M. E. Kerr Papers
Scope and Contents
The collection contains production material for over 20 titles written by young adult author M. E. Kerr. The collection primarily contains corrected typescripts and proofs, with a small amount of correspondence, jacket proofs, and mechanical paste-ups for some titles.
Dates
- circa 1972-2003
Creator
- Kerr, M. E. (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
M. E. Kerr, the pseudonym of Marijane (Agnes) Meaker, was born May 27, 1928, in Auburn, New York. She received a BA from the University of Missouri in 1949 and began working as a freelance writer. She published her first novel, Dark Intruder, under the name Vin Packer, in 1952, and also published adult nonfiction works under the name Ann Aldrich. In 1972 she published her first book for young adults, Dinky Hocker Shoots Smackunder the pseudonym M. E. Kerr, after which she became best known for her young adult works, which often tackled controversial and serious topics. In 1983 she published Me, Me, Me, Me, Me, which discussed her own teenage years and how many of the people and events from this period found their ways into her novels. Meaker died in November 2022.
Biographical Sources:
Something About the Authorvol. 20, 61, 99, 111 (listed under Marijane Meaker); Something About the Author Autobiography Series vol. 1; Children's Literature Reviewvol. 29
Extent
5 Cubic Feet (4 record cartons and 1 flat portfolio)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
A collection of proofs and typescripts related to works written by young adult novelist M. E. Kerr.
Arrangement
Collection guide arranged alphanetically by published title.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of M. E. Kerr (Marijane Meaker).
- AIDS (Disease) -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Authors, American -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Brothers -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Children's literature, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Dating (social customs) -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Detective and mystery stories Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Family problems -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- High schools -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Human-animal relationships -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Interpersonal relations -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Manuscripts for publication Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Mothers and daughters -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Novelists, American -- 20th century -- Biography -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Parent and child -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Persian Gulf War, 1991 -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Popularity -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Spy stories Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Young adult fiction, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Young adult literature, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Youth -- Family relationships -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- M. E. Kerr Papers, circa 1972-2003
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Jim Eyer
- Date
- 2004
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- August 2019: Collection reprocessed and finding aid updated by Caitlin Marineau
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Children's Literature Research Collections Collecting Area
