Dolores Prida: 1943—: Playwright, journalist, poet. Cuban-American playwright Dolores Prida began her writing career while working for a restaurant chain, and went on to write more than a dozen plays and musicals that achieved critical acclaim. Her plays are known for their frank portrayal of the difficul-ties faced by immigrants who try to embrace a new culture without losing their ol…
Freddie Prinze, Jr.: 1976—: Actor. With leading roles in She's All That, Summer Catch, and Scooby-Doo, Freddie Prinze, Jr. made his way into the ranks of Hollywood's leading men while he was still in his early twenties. Although his rise to stardom seemed magical, Prinze had to overcome the shadow of his famous father's death when he was just ten months old and the…
Born 1949, in Volga, SD; Education: Northern State University, B.D., 1971, M.S., 1975; University of Alaska, Anchorage, Administration certification. Politics: Democrat. Religion: Christian. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Chelsea House Publishers, 1974 Sproul Rd., Ste. 400, Broomall, PA 19008. Gettysburg Public Schools, Gettysburg, PA, teacher, 1973–75, 1975–78; Division of Elementar…
Born 1933, in Shreveport, LA; Education: Attended University of Iowa, 1953–54; University of Washington, B.S., 1955, M.S., 1957, Ph.D. (psychology), 1960, Ph.D. (political science), 1964. Politics: Republican. Religion: "Anglo-Catholic." Hobbies and other interests: Sailing, backpacking, computers, war gaming. Agent—Eleanor Wood, Spectrum Agency, 111 8th Ave., Ste. 1501…
Born 1961, in Boston, MA; married Brian Pinkney Andrea R. Davis (an editor and writer), October 12, 1991; Education: Philadelphia College of Art, B.F.A., 1983; School of Visual Arts, M.F.A., 1990. Hobbies and other interests: Tae kwon do, playing drums. Society of Illustrators, Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators, Graphic Arts Guild. Max Found Two Sticks, Simon &…
194?– Television journalist Sandra Pinckney's childhood years living in many countries and learning about different people and cultures left her with an open and genuine interest in other people and unfamiliar places. This interest, along with a warm and enthusiastic nature, led her into a public career in broadcast journalism. Like her childhood, her career has taken her to unique a…
(D. Manus Pinkwater, Manus Pinkwater) Author and illustrator of children's books, and radio commentator. All Things Considered, National Public Radio (NPR), regular commentator, 1987—. Host of Chinwag Theater and book reviewer on Weekend Edition Saturday, NPR. American Federation of Theater and Radio Artists. The Terrible Roar, Knopf (New York, NY), 1970. (Self-illustrated) Bear�…
1925–2005 Insurance executive, publisher A newspaper publisher and marketing executive, John L. Procope began a second career in midlife when he joined the Wall Street insurance brokerage E.G. Bowman, founded by his wife Ernesta Procope. That company, rising from storefront beginnings selling $25 insurance policies to African Americans in Brooklyn, New York, became the largest minority-owne…
1940–2005 Comedian, actor, writer In the 1970s and 1980s Richard Pryor was one of America's top comedians, an actor, writer, and stand-up artist whose irreverent albums sold in the millions. Pryor mined both personal and social tragedy for his comic material and peppered his appearances with outrageous language and adult humor. Even at the peak of his popularity, however, he suffered…
1941— Medical doctor, administrator, pathologist From a very young age, Vivian Pinn felt herself to be a person with a mission. Having seen pain and illness in the family members she loved, she developed a drive to ease suffering and to cure disease. At the age of four, she announced her intention to become a doctor, an almost unheard-of ambition for a black girl in the United States of the…
