Franklin Brewster Folsom (1907-1995) was an American author of popular books for youth (over 80 titles published both under his own name and various pseudonyms) and a pro-Soviet political activist.
He graduated from the University of Colorado Boulder in 1928. He was also a Rhodes Scholar at Oxford. On graduation, he dedicated himself to a career as a professional writer, and began publishing books on history and archaeology (part of which were co-authored by his wife, Mary Elting Folsom). He also worked as a guide in the Rocky Mountains.
His interest for the rights of minorities (Native and Black Americans) resulted in his extensive involvement in radical leftist organizations in the US. He was one of the founding members of the League of American Writers, and in 1937—1943 he was its executive secretary, following the resignation of Waldo Frank, who expressed doubts about Stalin's show trials in Moscow. The League closely cooperated with the Communist Party, and Folsom himself was an active party member.
During the McCarthyism campaign, he published his books under various pseudonyms: Benjamin Brewster, Chase Elwell, Michael Gorham, Lyman Hopkins, Horatio D. Jones, Troy Nesbit, Philip Stander.
Folsom and Mary Elting had a son Michael (1938-1990) and a daughter Rachel (1944).
