Armstrong Sperry
An American storyteller who won the Newbery Medal for a tale of Polynesian courage, weaving adventure and cultural insight for young readers.
1897–1976 (age 79)·American writer and illustrator·Birthday: November 7·The Lost Generation
Biography
Armstrong Sperry carried the salt of the sea and the lure of distant horizons in his blood. Born in New Haven, Connecticut, his childhood fascination with his great-uncle's whaling stories blossomed after he ran away to study art in New York and later Paris. His true education, however, came from tramp steamers and extended travels across the South Pacific, where he immersed himself in the cultures of Tahiti and Bora Bora. These experiences became the bedrock of his career. Sperry didn't just write and illustrate children's books; he crafted portals to other worlds. His 1941 Newbery winner, 'Call It Courage,' distilled his ethos—a spare, powerful story of a Polynesian boy overcoming his fear of the ocean. For decades, his work, which also included biographies and historical adventures, stood out for its authentic detail, respect for indigenous perspectives, and the unshakable belief that facing fear was the ultimate adventure.
The Lost Generation
1883–1900
Came of age during World War I. Disillusioned by the carnage, they rejected the certainties of the Victorian era and built modernism from the wreckage — in art, literature, and politics.
Armstrong was born in 1897, placing them squarely in The Lost Generation. The events that shaped this generation — world wars, depression, and rapid industrialization — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Armstrong Was Born
The biggest hits of 1897
Armstrong's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1897Born
President: William McKinley
1902Started school
The eruption of Mount Pelee kills 30,000 in Martinique
President: Theodore Roosevelt
1910Became a teenager
Halley's Comet makes its closest approach
President: William Howard Taft
1913Could drive
The Federal Reserve is established
President: Woodrow Wilson
1915Could vote
The Lusitania is sunk by a German U-boat
President: Woodrow Wilson
1918Turned 21
World War I ends; Spanish flu pandemic kills millions
President: Woodrow Wilson
1927Turned 30
Lindbergh flies solo across the Atlantic; The Jazz Singer premieres
President: Calvin Coolidge"My Blue Heaven" — Gene Austin
1937Turned 40
Hindenburg disaster; Golden Gate Bridge opens
Gas: $0.20/galPresident: Franklin D. Roosevelt"A-Tisket, A-Tasket" — Ella FitzgeraldBest Picture: The Life of Emile Zola
1947Turned 50
India gains independence; the Dead Sea Scrolls found
Gas: $0.23/galHome: $6,600Min wage: $0.40/hrPresident: Harry S. Truman"Near You" — Francis CraigBest Picture: Gentleman's Agreement
1957Turned 60
Sputnik launches the Space Age
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $10,550Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"All Shook Up" — Elvis PresleyBest Picture: The Bridge on the River Kwai
1967Turned 70
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1976Died at 79
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
Key Achievements
- Awarded the 1941 Newbery Medal for his children's novel 'Call It Courage'.
- Wrote and illustrated over 30 books for children, including 'The Voyages of Christopher Columbus' and 'The Amazon: River Sea of Brazil'.
- Served as a graphic artist for the U.S. Navy's Bureau of Aeronautics during World War II.
- His book 'All About the Arctic and Antarctic' was a Junior Literary Guild selection.
Did You Know?
He studied under the famous muralist and illustrator Harvey Dunn at the Grand Central School of Art.
Sperry's travels in the South Pacific were funded in part by painting portraits of wealthy families.
He served as a member of the U.S. Navy's War Art Unit during World War II.
The setting for 'Call It Courage' was inspired by his time on the island of Bora Bora.
“Courage is not the absence of fear, but the mastery of it.”
