Winter 2003

Contents

• 2003 Kerlan Award
• From the Curator
• Exhibit and Coming Events
• In Memoriam
• Recent Visitors
• Award/Fellowship
• Kerlan Friends Memberships
• Gifts to the Children's Literature Research Collections
• Recent Acquisitions
• CLRC Intern

On April 26th, author-poet Nikki Grimes and illustrator Gustaf Tenggren (posthumous), will be honored as the recipients of the 2003 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." Nikki Grimes will be the keynote speaker.  The Kerlan Collection holds original manuscripts for eight of Nikki Grime’s titles including Danitra Brown Leaves Town (HarperCollins Publishers, 2002); Aneesa Lee and the Weaver’s Gift (Lee and Shepard, 1999), Bronx Masquerade (Dial Books, 2002), and Jazmin’s Notebook (Dial Books,

Nikki Grimes

1998). The Collection holds original illustrations for sixty-five of Gustaf Tenggren’s titles, including The Poky Little Puppy (Simon and Schuster, 1942), The Saggy Baggy Elephant (Simon and Schuster, 1947), and Canterbury Tales (Golden Press, 1961).

The spring issue of the Kerlan Collection newsletter will provide information about the ceremony and reservations. This event is co-sponsored by the Kerlan Friends and others. For more information, please call (612) 624-4576.

Board members and staff were involved with the Children's Literature Network, Children's Book Illustrators Guild of Minnesota, Celebration of Minnesota Children's Authors and Illustrators, Compleat Scholar classes, Minnesota Literature Board, Festival of Nations, University of Minnesota Book Week Banquet, Hennepin County Library, Minnesota Alliance for Geographic Education, Minnesota Reading Association, Maud Hart Lovelace Youth Reading,  St. Catherine's Alumni, St. Cloud State Workshop, "Spotlight on Books", Minnesota SCBWI conferences, Treehouse Breakfast, Young Authors Conference at Bethel College and other events, bookstores and organization meetings.
 

The Anderson Center in Red Wing borrowed art and manuscripts for exhibits for their annual Celebration of Minnesota Children's Authors and Illustrators for the past 3 years. Stephen Gammell was a presenter at last year’s event. An opening of an exhibit coincided with the Festival of Children's Literature at the Open Book March 15; the display lasted through mid -April, 2002. Featured in the trio sponsorship (CLRC, The Loft and Center for the Book) were manuscripts and illustrations by Emilie Buchwald, Kate DiCamillo and Michelle Edwards.

Stephen Gammell

Special emphasis was given to presentations relating to the Minnesota Book Awards, especially this past year when the Kerlan Friends' book, The Kerlan Awards in Children’s Literature 1975-2001, was a finalist. Minnesota authors and illustrators were featured in a slide program at the "Spotlight on Books" conference in Bemidji last April. 

Extra copies of the newsletter were distributed at Open Book, the Red Balloon Bookshop, the U of St. Thomas, local bookstores, and the International Institute of Minnesota. 

The MHC networking grant also helps to promote and fund the annual Kerlan Award. Individuals who could not attend the luncheon or dinner by paid reservation but were able to attend the free public lectures following.

A "Works in Progress" $2,500 for 2001-2002 matching grant from the MHC contributed student staff support to compile The Kerlan Collection Manuscripts and Illustrations: A Checklist Volume II. This is available on an electronic database in CLRC and is on the web. It includes 4,750 titles represented by manuscripts and/or illustrations received in the Kerlan Collection since 1985 and not reported in the first volume. CLRC staff can search holdings by author, title, illustrator and subject heading on behalf of individuals who inquire during a visit, or via e-mail, ordinary mail or telephone.

In gratitude, the CLRC co-sponsored with MHC a seminar on children's literature for Minnesota teachers and librarians in the spring of 2000. Dr. Nina Battistini, who wrote her dissertation based partially on resources in the CLRC,  served as resident scholar. 

Staff will cooperate with a Minnesota Literary Roots forthcoming seminar, providing assistance with a bibliography, programming and publicity. A MHC/ Minnesota Center for the Book planning committee is in place for the event. Information will be shared in forthcoming Kerlan Collection newsletters, among other publicity venues.

