CLRC-1426 Christopher Paul Curtis Papers Leslie Czechowski University of Minnesota Libraries 12/10/2004
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. 12/10/2004 Description is in English Summary Information University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections [clrc] Curtis, Christopher Paul Christopher Paul Curtis Papers 1995-1999 CLRC-1426 Collection contains typescripts, page proofs, and correspondence for Curtis' two award-winning children's books. 28 folders 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

Christopher Paul Curtis was born in Flint, Michigan circa 1954. To date he has published only two books, but is the only writer to win both the Newbery Medal and the Coretta Scott King Award in one year (for his second children's historical novel, Bud, Not Buddy). His first novel, The Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963, won honor book designations from both the Newbery and Coretta Scott King Award committees. He is the first African American to win the Newbery Medal since 1977.

Curtis attended college while working at an automobile plant, but soon dropped out to work full time. His writing career began in the early 1990s when he submitted a story to a writing contest at the University of Michigan-Flint where it won the Jules Hopwood Prize. Curtis' wife suggested that he take a year off from work at the plant to write and turn his story into a book. He has continued to write since that time in addition to completing a B.A. degree in political science and speaking about his life and work at schools and libraries.

Biographical source: Something About the Author. Volume 140, p. 45-50.

 Scope and Content

The collection contains typescripts, page proofs, and correspondence for Curtis' two award-winning children's books.

 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.

Curtis, Christopher Paul Accession Information:

Donated by the author from 1996 to 2002.

Gift of: Curtis, Christopher Paul

Arrangement

Bucking the Sarge, 2004

Bud, Not Buddy, 1999

Mr. Chickee's Funny Money, 2005

Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963, The , 1995

Collection Contents Bucking the Sarge 2004

New York: Wendy Lamb Books, 2004

 MF 3841 typescript, corrected 242 p. MF 3841 front matter 6 p. Bud, Not Buddy 1999

New York: Delacorte Press, 1999

 MF 3199, 3200 typescript, corrected 385 p. MF 3199, 3200 typescript, corrected photocopy 433 p. MF 3199, 3200 correspondence 28 p. Mr. Chickee's Funny Money 2005

New York: Randon House, 2005

 MF 3200 typescript, corrected 155 p. MF 3200 front matter, corrected 6 p. Watsons Go to Birmingham-1963, The 1995

New York: Delacorte Press, 1995

 MF 2158 typescript, corrected 236 p. MF 2158 page proof 150 p. MF 2158 page proof, corrected 77 p.