Zona Gale (1874-1938) was an American writer. Born in Portage, Wisconsin, which she often used as a setting in her writing, she attended Wayland Academy in Beaver Dam, Wisconsin. Later she entered the University of Wisconsin-Madison, from which she received a Bachelor of Literature degree in 1895, and four years later a Master's degree. After graduation, Gale wrote for newspapers in Milwaukee and New York City. However, before long she gave up journalism to focus on fiction writing. She then published her first novel, Romance Island (1906), and began the very popular series of "Friendship Village" stories. In 1912, Gale moved back to Portage, which she would call home for the rest of her life, although alternating with trips to New York. In 1920, she published the novel Miss Lulu Bett, which depicts life in the Midwestern United States. She adapted it as a play, which was awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1921. In the same year, Gale took an active role in the creation of the Wisconsin Equal Rights Law, which prohibits discrimination against women. Further information about this individual or organization may be available in the Special Collections Research Center Wiki:
These letters were found inside a book in the Swem Library.
Processed by Ellen Strong in 1995.
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Zona Gale Letters, Special Collections Research Center, Swem Library, College of William and Mary.
Letters, 7 June 1924 and 26 July 1934, of Zona Gale to Henry Seidel Canby, editor of the
2 items.
1924 June 7, Zona Gale, Portage, Wisconsin, to Dr. Henry Canby, New York. Glad he is to edit the Saturday Review and that he is taking with him this group; it was a calamity to lose the Literary Review but the event has turned out well; speaks of it to people in Madison; has sent subscription form back, 1 page.1924 July 26, Zona Gale, Portage, Wisconsin, to Dr. [Henry] Canby, no location, would like copy of Saturday Review with her article "Note to Novel Readers"; if not, could she have the article typed, 1 page.