--Karen Nelson Hoyle, Curator

Through August 17, 2003
Pieper Education Gallery, Milwaukee Art Museum

Featured Artist Lois Ehlert writes and illustrates children’s books on nature and animals using the technique of collage. The exhibition, Handmade by Lois Ehlert: Art for Children’s Books, explains the creative process involved in developing a book from the foundation of an idea to the finished product. Children take part in learning about the sketches, revisions and understanding the timely process of creating a book that takes just seven minutes to read. Materials and work stations will be provided for children to explore their own ideas.

The exhibition highlights the distinguished children’s books written and illustrated by Caldecott Honor winner and Milwaukee resident Lois Ehlert. The Kerlan Collection holds some Lois Ehlert’s original materials.

For more information, contact the Milwaukee Art Museum at 414-224-3220 or visit their web site at http://www.mam.org/

First Fridays in Andersen Library: February 7 - May 2, 2003 
First Fridays provide an insider’s look at special collections across the spectrum of the Twin Cities campuses. Presenters will include staff from Andersen Library, the James Ford Bell Library, the Andersen Horticultural Library, and the Wangensteen Historical Library of Biology and Medicine. All programs are noon to 1 p.m. in Andersen Library (west bank) Room 120. Light refreshments will be served following the presentations. You are welcome to bring your lunch. Presenters will remain following the program for conversation and to respond to questions. This series is supported by the Elmer L. Andersen Library Fund Honoring Dr. Edward B. Stanford, University Librarian Emeritus. 

February 7: Vision of Spring: Botanical Collections. The literature of the plant sciences is very rich with a long history including herbals, exciting accounts of the plant hunters, the enumeration of the earth's plants in floras, and some of the most beautiful and detailed drawings and illustrations in printed literature. Join us for visions of the green soon to come. 

March 7: Dear Diary: Diaries, Journals and Sketchbooks. Kerlan Curator's presentation and display will include Emma Brock's notes and studies of Black Forest and Switzerland for Little fat Gretchen; Wanda Gag's Growing pains; and Charles Mikolaycak menus with notations. 

April 4: African American Authors Displays and commentary about manuscripts and illustrations in the Kerlan by Ashley Bryan, Donald Crews, Christopher Paul Curtis, Elton Fax, Jan Spivey Gilchrist, Lorenz Graham, Eloise Greenfield, Nikki Grimes, Joyce Hansen, Walter Dean Myers, Synthia St. James, Joyce Thomas, Mildred Pitts Walter, Brenda Wilkinson, and Jacqueline Woodson.

Through February 28: Burton Barr Central Library, Center for Children’s Literature, Phoenix “The Caldecott Award: Art of Judging Illustraitons” Exhibit.

March 1 - June 30: Burton Barr Central Library, Center for Children’s Literature, Phoenix “A Time to Play and Sing: Timeless Art of Childhood Leisure” Exhibit

July 1 - October: Burton Barr Central Library, Center for Children’s Literature, Phoenix “It’s All in the Family: The Runaway Bunny and the Hurd Family” Exhibit

February 22: A Minnesota Sampler, 11th Annual Hubbs Children’s Literature Conference at the University of St. Thomas in St. Paul, MN. Conference runs from 8:30 a.m. to 3 p.m., Saturday, Feb. 22 in the O’Shaughnessy Educational Center. Keynote speakers will be Marion Dane Bauer and Isabell Monk. The Kerlan Collection holds manuscript titles for both authors, some will be loaned for display.

Advanced registration is required. For complete registration and program information, including descriptions of conference workshops, visit their web site at www. stthomas.edu/education/events or by calling (651) 962-4550. Registration fee is $50.

March 4: University Bookstores, selected the Kerlan Collection as the recipient of (some) proceeds from sales at the gala Bookstore Grand Opening Tuesday, March 4, 4 p.m., Coffman Union. Children's books will be available for sale, among others. The event is open to the public.

March 14-15: 23rd Annual Children’s Literature Conference at the University of Northern Illinois is scheduled for March 14th and 15th at the NIU Holmes Student Center. The theme for this year’s conference is Poetry Power. Featured speakers will include Kerlan Collection donors Wendell Minor, Walter Dean Myers, Nancy Willard and others. For more information see their web site www.cedu.niu.due/litconf/

May 16: 15th Annual Minnesota Book Awards. Fitzgerald Theater, St. Paul.

May 17: Christopher Paul Curtis, author of The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963, speaks at Cedar Exchange, 500 Cedar St. St. Paul, free and open to the public. The book was selected for "St. Paul Reads;" his typescript resides in the Kerlan Collection. 