Born 1935, in Rochester, NY; children: (first Laurence Pringle marriage) Heidi, Jeffrey, Sean; (third marriage) Jesse, Rebecca. Education: Cornell University, B.S., 1958; University of Massachusetts, M.S., 1960; Syracuse University, doctoral studies, 1960-62. Hobbies and other interests: Photography, films, sports, surf fishing. Freelance writer and photographer, wildlife biologist, and educ…
OBITUARY NOTICE—See index for SATA sketch: Born March 18, 1927, in New York, NY; died September 25, 2003, in New York, NY. Editor and author. Plimpton is best remembered as the editor of the literary journal Paris Review, as well as being a prolific sports writer and author of the novel Paper Lion. Attending Harvard University, where he was editor of the Harvard Lampoon, his education was i…
Born 1960, in Rotterdam, The Netherlands. Education: Rietveld Academy, degree in visual arts, 1987. Agent—Thijs Faas, FAAS MM, Herengracht 596, 1017 CJ Amsterdam, The Netherlands. Freelance illustrator and author. Commercial projects include political cartoons, adult and children's books, animated films, postal stamps, CD covers, and posters. Clients include Amnesty International, Du…
Education: Studied at Rhode Island School of Design. Agent—c/o Atheneum Books for Young Readers, 597 Fifth Ave., New York, NY 10017. Illustrator for books and magazines, including New Yorker, New York Times, and Land of Nod catalogue; author. Notable book citations, American Library Association, for Mr. Semolina-Semolinus: A Greek Folktale and Gabriella's Song. (Self-illustrated) Luc…
Born 1953, in Flint, MI. Education: Attended University of Michigan, Flint. Agent—Candlewick Press, 2067 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, MA 02140. Illustrator and author of children's books. Formerly worked in automobile factories and in small-press publishing. (Reteller) Coyote Goes Walking, (retelling), Farrar, Straus (New York, NY), 1995. Having a Wonderful Time, Farrar, Straus (Ne…
Born 1943, in New York, NY; Education: Attended Iowa State University; Michigan State University, B.S., 1965; Palmer Graduate School of Library and Information Science, Long Island University, M.S., 1969. Writer. Nassau Library System, Uniondale, NY, chief of children's services division, 1974-86. National Women's Book Association, Authors Guild, Authors League of America, Children&#…
Born 1929; Education: University of Michigan, B.A., 1950; University of Chicago, M.A., 1952 Hobbies and other interests: Back-packing, gardening, photography. Agent—Jane Jordan Browne, 410 South Michigan, Chicago, IL 60605. Von Steuben Public High School, Chicago, IL, teacher, 1951–52; Chicago Natural History Museum, Chicago, associate editor of museum bulletin, 1952–55; writ…
(Sue Denim, David Murray Pilkey, Jr.) First name is pronounced "Dave"; born 1966, in Cleveland, OH; Education: Kent State University, A.A. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Blue Sky Press/Scholastic, Inc., 557 Broadway, New York, NY 10012. Freelance writer and illustrator, 1986–. Caldecott Honor Book, American Library Association, 1997, for The Paperboy. World War Won, Landmark Ed…
Born 1953, in England; father a civil engineer, mother a pharmacist. Education: Studied engineering at University of Newcastle upon Tyne, 1972–73; Newcastle College of Art and Design, diploma in art, 1974; Leeds Polytechnic University, B.A. (first-class honors), 1977; attended Central School of Art. Agent—Patricia White, Rogers, Coleridge & White, 20 Powis Mews, London W11, 1J…
Born 1962, in Montreal, Quebec, Canada; Education: Studied graphic design at the college level. Hobbies and other interests: Music, playing instruments, travel. Children's book author and illustrator. Began in magazine illustration. Canadian Governor General's Award, and Mr. Christie Award for best illustration, both 1991, both for Uncle Henry's Dinner Guests; UNICEF-Bologna B…
