Grace Noll Crowell
Encyclopedia
Grace Noll Crowell was an American
poet, author of 36 books of inspirational verse and 5,000 poems. Her work has appeared in hundreds of magazines and newspapers.
to Adam and Sarah Noll. She was educated at the German-English college in Wilton, IA. Crowell first attempted writing poetry at the age of 8, but in a rare instance of non-support by her otherwise loving family, found her efforts laughed at as an infantile effort. She stated, "I never tried to write after that until love and romance and a home came to me. That quickened and awakened the desire to write poetry again." After earning her Bachelor of Arts
in 1901, that love came to her when she married Norman H. Crowell, also a writer. They had three sons; Norman Crowell died in 1953.
With her husband, she moved to Farmington, Minnesota
, where he worked as a bank teller and she as a housewife and mother. However, in 1906 she fell gravely ill, and despite receiving the best medical care available at the time, she failed to improve. While resigned to spending life as an invalid, she had no desire to be a burden to her family, and determined to become a writer; her first poem, "The Marshland," was written and published while she was recovering from her illness. It was primarily her long confinement and suffering in various hospitals that led her to write verses of hope, patience, and inspiration; she stated, "The thought kept coming to me, 'I would like to write poetry that will help others who are suffering as I am.'" She continued to write, and many of her works were subsequently published in popular periodicals.
Crowell's health improved following a move to Sioux City, Iowa; the family subsequently migrated to Wichita Falls, Texas
, in 1917 and two years later to Dallas, Texas
where she spent the rest of her life.
Her first book of poetry "White Fire," which was published in 1925, received first prize from the Texas Poetry Society. In 1936 she was appointed Poet Laureate of Texas
, a position she held for three years. She was awarded the Golden Scroll Medal of Honor as National Honor Poet in 1938. That same year she was designated American Mother of the Year by the Golden Rule Foundation, and American Woman, a biographical publication, selected her as one of the ten Outstanding American Women. Baylor University
awarded her an honorary doctorate degree in 1940.
She was so popular it was necessary for her husband to quit his job to manage her writing career. Thousands of pieces of correspondence from grateful readers needed to be answered and hundreds of visitors from all parts of the United States and Europe who visited her at her Dallas home needed to be received.
Crowell wrote books of poetry, stories for children, and poem and prose devotions. Lee Mero illustrated several of her children’s books. Her "Songs of Courage" went into twenty-five printings. She continued writing until she was 86 years old. "God's Masterpieces," a devotional book was her last published work before her death.
Crowell died on March 31, 1969, at age 92, and is buried at Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery
, in Dallas, Texas
.
"Let the Sun Shine In" was published posthumously in 1970. In 1977 a reprint of her 1965 collection of poems appeared as "The Eternal Things: The Best of Grace Noll Crowell."
Although time has relegated her to the status of a minor poet, she was selected by the America Publishers as one of the ten outstanding American Women of 1938, and in the early 1940s she was called "the most popular writer of verse in America."
Her poem, "Because of Thy Great Bounty" is included in the 1985 Hymnbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, under the title of "Because I Have Been Given Much", set to music by Philip Landgrave. This hymn was originally set as a choral piece by Landgrave and was later included in the 1975 and 1991 Baptist Hymnals. Landgrave named the tune SEMINARY, in homage to the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he was a professor for many years.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
poet, author of 36 books of inspirational verse and 5,000 poems. Her work has appeared in hundreds of magazines and newspapers.
Biography
Crowell was born in Inland Township, IowaInland Township, Cedar County, Iowa
Inland Township is one of seventeen townships in Cedar County, Iowa, USA. As of the 2000 census, its population was 773.-Geography:Inland Township covers an area of and contains one incorporated settlement, Bennett. According to the USGS, it contains two cemeteries: Inland and Moneka.-External...
to Adam and Sarah Noll. She was educated at the German-English college in Wilton, IA. Crowell first attempted writing poetry at the age of 8, but in a rare instance of non-support by her otherwise loving family, found her efforts laughed at as an infantile effort. She stated, "I never tried to write after that until love and romance and a home came to me. That quickened and awakened the desire to write poetry again." After earning her Bachelor of Arts
Bachelor of Arts
A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...
in 1901, that love came to her when she married Norman H. Crowell, also a writer. They had three sons; Norman Crowell died in 1953.