June 24: The Twenty-fourth Annual Naomi Chase Lecture, will be given by Lauren Stringer and Lisa Westberg Peters, on Tuesday, June 24 at 2:30 p.m. in 120 Andersen Library. The event is free and open to the public. This College of Education event will be hosted by the Kerlan Friends. Lauren Stringer and Lisa Westberg Peters will talk about their new book Our Family Tree (Harcourt Children's Books, spring 2003). Refreshments will follow their talk.

J. Harold Kittleson, a person friend of founder Irvin Kerlan, MD, died at the age of 97 on September 27, 2002. A memorial service was held in November 2002. He was a saleman for Random House and donated a thousand books to the Kerlan Collection over the years as well as adding to the clipping file.

Judith A. Brooks, founder of the Kerlan Society, died from cancer on January 8th, 2003. The Society provided funds for the "An American Sampler: Children's Books from the Kerlan Collection of the University of Minnesota" exhibit that opened at the Bologna (Italy) Children's Book Fair and Dayton's (Minneapolis) Gallery in 1985 and then traveled in the U. S. A.

Robert Kraus, author, cartoonist, and founder of Windmill Books, died of congestive heart failure on August 7, 2001. He was 76. Among his many books was Leo the Late Bloomer (HarperCollins), illustrated by Jose Aruego. At Windmill Books, which was started in 1965 and later absorbed by Simon & Schuster, he published many fellow New Yorker contributors, including William Steig and Charles Addams. The Kerlan Collection holds manuscript and illustration material for approximately 113 of his books (some unpublished).

Seymour V. Reit, best known as a creator of Casper the Friendly Ghost, died on Nov. 21, 2001 at the age of 83. The Kerlan Collection holds manuscript material for five of his books. 

James Taylor Dunn, former resident of Marine-on-St. Croix, died on Septmber 8, 2002 at the age of 90. He donated his Struwwelpeter book collection to the CLRC.

Dr. Wajuppa Tossa, Professor of English at Mahasarkham University in N. E. Thailand, came as a Fulbright Scholar September 18th - 30th. She investigated possibilities for a children's literature course curriculum at her University. She is a well known folklore collector in her area. Robert Lipsyte, author of The Contender and other books, 3 of which are represented by manuscripts in the Kerlan Collection, visited the library in October. While here, he inscribed all of his books. Eva-Maria Metcalf from the University of Mississippi's Modern Language Department looked at books by author Jane Yolen.

Dr. Wajuppa Tossa

Rebecca Jo Boettcher of St. Cloud State University examined the Kerlan Friends’ Tomie de Paola portfolio.

Dagmar Greve, from New York City, visited the Collection in September. She  formerly worked in marketing for Holiday House, Henry Holt and Dorling Kindersley.

Joan Sandin, author and Kerlan donor, inscribed her books in November. If you would like to see what she has been working on recently, visit the Little Cowpuncher website at http://digital.library.arizona.edu/cowpuncher

Barbara Cartford, a Spanish teacher for the Wayzata School District recently researched children's books written by Latino authors in both Spanish and English.

In November, Elaine Katuin from the Living History Society of Minnesota looked at John Madison Morton's original one act play Box & Cox and other articles to contribute to her Society’s newsletter.

Jill May of Purdue University brought her graduate students to the CLRC this November as part of her curriculum because she wanted them to visit a major research collection.

Visiting from Westwood, Massachusetts, editor and author Anita Silvey, came to the CLRC to do research toward the 100 best books for children. She was in town as a guest of Houghton Mifflin and spoke at the Red Balloon Bookshop.

Rachel Seidman, a freelance writer from St. Paul, read articles about author Laura Ingalls Wilder.
 

Gary Paulsen met with Kerlan Friends Board and Independent Booksellers, while he was in town for the Twin Cities Read program. This September, in preparation for a theatrical production, Sonya Berlovitz looked at materials about ogres, hags, and frog princes. Kimberly Faurot of Carver County Libraries in Minnesota and Dawn Sutter of Carmel Clay Public Library in Carmel, IN continued personal reading research on children's librarians. Terry Johnsen, a graduate student in the University's Education Department looked over Victorian picture books in color. Adam Grafa and Todd Orjala of the University of Minnesota Press selected five Wanda Gág books in October for publishing reprint editions. A U of M graduate student in American Studies, Jennifer Gowen researched comic books and race for her doctoral dissertation. Linnea Fredrickson, graduate student from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, researched material on Jean Craighead George for

Gary Paulsen with Judy Geck, Bookseller

her doctoral dissertation in January.

