DACS

]> Finding Aid for the Lois Lenski Papers, 1915-1970 Processed by: Archives Staff; machine-readable finding aid created by: Jason Alston University Libraries, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro 2009 Machine-readable finding aid derived from XML authoring program. Date of source: ; Description is in English Finding aid was prepared using DACS Finding Aid for the Lois Lenski Papers, 1915 - 1970 University of North Carolina at Greensboro Descriptive Summary Lois Lenski (1893-1974) was a Newbery Medal-winning children's author and illustrator. The Lois Lenski Papers date from 1915 to 1970 and contain research notes, correspondence, sketches, manuscripts, illustrations, proofs, book jackets, publicity materials, artifacts, articles, toys and other items documenting Lenski's life and career. Lois Lenski Papers, 1915 - 1970 Mss015 Lenski, Lois, 1893-1974 17.405 Linear Feet, 24 Boxes University Archives and Manuscripts English Administrative Information Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Lois Lenski Papers, 1915-1970, University Archives and Manuscripts, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, NC, USA.

Acquisition Information

Gift of the author, 1958 to 1968. Additional original illustrations given by Lenski's son, Steven Covey, in 1993 and 1995. One original illustration purchased in 2001. Box of toys designed by Lois Lenski given by Steven Covey in 2003.

Processing Information

Processed by Archives Staff,

Encoded by Jason Alston, July 2009;

Biographical Note

Lois Lenski was born 14 October 1893, in Springfield, Ohio, and earned her bachelor's degree in education from Ohio State University in 1915. She married Arthur Covey, a mural painter, in 1921. Lenski achieved acclaim as both an artist and author. In addition to illustrating her own works, she illustrated 57 children's books written by other authors. In 1946, she won the Newbery Medal for Strawberry Girl, and in the following year she received the Child Study Association Award for Judy's Journey. In 1962, she received an honorary L.H.D. from the University of North Carolina Greensboro. Lenski lived in Connecticut until failing health forced her to move permanently to a warmer climate. She died 14 September 1974 at her home in Tarpon Springs, Florida.

Collection Overview

The Lois Lenski Papers date from 1915 to 1970 and contain research notes, correspondence, sketches, manuscripts, illustrations, proofs, book jackets, publicity materials, artifacts, articles, toys and other items documenting Lenski's life and career.

Collection Arrangement

The items comprising this collection are arranged by genre form, or type of material.

