Leonard Everett Fisher Papers

Leonard Everett Fisher, the well-known author and illustrator, was born in Bronx, New York, in 1924. Although his father was a ship designer by trade, he was also an aspiring artist. Through the influence of his father, Mr. Fisher learned of his own skills at an early age. By the time he was in second grade, he was already winning awards for his artwork. After serving in World War II as a cartographer, he attended Yale University's School of Art where he received his Bachelors and Masters degrees in Fine Arts. His first published book illustration was the book jacket for The Silken Secret, published in 1954. His first illustrated book, The Exploits of Xenophon, was published by Random House in 1955. Fisher's work covers a broad range, as he writes history, science, biographies, science fiction, legends, and poetry. Mr. Fisher has been honored with such awards as the Joseph Pulitzer Painting Scholarship, the William Wirt Winchester Traveling Fellowship, the Premio Grafico Fiera di Bologna, the 1981 National Jewish Book Award for Children's Literature, the Regina Medal of the Catholic Library Association in 1991, and the Christopher Medal, along with numerous others for his painting, writing and illustrating skills. In addition to authoring over eighty books, and illustrating more than two hundred and sixty, Mr. Fisher has also designed ten United States Postage stamps.

Mr. Fisher currently resides in Westport, Connecticut with his wife Margery. He has three grown children and six grandchildren who were often the inspiration for his books. Although he is well known and admired for his scratchboard drawings and his acrylic paintings, he also uses other media.

Some of Leonard Everett Fisher's books include The Great Wall of China, Gandhi, The Seven Days of Creation, The White House, Cyclops, and Alexander Graham Bell, The Gods and Goddesses of the Ancient Maya, Don Quixote and the Windmills, and Rip van Winkle's return.