Carl Carmer

Carl Lamson Carmer (October 16, 1893 – September 11, 1976) was an American writer of nonfiction books, memoirs, and novels, many of which focused on American myths, folklore, and tales. His most famous book, Stars Fell on Alabama, was an autobiographical story of the time he spent living in Alabama. He was considered one of America's most popular writers during the 1940s and 1950s.

Early life Carmer was born in Cortland, New York. His father, Willis Griswold Carmer, was the principal of Dansville High School. His mother, Mary Lamson Carmer, grew up on a farm in Dryden, New York.

When he was five his father became principal of Albion High School in Albion, New York, which is in western New York. He graduated from Albion High School in 1910 and entered his father's alma mater, Hamilton College, where he earned his undergraduate degree. He subsequently received a master's degree from Harvard.

Career Teaching Carmer taught briefly at Syracuse University before accepting a position at the University of Alabama in 1921, where he taught until 1927. He also became an assistant editor at Vanity Fair. In his later years, Carmer would work as a folklore consultant for Walt Disney Productions and produce a folklore radio series called "Your Neck o' the Woods." He also produced four albums of regional songs.

Writing Stars Fell on Alabama When Carmer arrived in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, one of his new colleagues warned him, "...if I knew you well enough to advise you, I'd say, 'For God's sake, get out of here before it's too late.'"

Carmer also wrote about the myths, legends, and local superstitions of what he called "Conjure Country" (which was his nickname for southeast Alabama). He credited folklorist Ruby Pickens Tartt with providing some of the folklore and songs for this book, and he based the character Mary Louise on her.

First published in 1934, Stars Fell on Alabama hit the bestseller lists and established Carmer's reputation. Literary critic R. L. Duffus of The New York Times praised the book and said Carmer had a gift for "extracting from what he sees, hears and feels an essence which is fundamentally poetic."

Other writings and projects After the success of Stars Fell on Alabama, Carmer returned to the upstate New York region he had grown up in. He documented the myths and stories of the region, including the Cardiff Giant hoax, and wrote a new book, Listen for a Lonesome Drum. He followed this up with a sequel in 1949, Dark Trees to the Wind.

In 1939 Carmer wrote a well-received volume in the Rivers of America Series, The Hudson River. In 1942 he became the Editor for the Rivers of America Series, edited The Songs of the Rivers of America (1942) and wrote The Susquehanna (1955). In all, Carmer wrote 37 books. He was considered one of America's most popular writers during the 1940s and 1950s.

Personal life and death Carmer married artist Elizabeth Black on December 24, 1928. He died on September 11, 1976, in Bronxville, New York.