Jane Resh Thomas
The Kerlan Collection has original manuscripts for twelve of Jane Resh Thomas' titles including Behind the Mask: the Life of Queen Elizabeth I (Clarion Books,
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Jane Resh Thomas |
On Saturday, April 21st, author Jane Resh Thomas, and illustrator Don
Freeman (deceased), will be honored as the recipients of the 2001 Kerlan
Award. The award is presented annually "in recognition of singular attainments
in the creation of children's literature and in appreciation for generous
donation of unique resources to the Kerlan Collection for the study of
children's literature." Jane Resh Thomas will be the keynote speaker and
Don Freeman will be honored, posthumously.
The Kerlan Collection has original manuscripts for twelve of Jane Resh Thomas' titles including Behind the Mask: the Life of Queen Elizabeth I (Clarion Books, |
Don Freeman |
The Kerlan Collection has original
illustrations and manuscript material for more than forty-six of Don Freeman’s
titles including Bearymore (Viking Press, 1976), Best Friends (Golden Gate
Jr. Books, 1967), Come Again Pelican (Viking Press, 1961), Flash the Dash
(Children’s Press, 1973) Penguins of All People! (Viking Press, 1971),
and Tilly Witch (Viking Press, 1969).
The Kerlan Award event will begin at 9:30 A.M. at the Elmer L. Andersen Library, 222 21st Avenue South. Minneapolis, MN on the University of Minnesota's West Bank campus. The Red Balloon Bookshop will sell books before and after the breakfast buffet and awards. This Kerlan Friends event is supported in part by University of Minnesota departments, and the Minnesota Humanities Commission. |
To attend please click & print out the reservation
form. Click here for driving
& parking directions. For further information, please call (612)
624-4576.
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Lake Wobegon, where all the children are above average, possesses a children's book community well above average, too. The Minnesota Humanities Commission and its Humanities Education Center now houses the Minnesota Center for the Book, a state affiliate of the Center for the Book at the Library of Congress.
With awards, area authors and illustrators, publishers, libraries, contemporary and second hand bookstores, journals, and community centers and colleges offering children's literature courses and conferences, our area's book climate is vibrant.
A committee selected a local author, Jane Resh Thomas, as a 2001 Kerlan Award recipient. She donated manuscripts for all her children's and young adult books. Minnesotans Marion Dane Bauer and Wanda Gag (posthumous) are among previous author recipients in its twenty five year history.
The 13th Annual Minnesota Book Award ceremony is Friday evening, April 20, on the eve before the Kerlan event. Many past recipients of the children's and young adult categories donated manuscripts or art to the Kerlan Collection over the years. These include Marion Dane Bauer, William Durbin, Michelle Edwards, Barbara Juster Esbensen, Kristine Franklin, Jim Latimer, Megan McDonald, Audrey Osofsky, Gary Paulsen, Lisa Westberg Peters, Marsha Qualey, Karen Ritz, Phyllis Root, Stephanie Stuve-Bodeen, Jane Resh Thomas, and Maryann Weidt.
Area publishers such as Afton Historical Society Press, Lerner Publications, and Minnesota Historical Society Press give voice to some authors and illustrators in our area. Public libraries with their branches, school and pre-school media centers, and even some churches have abundant book collections for children.
The Bookcase in Wayzata, Micawber's in St. Anthony Park, The Red Balloon Bookshop in St. Paul, Ruminator Books, Wild Rumpus in Minneapolis, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and similar stores, offer a myriad of books for purchase and autograph sessions. Stillwater, Duluth and the Twin Cities are home to several rare book and second hand bookstores.
Five Owls, Once Upon a Story and Riverbank Review have editorial offices in Minnesota. In chronological as well as alphabetical order, each journal has a national distribution for its book reviews and informational articles.
The Loft offers courses in writing children's and young adult stories, as do some area authors themselves. Writing groups abound where writers read from in-process works on a pre-determined schedule. Most universities and colleges in Minnesota offer courses in some aspect of children's literature in their English or Education curricula. For almost every month of the year, there is a lecture, symposium or conference open to the public. Tree House Breakfast and the Hubbs Conference at the University of St. Thomas occur on a Saturday in February.