Detailed Description of the Collection 1 Charts Regarding Regional America and Roundabout America Series. Background Letters from Bayou Suzette. Research Notes on Bayou Life. Letters from J.H. Monies Regarding Bayou Life. Sketches of Bayou Dress and People. Bayou Suzette: Manuscript Pages. Bayou Suzette Photograph Album. Bayou Suzette Illustrations Album, 1943. Rough Sketches for Illustrations Bayou Suzette, 1942. French Quarter Sketches, 1941. Bayou Barataria Sketches, 1941. Teche Country (Furnishings and Architecture Sketches). 2 Ashe County, N.C. Sketches, April-May 1945 Background Research for Blue Ridge Billy, 1945-1946. Background Material for Blue Ridge Billy. Blue Ridge Billy Illustrations, 1946. Blue Ridge Billy Photographs. Benny and His Penny Manuscript, 1931. Indian Captive: Research (Typed Carbon). My Story Indian Captive (Typed Carbon). Mr. and Mrs. Noah (Typed Carbon). Background Material for Peanuts for Billy Ben. Peanuts for Billy Ben: Original Letters Used in Research. Peanuts for Billy Ben: the Writing of (Five Manuscript Pages). Sugarplum House: Manuscript. We Live in the Country: Notebook. 3 Deer Valley Girl: Three Illustrations. To Be a Logger: Three Illustrations. Two Maps of the U.S. Mr. and Mrs. Noah: Exhibit Photos. Christmas in Tickletown Proof Sheet. There Were Giants, 1929. Pages from Ohio State University Yearbook, 1915. Illustrated Notice for Jacket of Frederick Wilson's Novel. First Linoleum Block Prints. Eleven Pencil Drawings. Eighteen Linoleum Block Prints. Original Drawing, Pelham Home for Children, 1926. Three Original Woodcuts. City Island Beach, 1926. Reproduction of Lenski Illustration in The Bookshelf for Boys and Girls, 1930. Reproductions of Lenski Illustrations in Book Dial, 1928, 1930, 1932. Form Letter by Lenski, 1956. 4 We Live in the Country: Galleys and Proofs We Live in the Country: Page Proofs. We Live in the Country: Dummy Book. We Live by the River: Page Proofs. We Live in the Southwest: Page Proofs. Berries in the Scoop: Case and Jacket Proof. The Life I Live: Galleys, etc. Little Sioux Girl: Folded Sheets. Roundabout America Series: Jacket Sketches. Twenty-four Book Jackets. 5 Ephemera Christmas Cards. Prayer in the House. Bookmarks and Bookplates. Booklists (Florida). Booklists. Lippincott Notices. Oxford University Press Notices. Stoke Notices. Walck Notices. Brochures for Exhibits. Lois Lenski Day, New York. Program, International Reading Association. Twenty-three Publishers' Notices. 6 Artifacts Two Panoramas. Miniature Living Room. Lois Lenski Paperweight. Paper Cut-Out Horse, Eyeglasses and Doll. 7 Artifacts (Blocks) Twenty-eight Photoengraved Blocks (Two of Lenski; Twenty-six are Her Illustrations). 8 Poems, Songs and Published Articles Three Poems in Thoughts of God, 1960. When Jesus was a Little Boy Poem in Family Worship, 1961. Excerpts from Flood Friday in Knowing Our Neighbors in the United States Study Book, 1966. Two Poems in Ready to Roll Manual, 1967. Three Poems in Rolling Along Manual, 1967. Supermarket Poem, in Starter Concept Cards Manual, 1967. Three Poems in God is in Many Places, 1967. I Like to Go to School Poem in All Around Me Teachers Manual, 1968. Like Me Poem in Elementary School English, 1968. Christ Child Small Poem in Learn, 1968. Drawings and Songs on the Policeman Small Theme to Accompany Speech Improvement Materials for the Mentally Retarded. I Like to Live on a Farm Song in SongTime and Music and Things, 1965-66. Sound Sheet with Two Poems in Scholastic Teacher, March 23, 1970. Three Circles Poem, in Three, Four, May 22, 1968. Outline of Social Study Units for 5th and 6th Grades Based on Regional America Series. Two Poems in Outreach Unlimited, 1962-1963. 