Gladys Schmitt

Gladys Schmitt (May 31, 1909 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – October 3, 1972 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania) was an American writer, editor, and professor.

Born to Henry and Leonore (Link) Schmidt, she attended Chatham University, then transferred and graduated from the University of Pittsburgh in 1932. She worked as an editor for Scholastic Magazine first in Pittsburgh and then in New York from 1933-42. From 1942-72 at Carnegie-Mellon University she became professor of English and fine arts, founding the creative writing department.

Her second novel David the King (1946) was a Literary Guild selection and #1 bestseller. This book sold more than one million copies and was translated into ten languages.

She married Simon Goldfield on November 27, 1939. They had one child, a niece whom they adopted, Betty Schmitt Culley.

Schmitt died at Shadyshide Hospital in Pittsburgh at age 63 of a heart attack on October 3, 1972.

Works

• The Gates of Aulis, Dial (New York, NY), 1942.
• David the King (Literary Guild choice), Dial (New York, NY), 1946, reprinted, 1973.
• Alexandra, Dial (New York, NY), 1947.
• Confessors of the Name (Literary Guild selection), Dial (New York, NY), 1952.
• The Persistent Image, Dial (New York, NY), 1955.
• A Small Fire, Dial (New York, NY), 1957.
• Rembrandt (Literary Guild selection), Random House, 1961.
• The Heroic Deeds of Beowulf, Retold (juvenile), Random House, 1962.
• Electra (novel), Harcourt, 1965.
• Boris, the Lopsided Bear (juvenile), Collier, 1966.
• The Godforgotten, Harcourt, 1972.
• Sonnets for an Analyst, Harcourt, 1973.

Sources

• Contemporary Authors Online. The Gale Group, 2002. PEN (Permanent Entry Number): 0000088026.
• Find A Grave (includes photo)

External links

• The Gladys Schmitt Collection at Hunt Library, Carnegie Mellon University
• The Gladys Schmitt Creative Writing Center at Carnegie Mellon University
• The Tartan, Carnegie Mellon University