JOHN GRAHAM PAPERS

de Grummond Children's Literature Collection
The University of Southern Mississippi


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Creator: John Graham
Title: John Graham Papers
Dates: 1960-1991
Dates: [bulk 1965-1978]
Quantity: 0.55 cubic feet (2 boxes)
Identification: DG0387

Abstract: The John Graham Papers contain manuscripts, typescripts, printed material, and correspondence created and accumulated by John Graham between 1960 and 1991. Graham's papers were created from his composition of two autobiographical sketches, two published books, and seven unpublished book-length typescripts. Graham published two books for small children, A Crowd of Cows (1968) and I Love You, Mouse (1976), each originating from his interest in the preciseness and variety of words describing animals.

Biographical Note

John Graham was born on September 1, 1926, in Washington, D.C., to John Thomas and Catharine (O'Neill) Graham. He spent an idyllic childhood exploring museums and the countryside in what was then still a small Southern town. Graham attended Gonzaga High School and received an A.B. degree in English from Georgetown University in 1949. His editorial work for campus publications and the structure of Jesuit education cultivated in him an appreciation for reason and order, but Graham still lamented the neglect of creative writing in his formal education. He received M.A. degrees from Harvard and Johns Hopkins Universities in 1954 and 1959, respectively. Graham earned his Ph.D. at Johns Hopkins in 1960 and commenced a career teaching speech and English at the University of Virginia.

John Graham married Mary Washington, a teacher, in August 1954. His writing for children grew out of his reading and storytelling with his four children. Graham published two books for small children, A Crowd of Cows (1968) and I Love You, Mouse (1976), each originating from his interest in the preciseness and variety of words. The former teaches words for groups of animals while the latter relies on the diminutive forms of animals' names for its structure.

In addition to his books for children, Graham has written academic works on subjects in American and English art, literature, and oratory. He also directed a radio program, "The Scholar's Bookshelf," at the University of Virginia. John Graham lives in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Sources:
Something About the Author, ed. Anne Commire (Detroit: Gale Research, 1977), 11:117-119.
Author questionnaire for Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich in the John Graham Papers


Scope and Content Note

The John Graham Papers contain manuscripts, typescripts, printed material, and correspondence created and accumulated by John Graham between 1960 and 1991. Graham's papers were created from his composition of two autobiographical sketches, two published books, and seven unpublished book-length typescripts. The material is organized into three series: autobiographical material, books, and unpublished works.

The autobiographical material series consists of manuscripts and typescripts of autobiographical sketches written for a Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich author questionnaire and a biography in Something About the Author (Vol. 11, 1977). Graham composed both sketches at about the same time in 1975. They provide details about his life and writing habits.

The books series contains material for the two books for small children that Graham published: A Crowd of Cows (1968) and I Love You, Mouse (1976). The material for the former title includes typescripts for the whole book as well as several revisions of its final pages, a galley, black and white proofs of illustrations by Feodor Rojankovsky, and other production material. The series contains three typescripts, a galley, and other production material for Graham's second book. Both titles feature correspondence and composition notes that provide information on the creation of the works and Graham's relationships with his agent, Doris Thompson, and his editors, Margaret McElderry and Barbara Lucas. The papers in the books series are arranged alphabetically by title and the material for each book is arranged chronologically in order of creation when known.

The unpublished works series contains material from an easy-to-read book series, tentatively styled "Double Books," which Graham wrote and proposed but never published. The Graham Papers contain correspondence and typescripts for seven works that introduce children to various kinds of animals and careers. Graham wrote the series between about 1960 and 1978 and continued to submit the work to prospective publishers until perhaps 1991. The papers in the unpublished works series are arranged alphabetically by title and the material for each work is arranged chronologically in order of creation when known. Correspondence and specifications for the series as a whole precede material for individual titles.


Series and Subseries

A. Autobiographical Material (1975)
B. Books (1965-1990)

A Crowd of Cows (1968)

I Love You, Mouse (1976)

C. Unpublished Works (1960-1991)

"Double Books" Series

Birds at the Feeder [n.d.]

Going to the Zoo [ca. 1978]

If You Find a Howling Tiger [ca. 1960]

If You Find a Slithery Crocodile [ca. 1968]

What Job Do You See? [ca. 1978]

What Does a Cat Say? [ca. 1965]

You Might Grow Up to Be a Clown [ca. 1978]


Restrictions

Restrictions on Use

Noncirculating; available for research.

Copyright Restrictions

The collection is protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). Reproductions can be made only if they are to be used for "private study, scholarship, or research." It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials, other than that noted above.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the series), John Graham Papers, de Grummond Children's Literature Collection, University of Southern Mississippi Libraries.

Provenance

These papers were donated to the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection of the University of Southern Mississippi Libraries by John Graham between 1969 and 1998.

