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Kurt Werth Papers

 Collection
Identifier: CLRC-1716

Scope and Contents

The collection contains production material for thirty-two titles published between 1953 and 1974. The collection contains a small amount of manuscript material including corrected typescripts, page proofs, and there is also some correspondence from publishers, teachers, children, and others. Illustrative materials include studies and sketches done in a variety of media, illustrations many with separations done in a variety of media, dummies, proofs, film positives, and some photographs. Several items were signed by Kurt Werth for Dr. Irvin Kerlan.

Dates

  • circa 1953-circa 1974

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

Kurt Werth was born September 21, 1896 in Leipzig, Germany. He studied at the Academy for Graphic Arts in Leipzig and later worked as a book and magazine illustrator in Germany. With the rise of Nazism in the 1930s, Kurt Werth left Germany and came to the United States where he did magazine and text book illustrations. He became a United States citizen in 1947 and that same year he illustrated his first book for children, Rosemary Sprague's Northward to Albion. He illustrated dozens of books for children and young adults including folk and fairy tales, biographies, and many works of fiction. Kurt Werth died on August 25, 1983 in New York City.

Biographical Source:

"Kurt Werth (1896-)." Something About the Author. Vol. 20. Detroit, MI: Gale, 1980.

Extent

11 boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Kurt Werth's papers focus on his work as an author and illustrator of children's books with an emphasis on the latter. The collection contains production material for over two dozen titles published between 1953 and 1974.

Arrangement

Collection guide arranged alphabetically by title.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Donated by to the library by Dr. Irving Kerlin. Additional donations made by the author from 1965-1978.

Title
Kurt Werth Papers, circa 1953-circa 1974
Status
Completed
Author
Christina Cowan
Date
03/01/1999
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Revision Statements

  • October 2020: Description updated by Caitlin Marineau.

Collecting Area Details

Contact The Children's Literature Research Collections Collecting Area

Contact:
Suite 113, Elmer L. Andersen Library