Northeast Children's Literature Collection
Encyclopedia
The Northeast Children’s Literature Collection acquires, preserves, and makes accessible works of historical and artistic significance in the field of children’s literature. The NCLC includes books, manuscripts, illustrations, correspondence, artifacts, and other related materials. Currently (2009) consisting of approximately 42,000-catalogued children’s books and serials, and the manuscript archives of 110 authors and illustrators, the collection is supported by reference works in Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center
and the Homer Babbidge Library.
. During the 1970’s the library engaged in the selective addition of the best historical and contemporary children's books and manuscripts, focusing on prize-winners and works by New England authors and illustrators. In 1983, Ms. Billie M. Levy placed on deposit 8,500 volumes from her private collection. A tireless and perspicacious collector, Ms. Levy was the first to convince such notables in the field as James Marshall
to leave his materials to the University of Connecticut for research use. Ms. Levy has to date donated over 10,000 volumes.
and Big Bird, visited the popular Butler “kiddie lit” classes.
Included within the Northeast Children’s Literature Collection are several smaller sets of materials. One such is the Black Beauty collection, consisting of approximately 450 discrete editions produced in Great Britain and the United States. It contains nearly every edition published from the late 1870’s to the mid-1980’s, and offers insight into the effects of the times on text and illustration. Anna Sewell
died in 1878, too soon to know how universal her story would become.
, Eleanor Estes
, Trina Schart Hyman
, Ruth Krauss
, Barry Moser
, Richard Scarry
, Marc Simont
, and many others. James Marshall
, a Mansfield, Connecticut, author and illustrator, donated materials that include original artwork from the popular George and Martha books, among others, to the collection.
Leonard Everett Fisher
of Westport, Connecticut, has donated an extensive archive, which has been used to create curriculum guides for elementary school teachers, available on the web site for Archives & Special Collections (see http://doddcenter.uconn.edu). The collection also houses the illustrative works of Ed Young
, the award-winning author/illustrator of Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China. Cyndy Szekeres, of Putney, Vermont, who has produced or collaborated on over 125 books in nine languages, continues to add to her complete archive consisting of original illustrations, correspondence, drafts, dummies, proofs, and completed works. In 1999, the collection became the recipient of many of the works of Tomie dePaola
, winner of a Caldecott Honor for the book Strega Nona. The dePaola collection consists of original sketches, artwork, finished works, correspondence, toys, ornaments, globes and related materials, by this prolific author/illustrator born in Meriden, Connecticut.
Thomas J. Dodd Research Center
The Thomas J. Dodd Research Center houses the Archives & Special Collections for the University of Connecticut Libraries. It also houses the Human Rights Institute and the Center for Judaic Studies and Contemporary Jewish Life at the University of Connecticut...
and the Homer Babbidge Library.
Beginnings of the NCLC
The story of the Northeast Children's Literature Collection begins in the 1960s with the acquisition of some 600 volumes of 19th and 20th century children's books from author/illustrator Nonny HogrogianNonny Hogrogian
Nonny Hogrogian is an American author and illustrator. She was born on May 7, 1932 in New York City, and graduated from Hunter College. King of the Kerry Fair was the first book she illustrated, in 1960. She was awarded the Caldecott Medal twice...
. During the 1970’s the library engaged in the selective addition of the best historical and contemporary children's books and manuscripts, focusing on prize-winners and works by New England authors and illustrators. In 1983, Ms. Billie M. Levy placed on deposit 8,500 volumes from her private collection. A tireless and perspicacious collector, Ms. Levy was the first to convince such notables in the field as James Marshall
James Marshall
James Marshall may refer to:*James W. Marshall , discovered gold in California in 1848*James Marshall , Victoria Cross recipient*James Marshall , American television producer and director...
to leave his materials to the University of Connecticut for research use. Ms. Levy has to date donated over 10,000 volumes.
Francelia Butler
Children's literature was a hot topic on campus in the 1970s and 1980s, with the leaders of the field like the late Dr. Francelia Butler, teaching, publishing, leading conferences and later the Peace Games; in effect helping to bring the study of children's literature into the mainstream of scholarship. The NCLC holds the papers of Dr. Butler and the large number of audiovisual materials created in her classroom. Many of the greatest names in children's literature, including Maurice SendakMaurice Sendak
Maurice Bernard Sendak is an American writer and illustrator of children's literature. He is best known for his book Where the Wild Things Are, published in 1963.-Early life:...
and Big Bird, visited the popular Butler “kiddie lit” classes.
