Roark Whitney Wickliffe Bradford (1896 - 1948)

Born 21 Aug 1896 in Lauderdale, Tennessee, United States

Ancestors

Husband of Mary Rose (Sciarra) Bradford — married 21 Jul 1933 in Chihuahua, Mexico

Died 13 Nov 1948 at age 52 in New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana, United States

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Biography

Roark Bradford is Notable.

Roark Whitney Wickliffe Bradford is notable for his contributions to American literature, particularly for his vivid storytelling and portrayal of Southern life in the early twentieth century. His works, including Child of God, Ol' Man Adam and His Children, and John Henry, garnered widespread acclaim and earned him prestigious awards, such as the O'Henry Memorial Award. Bradford's unique narrative style, influenced by his childhood experiences and interactions with African-American storytellers, set him apart as a distinctive voice in literature. Despite later criticism for his stereotypical depictions of African-Americans, Bradford's impact on American literature remains significant, reflecting the cultural and social dynamics of his time.^[1][2]

Roark Whitney Wickliffe Bradford was born on August 21, 1896, in Lauderdale County, Tennessee, on his father's plantation.^[3] His childhood was filled with adventures alongside his beloved mutt dog, Nemo, and three African-American friends, Algy, Ed, and Sweet, exploring the meadows of the plantation.^[4][5][6]

Growing up, Bradford developed a passion for storytelling, which he attributed to the vivid narratives he heard from African-Americans. He spent his early years in Tennessee before moving to Cabot, Lonoke County, Arkansas, where he continued to hone his storytelling skills.^[7][8][9]

Educated through a combination of home schooling, public schools, and eventually the University of California^[9], Bradford's career took a turn with the outbreak of World War I. He enlisted in the army, serving in various capacities, including Coastal Artillery in Panama. Despite his intentions to deploy to France, the Armistice was signed shortly after his arrival in New York.^[10][11]

After his discharge from the military in 1920, Bradford settled in New York City, where he embarked on a career in journalism. Working for newspapers such as the Georgian in Atlanta, Georgia, and the Times-Picayune in New Orleans, Louisiana, he honed his craft as a writer, starting as a copy-reader and eventually becoming a Sunday editor.^[4]

It wasn't until Bradford's departure from his newspaper job that his writing career truly took off. His first significant success came with the sale of his story Child of God to Harper's Magazine in 1927, for which he received the prestigious O'Henry Memorial Award. This marked a turning point in his career, leading to widespread recognition and publication in esteemed magazines like Collier's and the Virginia Quarterly Review.^[4][8][9]

Known for his unique approach to storytelling, Bradford emphasized character-driven narratives over strict plotting. He meticulously craft his stories through three typewritten drafts, focusing on capturing the essence and rhythm of the narrative.^[12]

Throughout the 1920s and 1930s^[13], Bradford produced notable works such as Ol' Man Adam and His Children, This Side of Jordan, Ol' King David and the Philistine Boys, and John Henry, cementing his reputation as a prominent voice in American literature.^[4][8][9]

In 1933, Bradford married Mary Rose Sciarra in Chihuahua, Mexico, marking a new chapter in his personal life.^[14] Despite his literary success, his life took another turn with the outbreak of World War II, during which he was recalled to active duty. Serving in West Africa, Bradford contracted amebiasis, a condition that later contributed to his untimely death.^[9][15]

Roark Whitney Wickliffe Bradford passed away in November 1948 in New Orleans, Louisiana, leaving behind a legacy of literary achievements. While his writings were once celebrated, they have since faced criticism for their stereotypical portrayal of African-Americans. Despite this, Bradford's contributions to American literature remain significant, showcasing his talent for storytelling and capturing the essence of Southern life in the early twentieth century.^{[4][8][9][16]}

