Finding Aid for the Lois Lenski Papers, 1915-1970
For reference questions, please contact university_manuscripts@uncg.edu.
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.
MSS 015
16 archival boxes, 1 wooden box of toys, 5 flat storage boxes.
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.
[Identification of item], Lois Lenski Papers (MSS 015), University Archives and Manuscripts, The University of North Carolina at Greensboro.
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.
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 UNCG. 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.
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.
BOX 1
Charts outlining social and economic patterns for books in the Regional America and Roundabout America series.
Bayou Suzette: background letters (some from J.H. Monies), research notes, photographs, and pencil sketches of Louisiana bayou life; manuscript pages (carbon) with annotations; and illustrations, circa 1941-1943.
BOX 2
Benny and His Penny: manuscript, 1931.
Blue Ridge Billy: background research, photograph album, sketchbook of Ashe County, NC, and illustrations.
Indian Captive: research (typed carbon).
Mr. and Mrs. Noah: typed carbon.
Peanuts for Billy Ben: background photographs, research letters, notes.
Sugarplum House: manuscript.
We Live in the Country: notebook.
BOX 3
Deer Valley Girl: three original illustrations.
To Be a Logger: three original illustrations, two maps of Great Lakes region.
Mr. and Mrs. Noah: photographs of exhibit on the making of the book.
Christmas in Tickletown: proof sheet, 1934.
There Were Giants: original illustrations, 1929.
Pages from The Makio, Ohio State yearbook, 1915. (Lenski was art editor.)
Illustrated notice of linoleum block jacket for Frederick Wilson's novel, Pok O' Moonshine.
23 linoleum block prints; 11 graphite pencil drawings; 3 original woodcuts.
Original drawing and program for benefit performance for for the Pelham Home for Children, 1926.
Ink drawings, City Island NY beach, 1926.
Reproduction of illustration in The Bookshelf for Boys and Girls, 1930.
Illustrations for The Book Dial, 1928, 1930, 1932.
Form letter sent to librarians with original art, 1956.
BOX 4
We Live in the Country: galleys and illustration proofs, page proofts, dummy.
We Live by the River: page proofs.
We Live in the Southwest: page proofs.
Berries in the Scoop: sample case and jacket proof.
The Life I Live: galleys, page proofs, folded sheets and blueprints.
City Poems: galleys.
Little Sioux Girl: folded sheets.
Jacket sketches for Roundabout America series (Lippincott).
Printer's proofs for cover of Story Parade magazine, 1937.
24 book jackets.
BOX 5 -- EPHEMERA
22 Christmas cards designed by Lenski, including "Prayer for This House," 1930.
Bookmarks and bookplates.
Booklists, some designed for Tarpon Springs library, 1965.
23 publisher's notices: Lippincott, Oxford University, Stokes, Walck.
Exhibition brochures - Lenski's paintings, 1927 and 1932, and Lois Lenski Day at SUNY Buffalo, 1957.
Programs for the International Reading Association's 8th Annual Convention, where Lenski spoke, 1963.
BOX 6 -- ARTIFACTS
2 panoramas.
Miniature wooden living room.
Mr. Small paperweight.
Eyeglasses, small doll, paper cut-out horse.
BOX 7 -- ARTIFACTS
28 photoengraved blocks. (2 are of Lenski; 26 are her illustrations).
BOX 8 -- POEMS, SONGS, AND PUBLISHED ARTICLES
3 poems in Thoughts of God, 1960.
"When Jesus Was a Little Boy" poem, in Family Worship, 1961.
5 references in Our Working World, Resource Unit, 1965.
Excerpts from "Flood Friday" in Knowing Our Neighbors in the United States study book, 1966.
2 poems in Ready to Roll manual, 1967.
3 poems in Rolling Along manual, 1967.
"Supermarket" poem, in Starter Concept Cards manual, 1967.
3 poems in God Is in Many Places, 1967.
"I Like to Go to School" poem in All Around Me teacher's manual, 1968.
"Like Me" poem in Elementary School English, 1968.
"Policeman Small" song in Speech Improvement for the Mentally Retarded, 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, Vancouver, B.C., 1965-66.
Sound sheet with 2 poems in Scholastic Teacher, March 23, 1970.
