The poem is often attributed to anonymous or incorrect sources, such as the Hopi and Navajo tribes.[1]: 423 The most notable claimant was Mary Elizabeth Frye (1905–2004), who often handed out xeroxed copies of the poem with her name attached. She was first wrongly cited as the author of the poem in 1983.[4] In her obituary, she asserted that her authorship was "undisputed" and confirmed by Dear Abby.[5] However, Pauline Phillips and her daughter Jeanne Phillips, writing as Abigail van Buren, repeatedly confessed to their readers that they could not confirm who had written the popular poem.[1]: 427–8 [6]
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