Louis Slobodkin Papers
Scope and Contents
The collection contains production material for various titles illustrated by Slobodkin, as well as some miscellaneous material and artwork. The collection includes typescripts and galley proofs, notes, correspondence, illustrations done in a variety of media, some with separations, sketches and studies. The miscellaneous artwork includes sketchbooks and studies, and a black and white self-portrait.
Dates
- 1918-2000s
Creator
- Slobodkin, Louis, 1903-1975 (Person)
- Slobodkin, Florence (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
Louis Slobodkin was born February 19, 1903, in Albany, New York. He attended the Beaux Arts Institute for Design in New York City from 1918-1922, and in 1927 married Florence Gersh, who would be his collaborator on several children's books. Early in his career Slobodkin worked as a sculptor and designer, and in 1943 illustrated James Thurber's Many Moons, which received the 1944 Caldecott Medal. Throughout his career, Slobodkin illustrated both his and other author's works. He is well-known for his illustrations of Eleanor Estes' Moffat books. During the 1940s-1970s he wrote a number of books for young children, including a Read About series. He also wrote and illustrated a number of science fiction stories for older readers, including his Space Ship series. Louis Slobodkin died May 8, 1975, in Florida.
Biographical Sources:
"Louis Slobodkin (1903-1975)." Something About the Author. Vols. 1 and 26. Detroit, MI: Gale, 1971 and 1982.
Extent
15 Cubic Feet (16 boxes (7 record cartons and 9 flat boxes))
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Louis Slobodkin's papers focus on his work as an author and illustrator of children's books. The collection contains production material for various titles published between 1943-1972, as well as some miscellaneous material and artwork.
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. Additional material was given by Louis and Florence Slobodkin, as well as their family and heirs (Lawrence Slobodkin, Tamara Slobodkin, David Slobodkin, and Nathan Freeman).
- Animals -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Authors, American -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Birds -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Cats -- Juvenile fiction 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
- Circus -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Clocks and watches -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Dinosaurs -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Drawings (visual works) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Etiquette -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Fairy tales Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Families -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Fantasy fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Friendship -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Horses -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Humorous fiction 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
- Imagination -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mixed media works Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Pastels (visual works) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Picture books Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Play -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Princesses -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Science fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Sea stories Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Sketches Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Stories in rhyme Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- watercolors (paintings) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Source
- Slobodkin, Tamara (Donor, Person)
- Slobodkin, Lawrence B. (Donor, Person)
- Slobodkin, David (Donor, Person)
- Freeman, Nathan (Donor, Person)
- Kerlan, Irvin, 1912-1963 (Donor, Person)
- Title
- Louis Slobodkin Papers, 1918-2000s
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Jim Eyer; Updated by Ruth Paloma
- Date
- 2005
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- July 2017: Reprocessed by Carter Lynn Thurmond
- February 2023: Description updated by Caitlin Marineau.
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Children's Literature Research Collections Collecting Area