"Three Circles," poem, in Three, Four, May 22, 1968.
Outlines of social study units for 5th and 6th grades based on Regional America series.
2 poems in Outreach Unlimited, 1962-63.
BOX 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, 3 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." Typed mss., n.d.
"Play-Acting Real." Typed mss., n.d.
"White Girl Captive." Play. Typed mss., n.d.
BOX 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, n.d.
"Lois Lenski's Use of Regional Speech," by George P. Wilson (typescript), n.d.
BOX 11 -- BIBLIOGRAPHIES AND MISCELLANEOUS CATALOGUES
Lists of Lenski collections in other libraries.
Bibliography of Lenski Collection at the University of Oklahoma Library.
Bibliography of Lenski Collection at the Woman's College Library, Jan. 1960.
Catalogue of Lenski Collection at Butler Library, SUNY Buffalo.
Book catalogues for Early American children's books, includes Lippencott.
Box 12 -- BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
Photographs of family, home, studio, and portraits.
Diary, London and Italy, 1920-21.
"My Ohio Beginnings," in Ohioan Quarterly, 1970.
Brochure for the Lenski Memorial Room at Evangelical Lutheran Theological Seminary Library, Columbus, Ohio, honoring Lenski's father.
Biographical sketch, n.d.
Letters to Mabel Pugh, 1916-24.
Miscellaneous correspondence about Greensboro visits and collection at UNCG, 1948-63.
"Lois Lenski," by Maud Hart Lovelace, in The Horn Book Magazine, 1946; includes "Seeing Others as Ourselves," by Lenski, Newbery Award Acceptance paper.
BOX 13 -- BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS
Regina Medal Acceptance Speech, in Catholic Library Journal, 1969.
"Creating Books," in School Library Journal, 1963.
Cover design for Lois Lenski: An Appreciation, Woman's College, 1963.
Lois Lenski: An Appreciation. UNCG Friends of the Library, 1963.
Selected fan letters, 1967.
Awards announcements, 1969. Includes bibliography and chronology of works.
Lois Lenski, Friend of Children, Lippincott, 1958.
"Lois Lenski...the Rarest Kind of Best," by Elaine Hollabaugh, in This Day, 1970.
"Lois Lenski-Real Live Author." Speech by Alice Marie Ross, 1970.
4 tape recordings: Lenski interview with Ralph Jennings, 1957.
Interviews with Laird Covey and Stephen Covey, 1968 (reel-to-reel tapes converted to cassette tapes March, 1996).
BOX 14 -- CORRESPONDENCE about Lenski's collection of early American children's books
Note: A detailed calendar of this correspondence is available in University Archives & Manuscripts.
Bookdealers' Correspondence, 1931-39 (alphabetical by name of the firm, then chronological).
Wilbur M. Stone Correspondence, 1931-32.
Correspondence, 1931-41 (alphabetical then chronological). Diary of purchases and miscellaneous correspondence about the collection; includes letters from R.W.G. Vail and Clarence S. Brigham of the American Antiquarian Society, Worcester, Mass.
BOX 15 -- MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS
Tax books, invoices, account books, railroad timetable, cloth samples, cut-outs, programs, transfer pictures from 19th century.
Autograph album of Elizabeth Douglas, 1840s.
Scrapbook from 1880s.
5 Valentines, 1 picture card, 1 New Year's greeting in form of check.
45 letters between members of Gould and Grant families, 1818-1895.
Physician's card and announcement.
Draft exemption form, 1863.
"The Gosport Tragedy." manuscript poem [late 19th c.].
Lease for a house, Bangor, Maine, 1855.
Drawing book of Frank M. Smith, 1860s
Photograph of Hortense Chapman [19th c.]
10 stencils, n.d.
50 Rewards of Merit from Grant and Gould families, 1820s-1860s.
2 friendship cards and 1 acquaintance card purchased from Miss Mabel Gould, 1930.
17 children's copy books from Grant and Gould families, 1819-1929.
36 color lithographs: 27 flowers, 1 animal, 3 birds, 5 fruits [probably cut from late-19th century books.]
Farmer's Almanac, 1930.
Story of Tommy Fisher by Stephen Covey, 1942.
BOX 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.
2 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.
