Peter Spier Papers
Scope and Contents
The collection includes illustrations and studies in various media for works written and/or illustrated by Peter Spier, as well as proof sheets, research materials, typescripts, some corrected and some in Dutch, dummies, layout sheets, correspondence, and notes.
Dates
- circa1956-1993
Creator
- Spier, Peter, 1927-2017 (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
Peter Edward Spier was born in the Netherlands in 1927 and received his art education from the Royal Academy of Art in Amsterdam. He began his career as a junior editor for Elsevier before coming to the United States in 1951. After illustrating about 50 books by others, he began writing his own, and has illustrated about 100 titles. In 1978 he won the Caldecott Medal for Noah's Ark. He died in 2017.
Biographical Sources:
"Peter Spier." Something About the Author. Vol. 54. Detroit, MI: Gale, 1989.
Extent
4 boxes
Language of Materials
English
Dutch; Flemish
Abstract
The collection contains production material related to seven books written and/or illustrated by Dutch-American children's book creator Peter Spier.
Arrangement
Collection guide arranged alphabetically by title.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Peter Spier became interested in the Kerlan Collection when he was asked to autograph copies of his books for the collection in 1959. That year he gave Dr. Kerlan the production materials for one book jacket, for Hippolyte, the Crab King, selecting the materials with a plan for display to demonstrate the steps used in jacket production for that book. He continued to donate materials to the Kerlan Collection over the years.
- Bible stories, English -- Old Testament 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 literature, Dutch -- Translations 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
- Color separation (technique) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Cows -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Drawings (visual works) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Illustration of books -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Illustrators -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Manuscripts for publication Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Netherlands -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Noah's ark -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Picture books Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Sea stories Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Shipwrecks -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Trinidad -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- watercolors (paintings) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Source
- Kerlan, Irvin, 1912-1963 (Person)
- Title
- Peter Spier Papers, circa 1956-1993
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Jim Eyer
- Date
- 2005
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- July 2020: Description updated by Caitlin Marineau.
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Children's Literature Research Collections Collecting Area
