Discipline: Literature

Mildred Boie

Discipline: Literature
Region: Chapel Hill, NC
MacDowell Fellowships: 1932
Mildred Louise Boie, also known as Louise Saunders (1907-1997), was an American poet and educator. She and her twin sister, Maurine Boie, were born in Plainview. Boie attended Mankato Teachers College, then earned her B.S. degree in education from the University of Minnesota in 1927. From 1927 to 1929, she worked in the creative department for the Harrison-Guthrie Advertising Agency in Minneapolis, and also edited a magazine for the C. & C. Publishing Company. In 1930 Boie went to England for a year, where she studied modern English literature at Newnham College, University of Cambridge, and wrote articles for the London Morning Post and the Spectator. When she returned to the U.S. she took a position as instructor at the University of Minnesota until 1934, when she received her M.A. in English from the University. Boie was awarded the M.P. Sears and F.Z. Gilbert Fellowship in creative work from Radcliffe College and spent the next year studying there. Boie taught at Smith College, was associate editor of poetry for the Atlantic Monthly, publicity head for the American Unitarian Association and Service Committee, edited books for Beacon Press, and was eventually stationed at various U.S. Army bases in France, Italy, and Egypt in the aftermath of WWII, where she assisted in civilian relief. She was awarded a Bronze Star for her service. While overseas, Boie wrote several articles and short stories about her experiences, which were published in various journals, including Ladies Home Journal, Glamour, and Radcliffe Quartery. In 1946, her book of poems, Better Than Laughter was published by the University of Minnesota Press. In 1991, the Sophia Smith Collection received her papers.