Wellman, Manly Wade [1]
Wellman, Manly Wade
21 May 1903–5 Apr. 1986
[2]Manly Wade Wellman, writer, was born in Angola, West Africa, the son of Frederick Creighton, a medical officer, and Lydia Jeanette Isely Wellman. In 1926 he was graduated from Wichita Municipal University in Kansas (now Wichita State University [3]) and in 1927 received a bachelor of laws degree from Columbia University [4]. From 1927 to 1934 he was a reporter for the Wichita Beacon and Eagle before embarking on a successful, lifelong career as a free-lance writer. In 1947 he moved to Pinebluff, N.C., but soon settled in Chapel Hill to take advantage of the resources of The University of North Carolina [5] library.
Wellman wrote both fiction and nonfiction for periodicals of many types including mystery, sports, juvenile, scholarly, and general popular magazines. His numerous books were also varied: biography, history (particularly Civil War and local history), folklore [6], murder, science fiction, travel, and animals, among others. In 1955 he was the recipient of the Edgar Allan Poe Award [7] for nonfiction by the Mystery Writers of America, and in 1978 he was given the North Carolina Award [8] for literature.
He taught classes in creative writing in the Evening College of The University of North Carolina [5] and was widely appreciated for the aid he extended to would-be writers. He read and commented on their efforts and patiently guided many of them to fruitful careers.
In 1930 he married Frances Obrist, and they had a son, Wade. Wellman was a Democrat, an Episcopalian, and an active member of folklore and historical organizations.
References:
Chapel Hill Newspaper, 8 Apr. 1986.
Raleigh News and Observer, 6 Apr. 1986 (portrait).
Frances Wellman, personal contact, 4 Aug. 1994.
Who Was Who in the South and Southwest (1961).
Image credit:
North Carolina Awards Committee. 1978. "North Carolina Awards." https://archive.org/details/northcarolinaawa1978nort [2]
1 January 1996 | Powell, William S.