Noted Children's Publisher May Massee Celebrated at ESU

June 14, 2017

Emporia State University’s Special Collections and Archives will celebrate the 45th anniversary of the May Massee Collection with a week of special events from June 19 through 23.

May Massee was one of America’s most influential children’s book editors, with a career that spanned from the 1920s to the early 1960s. She published many classic stories, such as “Make Way for Ducklings,” the Madeline series, and “The Story of Ferdinand,” and created the “junior books” divisions at both Doubleday and Viking Press. The collection, which arrived at ESU in June 1972, includes over 3,000 pieces of original artwork, as well as manuscripts and correspondence with authors and illustrators.

Schedule of events for May Massee Week:

• Monday, June 19: Creating Wonder: Art from Newbery and Caldecott Award-Winning Books in the May Massee Gallery on the third floor of ESU’s William Allen White Library, 1 to 4 p.m. Join us to view an exhibit of original illustrations, focusing on Newbery and Caldecott winners and honor books.
• Tuesday, June 20: Fun with Ferdinand in the Large Meeting Room at Emporia Public Library, 3 to 4 p.m. An event highlighting “The Story of Ferdinand.” Children and their grown-ups can hear the story, make a tissue paper flower, and play a matching game. 
• Wednesday, June 21: Be an Illustrator in the Learning Commons at William Allen White Library, all da Visitors to the Learning Commons can use a variety of art supplies to create their own illustrations.
• Friday, June 23: May Massee Celebration in the Learning Commons at William Allen White Library, 2 to 4 p.m. A party to celebrate all things May Massee. Come to enjoy refreshments, take fun photos at a Madeline-themed selfie station, and join in writing a collaborative story.             

For more information about May Massee Week and the May Massee Collection, see the Special Collections and Archives website at www.emporia.edu/libsv/archives/.