Emma Lou Thayne Explained
Emma Lou Warner Thayne (October 22, 1924 – December 6, 2014) was a poet and novelist. She was a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints and counted as one of the 75 most significant Mormon poets.[1]
Thayne graduated from the University of Utah in 1945. She would later return there to coach tennis and teach English. In the late 1960s, she completed a master's degree at the University of Utah. She was on the faculty over 30 years.[2] In 1949, she married Mel Thayne; they became the parents of five daughters.
Although Thayne worked primarily as a poet, she also wrote novels. Her first novel was Never Past the Gate, which was inspired by her summers growing up in Mount Aire Canyon.[3] Thayne also served on the board of directors for Deseret News.[3] She was also a contributor to such magazines as Network, a woman's magazine based in Salt Lake City, Exponent II and Utah Holiday. At age 90, she died in Salt Lake City on December 6, 2014.[4] [5]
Thayne wrote the words to the hymn "Where Can I Turn for Peace?".[6]
Awards
- Distinguished Alumna, University of Utah
- David O. McKay Humanities Award, Brigham Young University
- Chamber of Commerce Honors in the Arts Award[7]
- Gandhi Peace Award, 2013[8]
Salt Lake Community college named the Emma Lou Thayne Center for Service Learning after Thayne to honor her.[7]
Works
- Spaces in the Sage (1971) — poetry collection
- On Slim Unaccountable Bones: Poems (1974) — novel
- Never Past the Gate (1975) — novel
- With Love, Mother (1975) — poetry collection
- A Woman's Place (1977) — novel
- Until Another Day for Butterflies (1978) — poetry collection
- Once in Israel (1980) — poetry collection
- How Much for the Earth? A Suite of Poems: About Time for Considering (1983) — poetry collection
- "Where Can I Turn For Peace?" (1985) hymn
- Things Happen: Poems of Survival (1991) — poetry collection
- Hope and Recovery: A Mother-Daughter Story About Anorexis Nervosa, Bulimia, and Manic Depression (1992)[9]
- Clarice Short
Earthy Academic (1994) — biography/memoir
- All God's Critters Got A Place in the Choir (1995) — personal essay collection with Laurel Thatcher Ulrich
- "The Place of Knowing" (2011) — personal memoir/autobiography
Further reading
- Book: Lampropoulos, Cynthia . Emma Lou Warner Thayne . Worth Their Salt Too: More Notable but not Often Noted Women of Utah . Logan, Utah . Utah State University Press . 2000 . 1996 . Colleen . Whitley . 0874212871 . 00008454 . 43615212 .
- News: Stack. Peggy Fletcher. Mormon poet Emma Lou Thayne remembered as 'hugger of life'. December 15, 2014. The Salt Lake Tribune. December 12, 2014.
- News: Lois M. . Collins . January 15, 2011 . Alive again — Emma Lou Thayne finds hope, recovery and a vibrant life . Deseret News . https://web.archive.org/web/20141207192250/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/700100745/Alive-again-2-Emma-Lou-Thayne-finds-hope-recovery-and-a-vibrant-life.html?pg=all . 2014-12-07 . live .
- News: Ann . Cannon . May 7, 2011 . From near-death to 'spiritual mentor' . The Salt Lake Tribune . https://web.archive.org/web/20141207192409/http://www.sltrib.com/51696883-80/thayne-emma-lou-knowing . 2014-12-07 . live .
- News: Literary notes: Questioning Minds lecture, 'Tiger Saga' author at King's English . The Salt Lake Tribune . December 9, 2011 . https://web.archive.org/web/20141207192346/http://www.sltrib.com/53068253-90/author-award-canopy-english . 2014-12-07 . live . — Describes Thayne winning the 2011 Utah Governor's Mansion Artist Award
Notes and References
- https://web.archive.org/web/20060901181945/http://mormonlit.lib.byu.edu/html/poets.html 75 Significant Mormon Poets
- http://www.alumni.utah.edu/continuum/winter02/gentlestrength.htm "Poet Emma Lou Thayne handles success with grace and adversity with calm determination"
- Book: Kimball. James. Miles. Kent. Mormon Women. 2009. Handcart Books. Salt Lake City, Utah. 978-0-9801406-1-3. 213–225.
- News: Morgan . Jacobsen . December 7, 2014 . Noted LDS poet, author Emma Lou Thayne dies at 90 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20141207192156/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/865617187/Poet-author-Emma-Lou-Thayne-dies-at-90.html?pg=all . December 7, 2014 . live .
- News: Peggy Fletcher . Stack . Peggy Fletcher Stack . December 6, 2014 . Emma Lou Thayne, renowned Mormon poet, dies at 90 . . https://web.archive.org/web/20141207191507/http://www.sltrib.com/1916817-155/emma-lou-thayne-renowned-mormon-poet . December 7, 2014 . live .
- Web site: Emma Lou Thayne. www.huffingtonpost.com. Huffington Post. October 14, 2016.
- Pendley. Nettie. A Woman of Gentle Strength. Continuum Magazine. Winter 2002. 12. 3. October 14, 2016.
- Web site: Meyer. Casulene. Emma Lou Thayne and the Art of Peace. byustudies.byu.edu. BYU Studies. October 14, 2016.
- Web site: Hope and Recovery: A Mother-Daughter Story About Anorexia Nervosa, Bulimia, and Manic Depression" by Emma Lou & Becky Thayne Markosian Thayne. Kirkus Reviews. October 14, 2016. en-us.
