Patricia Polacco Papers
Scope and Contents
This collection consists of production materials for four picture books by Patricia Polacco, and includes correspondence, typescripts, galley proofs, and pencil drawings.
Dates
- circa 1988-2009, undated
Creator
- Polacco, Patricia (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
Author and illustrator Patricia Polacco was born in Lansing, Michigan in 1944. During the early years of her life she lived with her mother and grandparents on a farm in Union City, Michigan. The relationship she had with her grandmother, or Babushka, inspired several of her later books. She eventually moved to Coral Gables, Florida, and then to Oakland, California, where she spent the next 37 years of her life. Growing up she struggled in school, not learning how to read until age 14 due to dyslexia. Her book Thank You, Mr. Falker, tells the story of the teacher who recognized her learning disability and helped her to overcome it.
After graduating from Oakland Tech High School, Polacco attended the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, and then Laney Community College in Oakland. She then set off for Monash University, Mulgrave, Australia and the Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology, Melbourne, Australia where she received a Ph.D in Art History, Emphasis on Iconography. Although art had always been a part of her life, Polacco did not start writing children's books until she was 41 years old. The great storytellers on both sides of her family inspired her to create her own stories. Polacco currently resides in Union City, Michigan.
Extent
1.67 Linear Feet (1 flat box)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
This collection consists of production materials for four picture books created by Patricia Polacco.
Arrangement
The collection guide is arranged alphabetically by publication title.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Patricia Polacco.
- Authors, American -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Baba Yaga (Legendary character) -- 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
- Drawings (visual works) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Grandmothers -- Juvenile 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
- Indians of North America -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Manuscripts for publication Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- People with disabilities -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Picture books Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Reading -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Russia -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Schools -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Self-perception -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Sky -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Teachers -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Weather -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Patricia Polacco Papers, circa 1988-2009
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Teresa Tjepkes
- Date
- March 2015
- 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
