Eleanor Estes Papers

Collection

Identifier: 1997-0049

Staff Only

Scope and Content

The Eleanor Estes papers contains professional and personal correspondence, speeches, essays, drafts and proofs, photographs and ephemera related to Estes long career as a children's book author and illustrator.

Dates

undated, 1900-2005

Access

The collection is open and available for research.

Restrictions on Use

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

Eleanor Estes (1906-1988) was the author and illustrator of a number of children's books over her long career. Born in West Haven, Connecticut, Estes worked as a librarian at the New Haven Public Library before winning a scholarship to the Pratt Institute in Brooklyn, NY, where she met her husband. She worked as a children's librarian for the New York Public Library until her first book was published in 1941. That book, The Moffats, set in fictional Cranbury, Connecticut, was based on Estes' own childhood in West Haven. She was the recipient of the Newbury Medal in 1952 for Ginger Pye.

Published Works

The Moffats, Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1941. Dodd Boyson 5604, Boyson 2518, Levy E2809, Levy E4064, CLC C1536.

The Middle Moffat, Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1942. Dodd Levy E2123, CLC B206, CLC B130.

The Sun and the Wind and Mr. Todd, Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1943. Dodd CLC C538.

Rufus M., Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1943. Dodd Levy E2124, CLC A611.

The Hundred Dresses, Harcourt, Brace and Company, 1944. Dodd Boyson 2253, Boyson 2476, Boyson 4326, CLC B142, CLC B537.

The Echoing Green, Macmillan, 1947

The Sleeping Giant and Other Stories, Harcourt, Brace, 1948. Dodd Boyson 2475.

Ginger Pye, Harcourt, Brace, 1951. Dodd CLC B536, CLC B141.

A Little Oven, Harcourt, Brace, 1955.

Pinky Pye, Harcourt, Brace and World, 1958. Dodd CLC A1673.

The Witch Family, Harcourt Brace, 1960. Dodd Levy E34.

The Alley, Harcourt, Brace and World, 1964. Dodd Levy B59.

The Lollipop Princess, Harcourt, Brace and World, 1967. Dodd CLC C358.

Miranda the Great, Harcourt, Brace and World, 1967. Dodd CLC A1052.

The Tunnel of Hugsy Goode, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1971.

The Coat-Hanger Christmas Tree, Atheneum, 1973.

The Lost Umbrella of Kim Chu, Atheneum, 1978.

The Moffat Museum, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1983.

The Curious Adventures of Jimmy McGee, Harcourt Brace Jovanovich, 1987.

Extent

10.05 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The collection contains professional and personal correspondence, photographs, drafts, essays, newspaper clippings and ephemera related to Estes long career as a children's book author and illustrator.

Arrangement

Series I: Professional Correspondence (undated, 1938-1987) includes all correspondence related to Estes' career as an author, illustrator and public speaker. All correspondence is organized by sender and is organized into a number of subseries based around the three major publishing houses with which Estes was affiliated. Subseries A: Harcourt correspondence, Subseries B: Macmillan correspondence, Subseries C: Atheneum correspondence, Subseries D: Miller Brody correspondence, Subseries E: Cricket, Subseries F: General professional correspondence.

Series II: Personal Correspondence (undated, 1900-1989) contains all mail not directly related to Estes' major publishing efforts. Subseries A: Personal Correspondence, Subseries B: Postcards, Subseries C: Fanmail

Series III: Written Materials and Related Writings (undated, 1946-1984)

Series IV: Photographs (undated, 1948-1986) is separated into two subseries. Subseries A: Photographs Separated From Correspondence, Subseries B: General Photographs.

Acquisition Information

The collection was donated by Helena Estes in 1997.

Related Material

Archives & Special Collections has a substantial collection of materials pertaining to children's literature and associated artwork. For detailed information on these collections please contact the curator or ask at the Reading Room desk.

Separated Material

The following materials have been separated from the collection and cataloged:

Dodd Call No.

Subjects

Authors Subject Source: Fast
Authors, American Subject Source: Fast
Children's literature Subject Source: Fast
Connecticut (state) Subject Source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
Correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Fiction Subject Source: Fast
Illustrators Subject Source: Fast
Librarians Subject Source: Fast
Los Angeles (inhabited place) Subject Source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
New Haven (inhabited place) Subject Source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
New York (State) Subject Source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names
Photographs Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
Proofs (printed matter) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
West Haven (inhabited place) Subject Source: Getty Thesaurus of Geographic Names