Gertrude Chandler Warner
Encyclopedia
Gertrude Chandler Warner (April 16, 1890 - August 29, 1979) was an American
author, mainly of children's stories. She was most famous for beginning the popular Boxcar Children
book series.
Born in Putnam
, Connecticut
, Warner dreamed of being a famous author from the age of five. Her favorite book was Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
. Being in a musical family, she was almost predisposed to play an instrument; in her case, she chose the cello
, and her father bought her a cello kit at a young age. However, because of her frequent illness, Warner never finished high school
. After leaving in her sophomore year, she learned from a tutor and finished her secondary education.
In 1918, while she was teaching Sunday School
, Warner was called to teach first grade, mainly because male teachers were being called to serve in World War I
. She thought up the Boxcar Children while at home, sick. The stories were perfect for children, especially the majority (at least in her class) who did not speak English
very well. She was criticized for depicting children with little parental supervision; her critics thought that this would encourage child rebellion. Her response was, however, that the children liked it for that very reason.
The series was originally published in 1924; the editions most people are familiar with were published by Scott Foresman, starting in 1942. Today, Albert Whitman & Company publishes the extremely popular series of 19 stories. Other authors have contributed to the series, adding approximately 90 books to the series. In her later life, before she died at age 89, Warner became a volunteer for the American Red Cross
and assisted other charitable organizations.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author, mainly of children's stories. She was most famous for beginning the popular Boxcar Children
The Boxcar Children
The Boxcar Children is a children's literary franchise originally created and written by American writer and first-grade school teacher, Gertrude Chandler Warner. Today, the series includes well over 100 titles...
book series.
Born in Putnam
Putnam, Connecticut
Putnam is a town in Windham County, Connecticut, United States. The population was 9,002 as of the 2000 census. It is home to WINY, an AM radio station.-History:...
, Connecticut
Connecticut
Connecticut is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States. It is bordered by Rhode Island to the east, Massachusetts to the north, and the state of New York to the west and the south .Connecticut is named for the Connecticut River, the major U.S. river that approximately...
, Warner dreamed of being a famous author from the age of five. Her favorite book was Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland
Alice's Adventures in Wonderland is an 1865 novel written by English author Charles Lutwidge Dodgson under the pseudonym Lewis Carroll. It tells of a girl named Alice who falls down a rabbit hole into a fantasy world populated by peculiar, anthropomorphic creatures...
. Being in a musical family, she was almost predisposed to play an instrument; in her case, she chose the cello
Cello
The cello is a bowed string instrument with four strings tuned in perfect fifths. It is a member of the violin family of musical instruments, which also includes the violin, viola, and double bass. Old forms of the instrument in the Baroque era are baryton and viol .A person who plays a cello is...
, and her father bought her a cello kit at a young age. However, because of her frequent illness, Warner never finished high school
High school
High school is a term used in parts of the English speaking world to describe institutions which provide all or part of secondary education. The term is often incorporated into the name of such institutions....
. After leaving in her sophomore year, she learned from a tutor and finished her secondary education.
In 1918, while she was teaching Sunday School
Sunday school
Sunday school is the generic name for many different types of religious education pursued on Sundays by various denominations.-England:The first Sunday school may have been opened in 1751 in St. Mary's Church, Nottingham. Another early start was made by Hannah Ball, a native of High Wycombe in...
, Warner was called to teach first grade, mainly because male teachers were being called to serve in World War I
World War I
World War I , which was predominantly called the World War or the Great War from its occurrence until 1939, and the First World War or World War I thereafter, was a major war centred in Europe that began on 28 July 1914 and lasted until 11 November 1918...
. She thought up the Boxcar Children while at home, sick. The stories were perfect for children, especially the majority (at least in her class) who did not speak 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...
very well. She was criticized for depicting children with little parental supervision; her critics thought that this would encourage child rebellion. Her response was, however, that the children liked it for that very reason.
The series was originally published in 1924; the editions most people are familiar with were published by Scott Foresman, starting in 1942. Today, Albert Whitman & Company publishes the extremely popular series of 19 stories. Other authors have contributed to the series, adding approximately 90 books to the series. In her later life, before she died at age 89, Warner became a volunteer for the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
and assisted other charitable organizations.