Early Privilege

Sanford's early childhood was one of privilege. He was born in a luxurious new apartment building, The Georgian, at the foot of fashionable Mt. Morris Park in the Harlem section of New York. His father's law practice, working with the construction and real estate trades, was a success. However, the Wall Street panic of 1907 wiped the family out financially and forced them to move to a less desirable building, The Cabonak in a less desirable location.

In 1908, Sanford's mother gave birth to a sister, Ruth. In 1912, his mother's heart began to fail. Soon, all the family's money was being poured into treatments and retreats outside of New York City. The family wandered through a succession of cheap hotels and rooming houses. But, Sanford's mother could not be saved. She died in 1914. Sanford was two months beyond his tenth birthday.

Motherless at Ten

As one would expect, Sanford's mother's death had a profound effect on him.

Autobiography

John Sanford has covered the period of his childhood in the first volume of his autobiography and his memoir The View from Mt. Morris:

More Biographical Sketches

For more descriptions, and photos, of John Sanford's family, marriage and work, follow the links below.

Family

Childhood

Young Adulthood

Becoming a Writer

Marriage

Blacklist

Return

Later Years

Photo Gallery

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