Carl Lamson Carmer (October 16, 1893 – September 11, 1976) was an American writer of nonfiction books, memoirs, and novels, many of which focused on American myths, folklore, and tales. His most famous book, Stars Fell on Alabama, was an autobiographical story of the time he spent living in Alabama. He was considered one of America's most popular writers during the 1940s and 1950s. Carmer's life Carmer was born in Cortland, New York. His father, Willis Griswold Carmer, was the principal of Dansville High School. His mother, Mary Lamson Carmer, grew up on a farm in Dryden, New York. When he was five his father became principal of Albion High School in Albion, New York, which is in western New York. He graduated from Albion High School in 1910 and entered his father's alma mater, Hamilton College, where he earned his undergraduate degree. He subsequently received a master's degree from Harvard. He taught briefly at Syracuse University before accepting a position at the University of Alabama in 1921, where he taught until 1927. After six years in Alabama, he returned to New York and married artist Elizabeth Black. He also became an assistant editor at Vanity Fair. In his later years, Carmer would work as a folklore consultant for Walt Disney Productions and produce a folklore radio series called "Your Neck o' the Woods." He also produced four albums of regional songs. He died on September 11, 1976, in Bronxville, New York. Stars Fell on Alabama When Carmer arrived in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, one of his new colleagues warned him, "...if I knew you well enough to advise you, I'd say, 'For God's sake, get out of here before it's too late.'" This reference was evidently about the state of Alabama's racial relations at the time. Carmer, however, stayed at the University for six years, taking notes and writing what would become his most famous book, Stars Fell on Alabama. In the book, Carmer recounted the time he spent traveling throughout the state. He wrote about the people, places, and events he witnessed, such as a Ku Klux Klan rally and interactions with ordinary Alabama men and women. One example of the book's prose was this description of a Sacred Harp singing: The church was full now. People stood along the walls and the doorway was packed. Crowds were huddled outside each window singing lustily...there were surely more than two thousand