CLRC-902 Jane Langton PapersDavid E Byer University of Minnesota Libraries06/24/2004

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.06/24/2004Description is in English Summary Information University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections [clrc] Langton, Jane Jane Langton Papers 1957-1984 CLRC-902 The papers focus on her work as an author of children's and young adult books. The collection contains manuscript materials for eight titles published between 1961-1984 with some material dating back to 1957. The collection contains various illustrative materials for five titles including some not used in books. Manuscript materials include holographs and typescripts, page and galley proofs, notes, front matter, a blueprint, reviews, a book jacket and research material. The collection also include some correspondence with children's authors. 1.1 cubic ft. (illus) 6.9 linear ft. (manuscript) 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

Jane Langton, nee Gillson was born December 30, 1922 in Boston. She graduated from the University of Michigan in 1944 and received her M.A. in 1945, and another M.A. from Radcliffe College in 1948. She studied at the Boston Museum School from 1958-1959 and in 1961 wrote and illustrated her first book for children The Majesty of Grace, a story about a young girl living during the depresssion who is convinced she is the future Queen of England. She continued to publish children's books, mostly illustrated by others, throughout the 1960-1980s including a series of books about the Hall family that live in Concord MA. The first book in the series, The Diamond in the Window (1962) introduced the characters and Langton's unique 'Nesbitian' blend of 'fantasy and realism' with 'an American flavor.' One of the last books in the series, The Fledgling (1980) tells of a girls 'whose dreams of flying become true when she rides on the back of a Canada goose.' The book received a Newbery Honor citation in 1981 and critics praised the series for its imaginative appeal.

Biographical Sources:

Something About the Author, vol 140, pp. 98-114.

Twentieth Century Children's Writers, 3rd ed., pp. 553-554.

Scope and Content

The collection contains manuscript material for eight titles published between 1961-1984 with some material dating to 1957. The collection also contains various illustrative materials for five titles including some not used in books. Illustrative materials include illustrations, sketches and studies done in a variety of media. The collection also contains some correspondence with children's authors Natalie Babbitt, Jane Gardam, Mollie Hunter, Liesel Moak Skorpen, and Joan Tate.

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.

Langton, Jane Accession Information:

Jane Langton gave the collection in 1968 and placed additional materials in the collection in 1983, 1989, and 1990.

Gift of: Langton, Jane

Arrangement

The Astonishing Stereoscope, 1971

The Boyhood of Grace Jones, 1972

The Diamond in the Window, 1962

The Fledgling, 1980

The Fragile Flag, 1984

The Majesty of Grace, 1961

Paper Chains, 1977

The Swing in the Summerhouse, 1967

Correspondence from Children's Book Authors,

Miscellaneous,

Collection Contents The Astonishing Stereoscope 1971

Blegvad, Erik

New York: Harper, 1971

MF 1012 typescript, corrected, part holograph ["first draft"] 105 p. MF1012 typescript, corrected, ["second draft"] 116 p. MF1012 typescript, corrected, ["third draft"] 156 p. MF1012 front matter 6 p. MF1012 typescript, corrected, ["copy-edited ms."] 163 p. MF1012 galley proof, corrected 88 p. MF1012 correspondence 2 p. MF1012 Notes [sermon by Peter Bulkeley, 1646, 1651] 10 p. MF1012 study sketch of ticket p. 147 by author 1 p. MF1012 invitation for autographing party, Concord Bookshop [Concord MA] November 1971 1 p. MF1012 black and white photographs, Concord Bookshop autographing party, November 1971 5 p. The Boyhood of Grace Jones 1972

McCully, Emily Arnold

New York: Harper, 1972

MF 1009 typescript, corrected, early combined drafts 180 p. MF 1009 typescript, corrected 103 p. MF 1009 typescript, corrected 111 p. MF 1009 front matter 4 p. MF 1009 typescript, corrected 148 p. MF 1010 galley proof, corrected 107 p. MF 1010 correspondence 19 p. MF 1010 notes 14 p. The Diamond in the Window 1962

Blegvad, Erik

New York: Harper, 1962

MF 998 Preliminary notes, typescript and holograph, corrected 74 p. MF 998 typescript, corrected, first draft 166 p. MF 998 typescript, corrected, second draft 220 p. MF 998 typescript, corrected, final draft 246 p. MF 999 typescript, miscellaneous, incomplete, part carbon, corrected 218 p. MF 999 typescript, miscellaneous, incomplete, part carbon, corrected 289 p. MF 999 galley proof, corrected 81 p. MF 999 correspondence (includes some from Erik Blegvad 117 p. MF 999 reviews 5 p. MF 999 research material, color photograph of #40 Walden Street 1 p. MF 999 research material, 1 article 1 p. MF 1000 research material, notes 67 p. MF 1000 research material, pencil studies by author 20 p. The Fledgling 1980

New York: Harper, 1980

MF 975 holograph and typescript ["first draft"] 72 p. MF 975 holograph and typescript ["second draft"] 69 p. MF 975 holograph and typescript ["third draft"] 102 p. MF 975 typescript, corrected ["fourth draft"] 127 p. MF 975 typescript, corrected ["next last draft"] 210 p. MF 976 typescript, corrected ["final draft"] 172 p. MF 976 page proof 179 p. MF 976 author's illustrations, pen drawings 2 p. MF 976 book jacket 1 p. MF 976 notes 79 p. The Fragile Flag 1984

