Background
Harris, Joel Chandler was born on December 8, 1848 in Eatonton, Georgia, United States.
Harris, Joel Chandler was born on December 8, 1848 in Eatonton, Georgia, United States.
Harris excelled in reading and writing, but was mostly known for his pranks, mischief, and sense of humor. Practical jokes helped Harris cloak his innate shyness and insecurities about his red hair, Irish ancestry, and illegitimacy, leading to both trouble and a reputation as a leader among the older boys.
In 1905 Harris was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
Uncle Remus: His Songs and His Sayings
Nights with Uncle Remus
Mingo, and Other Sketches in Black and White
Free Joe
American Academy of Arts and Letters
1905
Oliver Goldsmith's 'Vicar of Wakefield '
His father, whose identity remains unknown, abandoned his family shortly after Harris was born. The parents had never married, so Harris took the name Joel from his attending physician, Dr. Joel Branham. Chandler was the name of his mother's uncle. Harris remained self-conscious of his illegitimate birth throughout his life.
The couple had nine children, six of which survived past childhood
