CLRC-1831 Mabel Leigh Hunt PapersChristina Cowan University of Minnesota Libraries11/01/1998
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.11/01/1998Description is in English Summary Information University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections [clrc] Hunt, Mabel Leigh, 1892- Mabel Leigh Hunt Papers 1941-1966 CLRC-1831 Mabel Leigh Hunt's papers focus on her work as an author of children's books. The collection includes production materials for four titles published between 1942 and 1963. There is also material for the title, "Have You See Tom Thumb?" consisting only of correspondence and clippings. The collection also contains some additional correspondence to and from Mabel Leigh Hunt and clippings. .9 linear feet 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

Mabel Leigh Hunt was born November 1, 1892 in Coatsville, Indiana. She attended DePauw University and Western Reserve University Library School and later worked as a children's librarian. In 1934, she published her first book for children, Lucinda: A Little Girl of 1860. The story drew on her mother's Quaker upbringing in nineteenth century Indiana and was praised by critics for its "evocation" of the Indiana countryside. She drew on her Quaker background for several other books and she tried to "create imaginatively from small and simple ideas." Her books were aimed at "middle aged" readers and many of her works focused on family relationships; some explored social issues. Her book Ladycake Farm (1952) was one of the first stories written for children that dealt "realistically" and "sympathetically" with an Afro-American family. She also wrote biographies and these were lauded by critics for their "meticulous" research, "interesting detail" and "feeling" for the subject's life and era. Two of her biographies were Newbery Honor books: Better Known as Johnny Appleseed in 1951; and "Have You See Tom Thumb?'" Mabel Leigh Hunt died on September 3, 1971.

Biographical Sources: Something About the Author, vol. 1, pp. 120-121; Something About the Author, vol. 26, p. 127; Twentieth Century Children's Writers, 3rd ed., pp. 482-483.

Scope and Content

The collection contains production materials for four titles published between 1942 and 1963, and material for "Have You Seen Tom Thumb?" consisting of correspondence and clippings only. Production materials include corrected typescripts, front matter, notes, clippings, correspondence, and a short story "Strawberry Festival" that goes with the title Ladycake Farm. The correspondence includes letters from Mabel Leigh Hunt's editor, Helen Dean Fisher, and colleagues such as Katherine Milhous, Fritz Eichenberg, Elizabeth Orton Jones, and James Daugherty.

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.

Hunt, Mabel Leigh, 1892- Accession Information:

Part of this collection was originally given to Dr. Irvin Kerlan who in turn donated his collection to the University of Minnesota. Mabel Leigh Hunt gave additional materials to the University in 1964, 1967, and 1970.

Gift of: Hunt, Mabel Leigh, 1892-

Arrangement

Beggar's Daughter, 1963

Better Known As Johnny Appleseed, 1950

"Have You Seen Tom Thumb?", 1942

Ladycake Farm, 1952

Peter Piper's Pickled Peppers, 1942

Collection Contents Beggar's Daughter 1963

1963

 MF 463, folders 1-3 typescript, corrected 177 p. MF 463, folders 1-3 front matter 3 p. Better Known As Johnny Appleseed 1950

1950

 MF 463, folders 1-3 typescript, corrected 219 p. MF 463, folders 1-3 front matter 12 p. MF 463, folder 4 correspondence 31 p. MF 463, folder 4 notes 2 p. MF 463, folder 4 clippings 8 p. "Have You Seen Tom Thumb?" 1942

1942

 MF 463, folder 1 correspondence 24 p. MF 463, folder 1 clippings 2 p. Ladycake Farm 1952

1952

 MF 463, folders 1-2 typescript, corrected 104 p. MF 463, folders 1-2 front matter 2 p. MF 463, folder 3 "Strawberry Festival" (short story) 2 p. MF 463, folder 3 correspondence 17 p. MF 463, folder 3 notes 2 p. MF 463, folder 3 clippings 5 p. Peter Piper's Pickled Peppers 1942

1942

 MF 463, folder 1 typescript, corrected 10 p. MF 463, folder 1 front matter 8 p. MF 463, folder 1 correspondence 1 p.