Joan Claire Graham

Writer, editor and publisher

What is Joan Claire Graham known for?

Joan Claire Graham, an accomplished writer, editor, and publisher, was born on November 21, 1945, in Albert Lea, Minnesota. Raised in a middle-class family, Graham's early life in Albert Lea would later infuse her work with a deep connection to Minnesota and its people. Her mother was a pioneering special education teacher and her father worked as a union worker at Wilson & Co., a significant player in Albert Lea's past as one of the largest employers in town.

After graduating from Albert Lea High School, she went on to further her education at Winona State University. Her passion for literature and education led her on an impressive career path, contributing significantly to literature, theater, and education.

Graham had a diverse career, beginning as a teacher in Minnesota, California, and Maryland during the period from 1967 to 2003. She also served as a co-director, playwright, and songwriter for the Children's Musical Theatre Production Workshop in Los Angeles from 1987 to 1992.

One of her most notable ventures was the co-founding of Graham Megyeri Books, a micro press specializing in Minnesota historical non-fiction. Among her published works are the beloved Minnesota Memories series, consisting of seven books, and other notable titles such as A Boy From C-11, Austin Remembers, Albert Lea Remembers, and Crackers and Milk.

Graham also displayed a knack for theatrical storytelling, having written and produced Tales of Two Counties, a Minnesota Sesquicentennial Project. This project involved taking stories from her books Albert Lea Remembers and Austin Remembers and adapting them into drama and music with community actors and musicians.

Apart from her writing and teaching career, she has shown a great commitment to community history. She traveled across Minnesota collecting hundreds of true stories that were later published in her books Minnesota Memories, Austin Remembers, and Albert Lea Remembers. These collections provide a glimpse into the lives of real Minnesotan people, many of whom had never had their stories published before.

One of the prominent works Joan edited is A Boy from C11, a poignant story written by Harvey Ronglien, who grew up at the Minnesota State Public School Orphanage in Owatonna, Minnesota.

Joan Claire Graham's work truly embodies a deep love and respect for Minnesota's history and its people. Her contributions as a writer, editor, teacher, and advocate for historical preservation continue to be celebrated by her readers and students alike.

For more information you can visit her website at minnesotamemories.com.