Clarence Edwin Flynn (1886-1970) was an American Methodist Episcopal
clergyman, writer, hymnist and lecturer. He’s described as a “writer of
stories, articles and verse appearing in periodicals and anthologies”
and is “represented in anthologies of verse. General character writing,
religious, educational.” [1] [2] His poetry alone appeared in more than
300 different domestic and international publications. A book of Flynn’s
other writings, _Collected Writings of Clarence Edwin Flynn_, is
available on the website Project Gutenberg. His biography is available
on the website Prabook.
Mr. Flynn’s bylines have varied over his career. Specifically, the
variation in middle name/initial in the first edition amounted to
E (186), Edwin (4), none (3), and F (1). To put those numbers in a
wider context, the variation associated with poetry published in 1930
and later shows the following preliminary results: Edwin (415), E (98),
Edward (15), none (3), and conflicts within the same publication (2).
“Edward” appears in bylines between 1931-1954. There was an educator
named Clarence Edward Flynn (1890-1956), but one description of his
authorship published a year before his death is very specific and does
not mention verse: “A County Plan of Work for Elementary Schools; A
Workbook for Elementary and High Schools.” [3] It may be that bylines
with “Edward” are due to error and name interchangeability. This brief
analysis is limited by A) the absence of Clarence Edwin Flynn’s
personal papers (their status is unknown to me) and B) only rare
inclusions of his blurb in publications to which he contributed.
[1] _Who’s Who in America: A Biographical Dictionary of Notable
Living Men and Women_. Vol. 24, 1946-1947, Two Years. Chicago:
The A. N. Marquis Co., 1946. p. 780
[2] Lawrence, Alberta, ed. _Who’s Who Among North American Authors_.
Vol. 5, 1931-1932. Los Angeles: Golden Syndicate Publishing Co., 1931.
p. 1089
[3] _Who’s Who in the East_. Vol. 5. Chicago: The A. N. Marquis Co.,
1955. p. 268