9 Articles By Lois Lenski Christmas in Tickletown, in Child Life, Dec. 1934. Let Your Child Draw, in Better Homes and Gardens, May 1935. Let Us Give Them Books, Reprinted from Childhood Education, Oct. 1948 Out of a Paper Sack, in The Horn Book Magazine July-Aug., 1949. Helping Children to Create, Reprinted from Childhood Education, Nov. 1949. The Pink China Bonbon Dish, in Christmas, 1949. Beyond the Rim of Our world, International Council of Religious Education, 1950. Living with Others, in Thoughts of God for Boys and Girls, 1952. "Let Them Create, in The Horn Book Magazine Feb. 1952. Can a Child Think? Reprint from Education, Nov. 1954. A Scoop Full of Berries, in NCA News, April 1956. Getting Books from Life, in Children Can Read, Do Children Read?, Kent State Univ. Bulletin, Dec. 1955. Understanding People - Excerpts from Address Given to WMF Convention, San Antonio, Texas, Nov. 7,1956. In Women's Missionary Outlook, Three Parts, Includes Program from the Convention. People, in Opening Doors for Parents and Teachers of Primary Children, 1959. Place and People, in Illinois State Univ. Journal, Feb. 1966. Adventure in Understanding. Typescript, undated. Play-Acting Real. Typescript, undated. White Girl Captive. Play. Typescript, undated. 10 Articles About Lois Lenski Lois Lenski, A Serious Artist with a Sense of Humor by Josiah Titzell, in The Publisher's Weekly, Oct. 25, 1930. The Regional Stories of Lois Lenski, by Marie L. Ram. M.A. thesis, 1952. Lois Lenski's Regional Literature, by Leland B. Jacobs, in Elementary English, May 1953. Miscellaneous newspaper clippings: reviews and news items, 1940s and 1950s. Corn Farm Boy, by Ruth H. Wagner. Reprinted from Midland Schools, 1954. A Story-Teller Serves God, by Lucille E. Hein, in The Lutheran, Mar. 28, 1956. The Little Stoics of Flood Friday, by Lee Johnson, in the Hartford Courant, Sept.23, 1956. Dear Miss Lenski, by Joanne Belk, in the Lutheran Standard, Sept. 1, 1956. An Analysis of the Lois Lenski Literature from a Sociological Point of View, by Marie L. Ram. Reprinted from Dissertation Abstracts, 1959. (Includes comments by Lenski). Mr. Small-Ambassador, by Marie L. Ram, in New York State Education, Oct. 1962. Is She at Work or Play? Ohioan, winter, 1961-62. Reference to The Little Train in Scientific American, June 1962. Reference in George P. Wilson letter about dialect in Greensboro Daily News, Dec. 10, 1965. Children's Books Are Lois Lenski's Labor of Love, by Elaine Hollabaugh, in Lutheran Libraries, 1969 To Children with Love, by Elaine Hollabaugh, in Lutheran Standard, Sept. 15, 1970. Review of Strawberry Girl in Northwinds, Sept. 1970. Friend of the Family, by Miriam Sieber Lind. Reprinted from Christian Living, undated. Lois Lenski's Use of Regional Speech, by George P. Wilson (Typescript), undated. 11 Bibliographies and Miscellaneous Catalogues Lenski Collections at Other Libraries. Lenski Collection of University of Oklahoma. Lenski Collection of Women's College (University of North Carolina Greensboro), 1960. Lenski Collection of State University of New York, Buffalo. Preliminary Study, University of North Carolina Greensboro Library, 1960. Miscellaneous Book Catalogues for Early American Children's Books. Lippincott and Other Catalogues. 12 Biographical Materials Biographical Photo Album, 1965. Photographs of Home, Studio, UNCG, and Portrait. Diary, London and Italy, 1920-1921 (Typescript). Portrait, 1962. My Ohio Beginnings, in Ohioan Quarterly, 1970. Brochure Regarding Lenski Memorial Room Honoring Father. Biographical Sketch. Letters to Mabel Pugh (Typescript). Miscellaneous Correspondence Regarding Greensboro Visits and Collections at UNCG, 1948-1963. Lois Lenski in The Horn Book Magazine, 1946. 13 Biographical Material Regina Medal Acceptance Speech, in Catholic Library Journal, 1969. Cover Design for Lois Lenski: An Appreciation, Women's College of the University of North Carolina, 1963 Lois Lenski: An Appreciation, Friends of the Library, UNCG, 1963. Creating Books, in School Library Journal, 1963. Selected Fan Letters Written to Lois Lenski, 1966-1967. Awards Announcements, 1969. Lois Lenski, Friend of Children; Lippincott, 1958. Lois Lenski... the Rarest Kind of Best, in This Day, 1970. Lois Lenski - Real Live Author Speech, 1970 (Typescript). Reel and Cassette Recordings of Lenski Interview with Ralph Jennings, 1957. Reel and Cassette Recordings of Lenski Interview with Laird Covey, 1968. Reel and Cassette Recordings of Lenski Interview with Stephen Covey, 1968. 