Mary Elizabeth Vroman

Mary Elizabeth Vroman
Bornc. 1924
Buffalo, New York
DiedApril 29, 1967
New York, New York
OccupationWriter, teacher
EducationBA
Alma materAlabama State University
Notable works"See How They Run", 1951

Mary Elizabeth Vroman (c. 1924 – April 29, 1967) was an American author of several books and short stories, including "See How They Run", a short story published in 1951.[1][2]

Background

Vroman was born circa 1924 in Buffalo, New York, and was raised in the British West Indies.[1][3] She attended Alabama State Teachers College and graduated in 1949. She was a schoolteacher in Alabama and wrote her first short story, "See How They Run", based on her experiences in the classroom. It was published in Ladies' Home Journal in June 1951. She was presented the 1952 Christopher Award for the work[4] and it was made into a 1953 film entitled Bright Road.[1] Her work on the film earned her admittance to the Screen Writers Guild. She was their first African-American woman member.[5]

An author, her stories and screenplays depict the challenges of poverty and disadvantage.[1] She was married to Dr. Oliver M. Harper at the time of her death after surgery on April 29, 1967, in New York.[4][6]

Works

References

  1. ^ a b c d Jackson, Kathy Dunn (7 July 2009). "Mary Elizabeth Vroman". Encyclopedia of Alabama. Archived from the original on 15 August 2022. Retrieved 9 February 2023.
  2. ^ "Mary Elizabeth Vroman, 42, A Writer and a Teacher, Dies". The New York Times. 1 May 1967. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 10 February 2023.
  3. ^ Page, Yolanda Williams (1 January 2007). Encyclopedia of African American Women Writers. Greenwood Publishing Group. pp. 569–. ISBN 978-0-313-33429-0. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  4. ^ a b "Mary Elizabeth Vroman, Noted Author, Dies After Surgery". Jet. 32 (6). Johnson Publishing Company: 24–25. 18 May 1967. ISSN 0021-5996. Retrieved 3 May 2015 – via Google Books.
  5. ^ Encyclopedia of African American History: 5-Volume Set. Oxford University Press. 2009-02-02. p. 259. ISBN 978-0-19-516779-5. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  6. ^ "Miss Vroman; Negro Writer". Los Angeles Times. 1 May 1967. p. 19 – via ProQuest.
  7. ^ Vroman, Mary Elizabeth (1951). See How They Run. The Curtis Publishing Company.
  8. ^ "All-Negro Cast Wins Favor in Screen Play". Los Angeles Times. 4 June 1953. pp. B11 – via ProQuest.
  9. ^ Vroman, Mary Elizabeth (1963). Esther. Bantam.
  10. ^ Vroman, Mary Elizabeth (1965). Shaped to Its Purpose: Delta Sigma Theta--the First Fifty Years. Random House. Retrieved 3 May 2015.
  11. ^ Vroman, Mary Elizabeth (1968). Harlem Summer. New York: Berkley.
  12. ^ Vroman, Mary Elizabeth (1967). Harlem Summer. Putnam. ISBN 9780425037782. Retrieved May 3, 2015.