Biographical Sketch

Gerald Michael Kelly was born on 8 May 1908 in North Adams, Massachusetts, to James Francis Kelly and Bridget Josephine Meade Kelly. He graduated from St. Joseph's School in North Adams in 1925. He then attended Canisius College in Buffalo, New York, for his undergraduate degree (1929), followed by St. Bonaventure University in St. Bonaventure, New York, for his master's degree and doctorate in English. Kelly then began his career as teacher when he became an instructor at St. Michael's College in Winooski Park, Vermont (present day Colchester), teaching English, history, and political science (1935-ca. 1945). He taught one year at Drury High School in North Adams (1945-1946) before working at Nazareth College in Rochester, New York (1946-ca. 1951). He then returned to North Adams, where he taught at the Johnson School (1951-1952) before returning to Drury High School (1952-1960). Following his leave of absence and eventual resignation (1961) from Drury High School, Kelly began working as a proofreader at Westchester Rockland Newspapers before retiring in 1970. He continued to live in the White Plains, New York area.

While a teacher, Kelly was active in supervising school theater and musical productions, as well as serving on numerous teacher groups and organizations. He also wrote poetry that he often published in local New England publications. In 1939, he was selected to assist in the compilation and publication of a national anthology of poetry, Eros: An Anthology of Modern Love Poems, edited by Lucia Trent. His poem "Pittance" was included in the volume. In 1948, Kelly published his booklet, The Life of Mother Hieronymo. Following his retirement, he worked with a literacy volunteer program for adults.

Alongside Kelly's job as a teacher and proofreader, he engaged in decades-long research, primarily on Esther Wheelwright, as well as other New England captives taken to New France in Canada during the 17th and 18th centuries. His research also covered much of the context and background surrounding key figures, events, dates, and places pertaining to wars, raids, capture, and international and local relations between countries and native groups during that time. Gerald Michael Kelly died on 17 August 1998 in Yonkers, New York.