Betty Smith, American author and playwright, was born Dec. 15, 1896 in Brooklyn, N.Y. with the name Elisabeth Lillian Wehner.
Betty Smith, American author and playwright, was born Dec. 15, 1896 in Brooklyn, N.Y. with the name Elisabeth Lillian Wehner.
She was the daughter of German immigrants and was the oldest of three children in her family including her sister Regina and brother William.
By the age of eight, Smith knew she would write a book someday after she got an “A” on a paper she wrote for her school assignment.
By 11, she had two poems published in a school project.
Her mother encouraged her to quit school after eighth grade and take a job to help support the family.
She met her first husband, George Smith, at the Jackson Street settlement house known for its social activities.
The couple married on Oct. 18, 1919 in Ann Arbor, Mich. where he was studying for his law degree. They had two children, Nancy Jean and Mary Elizabeth and ended up divorcing in 1938.
Smith went on to write several plays and ended up in Chapel Hill, N.C. where she took part in regional theatre affairs and write more intensely.
She had four novels published. Her autobiographical novel, “A Tree Grows in Brooklyn,” was published in 1943 and then made into a film.
“Tomorrow Will Be Better” was published in 1947.
“Maggie – Now” was published in 1958.
“Joy In the Morning” was published in 1963 and was made into a film.
Smith died Jan. 17, 1972 in Shelton, Conn. from pneumonia and is buried in Chapel Hill, N.C.
Henryetta Public Library has three of her four novels available.
