Ken Kesey
1935 – 2001

Ken Kesey

American novelist (1935–2001)

amateur wrestleressayistchildren's writernovelistwriter
Born
1935-09-17, La Junta
Died
2001-11-10
Birthplace state
Colorado

Biography

Kenneth Elton Kesey was born in La Junta, Colorado, in 1935 and died in 2001. He worked as a novelist, essayist, and children's writer, and was also an amateur wrestler. Kesey considered himself a link between the Beat Generation of the 1950s and the hippies of the 1960s.

Occupation

Ken Kesey is recorded as a amateur wrestler, a essayist, a children's writer, a novelist and a writer, born in Colorado (1935–2001).

Connections to Colorado

Ken Kesey was born in La Junta, Colorado in 1935. Explore other notable figures from Colorado, historic sites connected to this era, and the full colonial and statehood history of the state using the links below.

Other notable figures from ColoradoColoradohistory ›Historic sites in Colorado
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Everything a full report reveals about La Junta

Ken Kesey came from La Junta. A full Aubrey report on La Junta 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.
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More notable figures from Colorado

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

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Douglas Fairbanks
Douglas Fairbanks
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Talcott Parsons
Talcott Parsons
American sociologist (1902 – 1979)
Edward Lawrie Tatum
Edward Lawrie Tatum
US genetics scientist (1909-1975)
John Searle
John Searle
American philosopher (1932–2025)
Ruth Handler
Ruth Handler
American businesswoman
Dalton Trumbo
Dalton Trumbo
American screenwriter (1905–1976)

Frequently asked about Ken Kesey

Who was Ken Kesey?
Ken Kesey was American novelist (1935–2001), born in Colorado (1935 – 2001).
When and where was Ken Kesey born?
Ken Kesey was born on 1935-09-17 in La Junta.
When did Ken Kesey die?
Ken died on 2001-11-10.
What was Ken Kesey known for?
Ken Kesey is recorded as a amateur wrestler, a essayist, a children's writer, a novelist and a writer.
Source

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

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