Highlights Archives
Society Press Author Jerry Apps Recognized
Acclaimed educator, writer and Wisconsin Historical Society Press author Jerry Apps was recently honored with the 2007 Council for Wisconsin Writers' Major Achievement Award for his lifetime writing accomplishments. The award carries with it a cash prize as well as a monthlong residency at Edenfred, Madison's creative arts residence. Apps, a Wisconsin native, is the author of hundreds of articles and more than 15 books on history and rural life, including Ringlingville USA, Tents, Tigers and the Ringling Brothers, and several forthcoming titles from the Society's Press, Caspar Jaggi, Swiss Cheesemaker (Spring 2008), Old Farm (Fall 2008), a history of his family farm, and Working with Horses (Fall 2009).
Apps has spent his life telling Wisconsin stories. Born and raised on a farm near Wild Rose in Waushara County, Apps began writing weekly columns for several Wisconsin newspapers in 1966. He earned a doctorate in education and rural sociology from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and has worked as a county extension agent, professor of agriculture at UW, editor, consultant and, of course, as a writer. He published his first book, The Land Still Lives, in 1970.
Over the years, Apps has won numerous awards for his work and service to the state and people of Wisconsin. The Wisconsin Historical Society has awarded him an award of merit for his service to history five times, in 1978, 1981, 1993, 1999 and 2003. His Society Press book Ringingville USA: The Stupendous Story of Seven Siblings and Their Stunning Circus Success was named an Outstanding Academic Title by Choice Magazine from among nearly 7,000 reviewed titles in 2005. The book chronicles the Ringling brothers' journey from immigrant poverty to kings of the circus world as they confronted the challenges of taxation, war, economic pressure, changing technology, and personal sorrows to make their place in history. Apps' newest Society Press title, Tents, Tigers and the Ringling Brothers, brings this inspiring story to life for young readers as part of the Badger Biographies Series.
In addition to his prodigious writing, Apps still finds time to teach writing workshops and give book talks. You can meet this celebrated Wisconsin author yourself at two events this June. Apps will be at Barnes and Noble East in Madison on Tuesday, June 26, at 2 p.m., and at the Bayshore Mall Barnes and Noble on Wednesday, June 27, at 1 p.m.
The Society congratulates Apps on his achievements and longtime commitment to Wisconsin history. Visit the Wisconsin Historical Museum shop for copies of Apps' books and other Society Press publications.
:: Posted June 20, 2007
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