Keith Robertson (writer)

Keith Robertson
Born (1914-05-09)May 9, 1914[1]
Dows, Iowa[2]
Died September 23, 1991(1991-09-23) (aged 77)[3]
Hopewell, New Jersey
Pen name Carlton Keith
Occupation Author
Citizenship United States
Notable works Henry Reed
Notable awards William Allen White Children's Book Award
Spouse Elizabeth Woodburn Robertson[3]

Keith Carlton Robertson (1914-1991) was an American writer of children's books and murder mysteries. He was a former captain in the United States Navy.

Biography

Keith Robertson was born on May 9, 1914 in Dows, Iowa. He joined the Navy in 1931, and served as a radioman on a destroyer.[1] Later, he attended the United States Naval Academy, graduating with a B.S. degree. He attributed his initial decision to study at the Academy to a "fanatical aversion to washing dishes." He said, "When I discovered that midshipmen at the United States Naval Academy did not wash dishes but were gentlemen by act of Congress, I promptly applied for entrance." [4] Robertson served in World War II as captain of a destroyer.[5] He was awarded five battle stars. He retired from the service as a captain in the United States Naval Reserve.

Robertson published his first book, Ticktock and Jim, in 1948.[2] His writing career spanned 40 years. As a member of the Rutgers University Council on Children's Literature, he was active in encouraging aspiring authors.[6]

He was married to Elizabeth Woodburn Robertson, a rare-book dealer, and had four children. He died of cancer at his home in Hopewell, New Jersey on September 23, 1991, aged 77.[7][8]

Writing career

Keith Robertson is best known for the five books of the Henry Reed series, beginning in 1958 with Henry Reed, Inc., which won the William Allen White Children's Book Award in 1961.[9] Another Henry Reed book, Henry Reed's Baby-Sitting Service, also won this award,[9] along with the Pacific Northwest Library Association Young Readers’ Choice Award, in 1969.[10] The Henry Reed series was illustrated by Robert McCloskey.[11]

Keith Robertson used the pseudonym Carlton Keith for his six murder mysteries.

Selected bibliography

The Neil and Swede books AKA the Carson Street Detective Agency series

The Henry Reed books

Carlton Keith books

References

  1. 1 2 Henry Reed, Inc. Study Guide
  2. 1 2 Papers of Keith Robertson
  3. 1 2 Keith Robertson, 77; Wrote 5-Book Series For Schoolchildren
  4. ↑ Keith Robertson, Henry Reed's Baby-Sitting Service, Puffin Books, 1989, End matter.
  5. ↑ Children's Literature Network
  6. ↑ Rutgers University Council on Children's Literature
  7. ↑ Keith Carlton Robertson's obituary, from the September 30, 1991 New York Times
  8. ↑ via Associated Press. "Keith Robertson, author", Bangor Daily News, October 1, 1991. Accessed February 15, 2011. "Keith Carlton Robertson, who wrote the Henry Reed series of children's books, has died of cancer. He was 77. He died Sept. 23 at his home in Hopewell."
  9. 1 2 William Allen White Children's Book award, Past Winners 1960-1969
  10. ↑ YRCA Past Winners
  11. ↑ The Continuum Encyclopedia of Children's Literature by Bernice E. Cullinan, Diane Goetz Person. Continuum International Publishing Group 2003, page 531

External links

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