital city of the northeastern state of Nuevo León in the country of Mexico. The city is anchor to the third-largest metropolitan area in Mexico and is ranked as the ninth-largest city in the nation. Monterrey serves as a commercial center in the north of the country and is the...
, 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...
. They had two sons, Luis Fredrico Treviño-Borton and Enrique Ricardo Treviño-Borton. After their sons were born, they lived in Monterrey for a time, then moved to Mexico City in 1941. In 1965, they made a final move to Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca
Cuernavaca is the capital and largest city of the state of Morelos in Mexico. It was established at the archeological site of Gualupita I by the Olmec, "the mother culture" of Mesoamerica, approximately 3200 years ago...
, Morelos
Morelos
Morelos officially Estado Libre y Soberano de Morelos is one of the 31 states which, with the Federal District, comprise the 32 Federal Entities of Mexico. It is divided in 33 municipalities and its capital city is Cuernavaca....
, known popularly as the "City of Eternal Spring"
Her book I, Juan de Pareja
I, Juan de Pareja
I, Juan de Pareja is a novel by Elizabeth Borton de Treviño that won the Newbery Medal for excellence in American children's literature in 1966....
(1965) won the Newbery Medal
Newbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
in 1966.http://books.google.com/books?vid=ISBN1563088134&id=bzeHhAwuM6UC&pg=PA256&lpg=PA256&sig=jAex0ooBg3l-nTIKc6QvJSoOPwA. It was inspired by her elder son Luis' interest in art, particularly painting. Luis told her the story of the artist Diego Velázquez
Diego Velázquez
Diego Rodríguez de Silva y Velázquez was a Spanish painter who was the leading artist in the court of King Philip IV. He was an individualistic artist of the contemporary Baroque period, important as a portrait artist...
and his slave Juan de Pareja, model to one of Velázquez' most famous paintings, whom Velázquez instructed in painting and later freed. After seeing the original of Velázquez' painting of Juan, she was inspired to write about their relationship. Her younger son Enrique was the translator of the Spanish edition of the novel.
Among her other novels are: Nacar the White Deer, The Greek of Toledo, Casilda of the Rising Moon, El Güero: A True Adventure Story, Beyond the Gates of Hercules, and The Fourth Gift.
She also wrote five of the "Pollyanna" books: "Pollyanna in Hollywood", "Pollyanna's Castle in Mexico", "Pollyanna's Door To Happiness", "Pollyanna's Golden Horseshoe", and "Pollyanna and the Secret Mission".
In later life, Elizabeth Borton wrote several memoirs of her life as an American who had married into a traditional Mexican family: the best-seller My Heart Lies South and its sequels, Where the Heart Is, and The Hearthstone of My Heart. Her last book, Leona: A Love Story, was published in 1994, when she was 90 years of age.
Elizabeth Borton de Treviño died December 2, 2001 in Cuernavaca, Mexico, aged 97.
Her elder son Luis, an artist, never married; her younger son, Enrique, an attorney who lived in London for many years, married Sonia Rodríquez Vargas and had three children, Daniel Enrique, Elizabeth Victoria and León Ricardo.
Mrs Treviño also wrote a novel, The Music Within, that inspired American novelist Ray Downs
Ray Downs
Raymond W. Downs is an American author as well as a former country music singer.Ray was most notably known for his appearances on the syndicated Porter Wagoner television show. Downs also played for a couple of years with Country Music legend Marty Robbins opening shows on the road...
(Wind Across The Amazon; One More Mission) to become a writer. Downs was an English Teacher at the Colegio Americano de Cuernavaca and visited Mrs Treviño often. The above mentioned Daniel Enrique and Elizabeth Victoria were students of Ray's.