May Justus - 1898
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Tennessee
I. Introduction
Born a little country girl in Tennessee, May Justus never believed her childhood would end up making children happy. Her tall tales and warm heart amused and taught children for years and years, "I never thought my mother's East Tennessee tall tales would enlighten the world."(Commine 427)
II. Biography
Born on May 12, 1898, in Del Rio, Tennessee, daughter of Stephen (a teacher) and Margaret (Brooks), Justus had a normal childhood in the mountains. Later attending the University of Tennessee where she obtained her Bachelors Degree in teaching. Her political background was that of a Democrat. Living in Tracy City, Tennessee gave her a beautiful backdrop to create her stories. Writing children's books, dealing primarily with the lore of the Smokey Mountains in 1927. Justus later went on to teaching handicapped children in her own home.
II. Awards and Honors
Never stopping her writing career, Justus received numerous awards for her tall tales. "She received the Julia Ellsworth Ford prize in 1935 for her story Gabby Gaffer's New Shoes "(Kinsman 320). In 1936, she received the Boys' Club Award for Near Side Far. She again received the award in 1950 for Lucy for Little Lihu.
III. Literary Works
Although Justus received great review from most critics, I find her work to be to outdated for today's child. Even though most folk tales and poems are better with age, the work of Justus would be better if it were accommodated to today's language and life scenarios. Not many children can relate to living in the mountains, unless of course they are Hillbillies from Tennessee.
Justus, in her career, has written over thirty stories. They are:
Peter Pocket, Doubleday, Page, 1927
Betty Lou of Big Mountain, Doubleday, Doran , 1928
Gabby Gaffer, Volland, 1929
At the Foot of Windy Low, Volland,1930
Peter Pocket's Luck, Doubleday, Doran,1930
The Other side of the Mountain, Doubleday, Doran,1931
Peter Pocket's Book,Doubleday,Doran,1934
Gabby Gaffer's New Shoes, Suttonhouse,1935
Honey Jane, Doubleday, Doran,1935
Near-Side-and-Far, Suttonhouse,1936
The House in No-End-Hollow, Doubleday, Doran,1938
Here Comes Mary Ellen
, Lippincott, 1940
Mr. Songcatcher and Company, Douleday, Doran, 1940
The Mail Wagon Mystery, Whitman, 1940
Cabin on Kettle Creek, Lippincott, 1941
Dixie Decides, Random, 1942
Fiddle Away, Gosset, 1942
Nancy of Apple Tree Hill, Whitman, 1942
Step along and Jerry Jake, Whitman, 1942
Bluebird, Fly Up! Lippincott, 1943
Jerry Jake Carries On, Whitman, 1944
Lizzie, Whitman, 1944
Fiddlers' Fair, Whitman, 1945
Hurray for Jerry Jake, Whitman, 1945
Sammy, Whitman, 1946
Mary Ellen, Boardman, 1947
Susie, Whitman, 1948
Toby Has a Dog
, Whitman, 1949
IV. Works Cited
Commire, Anne. Something About the Author. Tennessee State University Special Collection
Kinsman, Clare. Contemporary Authors . Tennessee State University Special Collection
V. Sources
Commire, Anne. Something About the Author. Book Tower; Detroit: Gale Research: 1971
Kinsman,Clare. Contemporary Authors. Book Tower; Detroit: Gale Research: 1974
This essay was submitted by a student of Judith Broadbent, a professor in Tennessee.