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Virginia E. Sorensen Papers

 Collection
Identifier: CLRC-73

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

  • Creation: circa 1942-1979

Creator

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.

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

Contact:
Suite 113, Elmer L. Andersen Library