Esther Averill papers
Scope and Contents
The Esther Averill papers contains written and illustrative production material for five children's books published between 1944 and 1973 with Harper and Row. The original art work includes pencil sketches, ink and watercolor illustrations, and blueprint sheets. Original manuscript material includes corrected typescripts, proofs, correspondence, bookmarks, and miscellaneous materials.
Dates
- circa 1944-circa 1973
Creator
- Averill, Esther, 1902-1992 (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
Esther Averill was born July 24, 1902 in Bridgeport, Connecticut and graduated from Vassar College in 1923. She worked for a period at a women's fashion magazine, before moving to France for a decade. While there, she founded the children's publisher Domino Press in 1931, with the publication of Daniel Boone, written by Averill and published by Feodor Rojankovsky. After ceasing operations of Domino Press in 1938 Averill wrote and illustrated numerous books for children, incluing the Cat Club series. Averill died in 1992.
Biographical source:
"Esther Averill (1902-)." Something About the Author. Vol. 28. Detroit, MI: Gale, 1982.
Extent
4 boxes
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Esther Averill papers contain written and illustrative production material for five children's books created by Averill.
Arrangement
Collection guide arranged alphabetically by publication title.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Portions of the collection were initially donated by Averill to the University via Dr. Irvin Kerlan beginning in 1952, with later donations directly from Averill.
- Authors, American -- 20th century 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
- Color separation (technique) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- 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
- Picture books Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Sketches Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- watercolors (paintings) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Source
- Kerlan, Irvin, 1912-1963 (Donor, Person)
- Title
- Esther Averill papers, circa 1944-circa 1973
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Sharlene Murphy
- Date
- 10/25/2004
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- January 2022: Description updated by Caitlin Marineau.
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Children's Literature Research Collections Collecting Area
