Barbara Cooney Papers

Barbara Cooney was born 6 August 1917, in Brooklyn, NY, the daughter of Russell Schenck (a stockbroker) and Mae Evelyn (an artist; maiden name, Bossert) Cooney. She was educated at Smith College (B.A., 1938) and attended the Art Students League (1940). During World War II she served in the Women's Army Corps (1942-1943), achieving the rank of second lieutenant.

A freelance author and illustrator (1938-2000), Cooney's works are also held in the Kerlan Collection at the University of Minnesota, the de Grummond Collection at the University of Southern Mississippi, and in museums at Rutgers University, Bowdoin College, and in the public libraries of Gary, Indiana, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, and Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

She is the recipient of many awards for her work:

New York Herald Tribune's Children's Spring Book Festival Honor Book. Green Wagons, 1943; Too Many Pets, 1952.

American Library Association Notable Book citation. American Folk Songs for Children in Home, School and Nursery School, 1948; Chanticleer and the Fox, 1958; Squawk to the Moon, Little Goose, 1974.

Caldecott Medal from the American Library Association. Chanticleer and the Fox, 1959; Ox-Cart Man, 1980.

Chandler Book Talk Award of Merit, 1964.

Child Study Association of America Children's Books of the Year. Christmas Folk and The Owl and the Pussy-Cat, 1969; Hermes, Lord of Robbers and Book of Princesses, 1971; Down to the Beach, 1973; Squawk to the Moon, Little Goose, 1974; Lexington and Concord, 1775, 1975; The Story of Holly and Ivy, Christmas in the Barn, The Little Fir Tree and Emma, 1986.

School Library Journal's Best Books List Squawk to the Moon, Little Goose, 1974.

New York Times Outstanding Books of the Year Squawk to the Moon, Little Goose, 1974; When the Sky Is Like Lace, 1975; Ox-Cart Man, 1979.

Silver Medallion from the University of Southern Mississippi 1975, for outstanding contributions to the field of children's books.

Medal from Smith College 1976, for her body of work.

New York Times Best Illustrated Books of the Year Ox-Cart Man, 1979.

Notable Children's Trade Book in the Field of Social Studies, National Council for the Social Studies and Children's Book Council Tortillitas para Mama and Other Nursery Rhymes, 1982; The Story of Holly and Ivy, 1986.

American Book Award for Hardcover Picture Book from the Association of American PublishersMiss Rumphius, 1983.

New York Times Best Book of the Year Miss Rumphius, 1983.

Notable Children's Book, Association for Library Services to Children, American Library AssociationSpirit Child, 1984.Honor list Island Boy, 1989

Ph.D., Fitchburg State College, 1988.

Keene State College Children's Literature Festival Award, 1989.

McCord Children's Literature Citation, 1990.

Lupine Award for Hattie and the Wild Waves, 1990.

Kerlan Award, 1992, for body of work.

Honorary doctorates from the University of Maine at Machais (1994), Westbrook College (1995), and Bowdoin College (1996).

Proclaimed an official state treasure of Maine, 1996.

Cooney died after a long illness on 10 March 2000.