Virginia E. Sorensen Papers
Scope and Contents
The collection contains production materials for five titles written by Virginia Sorensen, written for both children and adults.The collection includes drafts, correspondence, research, notes, and related material.
Dates
- circa 1942-1979
Creator
- Sorensen, Virginia, 1912-1991 (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
Virginia Eggertsen Sorensen was born February 17, 1912, in Provo, Utah, the descendent of Danish and Mormon immigrants to Utah. She attended Brigham Young University, graduating with as B.S. in 1934, and later did graduate work at Stanford University. She began writing in the 1940s, publishing her first adult novel in 1942. The book, like several other of her works, drew upon her Mormon background. In the 1950s she began to write children's and young adult books. In 1957 she won the Newbery Medal for Miracles on Maple Hill, the story of a family's readjustment to thier father's return from a POW camp, and their relocation to the Pennsylvania countryside. She continued to write books for children and adults through the 1960s and 70s. For part of this time she lived in Morocco with her second husband, writer Eric Waugh. Virginia Sorensen died in 1991. Biographical Sources:
Something About the Author, vols. 2, 72 Something About the Author Autobiography Series, vol 15
Extent
1.65 Cubic Feet (2 boxes [1 record carton and 1 hollinger box])
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Virginia Eggertsen Sorensen's papers focus on the background, writing, revision, and publication of five of her books for children and adults.
Arrangement
Collection guide arranged alphabetically by published title, with some miscellaneous material at the end.
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. Virginia Sorensen later donated additional material to the University.
- Authors, American -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Children's literature, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Country life -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Farm life -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Friendship -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Manuscripts for publication Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Mormons -- Fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Morocco -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Moving, Household -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Source
- Kerlan, Irvin, 1912-1963 (Donor, Person)
- Title
- Virginia E. Sorensen Papers, circa 1942-1979
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Jim Eyer
- Date
- 2005
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- August 2018: Collection reprocessed and finding aid updated by Caitlin Marineau
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Children's Literature Research Collections Collecting Area