Sheila Thetemann of the Minneapolis Institute of Arts Public Programs Department examined 18th Century Children's Games and Music in preparation for a Children's Exhibition.

A faculty member from the English Department at Carleton College, Sarah Wadsworth, visited the collection to research Mark Twain and the culture of the book in 19th Century America.

Barbara Welke, a faculty member of the University of Minnesota's History Department came to do research on her book, “A Consuming Passion: Produces Liability and the Rights Revolution in 20th Century America.”

Barbara Elleman, author and Kerlan donor, spoke on November 6th about her new book Virginia Lee Burton: a life in art (Houghton Mifflin, 2002).

A panel discussion on Harry Potter, led by David Lenander with Prof. Lee Galda and author Peg Kerr as panelists, made a wonderful event. The event was co-sponsored by the Rivendell Discussion Group of The Mythopoeic Society and the Children’s Literature Research Collections.
 

Nine classes and groups visited the Kerlan Collection this past fall including Wendy Richards’ Elementary Education Methods class (Northwestern College), Heidi Hammond’s class on Library Materials for Children (College of St. Catherine), Marta Hult’s class on Children's Literature in Scandinavia (U of M, Scandinavian department), Mary McNaughton’s illustration class (U of M Design, Housing, & Apparel), Rebecca Rapport & Lee Galda’s Literacy Development in the Primary Grades classes (U of M Curriculum and Instruction), and M.E.M.O. (Minnesota Educational Media Organization).

Students examine manuscripts

Application forms can be picked up at the CLRC registration desk. The deadline for entries is June 2, 2003. 

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 2003 must be postmarked by May 1st, 2003. For application materials, please send a 6” x 9” (or larger) self- addressed, $0.83 stamped envelope to: 

Kerlan Friends Renewals and Gifts from September 30, 2002 - December 31, 2002
Kathleen Baxter; Karen Bihrle (in memory of her mother, Donna Johnson); Miriam Butwin; Coreen Stettner Blau; Ann Wagner Bundgaard; Vera Carney (in honor of Karen Nelson Hoyle); Margaret Catambay;  Kathie Cerra (in memory of Norine Odland); Sharon Chmielarz; Elizabeth Cowie; Robert Crofford (in memory of Emily Crofford); Kelly Dupre; Robert & Lou Ann Dykstra (in memory of Norine Odland); Chris Dyrud; Carol Erdahl; Margaret Eubanks; Sheila Fitzgerald; Norma Gaffron; Marlys Garmer; Helen George; Kathleen Hall; Barbara Hanson; Marilyn Hobbs; Karen Nelson Hoyle (in honor of Eleanor J. & Elmer L. Andersen); Lois Haynes; May Jesseph; Sally Kaiser; Christa Kamenetsky; Phyllis Kennemer; Vera Klassen; Margie Knoedel; Dianne Koehnecke; Phyllis Mattill (in memory of Gloria Kortmeyer); Maxine McCormick; Karla Myers; Walter Peik; Bette Peltola; Larry Peterson; Nancy Phillips; Pogo Press; Nancy Romslo; Sarah Smedman; Susan Stan; Edward B. Standord; Lois Steer; Cynthia Steinke; Kim & Caren Stelson; Jean Stevenson; Grace Stoebe; Donna Swindal (in honor of Eleanor Norton); Phyllis Thornley; Richard Uphoff (in honor of Jane Resh Thomas publications); Arvella Whitmore

Bauer, Marion Dane: MS Barrett and the green dragon; Clouds; Dear, dear Kitty; I wonder why?; My body book; Rabbit stew; Rain; Timothy’s terrible second-grade teacher; Walking in snow; When I’m a Mommy; A white American’s lament

Billingsley, Franny: MS The folk keeper

Bunting, Eve: MS The Christmas cricket

Durbin, William: MS Song of Sampo Lake

Freeman, Don: IL Crocodopolis; Pet of the Met; Windows of the world MS Beady bear; Willie/Freddie/North Pole Prints Models and masters: 12 color prints depicting creative moments in the lives of great artists Audio Tapes

Galdone, Paul: IL The hungry fox and the foxy duck; The madcap mystery; Norma Lee I don’t knock on doors; Star of wonder; The touchdown twins; The wonderful visit to Miss Liberty

