Birth of Willa Cather
Willa Cather was born in Virginia before becoming a major American novelist.
Historical biography archive · Updated 2026-11-03
Willa Cather Biography and Timeline
Follow Willa Cather through 42 dated historical records for United States of America.
Willa Cather, historical timeline
A chronological timeline drawn from matching World History Database records.
42Distinct records
1 of 2Page
1873–1956Years on this page
1873
1883
Family Moves to Nebraska
Cather moved with her family to Nebraska, a landscape central to her later fiction.
1890
Early Journalism in Nebraska
Cather began developing her literary voice through journalism and criticism in Nebraska.
1895
Graduation from University of Nebraska
Cather graduated from the University of Nebraska after publishing journalism and criticism.
1896
Moves to Pittsburgh
Cather moved to Pittsburgh and worked in journalism and education.
1901
Begins Teaching English
Cather taught English in Pittsburgh while continuing to write fiction and criticism.
1903
April Twilights
Cather published April Twilights, her first collection of poetry.
1905
The Troll Garden
Cather published The Troll Garden, her first collection of short fiction.
1906
Joins McClures Magazine
Cather joined the editorial staff of McClure's Magazine in New York.
1908
Managing Editor at McClures
Cather served as managing editor of McClure's, strengthening her editorial experience.
1912
Alexanders Bridge
Cather published Alexander's Bridge, her first novel.
1913
O Pioneers
Publication of "O Pioneers"
1914
McClure Autobiography Collaboration
Cather helped produce S S McClure's autobiography as a ghostwriter.
1915
The Song of the Lark
Cather published The Song of the Lark, a novel about a singer's artistic development.
First Mesa Verde Visit
Cather visited Mesa Verde, gaining impressions that later informed her fiction.
1916
Begins Anna Pavelka Inspired Novel
Cather began planning a novel inspired by the life of her friend Anna Pavelka.
1917
University of Nebraska Honorary Degree
Cather received an honorary doctorate of letters from the University of Nebraska.
1918
My Antonia
Publication of "My Antonia"
1920
Youth and the Bright Medusa
Cather published Youth and the Bright Medusa, a collection about artistic ambition.
French Battlefield Visit
Cather visited France and a relative's wartime grave while preparing a war novel.
1922
One of Ours
Cather published One of Ours, a novel about a Nebraskan serving in the First World War.
1923
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction
Cather received the Pulitzer Prize for One of Ours.
A Lost Lady
Cather published A Lost Lady, a novel about social change on the Great Plains.
April Twilights Revised
Cather issued an expanded edition of her early poetry as April Twilights and Other Poems.
1925
The Professors House
Cather published The Professor's House, a novel exploring disillusionment and memory.
1926
My Mortal Enemy
Cather published the short novel My Mortal Enemy.
1927
Death Comes for the Archbishop
Cather published Death Comes for the Archbishop, drawing on Southwestern history.
1931
Shadows on the Rock
Cather published Shadows on the Rock, set in colonial Quebec.
1932
Obscure Destinies
Cather published Obscure Destinies, a collection of three stories.
1933
Prix Femina Americain
Cather received the Prix Femina Américain for Shadows on the Rock.
1935
Lucy Gayheart
Cather published Lucy Gayheart, a novel about music and thwarted promise.
1936
Not Under Forty
Cather published Not Under Forty, her collection of literary essays.
1938
American Academy of Arts and Letters
Cather was elected to the American Academy of Arts and Letters.
1940
Sapphira and the Slave Girl
Cather published Sapphira and the Slave Girl, her final completed novel.
1944
Gold Medal for Fiction
Cather received a gold medal from the National Institute of Arts and Letters.
1947
Death of Willa Cather
Cather died in New York City, leaving a substantial body of American fiction.
1948
The Old Beauty and Others
The Old Beauty and Others, a collection of Cather's stories, was published posthumously.
1949
Willa Cather on Writing
A collection of Cather's essays on craft appeared under the title Willa Cather on Writing.
1950
Writings from Campus Years
Writings from Willa Cather's Campus Years gathered early university journalism.
1956
Willa Cather in Europe
Willa Cather in Europe collected material concerning her European travels.
Records, sources and methodology
These dates and descriptions come from the historical_events database. Exact duplicate records have been collapsed. Names are grouped by the country, Name 2 and Name 1 fields; records with missing Name 2 cannot be reliably assigned to an individual biography. Check the underlying sources before formal citation.