Children's Literature Research Collection
113 Elmer L. Andersen Library
University of Minnesota
222 21st Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55455

Joe Lasker Papers, 1960-1983. Finding Aid.

Summary Information

Collection Number: CLRC0154

Collection Size: .42 linear ft. (Manuscript and production materials), 2.27 cubic ft. (Illustrative materials)

Abstract/Notes: The Joe Lasker contribution to the Kerlan Collection includes illustrative production materials for 30 titles, including 2 films. Lasker also contributed manuscript materials for 8 titles. In addition to production manuscripts, Lasker included dummies in various states, with pasteup holograph, typescript, or page proof texts. The collection is arranged by title, with folder level control.

In 1961, Dr. Irvin Kerlan asked Joe Lasker to sign copies of several titles in the growing Kerlan Collection. As Lasker learned more about the Kerlan Collection, he became interested in supporting Dr. Kerlan's concept of a children's literature research collection. Lasker contributions of production materials began with his shipping the dummy for Christopher Columbus, late in 1962. Thereafter contributions of dummies and production materials arrived regularly. When Lasker began writing his own books, he began sending the typescripts in several states along with his art materials.

Collection is non-circulating, in-house use only.

This collection is protected by the Copyright law of the United States (Titles 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all the necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials.

This collection was processed with financial assistance from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical/Historical Notes

Joseph Leon Lasker was born in Brooklyn N.Y. in 1919. In the 3rd grade, he entered a New York City-wide competition for school children and won two bronze medals. He began studying at night classes at Cooper Union art school at 16, while still in high school, and received two honorable mentions in a mural competition. This led to an opportunity to paint murals at two U.S. Post Offices. In 1941 he was drafted. After discharge in 1945, he twice attended Yaddo, an artists' retreat in Saratoga Springs. He won the Prix de Rome fellowship and spent two years in Italy. Returning to New York, he worked as a free lance illustrator, then as a visiting professor at the University of Illinois, Urbana. In the 1960s he began illustrating children's books, working first with Miriam Schlein. He later turned to writing his own books for illustration, beginning with Mothers Can Do Anything (1972). Lasker's titles fall roughly into two categories, histories and the books about special children

Biographical Source:

1. Something About the Author, vol. 83, p. 112-116

Scope and Content Notes

The Joe Lasker contribution to the Kerlan Collection includes illustrative production materials for 30 titles, including 2 films. Lasker also contributed manuscript materials for 8 titles. In addition to production manuscripts, Lasker included dummys in various states with pasteup holograph, typescript, or page proof texts. The collection is arranged by title, with folder level control.

See attached inventory for box and folder contents.

Collection Inventory

Benjy's Bird, by Norma Simon, 1965
- 15 ink illustrations (M.C. 1061)
- 10 ink and watercolor illustrations (M.C. 1061)
- 2 ink and watercolor studies for jacket (M.C. 1061)
- 44 p. chalk, ink & tempera dummy with typescript (M.C. 1061)
- 44 p. Ink, pencil & watercolor dummy with text proof (M.C. 1061)
- 2 paste ups (M.F. 1061)

Boxes, by M. Jean Craig, 1964
- 17 ink illustrations with 3 separations (M.C. 1057)
- 2 ink illustrations with 2 separations (M.C. 1057)
- 1 ink illustration with 3 separations for jacket (M.C. 1057)
- 1 ink illustration with 2 separations for endpapers (M.C. 1057)
- 1 ink, pencil & watercolor study for jacket (M.C. 1057)
- 40 p. Pencil & watercolor dummy with holograph text (M.C. 1057)
- 1 sheet proof (M.C. 1057)
- 6 separations for jacket (M.C. 1057)

The Boy Who Loved Music, by David Lasker, 1979
-Correspondence 5 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
-Notes, 7 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
- 50 p. ink, wash & pencil dummy with text proof pasted in n(M.C. 309)
- 83 pencil studies (M.C. 309)
- 13 ink and wash studies (M.C. 309)
- Research materials 10 p. (M.C. 309)

Christopher Columbus, by Ann McGovern, 1962
- 30 charcoal illustrations with 1 separation (M.C. 1057)
- 2 layouts (M.C. 1057)
- 68 p. chalk, charcoal & pencil dummy (M.C. 1057)
- 1 photostat with 1 separation (M.C. 1057)

The Cobweb Christmas, by Shirley Climo, 1982
-Correspondence, 12 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
- 1 ink illustration with 4 separations (M.C. 1033)
- 3 ink illustrations (M.C. 1033)
- 58 pencil, ink & wash studies (M.C. 1033)

Here Comes the Bride, 1964
- 1 ink illustration with 5 separations for cover (M.C. 1057)
- 2 ink illustrations with 5 separations (M.C. 1057)
- 2 ink illustrations with 4 separations (M.C. 1057)
- 18 ink illustrations with 3 separations (M.C. 1057)
- 1 ink illustrations with 2 separations (M. C. 1057)
- 1 ink calligraphy illustration (M.C. 1057)
- 2 ink calligraphy illustrations for cover (M.C. 1057)
- 1 photostat with 4 separations (M.C. 1957)
- 58 p. ink, pencil & watercolor dummy with typescript (M.C. 1057)
- 52 p. proof dummy (M.C 1057)