14 Correspondence Bookdealers' Correspondence, 1931-1939. Private Owner's Correspondence, A-C, 1931-1941. Private Owner's Correspondence, D-L, 1931-1941. Private Owner's Correspondence, M-P, 1931-1941. Private Owner's Correspondence, Q-Z, 1931-1941. Wilbur M. Stone Correspondence, 1931-1932. Diary of Purchases and Miscellaneous Correspondence. 15 Miscellaneous Items Tax Books, Invoices, Account Books, Railroad Timetable, Cloth Samples, Cut-outs, Programs, Transfer Pictures from 19th Century. Cloth Hankerchief from Album of Elizabeth Douglas. Scrapbook circa 1880s. Five Valentines, One Picture Card, One New Year's Greeting. Forty-Five Letters, Gould and Grant Families. Physician's Card Darft Exemption Form. The Gosport Tragedy. Drawing Book of Frank Smith 1860s. Photo of H. Chapman. Ten Stencils. Rewards of Merit, etc. Children's Copy Books. Color Lithos. Farmer's Almanac, 1930. Story of Tommy Fisher, 1942, by Steven Covey. 16 Toys Designed by Lois Lenski 20 Alphabet Blocks, Commercially Manufactured, Manufacturer Unknown. Each Block 1 5/8” Square. Letter and Prose Combinations, ex. A/Y Andy and Alice Ate Apples; B/N Baby in the Buggy Gets a Big Balloon. Two Train Sets – Possibly a Prototype for a Manufactured Toy. Larger Set Includes 11 Blocks, Approximately 2 1/8” Square. Smaller Set Includes 8 Blocks, Approximately 1 5/8” Square. 17 Picture Books Season Books, P-1 Spring is Here, Illustration #8. Season Books, P-2 On a Summer Day, Illustration #12. Davy Books, P-3 A Dog Came to School, Illustration #14. Davy Books, P-4 Big Little Davy, Illustration #7. Davy Books, P-5 Davy and His Dog, Illustration #5. Davy Books, P-6 Davy and His Dog, Acetate Overlay for Blue Jacket Plate. Davy Books, P-7 Davy and His Dog, Jacket Design. Davy Books, P-8 Surprise for Davy, Illustration #14 Mr. Small Books, P-9 Papa Small, Illustration #10. Mr. Small Books, P-10 Cowboy Small, Illustration # 15. Mr. Small Books, P-11 Cowboy Small, Illustration #22. Mr. Small Books, P-12 Songs of Mr. Small, Illustration p. 27. Mr. Small Books, P-13 The Little Fire Engine, Illustration #13. Read and Sing Books, P-14 I Went for a Walk, Illustration. Read and Sing Books, P-15 I Went for a Walk, Illustration p. 16-17. Read and Sing Books, P-16 At Our House, Cover Overlay. Read and Sing Books, P-17 At Our House, Illustration #13. Read and Sing Books, P-18 At Our House, Original Tailpiece. Read and Sing Books, P-19 When I Grow Up, Cover Overlay p. 43. Read and Sing Books, P-20 When I Grow Up, Illustration #20. P-21 Animals for Me, Illustration #13. P-22 Susie Mariar, Illustration #12. P-23 Policeman Small, Press Sheet. P-24 Policeman Small, Dust Jacket, Reissue 2001. P-25 Big Little Davy, Printer's Proofs. P-26 The Little Auto, Dust Jacket, Reissue 2001. 18 Roundabout America Books P2-1 Berries in the Scoop, Illustration p.85. P2-2 Peanuts for Billy Ben, Jacket Design. P2-3 Peanuts for Billy Ben, Color Jacket Design. P2-4 Project Boy, Cloth Case Design. P2-5 We Live by the River, Illustration p.28. P2-6 We Live in the City Title, Page Design and Jacket Design. P2-7 We Live in the City, Illustration p.102. P2-8 We Live in the Country, Cloth Case Design. P2-9 We Live in the Country, Illustration p.72. P2-10 We Live in the Country, Jacket Design. P2-11 We Live in the South, Jacket Design. P2-12 We Live in the South, Color Jacket Design. P2-13 We Live in the South Mock-up for Jacket. P2-14 We Live in the South Map, Illustration p.2. P2-15 We Live in the Southwest, Illustration p.103. 