O. Henry
Austin, Travis County, Texas
Marker Inscription
(William Sydney Porter, Sept. 11, 1862 - June 5, 1910) Born in Greensboro, N.C., moved to Texas in 1882, and lived on a ranch near Cotulla. Came to Austin in 1884, and in addition to writing, worked as a pharmacist, musician, draftsman, and bank teller. His first nationally published short story appeared in 1897. Porter began writing under the name O. Henry during three years spent in prison. The 381 stories published while in New York, 1902-10, won him international fame. O. Henry's collected works have been translated into 10 languages. This mid-1890s home of Porter, his wife Athol, and their daughter, opened as a museum in 1934. (1974)
Erected by Texas Historical Commission
The Story
In this mid-1890s Austin house lived William Sydney Porter—the future O. Henry—with his wife Athol and their daughter, in years when he worked as a pharmacist, draftsman, musician, and bank teller while beginning to write. His path to fame was strange: he took up the pen name O. Henry during three years in prison, then poured out 381 stories in New York between 1902 and 1910 that won him worldwide readers. His collected work has since been translated into ten languages, and the home opened as a museum in 1934.
Why it matters
O. Henry became one of America's most beloved short-story writers, and this house preserves the Austin years that shaped the wit and surprise endings for which he is remembered.
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Related people
- · William Sydney Porter
- · Athol Porter
Themes & tags
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