New York: Harper, 1984

MF 1488 notes 12 p. MF 1488 typescript, corrected, part holograph, "first draft" 176 p. MF 1488 notes 9 p. MF 1488 correspondence 20 p. MF 1488 notes 21 p. MF 1488 clippings 6 p. MF 1488 typescript, notes and clippings 29 p. MF 1488 typescript, corrected, part holograph,"second draft" 65 p. MF 1488 typescript, corrected, part holograph, "draft 3" 237 p. MF 1488 typescript, corrected, "4th draft" 203 p. MF 1489 typescript, corrected, "first final version 198 p. MF 1489 front matter 10 p. MF 1489 typescript, corrected, 192 p. MF 1489 flap copy 1 p. MF 1489 page proof, corrected 144 p. MF 1489 blueprint 273 p. MF 1489 typescript and holograph, miscellaneous pages 40 p. MF 1489 correspondence 20 p. MF 1489 notes 4 p. MF 1489 research material, pamphlets 3 p. MF 1489 research material, clippings 10 p. The Majesty of Grace 1961

New York: Harper, 1961

MF 1010 typescript, corrected, early version for Boston Museum School 12 p. MF 1010 typescript, correcred, part holograph, early drafts 243 p. MF 1010-1011 typescript, corrected, part carbon 284 p. MF 1011 typescript, corrected, submitted draft 260 p. MF 1011 typescript, corrected, copy-edited draft 211 p. MF 1011 correspondence 99 p. MF 1011 notes 15 p. MF 1011 black and white photograph of child who helped inspire The Majesty of Grace 1 p. MC 251 pencil illustration for frontispiece 1 p. MC 251 charcoal and pencil illustrations 20 p. MC 251 chalk study ['rejected'] 1 p. MC 251 charcoal studies['rejected'] 4 p. MC 251 pencil and chalk study ['rejected'] 1 p. MC 251 pencil study ['rejected'] 1 p. MC 251 pen and ink studies ['rejected'] 4 p. MF 1011 reviews and clippings 32 p. MC 251 pencil and ink study for jacket 1 p. MC 251 pencil studies for jacket 2 p. MC 251 pencil study 1 p. MC 251 watercolor and ink studies for jacket 3 p. MC 251 dummy for jacket 1 p. MC 251 original 1959 edition of the book for the Boston Museum School 1 p. Paper Chains 1977

New York: Harper, 1977

MC 1051 watercolor and ink illustration for jacket and cover 1 p. MC 1051 watercolor and ink studies for cover 4 p. MC 1051 colored pencil study for cover ['rejected'] 1 p. MC 1051 ink and pencil study for cover 1 p. MC 1051 pencil studies 1 p. MC 1051 ink study 1 p. MC 1051 sheet cover specifications 1 p. MC 1051 sheet studies for jacket, "World's Oldest Freshman" 3 p. MF1003 typescript, corrected, '1st draft' 51 p. MF1003 notes 11 p. MF1003 typescript, corrected, '2nd draft' 109 p. MF1003 notes 5 p. MF1003 typescript, corrected, 3rd draft 113 p. MF1003 notes 15 p. MF1003 holograph and typescript, corrected revisions 46 p. MF1003 holograph and typescript, corrected revisions 64 p. MF1003 typescript, corrected partial photocopy and holograph 199 p. MF 1004 typescript, corrected partial carbon 86 p. MF 1004 holograph 9 p. MF 1004 typescript, partial holograph and carbon 73 p. MF 1004 typescript, corrected partial holograph and carbon 147 p. MF 1004 typescript, corrected partial photocopy 156 p. MF 1004 typescript part holograph, corrected revisions March-June 1976 81 p. MF 1004 typescript, corrected partial carbon and photocopy 190 p. MF 1004 correspondence 2 p. MF 1005 typescript, corrected partial photocopy 181 p. MF 1005 typescript, corrected 92 p. MF 1005 correspondence 2 p. MF 1006 typescript, corrected photocopy [adult version of "World's Oldest Freshman"] 80 p. MF 1006 galley proof 58 p. MF 1006 front matter, typescript, corrected 6 p. MF 1006 galley proof, corrected 2 p. MF 1006 ink illustrations, supposedly done by Evelyn Underhill [not used in book] 49 p. The Swing in the Summerhouse 1967

Blegvad, Erik

New York: Harper, 1967

MF 1000 preliminary notes for "Beautiful Bandstand", holograph 6 p. MF 1000 typescript, corrected, "Beautiful Bandstand" 4 p. MF 1000 partial typescript, first draft, incomplete misc. carbon, corrected 124 p. MF 1000 typescript, miscellaneous incomplete partial carbon, corrected 247 p. MF 1000 typescript, miscellaneous incomplete partial carbon, corrected 90 p. MF 1002 typescript, miscellaneous incomplete partial carbopn, corrected 287 p. MF 1002 typescript, miscellaneous incomplete partial carbon, corrected "early draft pp." 118 p. MF 1002 correspondence 2 p. MF 1002 cotes 24 p. MF 1002 pencil sketches by author 25 p. MF 1002 ink study by author with holograph 1 p. MF 1002 ink study by author with typescript 1 p. MF 1002 tempera picture by author's son David Langton 1 p. MF 1002 crayon and pencil picture 1 p. MF1002 clippings 4 p. MF 1002 typescript, correcyed 162 p. MF 1002 front matter 1 p. Correspondence from Children's Book Authors

MF 1439 Natalie Babbitt 22 p. MF 1439 Jane Gardam 54 p. MF 1439 Mollie Hunter 25 p. MF 1439 Liesel Moak Skorpen 126 p. MF 1439 Joan Tate 49 p. Miscellaneous

MF 1002 notebooks 4 p. MF 1002 notes 34 p.