Doris Gates
Doris Gates (1901–1987) was a lifelong California resident who spent many years as a librarian for the Fresno County Free Library.
While her career in library science was notable, she is best remembered for her beloved children's books.
Her most celebrated work, Blue Willow (1940), earned a Newbery Honor in 1941 and is widely regarded as the first realistic problem novel written for children.
The book was praised for both its lasting literary merit and its role in expanding the range of subjects that could be thoughtfully explored in children's literature.
Gates passed away in 1987.
