CLRC-31 Ruth Chrisman Gannett Papers Jim Eyer University of Minnesota Libraries 10/12/2004
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. 10/12/2004 Description is in English Summary Information University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections Gannett, Ruth Chrisman Ruth Chrisman Gannett Papers 1936-1951 CLRC-31 Ruth Chrisman Gannett's papers focus on her work as an illustrator of children's books. The collection contains production material for 11 titles published between 1936-1951, and includes illustrations, proofs, a dummy, book jackets, and notes. There is also some material and copies of a story published in a children's magazine, some correspondence, and some notes for one title, Elmer and the Blue Dragon, written by Mrs. Gannett's step-daughter and collaborator, Ruth Stiles Gannett. .2 linear feet--manuscripts 4 cubic feet--illustrations 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.

Processing Information

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

Biographical Sketch

Ruth Gannett, nee Chrisman, was born December 16, 1896, in Santa Ana, California. She attended the U. of California at Berkeley, receiving an A.B. in 1919 and an A.M. in 1920. She also studied at the Art Students League. She married her second husband, Lewis Stiles Gannett, in 1931, and illustrated several of his books. She collaborated with her step-daughter, Ruth Stiles Gannett, on several children's books, the Elmer and the Dragons series, including the Newbery Honor book My Father's Dragons. She also illustrated another Newbery book, Miss Hickory by Carolyn Sherwin Bailey, winner in 1947.

Gannett illustrated both children's and adult books, and her work is noted for its detail, charm, and in the Elmer books, its sense of humor. In 1946 she received as Caldecott Honor citation for My Mother is the Most Beautiful Woman in the World. This book is based upon as Russian folk tale about a little girl's search for her mother, who for her truly is the most beautiful woman in the world. Gannett's illustrations were praised by critics for their detail and charm, and their illumination of the little girl's vision of her mother. Ruth Chrisman Gannett died on December 8, 1979, in West Cornwall, Connecticut.

Biographical Sources: Something About the Author, vol. 33

 Scope and Content

The collection contains production material for 11 titles for children and adults, published between 1936-1951, and includes illustrations, in ink, pencil, watercolor, and many lithographs, a poster, and dummy. It also includes notes by the illustrator and Ruth Stiles Gannett, and a typescript for 1 story, apparently by Gannett's collaborator, Dorothy Thomas. There is also some correspondence from publishers, readers, and collectors, and some production material as well as 2 copies of a story Gannett illustrated for Child Life magazine.

 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.

Gannett, Ruth Chrisman Accession Information:

This collection is a gift from Ruth Chrisman Gannett and her estate, received in several installments beginning in 1968, with the material from her estate arriving in 1980.

Gift of: Gannett, Ruth Chrisman

Arrangement

Red Cross Knight, The,

Correspondence,

Cream Hill: Discoveries of a Week-end Countryman,

Dragons of Blueland, The,

Elmer and the Dragon,

Hi-Po the Hippo,

Home Place,

Miss Hickory,

My Father's Dragon,

My Mother is the Most Beautiful Woman in the World,

Pace Goes to the Fair,

Prairie Girl,

Collection Contents Red Cross Knight, The

Child Life Magazine,

MC1541 pasteup for story 1 p. MC1541 copies of story from magazine 2 p. Correspondence MF336 folder 1 correspondence from publishers, readers, and collectors 10 p. Cream Hill: Discoveries of a Week-end Countryman MC1541 lithograph 1 p. Dragons of Blueland, The MC230 tempera jacket illustration 1 p. MC230 tempera endpapers illustration 1 p. MC230 lithograph illustrations 38 p. MC230 framed lithograph 1 p. MC230 proof for endpapers 1 p. Elmer and the Dragon MC154 color jacket proof 1 p. MC154 pencil and ink illustration 1 p. MC154 ink illustrations 3 p. MC154 tempera illustrations 4 p. MC154 sheet black and white proofs 1 p. MC154 pencil sketches 31 p. MC154 colored pencil sketch 1 p. MC154 4 pencil sketches and 2 colored pencil sketches and notes, 1 p. done by step-daughter and book author, Ruth Stiles Gannett, for reference 6 p. MC154 proof for jacket endpapers 1 p. MC154 tempera endpaper illustration 1 p. MC154 lithograph illustrations 41 p. Hi-Po the Hippo MF336 folder 2 correspondence 5 p. MF336 folder 2 typescript 12 p. MC1539 lithograph jacket illustrations 3 p. MC1539 lithograph endpaper illustration 1 p. MC1539 lithograph illustrations 27 p. MC1539 dummy 100 p. MC1539 lithograph with watercolor illustration 1 p. MC1539 lithographs demonstrating the process of color lithography 11 p. MC1539 poster 1 p. MC1539 artist's proof 1 p. Home Place MC1541 ink illustrations 8 p. MC1541 engraver's proofs 17 p. MC1541 book jacket 1 p. Miss Hickory MC1539 lithograph jacket illustration 1 p. MC1539 lithograph endpaper illustration 1 p. MC1539 lithograph illustrations 49 p. MC1539 notes 1 p. My Father's Dragon MC1264 lithograph illustrations 40 p. MC1264 separations 2 p. My Mother is the Most Beautiful Woman in the World MC1541 pencil illustrations 2 p. MC1541 watercolor illustrations 2 p. MC1541 color pencil illustrations 2 p. MC1541 mixed-media illustration 1 p. MC1541 photocopy 1 p. Pace Goes to the Fair MC1541 watercolor illustration 1 p. MC1541 artist's proof 1 p. Prairie Girl MC1541 ink jacket illustration 1 p. MC1541 ink illustrations 7 p. MC1541 engraver's proofs 16 p. MC1541 book jacket 1 p.