Eleanor Estes Papers
Scope and Contents
The collection contains production material for children's books by Eleanor Estes published between 1944 and 1987, and includes both manuscript and illustrative material. The collection primarily contains typescripts and proofs related to her works, but the collection also holds illustrations and color separations for the book The Sleeping Giant. The collection also contains two boxes of correspondence and artwork sent to Estes by children.
Dates
- circa 1944-1987
Creator
- Estes, Eleanor, 1906-1988 (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
Eleanor Estes was born May 9, 1906 in West Haven, Connecticut. She attended Pratt Institute Library School and worked as a children's librarian in New Haven, Connecticut, and New York for a number of years. Eleanor Estes began writing children's books in 1941, publishing The Moffats, a family story that drew on her own memories of growing up in West Haven in the early part of the twentieth century. The book is the first in a series that featured the Moffat family. Estes continued to publish family stories for children for the next four decades, winning the Newbery Award in 1952 for Ginger Pye, the story of the Pye family and their new puppy, Ginger. Eleanor Estes died July 15, 1988.
Biographical Source:
"Eleanor Estes (1906-1988)." Something About the Author. Vol. 91. Detroit, MI: Gale, 1997.
Extent
3.9 Cubic Feet (5 boxes [2 record cartons, 3 flat boxes])
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Eleanor Estes papers contain material related to her work as an author and illustrator of children's books.
Arrangement
Collection guide arranged alphanetically by published title, with Articles and Children's Correspondence listed at the top.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Part of this collection was originally donated to Dr. Kerlan, who in turn donated his collection to the University of Minnesota. During the 1960s-1980s, Eleanor Estes added additional material.
- Authors, American -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Brothers and sisters -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Cats -- 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
- Chinese Americans -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Color separation (technique) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Detective and mystery stories Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Dogs -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Friendship -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Heroes -- 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
- Imagination -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Manuscripts for publication Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Picture books Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Siblings Subject Source: Homosaurus
- Tall tales -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Umbrellas -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Vacations -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Witches -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- watercolors (paintings) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Source
- Kerlan, Irvin, 1912-1963 (Donor, Person)
- Title
- Eleanor Estes Papers, circa 1944-1987
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Christina Cowan; updated by Larry Peterson
- Date
- June 1995; updated November 2003
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- January 2020: Collection reprocessed and finding aid updated by Caitlin Marineau
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Children's Literature Research Collections Collecting Area
