Georgene Faulkner
Encyclopedia
Georgene Faulkner was a prominent American children's book
author and storyteller
of the early twentieth century. In her career, she was known as (and promoted as) "the Story Lady."
A native Chicagoan
, she attended the School of Education of the University of Chicago
, then at the forefront of educational reform. When her sister Elizabeth Faulkner started the Faulkner School for Girls in 1909, Georgene was in charge of the kindergarten
. She was an accomplished storyteller; she dressed up as Mrs. Santa Claus
to tell Christmas
stories to children. She also practiced her craft with adult audiences: she traveled to Europe to entertain American troops during World War I
.
Starting in 1922, Georgene Faulkner began broadcasting on Chicago radio stations; on stations WMAQ and WGN she had programs titled "The Story Lady" and "Air Castle." She also wrote on children's topics for the Chicago Tribune
.
Over the space of four decades she wrote or edited a range of children's books. Several of her works were illustrated by Frederick Richardson
. In the final phase of her career she addressed the problem of racial prejudice, in the books Melindy's Medal (with John Becker, 1945) and Melindy's Happy Summer (1949).
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
author and storyteller
Storytelling
Storytelling is the conveying of events in words, images and sounds, often by improvisation or embellishment. Stories or narratives have been shared in every culture as a means of entertainment, education, cultural preservation and in order to instill moral values...
of the early twentieth century. In her career, she was known as (and promoted as) "the Story Lady."
A native Chicagoan
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
, she attended the School of Education of the University of Chicago
University of Chicago
The University of Chicago is a private research university in Chicago, Illinois, USA. It was founded by the American Baptist Education Society with a donation from oil magnate and philanthropist John D. Rockefeller and incorporated in 1890...
, then at the forefront of educational reform. When her sister Elizabeth Faulkner started the Faulkner School for Girls in 1909, Georgene was in charge of the kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
. She was an accomplished storyteller; she dressed up as Mrs. Santa Claus
Santa Claus
Santa Claus is a folklore figure in various cultures who distributes gifts to children, normally on Christmas Eve. Each name is a variation of Saint Nicholas, but refers to Santa Claus...
to tell Christmas
Christmas
Christmas or Christmas Day is an annual holiday generally celebrated on December 25 by billions of people around the world. It is a Christian feast that commemorates the birth of Jesus Christ, liturgically closing the Advent season and initiating the season of Christmastide, which lasts twelve days...
stories to children. She also practiced her craft with adult audiences: she traveled to Europe to entertain American troops during 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...
.
Starting in 1922, Georgene Faulkner began broadcasting on Chicago radio stations; on stations WMAQ and WGN she had programs titled "The Story Lady" and "Air Castle." She also wrote on children's topics for the Chicago Tribune
Chicago Tribune
The Chicago Tribune is a major daily newspaper based in Chicago, Illinois, and the flagship publication of the Tribune Company. Formerly self-styled as the "World's Greatest Newspaper" , it remains the most read daily newspaper of the Chicago metropolitan area and the Great Lakes region and is...
.
Over the space of four decades she wrote or edited a range of children's books. Several of her works were illustrated by Frederick Richardson
Frederick Richardson
Frederick Richardson was an American illustrator of the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, perhaps best remembered for his illustrations of works by L. Frank Baum....
. In the final phase of her career she addressed the problem of racial prejudice, in the books Melindy's Medal (with John Becker, 1945) and Melindy's Happy Summer (1949).
Selected works by Georgene Faulkner
- Italian Fairy Tales (1914)
- Christmas Stories (1916)
- Old Russian Tales (1913)
- Red Cross Stories for Children (1917)
- Old English Nursery Tales (1920)
- The Story Lady's Book (1921)
- Tales of Many Folk (1926)
- The Story Lady's Nursery Tales (1927)
- Little Peachling and Other Tales of Old Japan (1928)
- The White Elephant and Other Tales from Old India (1929)
- The Road to Enchantment: Fairy Tales from the World Over (1929)
- The Golden Fish: Fairy Tales from the World Over (1931)
- Hidden Silver (1952)