Mabel Montgomery

Annie Mabel Montgomery, commonly known as Mabel Montgomery (October 19, 1879 – November 17, 1968) was an American writer, photographer and clubwoman in South Carolina. She served as the South Carolina director of the Federal Writers' Project, housed at the University of South Carolina. Montgomery authored several works, including the children's book David’s Fishing Summer.

Early life and education Mabel Montgomery was born on October 19, 1879, in Marion, South Carolina to parents Annie Stackhouse and William Joseph Montgomery (commonly known as W. J. Montgomery). Her father was a lawyer, bank president, the mayor of Marion in 1891, and also served multiple terms in the South Carolina House of Representatives, and in the South Carolina Senate. Her former childhood home "The Grove" (1893) at 408 Harlee Street, was listed in 1973 by the National Register of Historic Places as part of the Marion Historic District.

Montgomery graduated from Winthrop College, and Columbia College. She was an artist-in-residence at MacDowell Colony in Peterborough, New Hampshire. She claimed to have written a letter to the "Yankee" captain that "raided" Confederate Fort Randall near North Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. Louise Jones DuBose served as her assistant director. Together they authored South Carolina: A Guide to the Palmetto State (1941). In the guidebook South Carolina's black residents were featured in unflattering depictions described as "minstrel-esque," however Montgomery defended the writings, which drew rebuke and alterations from her supervisor.

While working at the Federal Writers' Project she took local photographs, which include a cotton house on highway 21, and cotton farming scenes. Many of her photos can be found in a collection at the South Caroliniana Library at University of South Carolina. She led the church's primary department for 30 years. Montgomery was on the local school board in Marion, and also served on the first South Carolina board for literacy.

She also established a local newsletter for soldiers during World War II, called Marion Mail;

She died at age 89 on November 17, 1968, in Marion. about educator Wil Lou Gray