Witold T. Mars Papers
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of illustrations, proofs, prints, and other materials related to the creation illustrations for children's books. This collection also includes some correspondence related to some titles, as well as designs for Christmas cards, advertising and commercial art, and other artistic endeavors.
Dates
- 1957 - 1989
Creator
- Mars, W. T. (Witold T.) (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use in the Elmer L. Andersen Library reading room.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection may be 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. Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law.
Biographical / Historical
Witold Tadeusz Mars was born September 1, 1912, in Rzesna, Poland. His mother, Stefania, wrote children's books, and Mars illustrated one of her books when he was nine. He later studied in Krakow and at the Academy of Fine Arts in Warsaw. Mars worked as an artist and illustrator before World War II, exhibiting his work in Poland and Sweden. During World War II he served with the Polish forces in England and France. Mars came to the U. S. in 1951, and began working as an illustrators for various magazines and book publishers. He illustrated his first book for children, Reba Mirsky's Thirty-One Brothers and Sisters, in 1952. Throughout his long career, Mars illustrated children's and young adult books on a wide variety of topics and in various media and styles. He illustrated both fiction and nonfiction, many of the latter dealing with military history. He also illustrated a number of works of historical fiction, some humorous stories, and contemporary novels for children and young adults. Mars also wrote one book for children, The Baby Dragon, that drew on his interest in dragons, a symbol of Poland, and its old cathedrals. Mars died in New York in 1985.
Biographical Source:
"Witold Tadeusz J. Mars (1912-)." Something About the Author. Vol. 3. Detroit, MI: Gale, 1971.
Extent
23 Linear Feet (14 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Witold Mars papers contains artwork and other material related to children's books illustrated by Mars, as well as correspondence related to some titles, as well as designs for Christmas cards, advertising and commercial art, and other artistic endeavors.
Arrangement
Collection guide arranged alphabetically by publication title.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Part of this collection was originally given to Dr. Irvin Kerlan, who in turn donated his collection to the University of Minnesota. Witold Mars added additional material to the collection from the 1960 through 1980s, with further material donated by his widow, Helene Mars, in 1992.
- Aboriginal Australians -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Adventure stories Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Animals -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Authors, American -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Authors, Polish -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Children's literature -- Illustrations Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Children's literature, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Children's stories, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Cities and towns -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Dragons -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Drawings (visual works) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Fairy tales Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Hawaii -- Princes and princesses -- Biography -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Illustration of books -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Illustrators -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Indians of Central American -- Folklore Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Indians of North America -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Ink wash paintings Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Middle Ages -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Military history -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Music -- History and criticism -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mythology, Greek -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Naval history -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Pearl Harbor (Hawaii), Attack on, 1941 -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Polynesians -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Prehistoric peoples -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Robots -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States -- History -- French and Indian War, 1754-1763 -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1939-1945 -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- paintings (visual works) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- watercolors (paintings) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Source
- Mars, Helene (Donor, Person)
- Kerlan, Irvin, 1912-1963 (Donor, Person)
- Title
- Witold T. Mars Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Christopher M True
- Date
- 2015
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- February 2023: Description updated by Caitlin Marineau.
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Children's Literature Research Collections Collecting Area