BOX (wood, not numbered)
Box contains Noah's ark, figures, and animals handmade by Arthur Covey for his grandson, Davey.
PORTFOLIO 1 PICTURE BOOKS
Season Books:
P-1 Spring is Here, illustration #8
P-2 On a Summer Day, illustration #12Davy Books:
P-3 A Dog Came to School, illustration #14
P-4 Big Little Davy, illustration #7
P-5 Davy and His Dog illustration #5
P-6 Davy and His Dog acetate overlay for blue jacket plate
P-7 Davy and His Dog jacket design
P-8 Surprise for Davy illustration #14Mr. Small Books:
P-9 Papa Small illustration #10
P-10 Cowboy Small illustration # 15
P-11 Cowboy Small illustration #22
P-12 Songs of Mr. Small illustration p. 27
P-13 The Little Fire Engine illustration #13Read and Sing books:
P-14 I Went for a Walk illustration
P-15 I Went for a Walk illustration p. 16-17
P-16 At Our House cover overlay
P-17 At Our House illustration. #13
P-18 At Our House original tailpiece
P-19 When I Grow Up cover overlay p. 43
P-20 When I Grow Up illustration #20Additional items:
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
PORTFOLIO 2 -- 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
Peanuts for Billy Ben 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
PORTFOLIO 3
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 & 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. 162HISTORICAL BOOKS
P3-26 Blueberry Corners endpaper
P3-27 Blueberry Corners illustration
P3-28 Phebe Fairchild Her Book illustration p.135OTHER
P3-29 Folder containing 8 original linoleum block prints
PORTFOLIO 4
ORIGINAL LITHOGRAPHS
P4-1 "Backyard Pines," 1932. #5 of edition of 29.
P4-2 "Bridge in the Woods-Winsted," 1932. #5 of edition of 27
P4-3 "Farm by the Road," 1932. #2 of edition of 30.
P4-4 "Girl at the Pump," 1932. #1 of edition of 31.
P4-5 "Hill Road," 1932. #2 of edition of 27.
P4-6 "Old Harwinton Road," 1932. #3 of edition of 29.
P4-7 "Pasture Gate," 1932. #7 of edition of 28.
P4-8 "Down to the Sea," 1933. #2 of edition of 27.MEDIEVAL DRAWINGS
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 #1EARLY WORK-WATERCOLORS
P4-13 Early work #1
P4-14 Early work #2
P4-15 Early work 1917. Nursery rhymes.
P4-16 Early work 1919. "The Farm," sketch for decoration of child's room
P4-17 Early work 1918. Decoration for 4 sides of column.
Used at Lord & Taylor's Department Store, Fifth Ave., New York.
P4-18 Early work 1918. Decoration for 4 sides of a column. Used at Lord & Taylor's Dept. Store.MISCELLANEOUS ILLUSTRATIONS
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.
Hanging in Special Collections Office/framed.
P4-25 Print- Lois Lenski's USA.
P4-26 Nonsensicalville original cover design
Hanging in Special Collections' work area/framed.
P4-27 Chimney Corner Stories, 1925 illus. proofs
P4-28 Publisher's promotional material. 3 cut-outs of Policeman Small, 1 of The World of Christopher Robin, by A.A. Milne.
P4-29 The Paths of Learning (restored, is now A-94 in early children's books in maple bookcase)
PORTFOLIO 5
Photostats of 51 historical prints
BOUND MANUSCRIPTS, NOTEBOOKS, AND INITIAL SKETCHES
(Shelved with Boxes 1-16)
Bayou Suzette: author's outline and manuscripts--holograph and typed
Blue Ridge Billy: holograph and typed manuscripts
Blueberry Corners: holograph manuscript
Judy's Journey: typed manuscript
Peanuts for Billy Ben: holograph and typed manuscripts
Phebe Fairchild Her Book: typed manuscript
We Live in the Country: holograph and typed manuscripts and sketches for illustrations
We Live in the South: typed manuscript
Let's Play House: the making of a picture book by Lois Lenski
See more literary manuscript collections, including children's authors, housed at UNCG.
See more Lois Lenski collections at the following sites:
Illinois State University
The University of Montana Museum of Fine Arts
Syracuse University
The University of Southern Mississippi