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Laura Nelson Baker Papers

 Collection
Identifier: CLRC-330

Scope and Contents

The collection contains production materials for multiple books by Baker published between 1957 and 1971 and consists of holographs, typescripts, proofs, clippings and correspondence. Her titles include both fiction and nonfiction works for juvenile audiences.

Dates

  • 1952 - 1980

Creator

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

Laura Nelson Baker was born in 1911 in Humboldt, Iowa. She took courses at the University of Minnesota from 1929-1931 and served as editor to the Richfield News from 1949-1953. She was supervisor of the manuscript reading room at the Bancroft Library at the University of California, Berkeley from 1955-1957, after which she became a full time writer.

Baker wrote many books for children, among them, Because of Anne (with Adrien Stoutenberg), From Whales to Snails, and Ground Afire. She has also published short stories and articles for the Christian Science Monitor, Seventeen and American Girl.

Baker died in 2003 in Apple Valley, Minnesota.

Biographical Source:

"Laura Nelson Baker (1911-)." Something About the Author. Vol. 3. Detroit, MI: Gale, 1971.

"Laura Nelson Baker." Obituary. Star Tribune, January 12, 2003. https://www.startribune.com/obituaries/detail/215070/.

Extent

2 Linear Feet (2 boxes)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The Laura Nelson Baker papers consist of production materials related to children's books

Arrangement

Collection guide arranged into two series: 1) Publications and 2) Miscellaneous. Publication are arranged alphabetically by title. The Miscellaneous series includes correspondence and reviews.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Laura Nelson Baker, beginning in 1961 through 1981.

Related Materials

See the Adrien Stoutenburg papers for additional titles they collaborated on.

University of Southern Mississippi Libraries deGrummond Children's Literature Collection holds a collection of Laura Nelson Baker papers.

Title
Laura Nelson Baker Papers, 1952-1982
Status
Completed
Author
Nancy Larsen
Date
July 2003
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • March 2013: Collection reprocessed by Carly Lawrence; EAD updated by Karen Spilman
  • November 2022: Description updated by Caitlin Marineau.

Collecting Area Details

Contact The Children's Literature Research Collections Collecting Area

Contact:
Suite 113, Elmer L. Andersen Library