Wylly Folk St. John

Wylly Folk St. John
St. John c. 1969
Born(1908-10-20)October 20, 1908
Bamberg County, South Carolina, US
DiedAugust 16, 1985(1985-08-16) (aged 76)
Social Circle, Georgia, US
EducationUniversity of Georgia
Occupationsjournalist, novelist
SpouseThomas Franklin St. John (1930–1983)

Wylly Folk St. John (October 20, 1908 – August 16, 1985) was an American journalist and novelist.[1] She is best known for her children's mystery books.[2][3][4]

Early life and education

St. John was born in Bamberg County, South Carolina, but grew up in Savannah, Georgia, where she graduated from Savannah High School.[4][5] She married Thomas Franklin St. John in 1930 and got her A.B. in journalism from the University of Georgia that same year.[5][6][7][8] She was the president of the Women's Student Government Association and a member of Phi Beta Kappa.[9][10]

Career

St. John's first experience working in journalism was during college. She wrote for the humorous magazine The Georgia Cracker, a University of Georgia publication. She was the Cracker's editor during her senior year.[11][12]

St. John was hired as a staff writer for the Atlanta Journal and Constitution Magazine in 1941. She worked there until 1954, when her husband, an army officer, was stationed in Germany.[5] The couple returned to Georgia and moved to the town of Social Circle in 1966.[2]

After returning to Georgia, St. John resumed her position at the Atlanta Journal and began writing novels.[5] She published a total of ten novels for children and young adults, all set in the American South.[13] Many of the characters were based on her grandchildren, great-nieces, and great-nephews.[3] St. John published an additional five novels for adults.[4]

St. John received numerous awards, including Georgia Author of the Year, Georgia Author of the Year for Fiction, and Theta Sigma Phi's Outstanding Contributions to Journalism Award.[6][14]

Her novel The Secrets of the Pirate Inn was adapted into a Disney television movie in 1969.[15] It was renamed “Secrets of the Pirate's Inn”, aired as part of The Wonderful World of Disney, and starred Ed Begley.[2][16][17]

Later life and death

St. John spent the last years of her life in Social Circle, Georgia. She died of cancer on August 21, 1985, at the age of 76.[5][18]

Publications

  • The Secrets of Hidden Creek (1966)
  • The Secrets of the Pirate Inn (1968)
  • The Christmas Tree Mystery (1969)
  • The Mystery of the Gingerbread House (1969)
  • The Mystery of the Other Girl (1971)
  • Mystery of the Otter (1971)
  • The Ghost Next Door (1971)
  • Uncle Robert's Secret (1972)
  • The Secret of the Seven Crows (1973)
  • The Mystery Book Mystery (1976)

References

  1. ↑ "Wylly Folk St. John Papers". University of Minnesota Libraries. Retrieved April 17, 2026.
  2. 1 2 3 "Wylly Folk St. John Publishes Second Juvenile Mystery Story". The Covington News. May 23, 1968. p. 5. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  3. 1 2 Mallard, Mrs. Leo (February 4, 1971). "Mrs. St. John Speaks for CAR, McKenzie Home". The Covington News. p. 8. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 Skinner, Lucile (December 23, 1975). "Service Guild Displays Works by Local Authors". p. 10. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Wylly Folk St. John". Georgia Center for the Book. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  6. 1 2 "Wylly Folk St. John papers, 1928-1975 - Arclight". sclfind.libs.uga.edu. Retrieved April 22, 2026.
  7. ↑ "Turnell Hanson is Valedictorian". The Red and Black (Athens, Ga.). May 9, 1930. p. 6.
  8. ↑ "University of Georgia Trustees Honored by Chancellor Snelling". The Atlanta Constitution. January 12, 1930. p. 52 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ↑ "Women Students to Hold Election". The Red & Black. May 2, 1930. p. 7.
  10. ↑ "Athenians Among Students Honored by University Exercises Today". The Banner-Herald (Athens, Georgia). May 23, 1930. p. 5.
  11. ↑ "G.S.P.A. in Third Annual Session Here". The Red & Black. May 9, 1930. p. 6. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
  12. ↑ "Cracker Staff Will Hold Annual Banquet Thursday". The Red & Black. May 23, 1930. p. 3. Retrieved May 2, 2026.
  13. ↑ "Library Week Speaker Noted Author". The Covington News. April 17, 1975. p. 10. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  14. ↑ "Author St. John Enjoys Life at Social Circle". Covington News. June 15, 1972. p. 4. Retrieved April 25, 2026.
  15. ↑ Cotter, Bill (1997). The Wonderful World of Disney Television. Hyperion Books. ISBN 0-7868-6359-5.
  16. ↑ "Writers weekend conference planned for St. Simons". The Covington News. February 24, 1976. p. 4. Retrieved April 25, 2026.{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  17. ↑ "Disney Drama Features Aiken Teens". The State. November 22, 1969. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ↑ "Wylly Folk St. John obituary". The Atlanta Constitution. August 22, 1985. p. 56 – via Newspapers.com.
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