Pearl Allen Andree
Iralene Pearl Allen – Author & Storyteller
Iralene Pearl Allen, known to many as “Grandma Pearl,” has spent a lifetime collecting and sharing stories. Born in 1927, she has lived through nearly a century of change, adventure, and resilience. From her early years on an Arizona farm to raising a family, managing real estate, and performing as a professional storyteller, Pearl’s life has been defined by a love of history, family, and storytelling.
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In 1986, she earned a B.A. in Drama and Theater from Arizona State University. For decades, she entertained audiences with her storytelling, drawing from her family’s rich past. Her passion for preserving history led her to interview her older siblings and document their experiences, culminating in her book.
Maud and Pearl:
The Matriarch and the Odyssey
This non-fiction American family saga tells the story of Pearl’s mother, Maud Hall Allen, and the Allen family’s journey through hardship and perseverance. Edited by her son, Dan Goggin, and published by Tranquility Press, the book brings to life the struggles and triumphs of generations past.
Now Available!
As I write this, I am fairly sure that I am late in my life. I suppose when I took that correspondence course in children’s literature, that I realized I wanted to write about my mother. It was before 1988, the time that I gave away spiral notebooks of stories to others at the Pinetop Allen reunion.
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Mama had formed me as a child. Then, I wasn’t raised to talk about myself. But here I am. While continuing correspondence with our friends the Pinkertons, having also sent them a spiral notebook at Christmas, I decided that I was interested in professional storytelling. So, I joined the National Public Storytelling Association, which is now the National Storytelling Network.
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When this occurred, of course I had already gone back and completed college, which my older brother Leo had always wanted me to do. I started putting stuff together, parts of stories. My son Danny keeps wanting me to refocus now, and I am cranky with him, but I know he’s helping me.
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I was able to correct some of my own stories with the stories of the Allen family. The main thing is, that was because life is a story that their lives told me.
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And really, there are stories out there in the air, all you’ve got to do is find them.
-Pearl Allen Andree
(Note: the author dictated this narrative on January 12, 2025. Three weeks later, she passed away.)
