Summary Information
University of
Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research
Collections [clrc]
Averill,
Esther
Esther Averill
Collection
1944-1973
CLRC-1214
The Esther Averill
Collection contains written and illustrative production material for five
titles published between 1944 and 1973 with Harper. The original art work
includes pencil sketches, ink and water illustrations, and blueprint sheets.
Original manuscript material includes corrected typescripts, galley proofs,
correspondence, bookmark and miscellaneous material.
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.
Copyright:
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
Esther Averill was born July 24, 1902 in Bridgeport, Connecticut.
Beginning in her teens, Averill's expression in cartoons and writing frequented
her local newspapers leading to her studies at Vassar College through 1923.
With the 'printers ink in her blood', she began editorial work in a women's
fashion newspaper. Averill hopped the Atlantic and resided within France's
boarders for a decade where she became a free-lance writer and illustrator. The
content switch from fashion to children in Averill's work hinged in 1931 with
the publishing of Daniel Boone under her own
imprinting. Domino Press experienced growing pains for the first few years, as
Averill and her cohorts were learning the turns in the trade. Domino Press'
motto was to specialize in 'children's picture books illustrated by gifted
young artists and reproduced by means of the excellent color processes that
were available'. Three years after the inception in France, Averill transported
her publishing station back to the United States. In 1938, Domino Press ceased
printing. Averill went on to write and illustrate over thirty pieces of work
between 1931 and 1973, including The Cat Club, Jenny Lost
her Scarf and Jenny's Birthday Book. Esther
Averill passed away in 1992.
Biographical source: Something About the
Author. Volume 28, 1982.
Scope and Content
The Esther Averill Collection contains written and illustrative
production material for five titles published between 1944 and 1973 with Harper
and Row. The original art work includes pencil sketches, ink and water
illustrations, and blueprint sheets. Original manuscript material includes
corrected typescripts, galley proofs, correspondence, bookmarks and
miscellaneous material.
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.
Averill,
Esther
Accession Information:
Donated by the author to Dr. Irvin Kerlan beginning in 1952 and
continued through 1991.
Gift of:
Averill, Esther
Arrangement
Cat Club, The, 1944
Fire Cat, The, 1960
Hotel Cat, The, 1969
Hotel Cat, The, 1969
Jenny and the Cat Club, 1973
Jenny's Birthday Book, 1954
Collection Contents
Cat Club, The
1944
New York: Harper and Brother, 1944
MC 550
pencil sketch for title page
1 p.
Fire Cat, The
1960
New York: Harper, 1960
MC 1356
ink illustrations
45 p.
MC 1356
ink and watercolor illustrations
8 p.
MC 1356
blueprint sheets [specimen sheets] for color
separation
2 p.
Hotel Cat, The
1969
New York: Harper and Row, 1969
MC 1356
ink illustration with 2 separations
1 p.
MC 1356
ink illustrations
54 p.
Hotel Cat, The
1969
New York: Harper and Row, 1969
MF 42
typescript, corrected
131 p.
MF 42
galley proof
48 p.
Jenny and the Cat Club
1973
New York: Harper and Row, 1973
MF 42
correspondence
28 p.
MF 42
bookmark
5 p.
MF 42
miscellaneous
6 p.
Jenny's Birthday Book
1954
New York: Harper, 1954
MC 1128
ink illustrations
2 p.