Latham << LAY thuhm >>, Jean Lee (1902-1995), an American writer for young people, received the Newbery Medal in 1956 for her book Carry On, Mr. Bowditch (1955). Her other books include The Story of Eli Whitney (1953); Medals for Morse (1954); Trail Blazer of the Seas (1956); This Dear Bought Land (1957); On Stage, Mr. Jefferson! (1958); and David Glasgow Farragut (1967). During World War II (1939-1945), Latham trained signal-corps inspectors for the United States Army.
Latham was born on April 19, 1902, in Buckhannon, West Virginia. She died on June 13, 1995.