Kurt Werth Papers
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
- Werth, Kurt (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
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.
- Authors, American -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Authors, German -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Bakers -- 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
- Christmas poetry Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Christmas stories Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Color separation (technique) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Courtship -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Dragons -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Drawings (visual works) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Ducks -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Easter -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Fairy tales Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Farm life -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Folklore -- Italy Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Folklore -- England Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Folklore -- Germany Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Geese -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Goats -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Halloween -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Humorous stories 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
- Ink wash paintings Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Islands -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Italy -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Japanese Americans -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Mothers and sons -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Romance fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Santa Claus -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Self-confidence -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Swine -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- watercolors (paintings) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- 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
