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May Massee Collection Presentation
This presentation was developed to give potential researchers an overview of holdings in the collection. It includes samples of public domain artwork from the collection.
Libraries and Archives News
Nancy Schon to speak at ESU
On Monday, April 7, 2008, ESU Archives was pleased to host Boston-based artist Nancy Schon, who, while visiting Emporia State University as a member of the Friends of the May Massee Collection Advocacy Group, spoke to the campus community on Monday, April 7, 2008 in the Heath Recital Hall, from 5-6:30 p.m. Nancy's phenomenally popular sculpture of Mrs. Mallard and her eight ducklings, Jack, Kack, Lack, Mack, Nack, Ouack, Pack and Quack, provides a destination for hundreds of thousands of visitors to the Boston Public Garden each year. Nancy spoke on her training as a studio artist, presented dozens of images of her art as it was constructed, addressed the inspiration she has found in children's literature, and discussed her career before and after the famous "Boston Ducklings."
For more information about Nancy Schon and her art, please see her web page
Sarah (Sal) McCloskey to speak at ESU
ESU Archives hosted Sarah (Sal) McCloskey, daughter of celebrated author and artist Robert McCloskey, in the C of E Room of the Sauder Alumni Center on Wednesday, April 8, 2008 from 12-2:00 p.m. Sal's talk focused on Robert McCloskey's family life, from which he took inspiration for the children's books that he wrote and illustrated. Once her planned talk was complete, Sal offered an encore presentation on her late father's art career outside of children's book publishing.
For more information, contact Heather A. Wade, University Archivist, at 620-341-5034 or hwade@emporia.edu
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The May Massee Collection:
Listen to May Massee interviewed by Morton Schindel
(Reproduced with the permission of Morton Schindel)
May Massee (1883-1966) was the children’s book editor who established two of the first three “junior books” divisions in major publishing houses in the United States: that of Doubleday, Page and Company (1923) and Viking Press (1932). A teacher and librarian by training, Miss Massee shaped and influenced children’s book publishing throughout her career. Her venerable stable of authors and artists included numerous award winners and wildly popular creators of the era: Robert McCloskey, Kate Seredy, Don Freeman, Robert Lawson, Ludwig Bemelmans, Eyvind Earle, James Daugherty, Marguertie de Angeli, Manning de Villeneuve Lee, Hilda Van Stockum, Leo Politi, and many more.
The collection includes original book illustrations by 56 artists, manuscript materials, published books, photographs, audio and video tapes of authors, artists, designers, typographers, and printers whose skills Miss Massee combined to create quality books for children and young adults. Miss Massee’s wood-paneled office, built for her at Viking Press in 1933 by Eric Gugler, is also included in the collection.
Visitors may visit the new May Massee Gallery, and researchers may use the collection during regular operating hours of the University Archives: Monday - Wednesday and Friday from 8:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. For more information about the collection, contact Heather Wade, University Archivist, at 620-341-5034 or hwade@emporia.edu.
