Charles Ray (1875-1962) was a prolific editor of encyclopedic works, mainly for children, especially during the 1930s. His father was Charles James Ray (1848-1913), a boot manufacturer, and his mother was Lizzie Harvey (1851-1887). He was born in
Stepney, London in 1874, and he married Florence probably around 1900. According to the 1911 Census, they had three sons and one daughter. They were Charles Aylward Ray (1902-1997) who was an industrial chemist; Kenneth Alfred Ray, (born around 1906); Florence Margaret Ray, (born around 1905); Lawrence Arthur Ray (born around 1910). Charles Ray worked as editor with
Amalgamated Press in London, and he contributed to
The Children's Newspaper edited by
Arthur Mee from 1919, and possibly also to the earlier
Children's Encyclopaedia (1908-1910). He retired in 1939 aged 65, and he died in
Cromer,
Norfolk on 8 June 1962.