CLRC-1013 Nicolas Mordvinoff CollectionJim Eyer University of Minnesota Libraries8-24-04

University of Minnesota Libraries Minneapolis, MN 55455

EAD 2002 Validated Finding Aid generated with the aid of a custom FileMaker Pro database developed by the staff of the Children's Literature Research Collections, University of Minnesota Libraries. Many thanks to all the staff and volunteers.8-24-04Description is in English Summary Information University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections [clrc] Mordvinoff, Nicolas Nicolas Mordvinoff Papers 1944-1964 CLRC-1013 The Nicolas Mordvinoff papers focus on his work as an illustrator of children's books. The collection contains production material consisting of illustrative material for 14 titles published between 1944-1962. Illustrative materials include illustrations and studies done in a variety of media, dummies done in a variety of media, and some with holographs, a sketch, and notes; several of the items are signed for Dr. Irvin Kerlan. The collection also contains some non-original material for 2 titles, The Boy and the Forest and Sleepyhead. 1.2 cubic ft. See Detailed Descriptions for Each Title Item for Box Locations English Important Information for Users of the Collections Access and Use:

Collection is open for researchers with no restrictions. Registration with the collection is required.

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

Biographical Sketch

Nicolas (Nicolas Mordvinoff) was born September 27, 1911, in St. Petersburg, Russia. His family left Russia in 1918 and later moved to France. Nicolas graduated from the University of Paris and as a student sold cartoons and illustrations to French publications. In 1934 he went to the South Pacific and spent many years there painting and developing his own style. While in Tahiti he met the author William Stone, who persuaded him to illustrate his book, Thunder Island. Nicolas did so, and illustrated other books by Stone. He came to the United States in 1946, and in 1950 began a long and prolific partnership with the author William Lipkind. In 1950 they published The Two Reds, which received a Caldecott Honor citation in 1951. The following year Nicolas won the Caldecott Award for Finders Keepers, also authored by Lipkind. Nicolas also illustrated books for other well-known children's book authors, including Marie Halun Bloch, Natalie Savage Carlson, and William O. Steele. In the late 1960s Nicolas returned to painting, and his work was exhibited in various galleries. He died on May 5, 1973, in Hampton, New Jersey. Biographical Source: Something About the Author, vol. 17

Scope and Content

The collection contains procduction material, consisting of illustrative material only, for 14 titles. Illustrative materials include illustrations done in a variety of media, studies done in a variety of media, dummies done in a variety of media, and some with holographs or text proof, a sketch, and notes; several of the items are signed for Dr. Irvin Kerlan. The collection also contains some non-original material for two titles, consisting of a proof dummy, and sheets reproduced from a dummy.

Indexing Terms

The collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the University of Minnesota Libraries. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Mordvinoff, Nicolas Accession Information:

Nicolas Mordvinoff gave this collection to Dr. Irvin Kerlan, who in turn donated his collection to the U. of Minn.

Gift of: Mordvinoff, Nicolas

Arrangement

Boy and the Forest, The, 1964

Cezar and the Music-Masker, 1951

Chaga, 1955

Christmas Bunny, The, 1953

Circus Ruckus, 1954

Daniel Boone's Echo, 1957

Finders Keepers, 1951

Four-Leaf Clover, 1959

Hortense, the Cow for a Queen, 1957

Little Tiny Rooster, The, 1960

Magic Feather Duster, The, 1958

Pepe Was the Saddest Bird, 1944

Perry the Imp, 1956

Russet and the Two Reds, 1962

Ship of Flame, The: A Saga of the South Seas, 1945

Sleepyhead, 1957

Collection Contents Boy and the Forest, The 1964

: , 1964

MC840 sheets reproduction of illustrator's dummy 19 p. Cezar and the Music-Masker 1951

: , 1951

MC840 ink illustration with 1 color separation 1 p. Chaga 1955

: , 1955

MC1278 pencil illustrator's dummy 48 p. MF1278 ink and crayon jacket illustration on acetate 1 p. Christmas Bunny, The 1953

: , 1953

MC840 colored pencil sketch 1 p. Circus Ruckus 1954

: , 1954

MC840 watercolor jacket studies 30 p. Daniel Boone's Echo 1957

: , 1957

MC840 tempera jacket studies 15 p. Finders Keepers 1951

: , 1951

MC73 ink and watercolor dummy 38 p. MC73 pencil dummy 38 p. MC73 ink and tempera jacket study 1 p. MC73 chalk and charcoal study 1 p. MC73 charcoal and pencil studies 3 p. MC73 charcoal studies 10 p. MC73 pencil studies 2 p. MC73 tempera study 1 p. Four-Leaf Clover 1959

: , 1959

MC840 ink and pencil dummy with holograph 32 p. Hortense, the Cow for a Queen 1957

: , 1957

MC1352 pencil dummy with text proof 104 p. MC1352 ink jacket illustration with 2 separations 1 p. MC1352 ink illustrations 34 p. MC1352 collage and tempera jacket studies 14 p. MC1352 tempera jacket study 1 p. Little Tiny Rooster, The 1960

: , 1960

MC 1521 ink and pencil dummy 36 p. MC 1521 tempera jacket studies 32 p. MC 1521 sheets of tempera jacket studies 10 p. Magic Feather Duster, The 1958

: , 1958

MC840 tempera jacket studies, signed for Dr. Irvin Kerlan, 8-20-58 6 p. MC840 chalk and ink study 1 p. MC840 tempera study 1 p. Pepe Was the Saddest Bird 1944

: , 1944

MC1070 pen and ink illustration, inscribed by the artist for Irvin '58 1 p. Perry the Imp 1956

: , 1956

MC840 charcoal and pencil dummy with holograph 46 p. Russet and the Two Reds 1962

: , 1962

MC840 pencil dummy with holograph 64 p. MC840 sheets of pencil studies 5 p. MC840 sheets of notes 2 p. MC840 sheets reproduction of illustrator's dummy with chalk 15 p. Ship of Flame, The: A Saga of the South Seas 1945

: , 1945

MC1070 black and white print, inscribed by the artist for Irvin '58 1 p. Sleepyhead 1957

: , 1957

MC840 proof dummy 18 p.