Russell Freedman Papers
Scope and Contents
The Russell Freedman papers contain drafts, proofs, research, notes, reviews, and other related materials for nonfiction books written for children, primarily works on historical people and events. In addition, the collection holds some awards, ephemera, and obituary/memorial information.
Dates
- 1960 - 2018
Creator
- Freedman, Russell (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
Russell Freedman was born in October 1929 in San Francisco, California and attended the University of California Berkeley. After graduating, he did counterintelligence work during the Korean War and worked as a journalist and publicist before publishing his first book Teenagers Who Made History, in 1961, and becoming a full time writer. Many of his early works focused on nature, before he switched to biographies and historical topics. His book Lincoln: a Photobiography was awarded the 1988 Newbery Medal. He was also awarded the Laura Ingalls Wilder Medal in 1998, and a National Humanities Medal in 2007. Freedman died in 2018 in New York, where he lived with his husband, filmmaker Evans Chan.
Biographical sources:
Genzlinger, Neil. "Russell Freedman, 88, Writer of History for Young Readers, Dies." Obituary. New York Times, March 29, 2018.
"Russell Freedman (1929-)." Something About the Author. Vol. 305. Detroit, MI: Gale, 2017.
Extent
7.85 Cubic Feet (9 boxes [5 record cartons, 3 hollinger boxes, 1 flat box])
8.13 Gigabytes (160 digital files.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The Russell Freedman papers hold papers related to nonfiction publications for children, written by Freedman.
Arrangement
The collection is arranged into two series, with items in Publications arranged alphabetically by book title.
- Publications
- Other material
Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements
Digital files include Microsoft Word documents, image files (.jpg, .tiff, and .png files), PDF files, and .wav audio files.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Part of the collection was donated by Russell Freedman, with later accessions donated after Freedman's death by Evans Chan.
- African American civil rights workers -- Alabama -- Montgomery -- Biography -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- African Americans -- Civil rights -- 20th century -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- America -- Discovery and exploration -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Anderson, Marian (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Authors, American -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Biographies -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Braille, Louis, 1809-1852 (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Child labor -- United States -- History -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Children -- United States -- Social conditions -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Children of immigrants -- United States -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Children's literature, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Confucius (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Cowboys -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Crazy Horse, approximately 1842-1877 (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Depressions -- 1929 -- United States -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Douglass, Frederick, 1818-1895 (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Explorers -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Franklin, Benjamin, 1706-1790 (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Gay authors Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Graham, Martha (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Indians of North America -- Biography -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Indians of North America -- Great Plains -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Lafayette, Marie Joseph Paul Yves Roch Gilbert Du Motier, marquis de, 1757-1834 (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Manuscripts for publication Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Mexican American cowboys -- Southwest, New -- History -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Roosevelt, Eleanor, 1884-1962 (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Roosevelt, Franklin D. (Franklin Delano), 1882-1945 (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- United States -- Politics and government -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Washington, George, 1732-1799 (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- West (U.S.) -- Social life and customs -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- World War, 1914-1918 -- Juvenile literature Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Wright, Orville, 1871-1948 (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Wright, Wilbur, 1867-1912 (Depicted) -- Juvenile literature
- Young adult literature, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Source
- Chan, Evans (Donor, Person)
- Title
- Russell Freedman Papers, 1960-2018
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Caitlin Marineau
- Date
- January 2022
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- October 2022: Boxes 8 and 9 added by Carter Thurmond.
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Children's Literature Research Collections Collecting Area
