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Bonnie Christensen Papers

 Collection
Identifier: 2005-0088

Scope and Contents

The collection contains the original illustrations, woodcut blocks, research materials, and manuscript materials of Bonnie Christensen.

Dates

  • undated, 1863-2006

Access

The collection is open and available for research.

Restrictions on Use and Copyright Information

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

Bonnie Christensen, born in 1951 in Saranac Lake, New York, is a children's book author and illustrator as well as an artist. Christensen earned a B.A. in Theatre and Communication from the University of Vermont. After college Christensen worked in New York theaters including Joe Papp's Public Theatre, New York Shakespeare Festival, Actor's Studio, Chelsea Theater, and Stella Adler Studio. In New York, Christensen became interested in playwriting while she worked for the Screen Actors Guild and then Paramount Pictures. While in New York, Christensen also studied wood engraving with John Depol and attended classes at Parsons School of Design and Center for Book Arts. Eventually, Christensen returned to Vermont and focused on wood engraving, exhibiting prints locally, and was offered her first illustration job. Through a keen interest in printmaking and letterpress printing Christensen eventually hand-printed and bound a limited- edition book. Desire to see that book reach a wider audience eventually led Christensen to trade publishers and initiated her career as an author and illustrator. Christensen began her career in children's literature in the mid-1990s, and since 2000 has worked to create children's books that highlight the lives of enigmatic Americans through self-illustrated picture books such as Woody Guthrie: Poet of the People and The Daring Nelly Bly: America's Star Reporter. Christensen and her books have recieved numerous awards including the Kirkus Reviews Best Children’s Books of 2006 award for Pompeii, Lost and Found, the Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Award for The Daring Nellie Bly , the Parent’s Choice Gold Award 2002, the Horn Book-Boston Globe Honor Award 2002, and the ALA Notable Children’s Book 2002 award for Woody Guthrie, Poet of the People , and the International Reading Association Best Books of 2000 award for Moon Over Tennessee . In addition to her work as a children's book illustrator and author Christensen has also dedicated her time to teaching at St. Michael’s College in Burlington, VT, where she has been an adjunct professor of Fine Arts since 1995. As an artist Christensen's portfolio ranges from frescos and monotypes to woodengravings and etchings.

Extent

15.7 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

The collection contains the original illustrations, woodcut blocks, research materials, and manuscript materials of Bonnie Christensen.

Provenance and Acquisition

This collection was donated by Bonnie Christensen on June 9, 2006.

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.

Published Works

Ms. Christensen is a prolific author and illustrator. For a complete listing of her published works please visit her web site at http://bonniechristensen.com/ or check standard bibliographic resources such as WorldCat. Illustrator Citro, Joseph . Green Mountain Ghost Ghouls and Unsolved Mysteries, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1994. Thomas, Shelley M.. Putting the World to Sleep, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1995. Krensky, Stephen. Breaking into Print, Little Brown and Company, 1996. Steinbeck, John . The Grapes of Wrath, The Folio Society, 1998. Evan, Craig C.. Moon Over Tennessee, Houghton Mifflin Company, 1999. Moses, Sheila P.. I, Dred Scott, Margaret K. McElderry, 2005. Osborne, Mary P.. Pompeii, Lost and Found, Alfred A. Knopf, 2006. Nikola-Lisa, W.. Magic in the Margins, Houghton Mifflin Company, 2007. Myers, Walter D.. Ida B. Wells, Let the Truth Be Told, HarperCollins, 2008. Author and Illustrator An Edible Alphabet, Dial/Penguin, 1994. Rebus Riot, Dial/Penguin, 1997. Woody Guthrie: Poet of the People, Alfred A. Knopf, 2001. The Daring Nelly Bly: America's Star Reporter, Alfred A. Knopf, 2003. In My Grandmother's House, HarperCollins, 2003. Django, World's Greatest Jazz Guitarist , Roaring Brook Press, 2009.

Preferred Citation

[Item description, #:#] Bonnie Christensen Papers. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries.

Title
Bonnie Christensen Papers
Status
Published
Author
Archives and Special Collections staff
Date
2011
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
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Storrs Connecticut 06269-1205 USA US
860-486-2524