17 Facts About Michael Dorris

Michael Anthony Dorris was an American novelist and scholar who was the first Chair of the Native American Studies program at Dartmouth College.

Michael Dorris's works include the novel A Yellow Raft in Blue Water and the memoir The Broken Cord.

Michael Dorris was married to author Louise Erdrich, and the two had a family of six children.

Michael Dorris was born in Louisville, Kentucky to Mary Besy and Jim Dorris.

Michael Dorris was raised as an only child by his mother, who became a secretary for the Democratic Party.

Michael Dorris received his BA in English and Classics from Georgetown University in 1967 and a Master's degree from Yale University in anthropology in 1971, after beginning studies for a theater degree.

Michael Dorris did his field work in Alaska, studying the effects of offshore drilling on the Native Alaskan communities.

At a time of rising Native American activism, in 1972, Michael Dorris helped form Dartmouth College's Native American Studies department, and served as its first chair.

Michael Dorris's adopted son, a 3-year-old Lakota boy named Reynold Abel, was eventually diagnosed with fetal alcohol syndrome.

Michael Dorris adopted two more Native American children, Jeffrey Sava in 1974 and Madeline Hannah in 1976, both of whom likely suffered from fetal alcohol syndrome.

Michael Dorris wrote the text to accompany the photographs of Joseph C Farber in the book Native Americans: Five Hundred Years After.

Michael Dorris was part of the successful effort to eliminate the college's Indian mascot.

Michael Dorris considered himself "addicted to" Erdrich and fell into a depression.

In conversations with friends, Michael Dorris maintained his innocence and his lack of faith that the legal system would exonerate him without his "demolishing" his wife and children in a "vicious" court trial.

Michael Dorris was the author, co-author, or editor of a dozen books in the genres of fiction, memoirs and essays, and non-fiction.

In Cloud Chamber, Michael Dorris continued the story of the families introduced in Yellow Raft in Blue Water, telling "the hard story of hard people living difficult lives with much courage".

Michael Dorris published three works for young adults during his lifetime; The Window was published posthumously.