Joan Blos Papers
Scope and Contents
The collection focuses on the background, writing and revision of several books for children and young adults by Joan Blos. Materials include holographs (manuscripts), typescripts, research materials - including photographs and original documents - notes, galleys, proofs, and dummies. There is also correspondence concerned with the publication process as well as from readers, and clippings and reviews of her books. A Gathering of Days materials also include Newbery speech drafts and memorabilia.
Dates
- 1965 - 1988
Creator
- Blos, Joan W. (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
Joan Winsor Blos was born December 9, 1928 in New York City. She earned a B.A. from Vassar College (1949) and her M.A. from City College, New York (1956). Blos began writing children's book in the early 1960s. A trip to New Hampshire led to an interest in the early history of the state and New England region and would lead to the writing of A Gathering of Days: A New England Girl's Journal, 1830-32, which won the 1980 Newbery Award and the American Book Award for Children's fiction.
Blos continued to write both young adult fiction and picture books, and was primarily known for her historical fiction. Blos died in 2017.
Extent
3.3 Cubic Feet (4 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Joan Blos' papers focus on the background, writing and revision of several of her books for children and young adults. The collection includes holographs (manuscripts), typescripts, research materials - including photographs and original documents - notes, galleys, proofs, and dummies.
Arrangement
Collection guide arranged alphabetically by publication title.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Joan Blos.
Separated Materials
The Special Collections Library at the University of Michigan holds a collection of Joan Blos's papers.
- Authors, American -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Cats -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Children's literature, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Children's poetry, 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
- City and town life -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Diaries -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Frontier and pioneer life -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Imagination -- Juvenile fiction 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
- Play -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Stories in rhyme Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Joan Blos Papers, 1965-1988
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Christina Cowan and Nancy Larsen
- Date
- October 1994 and June 2004
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- April 2013: Collection reprocessed by Laura Howard; EAD updated by Karen Spilman
- April 2023: Description updated by Caitlin Marineau.
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Children's Literature Research Collections Collecting Area