19 Regional Books P3-1 Bayou Suzette, Title Page. P3-2 Bayou Suzette, Illustration. P3-3 Bayou Suzette, Illustration p.9. P3-4 Bayou Suzette, Illustration pp.20-21. P3-5 Bayou Suzette, Illustration p.41. P3-6 Bayou Suzette, Illustration pp.48-49 P3-7 Bayou Suzette, Illustration pp. 118-19 P3-8 Bayou Suzette, Illustration p. 153. P3-9 Bayou Suzette, Illustration pp.178-79. P3-9a Maps of New Orleans (pt. 1 and pt. 2). P3-10 Blue Ridge Billy, Jacket Design. P3-11 Blue Ridge Billy, Color Jacket Design. P3-12 Blue Ridge Billy, Frontispiece and Title Page. P3-13 Blue Ridge Billy, Map Illustration. P3-14 Blue Ridge Billy, Illustration pp. 4-5. P3-15 Blue Ridge Billy, Illustration p.14. P3-16 Blue Ridge Billy, Illustration p.79. P3-17 Blue Ridge Billy, Illustration p. 106-107. P3-18 Blue Ridge Billy, Illustration p. 131. P3-19 Blue Ridge Billy, Endpaper. P3-19a Blue Ridge Billy, Early Illustration. P3-20 Coal Camp Girl, Illustration p.44. P3-21 Judy's Journey, Illustration p.76. P3-22 Houseboat Girl, Illustration p.97. P3-23 Mama Hattie's Girl, Illustration p.182. P3-24 Strawberry Girl, Illustration pp.120-21. P3-25 Strawberry Girl, Illustration p. 162. Historical Books, P3-26 Blueberry Corners, Endpaper. Historical Books, P3-27 Blueberry Corners, Illustration. Historical Books, P3-28 Phebe Fairchild Her Book, Illustration p.135. P3-29 Folder Containing 8 Original Linoleum Block Prints. 20 Original Lithographs, P4-1 Backyard Pines, 1932. #5 of edition of 29. Original Lithographs, P4-2 Bridge in the Woods-Winsted, 1932. #5 of edition of 27. Original Lithographs, P4-3 Farm by the Road, 1932. #2 of edition of 30. Original Lithographs, P4-4 Girl at the Pump, 1932. #1 of edition of 31. Original Lithographs, P4-5 Hill Road, 1932. #2 of edition of 27. Orginal Lithographs, P4-6 Old Harwinton Road, 1932. #3 of edition of 29. Original Lithographs, P4-7 Pasture Gate, 1932. #7 of edition of 28. Original Lithographs, P4-8 Down to the Sea, 1933. #2 of edition of 27. P4-9 Medieval Drawing #1 1922. P4-10 Medieval Drawing #2 1925-27. P4-11 Medieval Drawing #3 1922-27. P4-12 Medieval Drawing #4 1922. Florentine Decoration #1 Watercolors, P4-13 Early Work #1. Watercolors, P4-14 Early Work #2. Watercolors, P4-15 Early Work 1917. Nursery Rhymes. Watercolors, P4-16 Early Work 1919. The Farm, Sketch for Decoration of Child's Room. Watercolors, P4-17 Early Work 1918. Decoration for 4 Sides of Column. Used at Lord and Taylor's Department Store, Fifth Ave., New York. Watercolors, P4-18 Early Work 1918. Decoration for 4 Sides of a Column. Used at Lord and Taylor's Dept. Store. P4-19 We Live in the South, Jacket Sketch and Color Card. P4-20 We Live in the South, Jacket Proof. P4-21 Peanuts for Billy Ben, Jacket Sketch and Color Card. P4-22 Peanuts for Billy Ben, Jacket Proof. P4-23 Peanuts for Billy Ben, Publisher's Letter; Copy of Telegram Sent in Reply. P4-24 Rooftops by the Sea Color Woodblock Print, 1926. P4-25 Print- Lois Lenski's USA. (Framed in Special Collections). P4-26 Nonsensicalville Original Cover Design, (Framed in Special Collections). P4-27 Chimney Corner Stories, 1925 Illus. Proofs (Framed in Special Collections). P4-28 Publisher's Promotional Material. 3 Cut-outs of Policeman Small, 1 of The World of Christopher Robin, by A.A. Milne. 21 Photostats of 51 Historical Prints 22 Sixteen Mounted Pencil Sketches from Lenski's Grandmother Tippy Toe 23 Signed Illustrations for Lenski Stories Six Ink Drawings for Susie Mariar. Two Pencil Drawings for Deer Valley Girl. Two Pencil Drawings for Prairie School. Three Pencil Drawings for Houseboat Girl. Two Ink Drawings for Peanuts for Billy Ben. Two Pencil Drawings for Judy's Journey. Pencil Drawing of San Franscisco Boy. Pencil Drawing of Shoofly Girl. Pencil Drawing of Corn Farm Boy. Ink Drawing of Project Boy. 24 Illustrations for Lenski Stories Pencil Drawing for To Be a Logger. Pencil Drawing for Coal Camp Girl. Ink Drawing for a Nativity Christmas Card. Two Three-Color Illustrations for Davy's Day. Two Two-Color Illustrations for A Dog Came to School. Three Ink Drawings for We Live by the River. Two Ink Drawings for We Live in the Country. Separated Material

Boxes 17-24 contain oversized materials, and are located on the manuscripts oversized materials shelving.

Related Material

See more literary manuscript collections, including children's authors, housed at UNCG.

Lois Lenski collection at Illinois State University.

Lois Lenski collection at The University of Montana Museum of Fine Arts.

Lois Lenski collection at Syracuse University.

Lois Lenski collection at The University of Southern Mississippi.