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Richard Scarry Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 1997-0048

Scope and Content

The Richard Scarry Papers contain materials related to Scarry himself, but the majority of the archives pertains to the creation, production, and distribution of his books for children. The archives contains materials and correspondence concerning Scarry's early work, with Western Publishing and Little Golden Books, beginning in the 1950s. A greater amount of material concerns the works produced by Scarry during his later association with Random House.

Dates

  • undated, 1946-1997

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

Richard McClure Scarry was born June 5, 1919, in Boston, Massachussetts. Although an avid reader and artist as a child, Scarry was a lackluster student. After a failed attempt at business school, Scarry enrolled in Boston's Museum of Fine Arts School in 1939, but left the course unfinished when he was drafted in 1942.

The Army enrolled Scarry in Radio Repair School, but was soon tapped by his commanding officer to paint a sign. He completed Officer Candidate School and was later trained in Special Services, a unit dedicated to military morale and entertainment. From there, Scarry was assigned to the Information and Morale Section, Allied Forces Headquarters in North Africa as art director and promoted to Captain. There he published a newsletter for soldiers.

Scarry was discharged from the Army in March, 1946, and moved to New York City. After taking and leaving two jobs (one for in the art department of Vogue and the other at an advertising agency), Scarry became a free-lancer. During this time, he met Patricia (Patsy) Murphy, and married her in September, 1948.

In 1948, when Scarry's agent suggested he create a portfolio of illustrations for children's books, Scarry was offered and accepted a one-year renewable contract with Artists and Writers, a subsidiary of Western Publishing and Simon and Schuster, to create artwork for Golden storybooks and Little Golden Books. During 1949, Artists and Writers published six books with Scarry's illustrations.

In 1950, the Scarrys moved to Ridgefield, Connecticut, but their social network remained chiefly in New York City. In January, 1953, Richard Scarry, Jr., called Huck by his family and friends, was born.

Scarry's contract with Artists and Writers was renewed, and in 1951, Simon and Schuster published The Great Big Car and Truck Book, which Scarry both wrote and illustrated. In 1952, Artists and Writers offered him an exclusive contract until 1956. At the same time, Patsy Scarry began to write children's books, which Scarry illustrated. In 1955, Scarry negotiated new terms with Artists and Writers, which allowed him individual book contracts and royalties from his work. He continued to illustrate Little Golden books throughout the 1950s.

In 1959, the Scarry family bought a house in Westport, Connecticut, and attracted a wide circle of artistic and publishing friends. Because of monetary problems, Scarry sought work with other publishers, and began to publish the Tinker and Tanker series with Doubleday in 1960. Meanwhile, Scarry began to create what became Richard Scarry's Best Word Book Ever (1963). Its success engendered Richard Scarry's Busy, Busy World (1965) and Richard Scarry's Storybook Dictionary (1966).

[Note: This biography condenses the information found in The Busy, Busy World of Richard Scarry, which provides a very extensive and detailed biography (pages 9-120).

Extent

106.3 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Richard Scarry Papers contain materials related to Scarry himself, but the majority of the archives pertains to the creation, production, and distribution of his books for children. The archives contains materials and correspondence concerning Scarry's early work, with Western Publishing and Little Golden Books, beginning in the 1950s. A greater amount of material concerns the works produced by Scarry during his later association with Random House.

Arrangement

The Richard Scarry Papers are arranged into four series.

Series I: Correspondence, undated, 1972-1996 contains letters, copies of letters, and faxed letters to and from Scarry.

Series II: Children's Literature, undated, 1965-1993 contains notes, manuscripts, drawings, separations, artwork, and articles pertinent to the creation of Scarry's many books. This series is arranged alphabetically by work.

Series III: Ephemera, 1989-1997 contains artifacts belonging to Scarry and some artifacts related to Scarry's books and/or characters.

Series IV: Personal Papers, 1946-1994 contains documents concerning Scarry's life and that of his family and friends.

Series V: Audiovisual materials, 19-- -1997 contains audio and video cassettes.

Acquisition Information

The first portion of this collection was originally deposited in the archives in 1984 by Richard Scarry, via Ole Risom of Random House and Attorney Sydney Kramer. The collection at that time consisted of artwork for twenty-seven picture books, plus Random House's donation of most of the corresponding published books. The materials for the first deposit came to the archives from Random House. The deposit was donated to the archives in 1995 by Richard Scarry's estate.

Random House sent ten further portfolios of artwork, plus their corresponding books, to the archives in 1986. This first donation included approximately 1100 pieces of artwork for thirty-three of Scarry's books, plus the map cases to hold the artwork. A second donation of aproximately 484 pieces of art was given to the archives in 1996 by Ole and Agnes Risom, along with Attorney Stanley Garrett, who administered Scarry's estate. In 1997, Mr. Garrett and his wife Sonja also added to the collection. In 1998, Mr. and Mrs. Risom donated more original artwork, correspondence, recordings, and miscellaneous other materials to expand the collection.

In 2004, Deborah Pfeiffenberger of the New Britain Youth Museum donated the two stuffed dolls in Box 5 to the collection.

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.

Additional Scarry materials are located at the University of Southern Mississippi as part of the de Grummond Collection

Separated Material

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

Il Libro dei Mestieri [Italian version of What Do People Do All Day?] Dodd CLC D1103

Lowly Worm Car and Truck Book Dodd CLC D288

Best ABC Video Ever! 1997-0048.vr1

Educated Eye 1997-0048.vr2

Busy World of Richard Scarry Featurette 1997-0048.vr3

Christmas Stories 1997-0048.vr4

6 audio cassettes.

6 slides.

Selected Bibliography

Subjects

Collecting Areas

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Richard Scarry Papers
Status
Published
Author
Archives & Special Collections staff
Date
2006 April
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Repository Details

Part of the Archives and Special Collections, University of Connecticut Library Repository

https://lib.uconn.edu/location/asc/
Contact:
University of Connecticut Library
405 Babbidge Road Unit 1205
Storrs Connecticut 06269-1205 USA US
860-486-2524

  • Archives & Special Collections, UConn Library
    Dodd Center for Human Rights
  • 405 Babbidge Rd, Unit 1205
    Storrs, CT 06269-120
  • archives@uconn.edu
  • 860-486-2524

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