Inga Stephens Pratt Clark
Encyclopedia
Inga Marie Stephens Pratt Clark (1906–1970) was an American artist and book illustrator, who with her husband Fletcher Pratt was at the center of a circle of New York literary figures during the 20th Century.
Inga Stephens was born 8 December 1906 in Brookings, South Dakota. She studied art at the Academy Colorossi in Paris and at the Art Students League of New York. On 1 July 1926, she married Fletcher Pratt
, a prolific American author. She illustrated several of Pratt's books,including Tales from Gavagan's Bar
, Empire and the Sea, The Empire and the Glory, and A Man and His Meals. She also collaborated with him on at least two stories, and served as his literary executor.
Under the names of Inga Stephens, Inga, and later Inga Pratt, she was a freelance commercial artist, specializing in fashion. She collaborated with Tedi Berri on a textbook, Fashion Drawing. Kay Hardy wrote: "Such artists as... Inga Pratt, of Bloomingdale's, have a style of work as definite as individual handwriting and no more to be imitated than the signature on a check." She also collaborated in writing a couple of science fiction stories with her husband, for which she used the name I. M. Stephens.
Of her, Fletcher Pratt wrote: "She is a South Dakota Norwegian, brought up in Montana, where she learned to ride a horse before she was seven, and where she had a collection of pets, which included four eagles, one coyote, one bull-snake, and fourteen cats. She eats a very light breakfast. Her fashion drawings appear in the New York papers almost daily and in various magazines. She finds bridge a waste of time but has illustrated several books. She occasionally plays a recorder, knows how to drive a car, and spends weekends in the country."
In the early 1950s, the Pratts hosted meetings of the Hydra Club, an organization of New York's science fiction writers, in their Manhattan apartment at 32 West 58th Street. Hydra Club members included Frederik Pohl
, Lester del Rey
, David A. Kyle, Judith Merril
, Martin Greenberg
, Robert W. Lowndes, Philip Klass, Willy Ley
, George O. Smith
, Sam Merwin and Harry Harrison
.
Later the Pratts purchased a sprawling home in Highlands, New Jersey, with over thirty rooms, nicknaming it the Ipsy-Wipsy Institute. It too became a gathering place for their literary friends, including many prominent science fiction writers.
Among the guests were authors and editors such as John Ciardi
, Basil Davenport, Bernard DeVoto
, and Eugenie Clark
. In addition to the Hydra Club members already mentioned, science fiction and fantasy writers such as L. Sprague de Camp
, Theodore Sturgeon
, Isaac Asimov
, and Laurence Manning
were guests in their home.
After Fletcher Pratt's death, Inga married the chemist and author John D. Clark
in 1962.
He dedicated his book Ignition! to her, writing: "This book is dedicated to my wife Inga, who heckled me into writing it with such wifely remarks as, 'You talk a hell of a fine history. Now set yourself down in front of the typewriter — and write the damned thing!'"
Inga Stephens was born 8 December 1906 in Brookings, South Dakota. She studied art at the Academy Colorossi in Paris and at the Art Students League of New York. On 1 July 1926, she married Fletcher Pratt
Fletcher Pratt
Murray Fletcher Pratt was an American writer of science fiction, fantasy and history, particularly noted for his works on naval history and on the American Civil War.- Life and work :...
, a prolific American author. She illustrated several of Pratt's books,including Tales from Gavagan's Bar
Tales from Gavagan's Bar
Tales from Gavagan's Bar is a collection of short stories by science fiction and fantasy authors L. Sprague de Camp and Fletcher Pratt, illustrated by the latter's wife Inga Pratt...
, Empire and the Sea, The Empire and the Glory, and A Man and His Meals. She also collaborated with him on at least two stories, and served as his literary executor.
Under the names of Inga Stephens, Inga, and later Inga Pratt, she was a freelance commercial artist, specializing in fashion. She collaborated with Tedi Berri on a textbook, Fashion Drawing. Kay Hardy wrote: "Such artists as... Inga Pratt, of Bloomingdale's, have a style of work as definite as individual handwriting and no more to be imitated than the signature on a check." She also collaborated in writing a couple of science fiction stories with her husband, for which she used the name I. M. Stephens.
Of her, Fletcher Pratt wrote: "She is a South Dakota Norwegian, brought up in Montana, where she learned to ride a horse before she was seven, and where she had a collection of pets, which included four eagles, one coyote, one bull-snake, and fourteen cats. She eats a very light breakfast. Her fashion drawings appear in the New York papers almost daily and in various magazines. She finds bridge a waste of time but has illustrated several books. She occasionally plays a recorder, knows how to drive a car, and spends weekends in the country."
In the early 1950s, the Pratts hosted meetings of the Hydra Club, an organization of New York's science fiction writers, in their Manhattan apartment at 32 West 58th Street. Hydra Club members included Frederik Pohl
Frederik Pohl
Frederik George Pohl, Jr. is an American science fiction writer, editor and fan, with a career spanning over seventy years — from his first published work, "Elegy to a Dead Planet: Luna" , to his most recent novel, All the Lives He Led .He won the National Book Award in 1980 for his novel Jem...
