William Irving Severn, better known as Bill Severn, was a magician, journalist, and author of more than 50 nonfiction books on a variety of subjects, including biography, civics, social history, language, and children's pastimes. He co-wrote four of his books with his wife, Sue Schulz Severn, whom he married in 1936.
Born on May 11, 1914, in Brooklyn, New York, to William and Margaret (Stone) Severn, he attended public schools in Montclair, New Jersey. The son of a New York newspaper executive, Severn spent 15 years working at a variety of newspapers and radio stations in 22 cities.
In the 1930s, Severn worked as an editor and columnist for the Farmingdale Post and other Long Island newspapers as well as a magician in New York, specializing in cigarette and silk magic. In 1935, he joined the Transradio Press Service, which supplied news to radio stations by teleprinter and shortwave. Following that, he worked for the Buffalo Evening News for a year, writing newscasts for the company's radio stations. In 1941, he joined The Associated Press, where he was radio news editor. While still a journalist, he began writing short stories and articles and eventually became a freelance writer in 1945.
As a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM), the Society of American Magicians (SAM), and an Associate of The Magic Circle in London, Severn wrote more than 25 books on magic and penned the Magic column for Boys' Life magazine from 1975 until his death on May 8, 1992.
He donated 56 boxes of literary files (16.20 cu.ft. of materials) to the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Born on May 11, 1914, in Brooklyn, New York, to William and Margaret (Stone) Severn, he attended public schools in Montclair, New Jersey. The son of a New York newspaper executive, Severn spent 15 years working at a variety of newspapers and radio stations in 22 cities.
In the 1930s, Severn worked as an editor and columnist for the Farmingdale Post and other Long Island newspapers as well as a magician in New York, specializing in cigarette and silk magic. In 1935, he joined the Transradio Press Service, which supplied news to radio stations by teleprinter and shortwave. Following that, he worked for the Buffalo Evening News for a year, writing newscasts for the company's radio stations. In 1941, he joined The Associated Press, where he was radio news editor. While still a journalist, he began writing short stories and articles and eventually became a freelance writer in 1945.
As a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM), the Society of American Magicians (SAM), and an Associate of The Magic Circle in London, Severn wrote more than 25 books on magic and penned the Magic column for Boys' Life magazine from 1975 until his death on May 8, 1992.
He donated 56 boxes of literary files (16.20 cu.ft. of materials) to the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi.
William Irving Severn, better known as Bill Severn, was a magician, journalist, and author of more than 50 nonfiction books on a variety of subjects, including biography, civics, social history, language, and children's pastimes. He co-wrote four of his books with his wife, Sue Schulz Severn, whom he married in 1936.
Born on May 11, 1914, in Brooklyn, New York, to William and Margaret (Stone) Severn, he attended public schools in Montclair, New Jersey. The son of a New York newspaper executive, Severn spent 15 years working at a variety of newspapers and radio stations in 22 cities.
In the 1930s, Severn worked as an editor and columnist for the Farmingdale Post and other Long Island newspapers as well as a magician in New York, specializing in cigarette and silk magic. In 1935, he joined the Transradio Press Service, which supplied news to radio stations by teleprinter and shortwave. Following that, he worked for the Buffalo Evening News for a year, writing newscasts for the company's radio stations. In 1941, he joined The Associated Press, where he was radio news editor. While still a journalist, he began writing short stories and articles and eventually became a freelance writer in 1945.
As a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM), the Society of American Magicians (SAM), and an Associate of The Magic Circle in London, Severn wrote more than 25 books on magic and penned the Magic column for Boys' Life magazine from 1975 until his death on May 8, 1992.
He donated 56 boxes of literary files (16.20 cu.ft. of materials) to the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi.
Born on May 11, 1914, in Brooklyn, New York, to William and Margaret (Stone) Severn, he attended public schools in Montclair, New Jersey. The son of a New York newspaper executive, Severn spent 15 years working at a variety of newspapers and radio stations in 22 cities.
In the 1930s, Severn worked as an editor and columnist for the Farmingdale Post and other Long Island newspapers as well as a magician in New York, specializing in cigarette and silk magic. In 1935, he joined the Transradio Press Service, which supplied news to radio stations by teleprinter and shortwave. Following that, he worked for the Buffalo Evening News for a year, writing newscasts for the company's radio stations. In 1941, he joined The Associated Press, where he was radio news editor. While still a journalist, he began writing short stories and articles and eventually became a freelance writer in 1945.
As a member of the International Brotherhood of Magicians (IBM), the Society of American Magicians (SAM), and an Associate of The Magic Circle in London, Severn wrote more than 25 books on magic and penned the Magic column for Boys' Life magazine from 1975 until his death on May 8, 1992.
He donated 56 boxes of literary files (16.20 cu.ft. of materials) to the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi.
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