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Wilfrid S. Bronson Papers

 Collection
Identifier: CLRC-1824

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of original material for eighteen children's books written or illustrated by Bronson, including typescripts and holographs, and ink, pencil and crayon illustrations.

Dates

  • circa 1935-circa 1975

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open for use in the Elmer L. Andersen Library reading room.

Biographical / Historical

Wilfrid S. (Swancourt) Bronson was born October 24, 1894 in Chicago, IL, where his father, Frank Melville Bronson, was professor of Greek at Chicago University. His mother was Ann Goddard West.

He attended the Art Institute of Chicago and by 1917 was living with his sister, Hilda Bronson Farnsworth, in Richford, Tioga Co., NY. He filled out his draft registration card on May 29, 1917 in Tioaga County and served in World War I.

After the war, he resided in New York City and worked as a mural painter's assistant. He accompanied several scientific marine expeditions as a staff artist, and his first book, Fingerfins, the Tale of a Sargasso Fishwas published in 1930

The last of the nineteen books he wrote was Dogs: Breeds for Young People, published in 1969. He also contributed many articles, always about animals, to journals and collaborated in writing several other books.

His wife, Sonia Joseph Bronson, was from Russia. They had no children. Bronson died April 23, 1985 in Milford, PA. He was age 90.

Biographical information provided by Ann Lounsbery Owens, June 2008, relative of the artist.

Extent

2 Cubic Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection consists of original material for eighteen titles written or illustrated by Bronson, including typescripts and holographs, and ink, pencil and crayon illustrations.

Arrangement

Collection guide arranged alphabetically by title.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Wilfrid Bronson.

Title
Wilfrid S. Bronson Papers, circa 1935-circa 1975
Status
Completed
Author
Nancy Larsen
Date
2005, 2008
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • July 2020: Description updated by Caitlin Marineau.

Collecting Area Details

Contact The Children's Literature Research Collections Collecting Area

Contact:
Suite 113, Elmer L. Andersen Library