C. B. Colby | |
|---|---|
 Portraitc. 1970 | |
| Born | Carroll Burleigh Colby (1904-09-07)September 7, 1904 |
| Died | October 31, 1977(1977-10-31) (aged 73) |
| Occupation | Writer |
| Genre | Nonfiction mainly:military history,children's books,paranormal |
Carroll Burleigh Colby (September 7, 1904 – October 31, 1977) was an American writer, primarily of nonfictionchildren's books. He wrote more than 100 books[1] that were widely circulated in public and school libraries in the United States. He is best known forStrangely Enough! (1959).[2]
Colby was born inClaremont, New Hampshire, graduated fromStevens High School in 1922, and then attended theSchool of Practical Art in Boston, where he graduated in 1925.
He sailed toPuerto Rico with the intention of being a free-lance artist, but his failure led him to join theU.S. Customs Service during theProhibition era.[3] He married Lila Thoday in November 1928, having two children, Fred and Susan M. Colby.
Colby sold his first fiction story in 1929.[4]
Learning to flyglider aircraft in 1931, Colby began writing and illustrating articles for variousaviation magazines, becoming an editor ofAir Trails andAir Progress magazines that wereStreet & Smith publications. He co-authored theJunior Birdmen Standard Aviation Dictionary for theJunior Birdmen of America. In 1943 he became aviation editor ofPopular Science magazine and became awar correspondent with theU.S. Army Air Forces inNewfoundland,Labrador, andAlaska. He left the magazine in 1946 to free-lance articles. Colby enlisted and served as an officer with theCivil Air Patrol.
Colby's first book was early in 1951 as by "Carroll Colby":Gabbit, the Magic Rabbit, a self-illustrated picture book about a magician's rabbit who turns the tables.[a] He began his non-fiction book writing withOur Fighting Jets in 1951. He specialized in outdoor subjects such ashunting,fishing,camping, andfirearms. Many of his books were about military and public safety organizations or new technology, designed to be understood by children.
In 1959 Colby wrote his most popular book,Strangely Enough!, a collection of short non-fiction narrative about true life adventure,paranormal mysteries,UFOs, and other unusual events.
| International | |
|---|---|
| National | |
| Academics | |
| People | |
| Other | |
