CLRC-9 Margaret Wise Brown PapersChristina Cowan and Nancy Larsen University of Minnesota Libraries3/23/2005

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.3/23/2005Description is in English Summary Information University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections [clrc] Brown, Margaret Wise Margaret Wise Brown Papers 1942-1960 CLRC-9 Margaret Wise Brown's papers focus on her work as an author of children's books. The collection contains production material for seven titles published between 1942-1960 and includes typescripts, notes, proofs and dummies, some miscellaneous poems not verified as published stories written with Edith Thacher Hurd. There is also some coreespondence, much of it between Margaret Wise Brown and Edith Hurd, correspondence from ClementHurd to Ursula Nordstrom concerning Goodnight Moon, and publisher's correspondence related to the publication of The Dream Book. .8 linear 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

Margaret Wise Brown was born May 23, 1910 in Brooklyn, New York. She attended school in Massachusetts, Virginia and New York, and graduated from Columbia University with a BA in 1932. During the 1930s, Margaret Wise Brown worked as an editor for Bank Street Publications, and from 1938-1941 at William R. Scott, Publisher. She published her first book for young children, When the Wind Blew, in 1937. Throughout her prolific career, Margaret Wise Brown produced dozens of quality books for the young child that focused on their interests, fears, concerns and experiences, using a style that told a story in simple yet lyrical language that young children could readily understand and appreciate. Critics have called her a "pioneer" in the "new approach to writing for children," an approach that went beyond "traditional narrative" to emphasize the reality of a child's world. Her "Noisy Books" help young children identify sounds and connect them to their creator, and her classic story The Runaway Bunny, along with some of her other works, focus on a child's need for love and protection and the assurance that these are always there. In Goodnight Moon, Margaret Wise Brown and her illustrator Clement Hurd created a memorable bedtime story that has remained a favorite of children and critics for decades. Margaret Wsie Brown also wrote verse and humorous stories, as well as under the pseudonyms Timothy Hay and Golden MacDonald, and under the joint pseudonym Juniper Sage with Edith Thacher Hurd. Margaret Wise Brown died unexpectedly on November 13, 1952. In 1984, Margaret Wise Brown and her editors and illustrators represented by Clement Hurd were awarded the 1984 Kerlan Award.

Scope and Content

The collection contains production material for seven titles published between 1942-1960 and includes typescripts, notes, proofs and dummies, some miscellaneous poems not verified as published, and manuscript material for four unpublished stories written with Edith Thacher Hurd. There is also some correspondence, much of it between Magaret Wise Brown and Edith Hurd, correspondence from Clement Hurd to Ursula Nsordstrom concerning Goodnight Moon, and publisher's correspondence related to the publication of The Dream Book.

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.

Brown, Margaret Wise Accession Information:

Part of this collection was originally given to Dr. Irvin Kerlan by Clement and Edith Hurd, with the material for one title The Little House apparently given to Dr. Kerlan by Aaron Fine, the book's illustrator. Additional material was placed on permanent loan at the Children's Literature Research Collection by Clement and Edith Hurd during 1960s-1980s, with their donations later changed to a gift by their son Thacher Hurd in the 1990s.

Gift of: Brown, Margaret Wise

Arrangement

Bad Little Duckhunter, 1947

Digger, 1960

Dream Book, 1950

Early Milkman,

Four Little Fisherman,

Goodnight Moon, 1947

Hidden House, 1953

How to Scare a Thief Away,

Little Brass Band, 1955

miscellaneous poems,

Richman,

Runaway Bunny, 1942

Collection Contents Bad Little Duckhunter 1947

1947

MF 156, folder 1 typescript, corrected 5 p. MF 156, folder 1 typescript, corrected carbon 6 p. MF 156, folder 1 notes 1 p. MF 156, folder typescript "jacket copy" 1 p. Digger 1960

1960

MF 156, folder 1 typescript, corrected 6 p. MF 156, folder 1 typescript, corrected 3 p. MF 156, folder 1 galley proof 6 p. MF 156, folder 1 galley proof 2 p. MF 156, folder 2 proof dummy 17 p. MF 156, folder 2 proof dummy 17 p. Dream Book 1950

1950

MF 156, folder 1 galley proof, corrected 4 p. MF 156, folder 1 sheets miscellaneous proof 15 p. MF 156, folder 1 correspondence 2 p. Early Milkman

MF 1038, folders 1-3 corrected typescripts, notes, and correspondence 129 p. MF 1038, folder 4 dummy 28 p. MF 1038, folder 4 dummy 27 p. MF 1038, folder 5 dummy 28 p. MF 1038, folder 5 dummy 1 p. MF 1038, folder 6 dummy 1 p. MF 1038, folder 6 dummy 1 p. Four Little Fisherman

MF 1038, folder 1 typescript 5 p. Goodnight Moon 1947

1947

MF 1038, folder 1 holograph notebook 41 p. MF 1038, folder 1 working dummy 8 p. Hidden House 1953

1953

MF 156, folder 1 typescript, corrected 5 p. How to Scare a Thief Away

MF 1038, folder 1 typescript 3 p. Little Brass Band 1955

1955

MF 156, folder 1 typescript, corrected 4 p. MF 165, folder 1 author's dummy/layout in 1 notebook 1 p. MF 156, folder 1 holograph 1 p. miscellaneous poems

MF 156, folder 1 typescript, carbon 15 p. Richman

MF 1038, folder 1 typescript 5 p. MF 1038, folder 1 correspondence 1 p. Runaway Bunny 1942

1942

MF 156, folder 1 typescript with front matter, 6 p. 3 p. MF 156, folder 1 galley proof 2 p. MF 156, folder 1 galley proof with front matter, 2 p. 2 p. MF 156, folder 1 galley proof, corrected 2 p. MF 156, folder 1 color proof 2 p. MF 156, folder 1 reviews 1 p. MF 156, folder 1 jacket proof 1 p.