Minnesota Book Awards in St. Paul, "Spotlight on Books" in Alexandria or Bemidji, and the Kerlan Award at the University of Minnesota in Minneapolis are usually April events. The University of Minnesota's College of Education sponsors Chase Lecture and St. Cloud State's two-day Children's Literature Workshop occur in June. Summer Session and CLRC's 24th Annual Children's Literature Summer Forum series is scheduled for Thursday afternoons typically from June to August. The 11th Annual Twin Cities Book Fair in July converges on the State Fairgrounds. Anderson Center (Red Wing), Upper Midwest Booksellers Association and Minnesota Library Association Annual conferences are usually in September. The University of Minnesota's Book Week Banquet traditionally has been in October, and this year the Minnesota chapter of the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators will sponsor its annual meeting for the same month. Public and school libraries celebrate Children's Book Week in November.
While the Children's Literature Research Collections is committed to acquiring books, manuscripts and art from the total national scene, we nevertheless take special pride in our holdings representing our state. Minnesota, where founder Irvin Kerlan, MD was born, has a wealth of resources and program events of interest to devotees of children's literature.
--Karen Nelson Hoyle, Curator
Exhibits
Study from Juma and the Magic Jinn |
Heroes and Legends: Book Illustrations by Charles
Mikolaycak, April 4th - May 25th, 2001.
This exhibit which will feature approximately thirty original drawings will demonstrate the stages in Mikolaycak’s working process, ranging from thumbnail sketches and preliminary figure studies through detailed oil on paper overlays and finished publications. This traveling exhibit, organized by the University of Scranton, in cooperation with Carole Kismaric and the Kerlan Collection, will be housed in Andersen Library and runs from April 4th - May 25th. Exhibit hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. Entitled “Heroes and Legends: Book Illustration by Charles Mikolaycak,” the display begins with an opening reception on Wednesday, April 4th, from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. At 3:15 p.m. Judith Johnson, Ph.D, Design, Housing & Apparel presents “Charles Mikolaycak: Through the Eye of the Illustrator,” a slide presentation about Charles Mikolaycak in room 120 Andersen Library. The opening is free to the public. |
For further information, please contact CLRC at 612-624-4576.
Paul Bunyan’s Ring used in Exhibit |
Mark Dion: Cabinet of Curiosities, at the Frederick R. Weisman Art
Museum, University of Minnesota. February 24 - May 27, 2001. Internationally
known artist Mark Dion utilizes the European Renaissance tradition of the
Wunderkammern (literally “wonder chamber” or cabinet of wonder), Dion examines
the distinctions between ojective science and subjective art and the logic
of classifying systems to create a truly fascinating display. The exhibition
was curated by Dion and Colleen Sheehy, Weisman director of education,
working with University graduate and undergraduate students.
This exhibit borrowed materials from the Kerlan, Hess and Paul Bunyan Collections. For more information, call 612-625-9494. |
Emily Arnold McCully Exhibit, University of St. Thomas. Selections from
the Kerlan Collection from Emily Arnold McCully’s books The Playground,
School, Molly at the Library, and Jam Day, were on exhibit at St. Thomas
during the month of February.
April 4: Charles Mikolaycak Exhibit Opening. See Exhibits for more information.
May 3-6: Festival of Nations. Theme: "Cultural Customs and Adornment".
Rivercentre. St. Paul. For more information, www.festivalofnations.com
Roberto Piumini |
May 17: Roberto Piumini, one of the foremost
Italian writers for children, will speak at Andersen Library Room 120,
on Thursday, May 17, at 3 pm.
Professor Jack Zipes, author of many children’s books and Professor of German, Scandinavian, & Dutch Studies at the Universtiy of Minnesota, will introduce Mr. Piumini. The Children’s Literature Research Collections, Center for German and European Studies, Friends of the Library, Kerlan Friends and other co-sponsors are pleased to present a talk by Roberto Piumini entitled “A Man of Words.” Piumini is regarded as one of the most innovative writers of children’s literature in Italy. Born and educated in Milan, Piumini has worked as an actor, translator, and dramatist. |
June 19: Chase Lecture. Andersen Library room 120. Guest speaker: Janet Stevens, author-illustrator.
August 10-18: The National Centre for Research in Children’s Literature in England presents Children’s Literature International Summer School (CLISS) and Children’s Literature Research Symposium: ‘The Future of the Subject’ From August 10th to August 18th, 2001. For more information contact NCRCL, Univerity of Surrey Roehampton, Digby Stuart College, Roehampton Lane, London SW15 5PH, UK. Tel: 020-8932 3008, Fax: 020-8392 3819, E-mail: NCRCL@roehampton.ac.uk
August 3: Considering Boundaries. Gregory Maguire and Tim Wynne-Jones
will give a Core Lecture on Friday, August 3, 2001 at Victoria University
in Toronto, Canada. “Stepping Back to Look at a Face, Leaves a Little Space
in the Way, Like a Window” - Stephen Sondheim. Gregory Maguire has given
manuscript material to the Kerlan Collection for The dream stealer, I feel
like the morning star and Lucas fishbone.
