Hildegarde H. Swift (January 10, 1890 – January 10, 1977) was a writer of

children's book Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. Modern children's literature is classified in two different ways: genre or the intended age of the reader. Children's ...

s. One of her books, '' Little Blacknose: The Story of a Pioneer'' was the recipient of the

Newbery Honor Newbery is a surname. People * Chantelle Newbery (born 1977), Australian Olympic diver * David Newbery (born 1943), British economist *Eduardo Newbery (1878–1908), Argentine odontologist and aerostat pilot * Francis Newbery (disambiguation), s ...

Medal. She is best known for her book ''The Railroad to Freedom''. She won the

in 1933.

Biography

Hildegarde Swift was born in Clinton, New York on January 10, 1890. Her father, Author S. Hoyt was an English Literature professor at

Hamilton College Hamilton College is a private liberal arts college in Clinton, Oneida County, New York. It was founded as Hamilton-Oneida Academy in 1793 and was chartered as Hamilton College in 1812 in honor of inaugural trustee Alexander Hamilton, following ...

. In her younger years, she had private tutors and attended European boarding schools. She later graduated from Auburn High School, moving on to further her education and graduate from Smith College. She continued her studies at the

New York School of Social Work The Columbia University School of Social Work is the graduate school of social work of Columbia University. It is the nation's oldest social work program, with roots extending back to 1898, when the New York Charity Organization Society's first s ...

where she worked with children, which she credits gave her, her "first real knowledge of children." She married Arthur L. Swift, a pastor from New York. Their son Hewson H. Swift was born November 8, 1920.Hewson: One of the founders of the

American Society for Cell Biology The American Society for Cell Biology (ASCB) is a professional society that was founded in 1960.children's literature Children's literature or juvenile literature includes stories, books, magazines, and poems that are created for children. Modern children's literature is classified in two different ways: genre or the intended age of the reader. Children's ...

at the New School for Social Research. In 1929, she began to write children's books. Swift died on January 10, 1977.

Legacy

Swift's book ''The Little Red Lighthouse and the Great Gray Bridge'' has sold more than 400,000 copies. After the

United States Coast Guard The United States Coast Guard (USCG) is the maritime security, search and rescue, and law enforcement service branch of the United States Armed Forces and one of the country's eight uniformed services. The service is a maritime, military, mu ...

's plans to tear down the

Little Red Lighthouse The Little Red Lighthouse, officially Jeffrey's Hook Light, is a small lighthouse located in Fort Washington Park along the Hudson River in Manhattan, New York City, under the George Washington Bridge. It was made notable by the 1942 children's bo ...

, Swift's book was used by fans to help make the site a national landmark.

Eleanor Roosevelt Anna Eleanor Roosevelt () (October 11, 1884November 7, 1962) was an American political figure, diplomat, and activist. She was the first lady of the United States from 1933 to 1945, during her husband President Franklin D. Roosevelt's four ...

praised Swift for admonishing young people to care for the wilderness in her writings.

Works

*''The Railroad to Freedom'' *''The

and the Great Gray Bridge'' *''North star shining, a pictorial history of the American Negro'' *''Little Blacknose: The Story of a Pioneer'' *'' From the Eagle's Wing: A Biography of John Muir''

References

External links

* {{DEFAULTSORT:Swift, Hildegarde 20th-century American women writers 1890 births 1977 deaths Smith College alumni Columbia University School of Social Work alumni American children's writers Newbery Honor winners Writers from New York (state)