(Byron Cary Preiss) OBITUARY NOTICE—See index for SATA sketch: Born c. 1953, in New York, NY; died in a car accident July 9, 2005, in East Hampton, NY. Publisher and author. A pioneer in the area of digital publishing, Preiss was president of Byron Preiss Visual Publications and Ibooks, as well as an author of children's and adult books. With an early interest in education, he was an…
Born 1968, in Denver, CO; Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: University of Colorado, B.A.. Politics: Republican. Religion: Lutheran. Offıce—Poudre Valley Health System, 1024 South Lemay Ave., Fort Collins, CO 80524. Writer, registered nurse, and consultant. Poudre Valley Health System, Fort Collins, CO, human resources consultant and nurse recruiter, 1993—. Proj…
1894-1986 Professional football player, coach, businessman Pollard, Fritz, photograph. AP/Wide World Photos. Reproduced by permission. A highly successful football and track athlete, Fritz Pollard became the first African American to play in the Rose Bowl when he played for Brown University in 1916 and the first African American to coach in the National Football League (NFL) in 1922. During the ea…
1930- Cuban vocalist Portuondo, Omara, photograph. Staton R. Winter/Getty Images. The elegant vocalist Omara Portuondo, nearly 70 years old at the time, was the only female artist showcased in the successful Buena Vista Social Club album and film that reintroduced classic Cuban music to American audiences in the late 1990s. It wasn't only because she was a woman that Portuondo stood out, ho…
Born 1968, M.F.A., 1970; studied printmaking at Santa Reparata Studio, Florence, Italy. Agent—c/o Author Mail, David R. Godine, Publisher, 9 Hamilton Place, Boston, MA 02108-4715. Reteller and illustrator of children's books. School for the Museum of Fine Arts, Boston, MA, art instructor; art teacher at schools, including Iowa State University, Minneapolis College of Art and Design,…
Born 1950, in Darmstadt, Germany; Education: Attended Akademie für Bilden de Künste, Frankfurt am Main, Germany. office—c/o Verlag Beltz und Gelberg, Werderstrasse 10, D 69469 Weinheim, Germany. Novelist, translator, and author of children's books. Worked various jobs in Munich, Germany; worked on an Israeli kibbutz. Oldenburger Jugendpreis, 1980, for Bitterschokolade; …
(William R. Dantz, Chris Jordan, W. R. Philbrick) Born 1951, in Boston, MA; Hobbies and other interests: Fishing. Writer, 1987—. Formerly worked as a longshoreman and boat builder. Best Novel award, Private Eye Writers of America, 1993, for Brothers and Sinners; Judy Lopez Memorial award honor book, 1994, Nebraska Golden Sower Award, Wyoming Soaring Eagle Award, 1997, California Young Reade…
Born 1950, in Edinburgh, Scotland; Education: University of St. Andrews, M.A. (with honors), 1972; attended Aberdeen College of Education, 1972-73. Office—University of Glasgow, Crichton Campus, Room 225, Rutherford Building, Dumfries DG1 4ZL, Scotland. Educator and author. Dumfries Academy, Dumfries, Scotland, assistant principal and English teacher; writer. In Verse (television program),…
Nationality: British. Born: St. Kitts, West Indies, 1958; brought to England in 1958. Education: Schools in Leeds to 1974, and in Birmingham, 1974-76; Queen's College, Oxford, 1976-79, B.A. (honors) 1979. Career: Founding chairman, 1978, and artistic director, 1979, Observer Festival of Theatre, Oxford; resident dramatist, The Factory Arts Centre, London 1981-82; writer-in-residence, Mysore…
Nationality: American. Born: Buckhannon, West Virginia, 1952. Education: West Virginia University, Morgantown, B.A. 1974; University of Iowa, Iowa City, M.F.A. 1978. Career: Teaching fellow, M.F.A. Program, University of Iowa, Iowa City, 1977-78; lecturer, Humboldt State University, Arcata, California, 1978-79; fellow, Fine Arts Work Center, Provincetown, Massachusetts, 1979-80; assistant professo…
Nationality: Guyanese-British. Born: Guyana (immigrated to Britain in 1956). Education: Attended school in Islington; studied for a degree, and later for a postgraduate degree, at other schools. Career: Worked variously in factories, garages, and at a post office; established a hostel for homeless black youths, Notting Hill, London; community activist, Manchester and Birmingham, England; journalis…