, Lester del Rey
Lester del Rey
Lester del Rey was an American science fiction author and editor. Del Rey was the author of many of the Winston Science Fiction juvenile SF series, and the editor at Del Rey Books, the fantasy and science fiction branch of Ballantine Books, along with his fourth wife Judy-Lynn del Rey.-Birth...
, David A. Kyle, Judith Merril
Judith Merril
Judith Josephine Grossman , who took the pen-name Judith Merril about 1945, was an American and then Canadian science fiction writer, editor and political activist....
, Martin Greenberg
Martin Greenberg
Martin Greenberg is an American book publisher and editor of science fiction anthologies.-Biography:Greenberg married in 1941. He was in the U.S...
, Robert W. Lowndes, Philip Klass, Willy Ley
Willy Ley
Willy Ley was a German-American science writer and space advocate who helped popularize rocketry and spaceflight in both Germany and the United States. The crater Ley on the far side of the Moon is named in his honor.-Life:...
, George O. Smith
George O. Smith
George Oliver Smith was an American science fiction author. He is not to be confused with George H. Smith, another American science fiction author.-Biography:...
, Sam Merwin and Harry Harrison
Harry Harrison
Harry Harrison is an American science fiction author best known for his character the Stainless Steel Rat and the novel Make Room! Make Room! , the basis for the film Soylent Green...
.
Later the Pratts purchased a sprawling home in Highlands, New Jersey, with over thirty rooms, nicknaming it the Ipsy-Wipsy Institute. It too became a gathering place for their literary friends, including many prominent science fiction writers.
Among the guests were authors and editors such as John Ciardi
John Ciardi
John Anthony Ciardi was an American poet, translator, and etymologist. While primarily known as a poet, he also translated Dante's Divine Comedy, wrote several volumes of children's poetry, pursued etymology, contributed to the Saturday Review as a columnist and long-time poetry editor, and...
, Basil Davenport, Bernard DeVoto
Bernard DeVoto
Bernard Augustine DeVoto was an American historian and author who specialized in the history of the American West.- Life and work :He was born in Ogden, Utah...
, and Eugenie Clark
Eugenie Clark
Eugenie Clark , popularly known as The Shark Lady, is an American ichthyologist known for her research on poisonous fish of the tropical seas and on the behaviour of sharks.-Academic life:...
. In addition to the Hydra Club members already mentioned, science fiction and fantasy writers such as L. Sprague de Camp
L. Sprague de Camp
Lyon Sprague de Camp was an American author of science fiction and fantasy books, non-fiction and biography. In a writing career spanning 60 years, he wrote over 100 books, including novels and notable works of non-fiction, including biographies of other important fantasy authors...
, Theodore Sturgeon
Theodore Sturgeon
Theodore Sturgeon was an American science fiction author.His most famous novel is More Than Human .-Biography:...
, Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov
Isaac Asimov was an American author and professor of biochemistry at Boston University, best known for his works of science fiction and for his popular science books. Asimov was one of the most prolific writers of all time, having written or edited more than 500 books and an estimated 90,000...
, and Laurence Manning
Laurence Manning
Laurence Manning was a Canadian science fiction author.Manning was born in St. John, New Brunswick and attended Kings College in Halifax, Nova Scotia. In the 1920s he moved to the United States. In the USA, he lived primarily on Staten Island, where he began writing short stories for several...
were guests in their home.
After Fletcher Pratt's death, Inga married the chemist and author John D. Clark
John D. Clark
John Drury Clark, Ph.D. was a noted American rocket fuel developer, chemist, and science fiction writer and fan. He was instrumental in the revival of interest in Robert E. Howard's Conan stories and influenced the writing careers of L. Sprague de Camp, Fletcher Pratt, and other authors.- Life and...
in 1962.
He dedicated his book Ignition! to her, writing: "This book is dedicated to my wife Inga, who heckled me into writing it with such wifely remarks as, 'You talk a hell of a fine history. Now set yourself down in front of the typewriter — and write the damned thing!'"
Illustration
- Empire and the Sea, by Fletcher Pratt (1946)
- A Man and His Meals, by Fletcher Pratt (1947)
- The Empire and the Glory; Napoleon Bonaparte: 1800-1806, by Fletcher Pratt (1948)
- Tales from Gavagan's Bar, a collection of stories by Fletcher Pratt and L. Sprague de Camp (1953, expanded 1978)
Textbooks
- Fashion Drawing, with Fashion Drawings and Sketches by Inga Stephens, with Tedi Berri (Bridgman Publishers, Inc., 1936)
Stories as author
- "The Pineal Stimulator", as I. M. Stephens, with Fletcher Pratt (Amazing Stories, November 1930)
- "A Voice Across the Years", as I. M. Stephens, with Fletcher Pratt (Amazing Stories Quarterly, Winter 1932)