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Barry Moser Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 1992-0050

Scope and Content

The holdings do not include many original watercolors, but it does contain a wide assortment of supplementary materials used in the design and production of Moser's children's books. An effort has been made to group materials by project title - most items relating to a specific book have been boxed together. Correspondence is retained with with the book title to which it relates. Some of Moser's records, including book contracts and color art transparencies, are stored in a separate box.

The collection consists of material which arrived at the Dodd Research Center in at least three different, but unidentified, accessions. All organic materials have been photocopied and removed from the collection.

Dates

  • 1968-1998

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

Barry Moser was born in Tennessee in 1940. He attended college at Auburn University, the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, and did graduate work at the University of Massachusetts at Amherst. Educated as a painter, Moser took an interest in wood engraving and his first engravings appeared in 1968. He also took an interest in book design, and had illustrated and designed over 100 books before turning to watercolors and children's literature in 1987. Moser won the American Book Award in 1983 for his engravings and design for Alice in Wonderland. Editions published under Moser's private imprint, the Pennyroyal Press, are prized by collectors.

Since 1987, Moser has illustrated and designed a wide range of children's books, totalling close to 200 books for his career. Moser has worked with a wide variety of publishers and authors, but as a book designer he takes a leading role in selecting the type and layout for his books, in addition to providing the illustrations. Moser has also written several books on his own and has also adapted a number of classic children's stories. He has even co-written a series of books with his youngest granddaughter about the family pets.

Moser now lives near Northampton, Massachusetts, and works at home. He enjoys spending time with his dogs and his grandchildren when not at work, but he continues to follow an aggressive schedule. He is currently completing the design of an edition of the Bible that will feature 400 original illustrations.

Extent

34 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Barry Moser had already established a reputation for himself as the premier American engraver of woodcuts in the 20th century before he turned to working primarily on designing and illustrating children's books. Moser has worked on over 200 books. He is the winner of an American Book Award. Barry Moser takes an active role in the design of any book that he illustrates, often contributing to type choice, layout, and cover design.

Arrangement

Collection consists of a single series arranged by project.

Acquisition Information

Materials were donated by the artist in installments.

Related Material

Archives & Special Collections has a substantial collection of materials pertaining to children's literature and associated artwork. See especially, Gerald Hausman Turtle Island Alphabet (illustrated by Moser), is also available. Archives & Special Collections also holds some of Moser's Pennyroyal Press editions, including his design for Frankenstein; "When I get a little money..." keepsake printed by Harold McGrath at Pennyroyal Press struck from the original block engraved by Barry Moser (accession 2016-0110). For detailed information on these collections please contact the curator or ask at the Reading Room desk.

Bibliography

Information gathered from collection materials, including biographical copy from a number of book jackets. Some additional resource material was obtained via the World Wide Web - links to Moser-related material can be found by an author search at www.yahoo.com.
Title
Barry Moser Papers
Status
Published
Author
Archives & Special Collections staff
Date
1999 June
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

Contact:
University of Connecticut Library
405 Babbidge Road Unit 1205
Storrs Connecticut 06269-1205 USA US
860-486-2524