Helen Steiner Rice
Encyclopedia
Helen Steiner Rice was an American writer of religious and inspirational poetry.
Helen Steiner was born in Lorain, Ohio
on May 19, 1900. Her father, a railroad worker, died in the influenza epidemic of 1918. She began work for a public utility and progressed to the position of advertising manager, which was rare for a woman at that time. She also became the Ohio State Chairman of the Women's Public Information Committee of the Electric Light Association, and campaigned for women's rights and improved working conditions.
In 1929 she married Franklin Rice, a bank vice-president in Dayton, Ohio
. After the stock market crash
in October that year, Franklin lost his job and his investments. He fell into a depression from which he never recovered, and committed suicide in 1932.
Rice became a successful businesswoman and lecturer, but found her most satisfying outlet in writing verse for a prominent greeting card company namely American Greetings
. Her poems received wide exposure in the 1960s when several were read by Aladdin on the poetry segment of the Lawrence Welk
television show.
The demand for her poems became so great that her books are still selling steadily after many printings, and she has been acclaimed as "America's beloved inspirational poet laureate". Helen Steiner Rice’s books of inspirational poetry have now sold nearly seven million copies. Her strong religious faith and the ability she had to express deep emotion gave her poems timeless appeal.
She died on the evening of April 23 1981, a month shy of her 81st birthday and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery
in Lorain, Ohio.
Both Pope John Paul II
and President James Carter and his wife Rosalynn were admirers of her artistry.
Helen Steiner was born in Lorain, Ohio
Lorain, Ohio
Lorain is a city in Lorain County, Ohio, United States. The municipality is located in northeastern Ohio on Lake Erie, at the mouth of the Black River, about 30 miles west of Cleveland....
on May 19, 1900. Her father, a railroad worker, died in the influenza epidemic of 1918. She began work for a public utility and progressed to the position of advertising manager, which was rare for a woman at that time. She also became the Ohio State Chairman of the Women's Public Information Committee of the Electric Light Association, and campaigned for women's rights and improved working conditions.
In 1929 she married Franklin Rice, a bank vice-president in Dayton, Ohio
Dayton, Ohio
Dayton is the 6th largest city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Montgomery County, the fifth most populous county in the state. The population was 141,527 at the 2010 census. The Dayton Metropolitan Statistical Area had a population of 841,502 in the 2010 census...
. After the stock market crash
Wall Street Crash of 1929
The Wall Street Crash of 1929 , also known as the Great Crash, and the Stock Market Crash of 1929, was the most devastating stock market crash in the history of the United States, taking into consideration the full extent and duration of its fallout...
in October that year, Franklin lost his job and his investments. He fell into a depression from which he never recovered, and committed suicide in 1932.
Rice became a successful businesswoman and lecturer, but found her most satisfying outlet in writing verse for a prominent greeting card company namely American Greetings
American Greetings
American Greetings Corporation, Inc. is the world's largest publicly-traded greeting card company. It is based in Brooklyn, Ohio and sells paper greeting cards, electronic greeting cards, party products , and electronic expressive content...
. Her poems received wide exposure in the 1960s when several were read by Aladdin on the poetry segment of the Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk
Lawrence Welk was an American musician, accordionist, bandleader, and television impresario, who hosted The Lawrence Welk Show from 1955 to 1982...
television show.
The demand for her poems became so great that her books are still selling steadily after many printings, and she has been acclaimed as "America's beloved inspirational poet laureate". Helen Steiner Rice’s books of inspirational poetry have now sold nearly seven million copies. Her strong religious faith and the ability she had to express deep emotion gave her poems timeless appeal.
She died on the evening of April 23 1981, a month shy of her 81st birthday and was buried in Elmwood Cemetery
Elmwood Cemetery
Elmwood Cemetery may refer to:in Canada *Elmwood Cemetery in the United States *Elmwood Cemetery *Elmwood Cemetery...
in Lorain, Ohio.
Both Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
and President James Carter and his wife Rosalynn were admirers of her artistry.
Further reading
Ronald Pollitt and Virginia Wiltse, Helen Steiner Rice: Ambassador of Sunshine, Hodder & Stoughton 1995, ISBN 978-0340630426External links
- Biography at official website, Helen Steiner Rice.com