Nationality: American. Born: Detroit, Michigan, 1936. Education: The University of Michigan, Ann Arbor (Hopwood award, 1956, 1957), A.B. 1957; Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois, M.A. 1958. Career: Instructor, Indiana University, Gary, 1960-62; poet-in-residence, University of Kansas, Lawrence, 1971; visiting lecturer, Thomas Jefferson College, Grand Valley State Colleges, Allendale, Mich…
1957— Columnist The syndicated commentaries of Miami Herald columnist Leonard Pitts are among the most widely read in the United States, appearing in about 150 newspapers. Pitts's columns offer insightful commentary on the American experience, particularly the African-American experience. Perhaps his most famous column was a stirring call to American unity penned the day after the te…
Nationality: American. Born: Providence, Rhode Island, 1940. Education: Boston College, 1957-59, 1960-61, B.A. in French 1961; University of Louvain, Belgium, 1959-60. Career: Teacher, English School, Rome, 1961-62; guidebook writer, New York, 1962-64; teacher, Boston School of Modern Languages, 1964-65, and St. John's Preparatory School, Massachusetts, 1965-66; moved to England in 1966. He…
Nationality: Irish. Born: James Plunkett Kelly in Dublin, 1920. Education: Synge Street Christian Brothers School, Dublin; Dublin College of Music. Career: Branch secretary, Workers Union of Ireland, 1946-55; assistant head of drama, Radio Eireann, Dublin, 1955-60; producer-director, 1961-68, head of features, 1969-71, and senior producer, 1974-85, Radio Telefis Eireann (Irish Television), Dublin.…
1941— Executive In his distinguished career, Hugh Price worked in public television and journalism, including a stretch on the editorial board of the New York Times; he worked in philanthropy, as the vice president of the Rockefeller Foundation; and he served for nine years as the head of the National Urban League (NUL), helping to revitalize one of America's most important organizat…
Nationality: American. Born: 1957. Career: Has been a computer professional. Currently a full-time writer. Awards: MacArthur grant, 1990-94; Lannan Literary award, 1999. Recipient of a MacArthur "genius grant" in his mid-thirties, Richard Powers published five widely praised novels before the age of forty. Because of his historical subjects, including twentieth-century wars, and his…
Nationality: British. Born: Liverpool, 1938. Education: Lord Wandsworth College, Long Sutton, Hampshire, 1949-56; University of Keele, Staffordshire, 1956-60, B.A. (honors) 1960. Career: Personnel officer, Ford Motor Co., Dagenham, Essex, 1960-63; personnel manager, Anglo-American, Zambia, 1963-69; resident writer, Century Theatre touring group, 1970-72, and Duke's Playhouse, Lancaster, 197…
Nationality: British. Born: 1948. Education: Wycombe Technical High School. Career: Journalist in Buckinghamshire, Bristol, and Bath, then press officer, Central Electricity Board Western Region, until 1987. Awards: British Science Fiction award, 1990. Honorary degree, University of Warwick, 1999. Order of the British Empire (O.B.E.), 1998. Agent: Colin Smythe Ltd., P.O. Box 6, Gerrards Cross, Buc…
Nationality: American. Born: Macon, North Carolina, 1933. Education: Duke University, Durham, North Carolina, 1951-55 (Angier Duke scholar), A.B. (summa cum laude) 1955 (Phi Beta Kappa); Merton College, Oxford, 1955-58 (Rhodes scholar), B. Litt. 1958. Career: Member of the faculty since 1958, assistant professor, 1961-68, associate professor, 1968-72, professor of English, 1972-77, and since 1977,…
Nationality: American. Born: New York, 1949. Education: Cornell University, B.S. 1971; Columbia University, graduate study, 1972-74, M.F.A. 1976; Stanford University, further graduate study, 1973. Career: Lecturer in English as a second language, Hostos Community College, 1973; lecturer in urban affairs, New York University, 1973; lecturer in creative writing, State University of New York at Ston…