He's My Brother, 1974
-Typescript, 4 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
-Typescript, photocopy, 16 p. (M.F. 533, folders 1, 2)
-Page proof photocopies, 2 p. (M.F. 533, folder 2)
-Correspondence 13 p. (M.F. 533, folders 1, 2)
-Clippings, 1 p. (M.F. 533, folder 2)
- 2 ink & watercolor illustrations (M.C. 1054)
- 1 pencil & watercolor study for cover (M.C. 1054)
- 1 pencil & watercolor study (M.C. 1054)
- 27 pencil studies (M.C. 1054)
- 1 photocopy illustration (M.C. 1054)

The Horned Goat, (New York Times Teaching Resources Films, (1976))
- 16 p. felt pen & pencil dummy (M.C. 1015)
- 25 ink studies (M.C. 1015)

How Do I Feel? By Norma Simon, 1970
-Typescript, photocopy, 3 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
-Correspondence, 15 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
- 44 p. felt pen & pencil dummy with typescript text pasted in (M.C. 1033)
- 23 pencil studies (M. F. 1033)

Howie Helps Himself, by Joan Fassler, 1975
-Correspondence 3 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
-Reviews, 10 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
- 16 ink and watercolor illustrations (M.C. 309)
- 14 ink illustrations with proof text pasteup (M.C. 309)

Joseph and the Coat of Many Colors, by Lavinia Derwent, 1967
- 1 pencil & watercolor illustration for cover (M.C. 1064)
- 12 charcoal & ink illustrations with 1 separation (M.C. 1064)
- 1 pencil & watercolor study for cover (M.C. 1064)
- 10 charcoal & ink studies with 1 separation (M.C. 1064)
- 4 charcoal & ink studies (M.C. 1064)
- 12 pencil studies (M.C. 1064)
- 3 sheets pencil studies (M.C. 1064)

Juju-sheep and the Python's Moonstone, and Other Moon Stories From Different Times and Different Places, by Miriam Schlein, 1973
- 5 ink studies (M.C. 1033)

Kate Shelley and the Midnight Express, (New York Times Teaching Resources Films)
- 13 p. pencil dummy (M.C. 1033)

Lentil Soup, 1977
-Typescript, corrected photocopy, 3 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
-Correspondence, 18 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
-Reviews, 12 p. (M.F. 533, folder 2)
-Miscellaneous papers, including the 1977 Notable Books Press Release, The Lasker Guest Book, (1978), Exhibitions and panel discussions Programs (M.F. 533, folder 2)
- 28 p. ink & wash dummy with 4 pencil studies and typescript pasted in (M.C. 1033)
- 34 p. photocopy dummy with 1 pencil study (M.F. 1033)
- 15 ink & watercolor studies (M.C. 1033)
- 1 ink & pencil study (M.C. 1033)
- 2 pencil calligraphy studies (M.C. 1033)
- 28 pencil studies (M.C. 1033)
- 5 sheets pencil studies (M.C. 1033)

Merry Ever After: the Story of Two Medieval Weddings, 1976
-Correspondence, 80 p. (M.F. 533, folders 1, 2, 3)
-Reviews, international, 41 p. (M.F. 533, folder 4)
-Reviews, 56 p. (M.C. 533, folder 5)
- 1 ink & tempera illustration, (M.C. 1046)
- 1 watercolor study (M.C. 1046)
- 1 watercolor calligraphy study (M.C. 10460
- 51 p. proof dummy (MC. 1046)
- 3 invitations (M.C. 1046)
- 3 postcards (M.C. 1046)
- 8 photostats (M.C. 1046)
- 1 photocopy (M.C. 1046)

Mothers Can Do Anything, 1972
-Typescript, corrected, 2 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
-Typescript, corrected photocopy, 2 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
-Correspondence, 10 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
- 40 p. felt pen & pencil dummy with holograph text (M.C. 1015)
- 31 pencil studies (M.C. 1015)
- 6 sheets text proof (M.C. 1015)

My House, by Miriam Schlein, 1971
- 2 felt pen & pencil studies (M.C. 1033)
- 1 sheet text proof (M.C. 1033)

Nick Joins In, by Kathleen Tucker, 1980
-Correspondence, 31 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
-Typescript, photocopy, 14 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
-Holograph notes, 33 p. (M.C. 533, folder 2)
-Typescript, with notes, 6 p. (M.F. 533, folder 2)
-58 pencil studies (M.C. 1046)

Night Lights, by Joel Rothman, 1972
-Correspondence 4 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
- 48 p. felt pen & pencil dummy with holograph text (M.C. 1033)
- 28 pencil studies (M.C. 1033)

The Pilgrims' First Thanksgiving, by Ann McGovern, 1973
- 54 p. pencil dummy with corrected typescript text pasted in (M.C. 1051)
- 25 felt pen & ink illustrations with 1 separation (M.C. 1051)
- 20 pencil studies (M.C. 1051)