With her husband, she moved to Farmington, Minnesota
Farmington, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 12,365 people, 4,169 households, and 3,255 families residing in the city. The population density was 986.0 people per square mile . There were 4,233 housing units at an average density of 337.5 per square mile . The racial makeup of the city was 95.62%...
, where he worked as a bank teller and she as a housewife and mother. However, in 1906 she fell gravely ill, and despite receiving the best medical care available at the time, she failed to improve. While resigned to spending life as an invalid, she had no desire to be a burden to her family, and determined to become a writer; her first poem, "The Marshland," was written and published while she was recovering from her illness. It was primarily her long confinement and suffering in various hospitals that led her to write verses of hope, patience, and inspiration; she stated, "The thought kept coming to me, 'I would like to write poetry that will help others who are suffering as I am.'" She continued to write, and many of her works were subsequently published in popular periodicals.
Crowell's health improved following a move to Sioux City, Iowa; the family subsequently migrated to Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls, Texas
Wichita Falls is a city in and the county seat of Wichita County, Texas, United States, United States. Wichita Falls is the principal city of the Wichita Falls Metropolitan Statistical Area, which encompasses all of Archer, Clay and Wichita counties. According to the U.S. Census estimate of 2010,...
, in 1917 and two years later to Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
where she spent the rest of her life.
Her first book of poetry "White Fire," which was published in 1925, received first prize from the Texas Poetry Society. In 1936 she was appointed Poet Laureate of Texas
Poets Laureate of Texas
- List of Poets Laureate :*1932-1934 - Judd Mortimer Lewis*1934-1936 - Aline T. Michaelis*1936-1939 - Grace Noll Crowell*1939-1941 - Lexie Dean Robertson*1941-1943 - Nancy Richey Ranson*1943-1945 - Dollilee Davis Smith*1945-1947 - David Riley Russell...
, a position she held for three years. She was awarded the Golden Scroll Medal of Honor as National Honor Poet in 1938. That same year she was designated American Mother of the Year by the Golden Rule Foundation, and American Woman, a biographical publication, selected her as one of the ten Outstanding American Women. Baylor University
Baylor University
Baylor University is a private, Christian university located in Waco, Texas. Founded in 1845, Baylor is accredited by the Southern Association of Colleges and Schools.-History:...
awarded her an honorary doctorate degree in 1940.
She was so popular it was necessary for her husband to quit his job to manage her writing career. Thousands of pieces of correspondence from grateful readers needed to be answered and hundreds of visitors from all parts of the United States and Europe who visited her at her Dallas home needed to be received.
Crowell wrote books of poetry, stories for children, and poem and prose devotions. Lee Mero illustrated several of her children’s books. Her "Songs of Courage" went into twenty-five printings. She continued writing until she was 86 years old. "God's Masterpieces," a devotional book was her last published work before her death.
Crowell died on March 31, 1969, at age 92, and is buried at Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery
Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery
Sparkman-Hillcrest Memorial Park Cemetery is located at 7405 West Northwest Highway in north Dallas, Texas . Among the notable persons interred here are:*Sawnie Robertson Aldredge , mayor of Dallas, Texas...
, in Dallas, Texas
Dallas, Texas
Dallas is the third-largest city in Texas and the ninth-largest in the United States. The Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex is the largest metropolitan area in the South and fourth-largest metropolitan area in the United States...
.
"Let the Sun Shine In" was published posthumously in 1970. In 1977 a reprint of her 1965 collection of poems appeared as "The Eternal Things: The Best of Grace Noll Crowell."
Although time has relegated her to the status of a minor poet, she was selected by the America Publishers as one of the ten outstanding American Women of 1938, and in the early 1940s she was called "the most popular writer of verse in America."
Her poem, "Because of Thy Great Bounty" is included in the 1985 Hymnbook of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, under the title of "Because I Have Been Given Much", set to music by Philip Landgrave. This hymn was originally set as a choral piece by Landgrave and was later included in the 1975 and 1991 Baptist Hymnals. Landgrave named the tune SEMINARY, in homage to the Southern Baptist Theological Seminary in Louisville, Kentucky, where he was a professor for many years.