Sources

1. ↑ Wikipedia contributors. Roark Bradford. Wikipedia, The Free Encyclopedia. May 5, 2023, 13:13 UTC. Available at: "Roark Bradford." Accessed February 7, 2024.
2. ↑ Polston, Mike, Encyclopedia of Arkansas, last updated on 16 Jun 2023, "Roark Bradford (1896–1948)." Accessed 7 Feb 2024.
3. ↑ Tillman, Stephen Frederick. Spes Alit Agricolam: (Hope Sustains the Farmer) Covering the Years 1225 to 1961 of the Tilghman (Tillman) and Allied Families. United States: S.F. Tillman, 1962. "[https://www.google.com/books/edition/Spes_Alit_Agricolam/tBhWAAAAMAAJ?hl=en&gbpv=1&dq=%22roark+bradford%22&pg=PA130&printsec=frontcover Spes Alit Agricolam (Hope Sustains the Farmer) Covering the Years 1225 to 1961 of the Tilghman (Tillman) and Allied Families]." Accessed 7 Feb 2024.
4. ↑ ^{4.0 4.1 4.2 4.3 4.4} Roark Bradford Comes Back Home for New Book Locale', The Commericial Appeal, Memphis, Tennessee, 2 May 1937, Sun. - Page 52. Newspapers Clip: 140441119, Accessed 7 Feb 2024.
5. ↑ 1900 United States Federal Census: Year: 1900; Census Place: Civil District 14, Lauderdale, Tennessee; Roll: 1583; Page: 1; Enumeration District: 0088 Ancestry Record 7602 #54210894
6. ↑ 1910 United States Federal Census: Year: 1910; Census Place: Civil District 7, Lauderdale, Tennessee; Roll: T624_1509; Page: 9a; Enumeration District: 0103; FHL microfilm: 1375522 Ancestry Record 7884 #136365019
7. ↑ Author and Journalist. United States: n.p., 1928. "Author and Journalist." Accessed 7 Feb 2024.
8. ↑ ^{8.0 8.1 8.2 8.3} Setting of Roark Bradford Stories Just Above River Bend in Bossier, The Times, Shreveport, Louisiana, 26 Jun 1949, Sun. - Page 16. Newspapers Clip: 90581368, Accessed 7 Feb 2024.
9. ↑ ^{9.0 9.1 9.2 9.3 9.4 9.5} Roark Bradford and Bossier, Bossier Press Tribune, Bossier City, Louisiana, 25 Mar 2009, Wed. - Page 3. Newspapers Clip: 140441496, Accessed 7 Feb 2024.
10. ↑ U.S., Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940: Ancestry.com. U.S., Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940 [database on-line]. Lehi, UT. USA: Ancestry.com Operations, Inc., 2019. Original data: United States, Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917-1940. Salt Lake City, Utah: FamilySearch, 2019. Veterans Administration Master Index, 1917 - 9/16/1940. NAI 76193916. Record Group 15: Records of the Department of Veterans Affairs, 1773 - 2007. National Archives at St. Louis, St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.A. Ancestry Record 61861 #461918
11. ↑ 'Roark Bradford, Dialect Writer, Is Dead at 52', The Berkshire Eagle, Pittsfield, Massachusetts, 15 Nov 1948, Mon. - Page 3. Newspapers Clip: 140441648, Accessed 7 Feb 1948.
12. ↑ Twentieth Century Short Stories. United States: Houghton Mifflin, 1933. "Twentieth Century Short Stories." Accessed 7 Feb 2024.
13. ↑ 1930 United States Federal Census: Year: 1930; Census Place: Santa Fe, Santa Fe, New Mexico; Page: 10B; Enumeration District: 0004; FHL microfilm: 2341134 Ancestry Record 6224 #108274786
14. ↑ Chihuahua, Mexico, Civil Registration Marriages, 1861-1967: Archivo General del Registro Civil (Chihuahua City Central Archives); Chihuahua, Mexico Ancestry Record 60442 #681370
15. ↑ 1940 United States Federal Census: Year: 1940; Census Place: New Orleans, Orleans, Louisiana; Roll: m-t0627-01421; Page: 65A; Enumeration District: 36-100 Ancestry Record 2442 #126313554
16. ↑ Burial: Find a Grave, database and images (https://www.findagrave.com/memorial/113447350/roark-whitney_wickliffe-bradford: accessed 07 February 2024), memorial page for Roark Whitney Wickliffe Bradford (21 Aug 1896–13 Nov 1948), Find a Grave Memorial ID 113447350; Cremated, Other, Ashes dropped into Mississippi River; Maintained by: Find a Grave.

See Also

• Wikidata: Item Q7339899