Tomie dePaola Papers

Tomie (“Thomas Anthony”) dePaola was born in Meriden, Connecticut in 1934 to Joseph and Florence dePaola. He has two sisters and one brother. His Italian and Irish family background is evident in many of his books. From an early age, Tomie and his parents knew he would be an artist. He received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, New York where he studied Art. His Master of Fine Arts degree was received from the California College of Arts and Crafts in Oakland, California. He has also been awarded eight honorary Doctorate degrees from separate Universities and Colleges, including the University of Connecticut in 1999. Tomie's career as a professional artist and designer, former teacher of art, children's author and illustrator is expansive. He has designed greeting cards, posters, magazine and catalogue covers, record album covers, and theater costumes and sets. He has illustrated nearly two hundred and fifty books, and written over one hundred. Tomie has won numerous awards, including the prestigious American Library Association's Caldecott Honor Award for Strega Nona (1976), the University of Minnesota's Kerlan Award (1981), the Catholic Library Association's Regina Medal (1983), and the Smithsonian Institution's Smithson Medal (1990). Tomie's books have been published world-wide in almost twenty five different languages and he has sold over fifteen million copies in print. Many of his books are largely autobiographical such as Nana Upstairs, Nana Downstairs, Tom, and The Art Lesson. Tomie currently resides in New Hampshire.