1946— Photographer New York-based photographer John Pinderhughes has combined careers in advertising and fine art photography. His commercial work includes advertising campaigns for major corporations while his fine art has developed quite separately. Pinderhughes is known for expansive landscapes and pictures that explore the relationship between people and their environment, traditions, a…
Nationality: British. Born: London, 1955. Education: Eton College, 1968-73; Magdalen College, Oxford, B.A. and M.A. (with honors), both 1977. Career: Assistant master of English, Eton College, Windsor, 1978, and The Royal School, Shrewsbury, 1978-79; part-time lecturer of English, King's College, London, 1981-83. Deputy editor, The Fiction Magazine, 1982-84. Awards: Geoffrey Faber Memorial …
Nationality: American. Born: Norwich, Connecticut, 1935. Education: University of Vermont, Burlington, B.A. (cum laude), 1969 (Phi Beta Kappa); Sir George Williams University, Montreal, M.A., 1973. Awards: Kress Fellow, Harvard University, Boston, 1974; Vermont Council of the Arts fellowship, 1989, National Endowment for the Arts fellowship, 1991, Guggenheim Foundation fellowship, 1992; PEN/Faulkn…
(Jennifer Barrett) Born 1966, in Washington, DC; Education: Attended Hamilton College, 1985-87, and University of the Arts, 1987-88; Moore College of Art and Design, B.F.A., 1991. AR & T Animation Studio, Philadelphia, PA, animation assistant intern, 1988; Hallmark Cards, Kansas City, MO, artist, 1991-93; freelance artist and writer, 1993—. Notable Book citation, American Library Ass…
Born 1947, in Reading, Berkshire, England; Education: Brighton College of Art, B.A., 1969; Reading University, art teacher's diploma, 1972. Hobbies and other interests: Collecting rock and pop memorabilia. Office—27 Keydell Ave., Horndean, Waterlooville, Hants, P08 9TA, England. Writer and illustrator. Worked in advertising and taught for twelve years. Mother Goose Award runner-up, 1…
Born 1947, in Brooklyn, NY; Education: Radcliffe College, B.A., 1968; Harvard University, M.A., 1969. Religion: Jewish. Agent—Georges Borchardt, Georges Borchardt, Inc., 136 East 57th St., New York, NY 10022. Writer and book reviewer. Harvard University, Cambridge, MA, teacher of creative writing, 1971-72; University of Arizona, Tucson, visiting lecturer in fiction, 1982-84; Warren Wilson C…
Born 1939, in Philadelphia, PA; Education: Attended Philadelphia Museum College of Art (now University of the Arts), 1957-59. Hobbies and other interests: "I am a lover of music, with a large music collection. I enjoy all kinds of music: jazz, classical, rock, and pop." Society of Illustrators. The Tales of Uncle Remus (also see below), Dial (New York, NY), 1987. More Tales of Uncle …
Born 1963, in Washington, DC; Education: Syracuse University, B.A. (journalism), 1985. Hobbies and other interests: Singing, dance. Office—Houghton Mifflin, 215 Park Avenue South, New York, NY 10003. Editor and children's book writer. Editor at various magazines; editor at Scholastic, Inc., New York, NY; Essence Magazine, New York, NY, senior editor; Simon & Schuster Books for…
Born 1945, in Brooklyn, NY; Education: Queens College of the City University of New York, B.A., 1967; New York University, M.D., 1970. Religion: Jewish. Office—55 East 73rd St., New York, NY 10021. Agent—Georges Borchardt, Georges Borchardt, Inc., 136 East 57th St., New York, NY 10022. New York University, New York, NY, clinical associate professor of dermatology, 1974—; assoc…
Born 1959, in Fremont, OH; Education: Ohio University, B.F.A., 1982; Marywood University, M.F.A., 1987; attended graduate studies at University of Texas, Austin, and Westfälische Wilhelms Universität, Münster, Germany. Hobbies and other interests: Genealogy, folk music, literature. Illustrator and author. Kilani-Honua Institute for Cultural Studies, Pahoa, HI, artist-in-reside…
