John Trotwood Moore

John Trotwood Moore was an American writer, journalist, and historian born on August 26, 1858, in Marion, Alabama, to parents Charles W. Moore and Elizabeth Trotwood Moore. He was educated in the South and displayed an early interest in literature and regional history. In 1883, he founded Moore Academy in Pine Apple, Alabama, where he began shaping his views on education and southern culture. Over time, he became well known for his poetry, short stories, and novels, often focusing on life in...See more

John Trotwood Moore was an American writer, journalist, and historian born on August 26, 1858, in Marion, Alabama, to parents Charles W. Moore and Elizabeth Trotwood Moore. He was educated in the South and displayed an early interest in literature and regional history. In 1883, he founded Moore Academy in Pine Apple, Alabama, where he began shaping his views on education and southern culture. Over time, he became well known for his poetry, short stories, and novels, often focusing on life in the American South and blending themes of tradition, family, and the natural world. Moore moved to Tennessee, where he further developed his career in writing and public service. From 1919 to 1929, he served as the State Librarian and Archivist of Tennessee, a role in which he preserved state documents and promoted historical awareness. His writings captured the voices and customs of the rural South, and he maintained a strong presence in the literary circles of his time. He had a son, Merrill Moore, who later became known in literary and medical circles. John Trotwood Moore died on May 10, 1929, in Nashville, Tennessee, and was buried in Mount Olivet Cemetery. See less