Processing Information

Processed by Hans Rasmussen, March 2002. Encoded into EAD Version 1.0 by Danielle L. Bishop. This finding aid is the product of a grant funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.


Container Listing

Box/Folder

.

Autobiographical Material

1/1Manuscript of autobiographical sketch written for Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich author questionnaire, June 1975, (9 pp.)
1/2Photocopy of author questionnaire for Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, including autobiographical sketch, 1 July 1975, (5 pp.)
1/3Manuscript of autobiographical sketch written for Something About the Author (Vol. 11, 1977), 27 June 1975, (10 pp.)
1/4First typescript of autobiographical sketch written for Something About the Author (Vol. 11, 1977), edited, 27 June-1 September 1975, (13 pp.)
1/5Second typescript of autobiographical sketch written for Something About the Author (Vol. 11, 1977), 27 June-1 September 1975, (6 pp.)



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Books

A Crowd of Cows by John Graham, pictures by Feodor Rojankovsky (New York: Harcourt, Brace & World, 1968)
1/6Correspondence and records of telephone conversations with Margaret McElderry (editor) and Doris Thompson (agent), June 1965-December 1966, (44 items)
1/7Correspondence and records of telephone conversations with Margaret McElderry (editor) and Doris Thompson (agent), January 1967-September 1975, (52 items)
1/8Photocopy of agreement among John Graham, Feodor Rojankovsky, and Harcourt, Brace & World, 2 August 1966, (3 pp.)
1/9Typescript with composition notes and photocopy of handwritten notes on a file folder, February 1966, (7 pp.)
1/10Photocopy of proposal, above typescript, and first revision of pp. 28-32, February 1966, (10 pp.)
1/11Drafts of letters sent with second, third, and fourth revisions of pp. 28-32, August 1966, (25 pp.)
1/12Galley of pp. 6-32, edited, October 1967, (1 sheet)
1/13Illustration notes, (3 pp.)
1/14Black and white proofs of illustrations for pp. 6-32 arranged as a dummy in an earlier page order, (27 items)
1/15Folded and gathered sheets for pp. 1-32 with dust jacket, (1 signature)
1/16Reviews, February-December 1968, (2 items)
1/17Royalty statements, June-September 1968, (4 items)
I Love You, Mouse by John Graham, pictures by Tomie de Paola (New York: Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, 1976)
1/18 Manuscript of book summary, (2 pp.)
1/19Composition notes, August 1966-October 1975, (6 pp.)
1/20Carbon copies of first typescript, each lightly edited, 6 pp. (2 copies)
1/21Photocopy of second typescript, fall 1969, (6 pp.)
1/22Correspondence and records of telephone conversations with Barbara Lucas (editor) and others at Harcourt, Brace, Jovanovich, September 1974-September 1990, (29 items)
1/23Photocopy of third typescript, edited, October 1975, (2 pp.)
1/24Galley of pp. 6-31, edited, October 1975, (2 sheets)
1/25Incomplete dust jacket
1/26Promotional print of pp. (26-27)



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Unpublished Works

"Double Books" Series
2/1Correspondence with publishers concerning proposed "Double Books" series, April 1978-February 1991, (62 items)
2/2Specifications for proposed "Double Books" series, (3 pp.)
Birds at the Feeder [n.d.]
2/3Photocopy of first typescript, edited and arranged as a dummy in a binder, (35 pp.)
2/4Photocopy of second typescript, (34 pp.)
Going to the Zoo [ca. 1978]
2/5Photocopy of lightly edited first typescript, February 1978, (31 pp.)
2/6Photocopy of lightly edited first typescript, further edited, July 1978, (18 pp.)
2/7Photocopy of further edited first typescript, with additional editing, labeled "penultimate form before sending to Cushman," (19 pp.)
2/8Photocopy of lightly edited second typescript, (32 pp.)
2/9Photocopy of third typescript, (32 pp.)
If You Find a Howling Tiger [ca. 1960]
2/10Correspondence with Doris Thompson (agent) and publishers, August 1960-September 1968, 8 items, with photocopy of handwritten notes on a file folder
2/11Photocopy of typescript with layout pages, (20 pp.)
If You Find a Slithery Crocodile [ca. 1968]
2/12Photocopy of first typescript, edited, spring 1968, (17 pp.)
2/13Carbon copy of second typescript, lightly edited, spring 1969, (15 pp.)
2/14Edited layout page, cover sheet to typescript from winter 1971
What Job Do You See? [ca. 1978]
2/15First typescript, May-July 1978, (29 pp.)
2/16Photocopy of second typescript, (27 pp.)
What Does a Cat Say? [ca. 1965]
2/17Typescript, (3 pp)
You Might Grow Up to Be a Clown [ca. 1978]
2/18First typescript, summer 1978, (29 pp.)
2/19Photocopy of second typescript, (30 pp.)

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