Gammell, Stephen: IL Song and dance man

Giff, Patricia Reilly: MS All the way home; Nory Ryan’s song; Pictures of Hollis Woods

Grimes, Nikki: MS Aneesa Lee and the weaver’s gift; Danitra Brown leaves town; Talkin’ about Bessie: the story of aviator Elizabeth Coleman

Gündisch, Karin: MS Das Paradies liegt in Amerika, How I became an American; [Mildred C. Batchelder Award, 2002]

Halam, Ann: MS Dr. Franklin’s island
 

Havill, Juanita: MS Brianna, Jamaica, and the Dance of Spring; “Grayman;” Jamaica and Brianna; Jamaica’s blue marker; Jennifer, too; “The mysterious girl at the pool;” “A riddle for little rabbit” Hayashi, Leslie Ann: MS Fables from the garden Hobbs, Valerie: MS How far would you have gotten if I hadn’t called you back? Hurwitz, Johanna: MS Dear Emma; Ethan out and about; Lexi’s tale; Pee Wee & Plush; Pee Wee’s tale; Oh no, Noah! Kurtz, Jane: MS All the wisdom in the world; Does a spider wear seatbelt?; Ethiopia: the roof of Africa; Exploring values through literature, multimedia and literacy events: making connections; A family sandwich; Faraway home; Fire on the mountain; Home story; I cannot choose; I'm calling Molly; Jakarta missing; Miro in the kingdom of the sun; My father’s wild home; Only a pigeon; Pulling the lion’s tail; Rain romp: stomping away a grouchy day; River friendly, river wild; The stranger; Trouble; “Walking the multicultural tightrope;” Waterhole waiting; Where the waterbabies go

Juanita Havill

Levin, Betty: MS Shoddy cove; That’ll do, Moss

Lynch, Chris: MS All the old haunts; Free will; Gold dust

McCully, Emily Arnold: IL & MS The battle for St. Michaels;ILKatie’s wish; What do angels wear?

McElrath-Eslick, Lori: IL Da Wei’s treasure: a Chinese tale

McNamee, Graham: MS Sparks

Mills, Claudia: MS Gus and Grandpa and show-and-tell; Lizzie at last

Monson, Ann M: MS The deer stand; The secret of sanctuary island

Myers, Walter Dean: MS Handbook for boys

Napoli, Donna Jo: MS The great god Pan

Naylor, Phyllis Reynolds: MS Alice alone; Simply Alice; Starting with Alice

Nixon, Joan Lowery: MS The making of a writer; The trap

Paulsen, Gary: MS Alida’s song; The beet fields: memories of a sixteenth summer; Brian’s return; Call me Francis Tucket; The car; Caught by the sea: a life in boats; A Christmas sonata; Father water, Mother woods: essays on fishing and hunting in the north woods; The glass café; Guts: the true stories behind Hatchet and the Brian books; Harris and me: a summer remembered; Mr. Tucket; My life in dog years; Nightjohn; The rifle; Sisters = Hermanas; Soldier’s heart: a novel of the Civil War; The tent: a parable in one sitting; Tucket’s gold; Tucket’s home; Uncorrected page proof: Hatchet

Porte, Barbara Ann: MS Black elephant with a brown ear (in Alabama); Harry’s pony; Ma Jiang and the orange ants

Salisbury, Graham: MS Island boyz

Sendak, Maurice: Print “Happy Inauguration [President Clinton]”

Shannon, David: IL No, David!

Showers, Paul: MS A drop of blood; Ears are for hearing; How a baby begins; How you talk; The listening walk; Look at your eyes; Sleep is for everyone; Something about the author autobiography series; Where does the garbage go? Your skin and mine
 

	Small, David: IL The gardener Sorenson, Margo: MS The secret heroes Worth, Valerie: MS All the small poems; The Apothecary’s daughter; At Christmastime; Fool’s gold; Fox hill; The green hill; Gypsy gold; The haunted vicarage; NCTE speech; Peacock and other small poems; The queen of coins; Small poems again
David Small, illustrator & Sarah Steward, author

Previous Interns have included Lucy Beal (College of Art and Design), Beth Heinert and Josie Herzog (both from St. Paul Academy & Summit School). The CLRC is open to hosting interns every year. If you are interested please contact the CLRC at 612-624-4576.