For more information contact Martha Walke at 978-433-1911.
October 16: Book Week Banquet, featuring author/illustrator Patricia Polacco will be held on Tuesday, October 16, 2001.
In evaluation of the papers, judges will emphasize the formulation of a research topic that provides a contribution to knowledge and utilizes original resources, especially manuscripts and illustrations in the CLRC. The writing style and organization of the paper are also important. Call 612-624-4576 to request specific instructions on submissions.
The deadline for entries is June 1, 2001.
The Ezra Jack Keats/Kerlan Memorial Fellowship
The Ezra Jack Keats/Kerlan Memorial Fellowship from the Ezra Jack Keats
Foundation will provide $1500 to a "talented writer and/or illustrator
of children's books who wishes to use the Kerlan Collection for the furtherance
of his or her artistic development." Special consideration will be
given to someone who would find it difficult to finance a visit to the
Kerlan Collection.
The Ezra Jack Keats Fellowship recipient will receive transportation cost and a per diem allotment. Applications for 2001 must be received by Friday, April 27th, 2001. For application materials, please send a self- addressed, $0.55 stamped envelope to:
Ezra Jack Keats/Kerlan Collection
Memorial Fellowship
113 Andersen Library
222 21st Avenue South
University of Minnesota
Minneapolis, MN 55455
Professor Lee Galda's class Research in Special Collections work in the reading room Tuesday evenings.
Author, Peg Kerr visited the Collection on February 19th.
St. Olaf students Susan Balmer and Julia Newell visited the Collection and enjoyed reading for their personal enjoyment.
On February 8, University student Nick Halverson examined material in the Collection for his undergraduate paper in Scandinavian Fairy Tales.
Christine Hunter critiqued illustrations by Karen Ritz for her undergraduate paper in Introduction to Visual Arts.
Jamie F. Hubbs. A History of Pulp Magazines as seen through the Detective and Science Fiction Genres, a graduate paper for Master of Library Science Program. College of St. Catherine, December, 2000.
Constance Bergum, Helena Montana, completed her MFA in Illustration
from Marywood University, Scranton, Pennsylvania, in November, 2000. Her
thesis was on Charles Mikolaycak's life and work.
 |
Zoe Ingalls. “In a Minnesota Library,
Dastardly Deeds Never Go Unpublished” Chronicle of Higher Education. February
7, 2001. This article features our Hess Collection and J. Randolph Cox,
a retired St. Olaf College Librarian and an Honarary Consultant to the
Collection.
Steven John from Minnesota Public Radio interviewed J. Randolph Cox, honorary consultant to the Hess Collection, about Dime Novels which will be aired on MPR in March. |
Kerlan Friends Renewals & Gifts from December, 2000 - February
22, 2001
Joan Arndt, Elizabeth Askey, Otto Bang Jr., Mary Bang, Cornelia Ooms
Beck, Roger Boettcher, Linda Boettcher, Carolyn Briese, Sharon Chmielarz,
Shirley Christenson, Sarah Colwell, Elizabeth DeGrote, Joan Dickerson,
Alice O. Duggan, Lou Ann & Robert Dykstra, Chris Dyrud, Stuart
Fenton, Clifford Fortin, Bernard & Norma Gaffron, Helen George, H.M.
George Books, Phyllis Haensel, Kathleen Hall, Judith Ham, Heidi Hammond,
Barbara Hanson, Gary Harm, Marilyn Hobbs, Honeywell Foundation, Yvonne
Hunter, Karissa Huntington, Mary Pat Johnson, Sally Kaiser, Beatrice Kotz,
Julia & Nowell Leitzke, Nancy Levinson, Gary Macomber, Dianne Monson,
Marcia Pankake, Linda Pannuto, Jane Paulsen, Walter Peik, Bette Peltola,
Mary Ann Peterson, Patricia Pond, Virginia Puzak, Bette Ripke, Janie Schomberg,
William & Adelaide Schwabacher, Sarah Smedman, Patricia Snodgrass,
Norma Sommerdorf, John & Susan Stanford, Maureen Steenblock, John Stewig,
Lauren Stringer, Evelyn Swenson, Margaret Virum, Katharine Weiblen and
Arvella Whitmore.
