Elenor Yorke (1919–1969) was an American writer and poet, best known for her work ''My Weapon is Love'', an autobiography first published in 1945 and reprinted since that time by other publishers.

Personal

Yorke was born and raised in

Chicago (''City in a Garden''); I Will , image_map = , map_caption = Interactive Map of Chicago , coordinates = , coordinates_footnotes = , subdivision_type = Country , subdivision_name ...

, one of two children of Martin and Theresa Ostermeier. Her writing style was noted for its upbeat tone, even as America faced challenges from World War II. In January 1944, she lost a copyright lawsuit against

Franklyn MacCormack Franklyn MacCormack (March 8, 1906 – June 12, 1971) was an American radio personality in Chicago, Illinois, from the 1930s into the 1970s. After his death, Ward Quaal, the president of the last company for which MacCormack worked, described him ...

, a well known radio personality, and his wife Vi Johnstone. The following year, in her book ''My Weapon is Love'', Yorke recounted her side of the dispute. She moved to

California California is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, located along the West Coast of the United States, Pacific Coast. With nearly 39.2million residents across a total area of approximately , it is the List of states and territori ...

, and in 1954 she became president of the Hollywood chapter of the

National League of American Pen Women The National League of American Pen Women, Inc. (NLAPW) is a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) membership organization for women. History The first meeting of the League of American Pen Women was organized in 1897 by Marian Longfellow O'Donoghue, a writer ...

. Circa 1962, she married George McLain, a prominent political figure. In 1963, she was nominated to be poet laureate of California.

Selected works

*''Anthills of Joy'' (1941) published by Lew Lauria, Hollywood, CA *''My Weapon is Love: An Autobiography'' (1945) published by Oceanic Publishing Company, Chicago, IL *''Direct Current'' (1953) published by Oceanic Publishing Company, Chicago, ILLibrary of Congress, PS3547.O423 D5
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References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Yorke, Elenor 1919 births 1969 deaths 20th-century American women writers Writers from Chicago