Reading lists and articles featuring Elizabeth Yates

Elizabeth Yates McGreal: A Literary Journey

Early Life and Education

Elizabeth Yates, born on December 6, 1905, in Buffalo, New York, was the seventh child of Harry and Mary Duffy Yates. Growing up on her father’s plantation, she developed a deep connection to animals and the land, shaping her future pursuits.

• Attended Franklin School, graduating in 1924
• Year at Oaksmere, a private school founded by Winifred Edgerton Merrill
• Passionate about books from an early age

Passion for Writing

Yates’ love for writing manifested early as she transformed an unused pigeon loft into her secret writing sanctuary during her childhood.

Journalistic Career and Marriage

After completing her education, Yates moved to Manhattan, initiating her career as a journalist. In 1929, she married William Henry, leading to a decade-long residence in England, where her writing journey took flight.

• Contributed travel articles to The Christian Science Monitor and The New York Times
• First book, High Holiday, published in 1938

Literary Contribution and Legacy

The return to the United States in 1939 marked the beginning of Yates’ notable literary contributions. Her novels, including Amos Fortune, Free Man, earned prestigious awards, solidifying her legacy.

• Patterns on the Wall received the Herald Tribune Award in 1943
• Amos Fortune, Free Man won the 1951 Newbery Medal
• Active in preserving New Hampshire’s landscapes

Later Years and Recognition

Widowed in 1963, Elizabeth Yates continued her impactful literary career. She passed away on July 29, 2001, leaving a legacy of distinguished literary contributions and recognition.

• Received the Sarah Josepha Hale Award in 1970
• Legacy continued through the William and Elizabeth Yates McGreal Society
• Concord, New Hampshire Public Library established the Elizabeth Yates Award in 1994

List of Works

Elizabeth Yates’ extensive body of work includes novels, autobiographies, and contributions to literary societies, each reflecting her dedication to literature, faith, and imagination.

• Amos Fortune, Free Man
• Patterns on the Wall
• Autobiographies: My Diary – My World, My Widening World, One Writer’s Way