Janet Ayer Fairbank

Janet Ayer Fairbank (June 7, 1878 – December 28, 1951) was an American author and suffragette, socially and politically active in Chicago and a champion of progressive causes.

Janet Ayer Fairbank
Born	Janet Ayer June 7, 1878 Chicago, Illinois
Died	December 28, 1951 (aged 73) Wauwautosa, Wisconsin
Nationality	American
Alma mater	University of Chicago
Occupation	Writer, Social Activist
Spouse(s)	Kellogg Fairbank ​ (m. 1900)​

Biography

Janet Ayer was born in Chicago, Illinois on June 7, 1878.[1] She was the older sister of Pulitzer Prize-winning author Margaret Ayer Barnes.[2]

Fairbank attended the University of Chicago and in 1900 married the lawyer Kellogg Fairbank, the son of industrialist N. K. Fairbank. They had three children including the operatic singer Janet Fairbank (1903–1947).[3]

Fairbank published her first novel, Home, in 1910. She wrote short stories, articles, and seven novels.[4]

She was active in politics; a delegate to the Democratic National Convention from Illinois in 1924 and 1932, and a national committeewoman for the Illinois Democratic party from 1924 through 1928.[5][1]

Fairbank died in Wauwatosa, Wisconsin on 28 December 1951.[1]

Bibliography

• Home (1910)
• The Cortlandts of Washington Square (1923)
• The Smiths (1925) (runner-up for the Pulitzer Prize)
• Idle Hands (1927) (short stories)
• The Lion's Den (1930)
• The Bright Land (1932)
• Rich Man, Poor Man (1936)

References

1. "Fairbank, Janet Ayer". Encyclopedia.com. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
2. "Janet Ayer Fairbank". Oxford Reference. Oxford University Press. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
3. "Domain Inquiry". Jcgi.pathfinder.com. Retrieved 1 January 2018.
4. "Renaissance Woman". Chicago History Today. 14 June 2017. Retrieved 29 April 2019.
5. Kestenbaum, Lawrence. "The Political Graveyard: Index to Politicians: Faalevao to Fairbrother". Politicalgraveyard.com. Retrieved 1 January 2018.

External links

• Janet Ayer Fairbank Scrapbooks at the Newberry Library