Hilary Knight Papers
Scope and Contents
This collection contains preliminary and finished artwork, manuscripts, galleys, proofs, and dummies pertaining to thirty of the illustrator's published books and numerous published articles. This collection also includes many signed and dated explanatory notes from Mr. Knight, added to the collection before it was donated to the University of Connecticut in 2001.
Dates
- 1956-2001
Access
The collection is open and available for research.
Restrictions on Use and Copyright Information
Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from both the University of Connecticut Libraries and the owner(s) of the copyright.
Biography
Hilary Knight was born November 1, 1926 in Hempstead, Long Island. His mother, Katherine Sturges, was a successful commercial and fashion illustrator, known for her graceful Oriental-style artwork. His father, Clayton Knight, was a popular aviation book illustrator. Both parents were extremely influential in Mr. Knight’s decision to pursue a career in illustration, and his mother’s love of traditional Asian art is often exhibited in Mr. Knight’s own artwork. At the age of sixteen, he enrolled in the Art Students League in New York City to study art. While there, he gained a reputation as a high-spirited, somewhat mischievous student. In 1944, at the age of eighteen, Mr. Knight dropped out of school and joined the United States Navy, where he served as a ship painter for eighteen months during the height of World War II. Following his time in the Navy, Mr. Knight worked short stints as a set designer and magazine illustrator, where he became known for his whimsical black line style of drawing. Mr. Knight began illustrating children’s books for the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle Series by Betty MacDonald in the 1940s, but a fateful meeting with singer Kay Thompson at the Plaza Hotel in New York really launched Mr. Knight’s career as a children’s book illustrator. Following the publication of Eloise in 1955, Mr. Knight went on to illustrate over fifty books and numerous magazine articles for children.
Mr. Knight’s illustrations are known for their whimsical energy, fresh color, and pixie-ish characters. His technique begins with “working sketches”, using cut-out sections of text glued to double-sided Strathmore boards, which then become the actual finished artwork. He uses a combination of watercolor, pencil and pen to make most of his illustrations.
Extent
17.5 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Hilary Knight is a New York-based illustrator for children's books and magazines. This collection contains preliminary and finished artwork, manuscripts, galleys, proofs, and dummies pertaining to 30 of the illustrator's published books and numerous published articles.
Arrangement
Series I : Correspondence and Notes (undated, 1960-2001)
Series II : Published Books Illustrated by Hilary Knight (1956-2000)
Series III : Published Articles Illustrated by Hilary Knight (1973-1997)
Series IV : Unpublished Works (undated)
Series V : Promotional Materials (1976-1995)
Custodial History
Donated to the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center by Hilary Knight in 2001.
Bibliography
"Meet the Authors: Hilary Knight," Barnes and Noble,(November 11, 2011) http://www.barnesandnoble.com/writers/writerdetails.asp?z=y&cid=840202#bio
- Authors Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Children's literature Subject Source: Fast
- Correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Dummies (printed matter) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Galley proofs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Illustrations (layout features). Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Illustrators Subject Source: Fast
- Illustrators Subject Source: Fast
- Monographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- New York (inhabited place) Subject Source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
- Notes Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Photocopies Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Photographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Proofs (printed matter) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Sketches Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Twentieth century. Subject Source: Fast
- United States (nation) Subject Source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
- Works of Art Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Title
- Hilary Knight Papers
- Status
- Published
- Author
- Archives & Special Collections staff
- Date
- 2011 December
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Archives and Special Collections, University of Connecticut Library Repository
University of Connecticut Library
405 Babbidge Road Unit 1205
Storrs Connecticut 06269-1205 USA US
860-486-2524
archives@uconn.edu