Rabbit Finds a Way, by Judy Delton, 1975
-Reviews, 9 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
- 1 pencil study for jacket (M.C. 1033)
- 9 pencil studies (M.C. 1033)
- 11 sheets pencil studies (M.C. 1033)

See the First Star, by Norma Simon, 1968
- 40 p. pencil dummy with typescript (M.C. 1054)
- 1 ink & watercolor illustration for cover (M.C. 1054)
- 8 ink & watercolor illustrations (M.C. 1054)
- 8 ink illustrations (M.C. 1054)
- 1 ink & watercolor study (M.C. 1054)
- 1 pencil study (M.C. 1054)
- 1 photostat of illustration (M.C. 1054)
- 1 cover (M.C. 1054)
-Research material: 1 photograph (M.C. 1054)

Snow Time, by Miriam Schlein, 1962
- 34 p. chalk, charcoal, ink, pencil and tempera dummy with typescript (M.C. 1033)

The Strange Voyage of Neptune's Car, 1977
-Holograph, 12 p. (M.F. l533, folder 2)
-Holograph and corrected typescript, 14 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
-Typescript, photocopy, 15 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
-Typescript, corrected 15 p. (M.F. 533, folder 2)
-Typescript, corrected, 11 p. (M.F. 533, folder 3)
-Typescript, corrected, 9 p. (M.F. l533, folder 3)
-Typescript, corrected partial carbon, 7 p. (M.F. 533, folder 3)
-Typescript, corrected photocopy, 15 p. (M.F. 533, folder 1)
-Typescript, corrected photocopy, 15 p. (M.F. 533, folder 2)
-Typescript, corrected photocopy, 9 p. (M.F. 533, folder 3)
-Typescript, corrected photocopy, 1 p. (M.F. 533, folder 3)
-Notes, 19 p. (M.F. 533, folder 4)
-Correspondence, 15 p. (M.F. 533, folder 4)
-Research material:
---Photocopy, 3 p. (M.F. 533, folder 4
---Pamphlets, 2 (M.F. 533, folder 4)
-Reviews 9 p. (M.F. 533, folder 4)
-Photocopy of story in Ms. (October, 1978) 4 p. (M.F. 533, folder 4)
- 2 ink & wash studies for jacket (M.C. 1033)
- 1 ink & watercolor study for jacket (M.C. 1033
- 5 pencil studies for jacket (M.C. 1033)
- 3 sheets pencil studies for jacket (M.C. 1033)
- 6 ink & wash studies (M.C. 1033)
- 14 pencil studies (M.C. 1033)
- 17 sheets pencil studies
-Research material 1 p. (M.C. 1033)
-Notes 1 p. (M.C. 1033)

The Sun, the Wind, the Sea, and the Rain, by Miriam Schlein. 1960
- 46 p. chalk, crayon, ink, pencil & tempera dummy (M.C. 1033)
- 1 tempera study (M.C. 1057)

Tales of a Seadog Family, 1974
-Typescript, corrected carbon 1 p. (M.F. 533)
-Typescript, corrected photocopy, 4 p. (M.F. 533)
-Correspondence 7 p. (M.F. 533)
-Notes 5 p. (M.F. 533)
-Clippings and reviews 14 p. (M.F. 533)
- 2 felt pen & ink studies for jacket (M.C. 1015)
- 1 pencil study for jacket (M.C.1015)
- 4 sheets pencil studies for jacket (M.C. 1015)
- 6 felt pen & ink studies (M.C. 1015)
- 1 sheet ink & pencil studies (M.C. 1015)
- 30 pencil studies (M.C. 1015)
- 1 sheets pencil studies (M.C. 1015)

The Way Mothers Are, by Miriam Schlein. 1963
- 1 charcoal & ink illustration for endpapers (M.C. 1057)
- 1 charcoal & ink illustration (M.C. 1057)

What Do I Say? by Norma Simon. 1967
-Typescript, corrected carbon 2 p. (M.F. 533)
-Correspondence, 19 p. (M.F. 533)
- 41 p. pencil dummy with holograph text (M.C. 1033)
- 16 pencil studies (M.C. 1033)

When Grandpa Wore Knickers: Life in the Early Thirties, by Fern Brown and Andree Vilas Grabe. 1966
- 74 p. chalk, charcoal, crayon, ink, pencil & watercolor dummy with typescript (M.C. 1054)
- 1 chalk, ink & watercolor illustration for jacket (M.C. 1054)
- 11 chalk, ink & watercolor illustrations (M.C. 1054)
- 10 ink illustrations (M.C. 1054)
- 1 chalk, ink & tempera study for jacket (M.C. 1054)
- 1 pencil & watercolor study (M.C. 1054)
- 1 ink study (M.C. 1054)
- 19 sheets pencil studies (M.C. 1054)

When the Wind Stops, by Charlotte Zolotow. 1962
- 48 p. chalk & pencil dummy with text proof (M.C. 1033

Appropriate Use of Electronic Resources
Copyright 1999 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota, Twin Cities, and the University Libraries.
Please credit the University of Minnesota Libraries if you copy or reproduce material from this page.

You are viewing this University of Minnesota resource through the Digital Collections Portal, a portal constructed and maintained by the University of Minnesota Libraries.