Bloor, Edward: MS Crusader; Tangerine
Delacre, Lulu: IL Golden tales: myths, legends and folktales from Latin America; Senior Cat's romance and other favorite stories from Latin America MS & IL Arroz con leche: popular songs and rhymes from Latin America MS Vejigante masquerade
Egner, Thorbjorn: MS Folk og røvere i Kardemomme; Dyrene i Hakkebakke skogen
Galdone, Paul: IL Battle of the kegs; Clarence and the burglar; Clarence and the cat; Dance of the animals; The greedy old fat man; The lone hunt; Miss Pickerell and the Geiger counter; Miss Pickerell goes to Mars; A strange servant; Winter danger; 100 hamburgers
Hautzig, Esther: MS Riches
Metronet: Videos Metronet collection of "All about kids"
St. George, Judith: MS So you want to be President
Smalls, Irene: CD Hearts hugs and holidays
Stock, Catherine: IL Better with two; The evening king; Too far away to touch
Viorst, Judith: MS Super-completely and totally the messiest
Yolen, Jane: MS O Jerusalem; Old dame counterpane
 |
The first is a pencil and watercolor illustration
by Don Freeman from Come Again, Pelican (Viking, 1961). It is one of the
items Freeman signed for Dr. Irvin Kerlan. Lovers of sand, sea and little
boys will be especially charmed by this illustration.
Don Freeman (1908-1978) worked as a freelance artist and graphic artist before beginning to illustrate books in the 1940’s. The Kerlan’s papers on Freeman focus on his work as an author and illustrator of children’s books with an emphasis on the latter. The collection includes sketches, studies and illustrations done in a variety of media, dummies, and paste-ups. |
 |
Who wouldn’t smile at the sight of Dora in Dora’s Book (Carolrhoda
Books, 1990), as she pulls her wagon around behind her, distributing the
books that are a culmination of great effort? This ink, colored pencil,
and watercolor illustration is by Michelle Edwards who is also the author
of this story. Wait ‘til you see the bright colors!
When she was eighteen, Edwards left her home in upstate New York to live and work on an Israeli kibbutz outside Jerusalem. While there, she drew, painted, and began to write. By the time she returned home, she had committed herself to pursuing a creative profession. She now works full time at her art out of a studio in her home in St. Paul, Minnesota, where she lives with her family. |
Michelle Edwards is a member of the Society of Children’s Book Writers
and Illustrators, Hadassah, and Phi Beta Kappa. During 2000 Edwards donated
more original manuscripts and illustrations to the Kerlan.
 |
We gasped when we saw the original pencil drawing
The Owl by Charles Mikolaycak. The creature’s compelling look held us stunned,
and we knew this would be our next black-and-white note card.
After starting his career as an illustrator and designer, Mikolaycak illustrated his first book for children in 1967. He is perhaps best-known for his illustrations of folktales such as Babushka: An Old Russian Folktale (Holiday House,1984), whose story he also adapted. Besides this, and other drawings for Cricket Magazine, Mikolaycak has illustrated |
The Kerlan contains production material for seventy-two of his titles published between 1969 and 1993, including unpublished manuscript material, a self portrait, and memorabilia. Charles Mikolaycak received the 1987 Kerlan Award for his contributions to children’s literature. He died on June 23, 1993.
Kerlan note cards are available for purchase by mail at the Kerlan Collection in Andersen Library for $6.50 per pack plus shipping & handling. They may also be purchased at special events such as Book Week and the Kerlan Award breakfast, and on the Kerlan web site or in person at the Collection. The new web address is: http://special.lib.umn.edu/clrc/. For more information please call the Kerlan Collection at 612-624-4576.
-Norma Gaffron
Kerlan Friends Marketing Chair
The CLRC Kerlan Collection is an internationally recognized center of research in the field of children's literature. The Collection contains original materials, including manuscripts, artwork, galleys, and color proofs for more than 9,000 children's books. These materials represent eight decades of American children's books and selected books published in other countries. The Collection also includes more than 75,000 children's books.
This Spring Newsletter is co-sponsored by Kerlan Friends,
CLRC, and a Minnesota Humanities Commission grant for networking
Editor: Karen Nelson Hoyle
Production Editor: Jennifer Hanson
Proof-reader: Dr. Edward B. Stanford
Children's Literature Research Collections University
of Minnesota 113 Andersen Library 222 - 21st Avenue South Minneapolis,
MN 55455 Telephone: 612-624-4576 FAX: 612-626-0377 E-mail: CLRC@tc.umn.edu
http://special.lib.umn.edu/clrc/
Please make an appointment during Spring semester
URL: http://special.lib.umn.edu/clrc/spring01.htm
Copyright 2001 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota,
University Libraries
Send comments to clrc@tc.umn.edu.
Last revision:3/1/01
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