Judith
Fitzgerald is an award-winning editor, graphic designer, and book designer who focuses
her work on religions from around the world. Based in southern Indiana, and working
with her husband, Michael, they published the first in an award-winning series of
illustrated inspirational books on the world’s religions, called the “Sacred Worlds”
series. This series of books has won over ten prestigious awards with titles such
as Indian Spirit, The Spirit of Indian Women, Christian Spirit,
The Sermon of All Creation, and The Universal Spirit of Islam. Many
of the photographs in this series, and in her husband’s other books, were taken
by Judith during their travels to visit traditional cultures around the world.
Judith was born in Richmond, Indiana, and when she was 11 years old moved to Cleveland,
Ohio. There she met people from different backgrounds, religions, and cultures and
became fascinated by the diversity of traditions. She attended college at Indiana
University in Bloomington where she met her husband, Michael, who conveyed to her
his great love of the American Indians. Judith received a Bachelor’s Degree in Elementary
Education and was a first grade teacher in Brown County, Indiana. She incorporated
her love of American Indians into her teaching and visited other classrooms especially
during Thanksgiving time when she made presentations about American Indian artifacts,
including clothing, jewelry, and weapons. Mrs. Fitzgerald retired from teaching
a few days before giving birth to her son, Joseph, in 1977. Being a mother taught
her the depth of responsibility for her son’s development and her role as the guardian
of her son’s young mind. As a mother, she had to discriminate for him and help him
choose books which would have a positive effect on his moral and spiritual development.
She has remained passionate about her concern for quality education for children
and her desire to expose children, teens, and adults to the traditions and religions
of other cultures, especially the American Indians. Her books reflect her commitment
to help others understand the beauty and sacred ways of the American Indian spirit.
For many years, Judith was a stay-at-home Mother who continued to make crafts. She
especially enjoyed making American Indian jewelry, beadwork, clothing, wood carvings,
and wall hangings, as well as calligraphy from various cultures including Buddhist,
Moorish, and Mandarin.
Judith attended her first Sun Dance in 1971 with her husband Michael, and every
year since they have visited their Indian friends out West, except in 1977, the
year their son was born. Each year they spend several weeks camping and seeing old
friends. In 1972, Judith and Michael spent part of the summer living on the Crow
Indian Reservation with Thomas Yellowtail, one of the most honored American Indian
leaders of the twentieth century, and his wife, Susie Yellowtail. Eventually both
of the Fitzgeralds were adopted into his family, and became members of the Crow
tribe. In 1975 the Yellowtails made the first of a series of annual October visits
to the Fitzgerald home in Bloomington, Indiana.
Judith and Michael Fitzgerald have spent extended periods of time over a period
of more than thirty-five years visiting traditional cultures and attending sacred
ceremonies throughout the American West, including the sacred rites of the Crow,
Sioux, Cheyenne, Shoshone, Bannock, and Apache Tribes. They have also spent extended
periods of time in traditional Buddhist, Hindu, and Islamic cultures. It is through
their travels that they gain inspiration for their books. These trips have helped
Judith artistically and have provided her with concrete ideas and photos for her
books. All royalties for Judith Fitzgerald’s books on American Indians are donated
to various American Indian charities, including The American Indian College Fund,
the Smithsonian’s Museum of the American Indian, for support of Crow, Shoshone,
and Lakota Sun Dances, and to provide books and films to tribal colleges and high
schools located on Indian reservations throughout the US and Canada.
At home in Bloomington, Judith and Michael spend their time surrounded by their
children and grandchildren, who are at the root of their desire to produce quality
books for children and young adults. Judith is currently working on a book of American
Indian inspirational quotes for children.
Judith’s books include:
- Christian
Spirit, co-edited with Michael Fitzgerald, 2004.
- Midwest Book Gold Award for: “Religion/Philosophy”
-
The Sermon of all Creation: Christians on Nature, co-edited with Michael
Fitzgerald, 2005.
- 2 Midwest Book Silver Awards for: “Nature” and “Religion/Philosophy”
-
The Spirit of Indian Women , co-edited with Michael Fitzgerald, 2005.
- 2 Midwest Book Gold Awards for: “Multicultural” and “Religion/Philosophy”
-
The Universal Spirit of Islam: From the Koran and Hadith, co-edited with
Michael Fitzgerald, 2006.
- Midwest Book Silver Award for “Religion/Philosophy/Inspiration”
- Benjamin Franklin Silver Award for “Religion”
- ForeWord Book of the Year Award finalist for “Religion”
-
Indian Spirit: Revised & Enlarged, co-edited with Michael Fitzgerald,
2006.
- 2 Midwest Book Gold Awards for: “Culture” and “Religion/Philosophy/Inspiration”
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