Edmiston, Fred W. 1930–

PERSONAL: Born April 21, 1930, in Meridian, MS; son of Edward W. (a railroad employee) and Zella (a homemaker; maiden name, Pierce) Edmiston. Ethnicity: "Caucasian." Education: Attended Meridian Junior College, 1947–49; Spring Hill College, B.S.S., 1951; doctoral study at University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1958–59; University of Mississippi, M.A., 1962. Politics: "Liberal Independent." Hobbies and other interests: Reading, local history research.

ADDRESSES: Home—3914 Poplar Springs Dr., No. 15, Meridian, MS 39305. E-mail—dedref@aol.com.

CAREER: Writer. Young Harris College, Young Harris, GA, teacher, 1957–58; Garland School, Chester, NJ, teacher, 1963–78; Auburn University, Auburn, AL, librarian, 1986–97; writer, 1997–. Member of board of directors of local county archives. Military service: U.S. Air Force, 1951–55; served in Korea.

WRITINGS:

Washington Slept Here: A Cacophony in Scarlet, Carlton Press (New York, NY), 1977.

Directory of Mississippi Associations, privately printed, 1985.

Index to the Meridian Star's Citations of Military Persons … in World War II, privately printed, 2003.

The Coon-Sanders Nighthawks: The Band That Made Radio Famous, McFarland (Jefferson, NC), 2003.

Author of a dramatic script based on the life of Laurence C. Jones, a black educator in Mississippi.

WORK IN PROGRESS: A History of Lauderdale County, Mississippi, Volume 1: 1830-1865, Volume 2: 1865-1872; a history of Meridian, Mississippi, during World War II; research for a biography of Laurence C. Jones.

SIDELIGHTS: Fred W. Edmiston told CA: "My research has been mainly in areas not much covered by other researchers, so as to preserve significant historical information. My enjoyment of music of earlier times led to my book The Coon-Sanders Nighthawks: The Band That Made Radio Famous."