Miguel Piñero: 1946-1988: Playwright, poet, actor. When theater-goers think of contemporary playwrights of color, they might think first of Luis Valdez or perhaps August Wilson. These men, who achieved significant reputations as playwrights, became writers in very conventional ways, having first studied drama, as did Valdez, or having evolved from poet to dramatist, as did Wilson. Both …
Born 1954, in Connellsville, PA; Education: University of Pennsylvania, B.A., 1976. Agent—Craig R. Tenney, Harold Ober Associates, 425 Madison Ave., New York, NY 10017. Authors Guild, Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America. Alanna: The First Adventure, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1983. In the Hand of the Goddess, Atheneum (New York, NY), 1984. Tamora Pierce The Woman Who Rides …
Born 1960, in Evergreen Park, IL; Education: Illinois Institute of Technology, B.S. (visual design), 1982. Office— Three Communication Design, 4507 N. Ravenswood, Suite 105, Chicago, IL 60640. Three Communication Design (graphic design firm), Chicago, IL, founding partner, 1989—; writer. Get Red!: An Adventure in Color, Little, Brown (Boston, MA), 2002. Blue Aliens!: An Adventure in…
Born 1957, in Swan Hill, Victoria, Australia; Ethnicity: "Australian." Education: University of Melbourne, B.A., 1978, diploma of education, 1979. Religion: Anglican. Hobbies and other interests: Sport, cooking, wine, multimedia. Agent—Cherry Weiner Literary Agency, 28 Kipling Way, Manalapan, NJ 07726-3711. Teacher and writer. Banyule High School, Melbourne, Victoria, Austral…
Born 1955, in Dexter, ME; (stepsons) Lucas, Seth. Education: University of Maine, B.A., 1976, M.A., 1978. Hobbies and other interests: Reading, crocheting, collecting teddy bears and windchimes. Agent—Susan Cohen, Writers' House, 21 W. 26th St., New York, NY 10010. Freelance writer, 1985–. Tri-County Regional Special Education, Dover-Foxcroft, ME, speech-language therapist, 1…
Born 1958. Education: Rhode Island School of Design, B.F.A.; graduate-level writing classes. Hobbies and other interests: Films. Agent—c/o Author Mail, Houghton Mifflin, 222 Berkeley St., Boston, MA 02116-3764. Author and illustrator. Top Ten Picture Books of the Year citation, Redbook magazine, 1989, for Friend or Frog; New York Times Best Illustrated Children's Book award, 1999, fo…
1943– Painter and mixed media artist, curator, and educator Known for the wide variety of techniques and materials used in her artwork, Howardena Pindell has created abstract paintings, collages, "video drawings," and "process art." Her work explores texture, color, structures, and the process of making art; it is often political, addressing the issues of racism,…
1930(?)— Mathematician Dr. Richard L. Price—"Doc Price"—an associate professor of mathematics at Lamar University in Beaumont, Texas, has had a long and distinguished career in academics. He has devoted himself to recruiting black students to Lamar, to mentoring students, and to preparing them for careers in engineering, mathematics, and the sciences. Price serve…
Tito Puente: 1923-2000: Bandleader, arranger, percussionist. Tito Puente, legendary band-leader and percussionist, performed his unique blend of Latin music and American jazz for over sixty years. He recorded an astounding 118 albums and was a central figure in nearly every trend in Latin music in the 20th century. "He was the founding father of Latin music as we know it, the master of …
Pablo Picasso: 1881-1973: Artist. Pablo Picasso was without a doubt the most talked-about visual artist of the twentieth century. For some art lovers, he was the greatest of them all; for others, he was an over-sexed self-promoting novelty act who produced too much art too quickly. But even casual museumgoers could not only recognize Picasso's work but also place it within one of the w…
