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Nancy Schon to speak at ESU

Emporia State University Archives is pleased to host Boston-based artist Nancy Schon, who, while she visits Emporia State University as a member of the Friends of the May Massee Collection Advocacy Group, will speak 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 will speak about her training as a studio artist, the inspiration she has found in children's literature, and 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

**Emporia State University Archives will host 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. The talk will focus on Robert McCloskey's family life, from which he took inspiration for the children's books that he wrote and illustrated.

Sal's and Nancy's talks are free and open to the public. A soup and sandwich buffet will be available during Sal's talk for $9.00.

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., and Thursday from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. For more information about the collection, contact Heather Wade, University Archivist, at 620-341-5034 or hwade@emporia.edu.