Specialized collections
Other major donations include the Phyllis Hirsch Boyson Collection. This collection, donated in memory of Mrs. Boyson by her husband Bert contains over 6,300 children’s books. In addition, the Bridgeport Public Library in Bridgeport, Connecticut, recently donated its collection of historical children’s books, including many important children’s works in series, consisting of almost 3,300 books.Included within the Northeast Children’s Literature Collection are several smaller sets of materials. One such is the Black Beauty collection, consisting of approximately 450 discrete editions produced in Great Britain and the United States. It contains nearly every edition published from the late 1870’s to the mid-1980’s, and offers insight into the effects of the times on text and illustration. Anna Sewell
Anna Sewell
Anna Sewell was an English novelist, best known as the author of the classic novel Black Beauty.-Biography:Anna Mary Sewell was born in Great Yarmouth, Norfolk, England into a devoutly Quaker family...
died in 1878, too soon to know how universal her story would become.
Manuscript Collections
Manuscript collections are solicited from children’s authors and illustrators living in or identified with the Northeast and Eastern Seaboard. Of particular interest are collections containing all aspects of book creation, such as book dummies, sketches and other illustrations, dust jackets, drafts and revisions, correspondence, and related materials. These materials created prior to the finished work inform researchers on the nature of the entire creative process from conception to completion. The Northeast Children’s Literature Collection now contains approximately 105 collections of manuscript materials of significant author/illustrators such as Barbara CooneyBarbara Cooney
Barbara Cooney was an American children's author and illustrator of more than 200 books and double Caldecott Medalist. She has written books for six decades...
, Eleanor Estes
Eleanor Estes
Eleanor Estes was an American children's author.She was born in West Haven, Connecticut as Eleanor Ruth Rosenfield.She worked as a children's librarian in New Haven, Connecticut, and New York....
, Trina Schart Hyman
Trina Schart Hyman
Trina Schart Hyman was an American illustrator of children's books. She illustrated over 150 books, including fairy tales and Arthurian legends, and was the recipient of three Caldecott Honors and one Caldecott Medal....
, Ruth Krauss
Ruth Krauss
Ruth Krauss was an author of children's books, one of the most well known being The Carrot Seed, and an author of theatrical poems for an adult audience. Many of her books are still in print....
, Barry Moser
Barry Moser
Barry Moser is a renowned artist, most famous as a printmaker and illustrator of numerous works of literature.Born in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1940, Moser studied at the Baylor School, Auburn University, and the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and did graduate work at the University of...
, Richard Scarry
Richard Scarry
Richard McClure Scarry was a popular American children's author and illustrator who published over 300 books with total sales of over 100 million units worldwide....
, Marc Simont
Marc Simont
Marc Simont is an artist, political cartoonist, and illustrator of more than a hundred children's books. Marc, inspired by his father, Spanish painter Joseph Simont, began drawing at a very young age. Mr...
, and many others. James Marshall
James Marshall
James Marshall may refer to:*James W. Marshall , discovered gold in California in 1848*James Marshall , Victoria Cross recipient*James Marshall , American television producer and director...
, a Mansfield, Connecticut, author and illustrator, donated materials that include original artwork from the popular George and Martha books, among others, to the collection.
Leonard Everett Fisher
Leonard Everett Fisher
Leonard Everett Fisher is an American artist who has illustrated about 260 books for young readers since 1955, authoring 90 of these....
of Westport, Connecticut, has donated an extensive archive, which has been used to create curriculum guides for elementary school teachers, available on the web site for Archives & Special Collections (see http://doddcenter.uconn.edu). The collection also houses the illustrative works of Ed Young
Ed Young
Ed Young may refer to:* Ed Young , Caldecott Medal-winning illustrator* Homer Edwin Young, known as Ed Young, pastor of Second Baptist Church , a megachurch...
, the award-winning author/illustrator of Lon Po Po: A Red-Riding Hood Story from China. Cyndy Szekeres, of Putney, Vermont, who has produced or collaborated on over 125 books in nine languages, continues to add to her complete archive consisting of original illustrations, correspondence, drafts, dummies, proofs, and completed works. In 1999, the collection became the recipient of many of the works of Tomie dePaola
Tomie dePaola
Thomas Anthony "Tomie A." dePaola , is an American author and illustrator of over 200 children's books, including Caldecott Honor book Strega Nona and Newbery Honor book 26 Fairmount Avenue. DePaola was awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal in 2011.-Biography:DePaola was born in Meriden,...
, winner of a Caldecott Honor for the book Strega Nona. The dePaola collection consists of original sketches, artwork, finished works, correspondence, toys, ornaments, globes and related materials, by this prolific author/illustrator born in Meriden, Connecticut.