1885 – 1968

Edna Ferber

American novelist, short story writer and playwright (1885–1968)

short story writernovelistjournalistplaywrightpoet

Born

1885-08-15, Kalamazoo

Died

1968-04-16

Birthplace state

Michigan

Biography

Edna Ferber was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan, in 1885 and died in 1968. She worked as a novelist, short story writer, playwright, and screenwriter, producing works including the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel So Big, published in 1924, along with Show Boat, Cimarron, Giant, and Ice Palace. Her short story "Old Man Minick," which appeared in 1922, was adapted with her involvement into a play titled Minick and later made into three films: Welcome Home in 1925, The Expert in 1932, and No Place to Go in 1939.

Occupation

Edna Ferber is recorded as a short story writer, a novelist, a journalist, a playwright, a poet, a writer and a screenwriter, born in Michigan (1885–1968).

Connections to Michigan

Edna Ferber was born in Kalamazoo, Michigan in 1885. Explore other notable figures from Michigan, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from Michigan›Michiganhistory ›Historic sites in Michigan›

Unlimited access

Everything a full report reveals about Kalamazoo

Edna Ferber came from Kalamazoo. A full Aubrey report on Kalamazoo pulls together everything the historical record holds about that place, from the first settlers to the twentieth century:

Overview

An interactive map of the location with historic sites, battles and Native heritage plotted, and its full story era by era.

The Land

The historic sites and place names around the location, and how this land was settled and used.

Geology

The bedrock beneath the site, its age and rock type, reaching back millions of years.

LiDAR Terrain

Laser-scanned terrain that reveals earthworks and old features hidden in the landscape.

Conflict & War

The battles, raids and skirmishes fought near here, across every era of American conflict.

The Civil War

The Civil War on this ground, 1861 to 1865: who held it, and the battles, camps and regiments nearby.

The Soldiers

The men who marched from here in the Civil War, named and traced where the record allows.

Native Heritage

The Native nations who held this land, mapped across time from before European contact to today.

Settlement

Who claimed and held this ground, from Indigenous homelands through the colonial powers to the United States.

The Community

How the town grew, who came, and what kind of place it became, traced through the census record.

Rivers & Rail

The rivers, canals and railroads that connected this place between 1830 and 1911.

Notable People

The people born, buried or genuinely tied to this exact place, with their stories.

Historical Maps

Historic maps of the location layered over how it looks today.

Finds & Access

Museum objects tied to the area, and the laws on searching, collecting and access here.

Literature

The old books, county histories and archives that mention this place, quoted with their sources.

Spotlight

A deep dive into the most remarkable, lesser-known history of the place, traced back to the record.

Points of Interest

The most significant historic sites and landmarks near the location, and why they matter.

Timeline

The whole story of the location told era by era, from first peoples to the present day.

First month just $5.99, then $11.99 a month. Unlimited locations, cancel anytime.

Every location is different. Not every section appears for every place, only what the historical record actually holds turns up in a report.

Start your Kalamazoo report

Or see a real report first

More notable figures from Michigan

Other historical figures born in Michigan, ranked by historical prominence.

Henry Ford

American business magnate (1863–1947)

Charles Lindbergh

American aviator, author, inventor, explorer, and social activist (1902–1974)

Glenn Theodore Seaborg

American chemist (1912–1999)

Burt Reynolds

American actor (1936–2018)

Claude Shannon

American mathematician and information theorist (1916–2001)

Ralph Bunche

diplomat, educator, civil rights activist and the first African American Nobel Peace Prize winner (1904–1971)

Richard Kiel

American actor (1939–2014)

Frequently asked about Edna Ferber

Who was Edna Ferber?

Edna Ferber was American novelist, short story writer and playwright (1885–1968), born in Michigan (1885 – 1968).

When and where was Edna Ferber born?

Edna Ferber was born on 1885-08-15 in Kalamazoo.

When did Edna Ferber die?

Edna died on 1968-04-16.

What was Edna Ferber known for?

Edna Ferber is recorded as a short story writer, a novelist, a journalist, a playwright, a poet, a writer and a screenwriter.

Source

Biographical content adapted from Wikipedia under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License. Source: Wikipedia.

Aubrey Research

Research the history of any US location

Aubrey searches federal archives, archaeological records, historic registers, and primary sources to build a full historical report for any address or place in the United States.

Research your location View a free sample report