Brian Pinkney Papers
Scope and Content
The collection contains original artwork for books that Brian Pinkney illustrated from 1993 to 2013, of which his wife Andrea Davis Pinkney is the author. The collection primary consisted of sketches and process artwork, including drawings, watercolors, artist's dummies of book layouts, page proofs, research, and black and white matted photographs used for reference.
Dates
- 1996-2011, undated
Creator
- Pinkney, J. Brian (Person)
- Pinkney, Andrea Davis (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
Brian Pinkney was born in Boston in 1961; his father Jerry was an illustration and his mother Gloria Jean was an author, milliner, and silversmith. In 1983 he earned his Bachelors of Fine Arts from Philadelphia College of Art, where his father had also attended. Beginning his career as a freelance illustrator, Brian eventually returned to school to complete a Masters of Fine Arts degree in illustration in 1990 from the School of Visual Arts in New York. While working as an illustrator for a magazine art department Brian met Andrea Davis, an editor and writer, and the two were married in 1991. Together, Brian and Andrea have created nine picture books, including a series of biographies of famous African Americans, including Duke Ellington: The Piano Prince and his Orchestra published in 1998, and Ella Fitzgerald: The Tale of a Vocal Virtuosain 2002. Brian has won numerous awards including a Coretta Scott King Award, four Coretta Scott King Honors, the Boston Globe/Horn Book Award, and two Caldecott Honors. His works have also been exhibited in museums around the country including the Cleveland Museum of Art, the Art Institute of Chicago and the Detroit Institute of Art.
Extent
2.08 Cubic Feet (5 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection consists of production material for publications illustrated by Brian Pinkney.
Arrangement
Collection guide arranged alphabetically by title.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Brian Pinkney and Andrea Davis Pinkney
- African American civil rights workers -- Alabama -- Montgomery -- Biography -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- African American men -- Biography -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- African Americans -- Biography -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- African Americans -- Alabama -- Montgomery -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Ailey, Alvin (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Banneker, Benjamin, 1731-1806 (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Boycotts -- Alabama -- Montgomery -- 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
- Choreographers -- United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Dancers -- United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Drawings (visual works) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Ellington, Duke, 1899-1974 (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Fitzgerald, Ella (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Illustration of books -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Illustration of books -- 21st century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Illustrators -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Jazz musicians -- United States -- Biography -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- King, Martin Luther, Jr., 1929-1968 (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Kwanzaa -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Montgomery Bus Boycott, Montgomery, Ala., 1955-1956 -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Parks, Rosa, 1913-2005 (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Photographs Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Pickett, Bill, approximately 1860-1932 (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Scratch art Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Sketches Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Social change -- United States -- History -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- United States -- Race relations Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- watercolors (paintings) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Title
- Brian Pinkney Papers, 1996-2011, undated
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Finding aid created by Meredith J. Gillies and Kate Dietrick
- Date
- October 2013, June 2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- June 2020: Description updated by Caitlin Marineau.
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Children's Literature Research Collections Collecting Area
