CHARLES FOX PHILLIPS PAPERS

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

	Creator:	Charles Fox Phillips
	Title:	Charles Fox Phillips Papers
	Dates:	1977-2001
	Dates:	[bulk 1977-1979]
	Quantity:	1.80 cubic feet (2 boxes)
	Identification:	DG0778

Biographical Note

Charles Fox Phillips and his twin brother, Robert, were born in Jackson, Mississippi, on June 12, 1949. After finishing high school in Jackson, Charlie Phillips received a business degree from Louisiana State University and became a second lieutenant in the R.O.T.C. While performing three months of required military service in Georgia, Phillips made the decision to become an artist by profession, knowing that he wanted to illustrate children's books. To pursue his craft he received an advertising design degree from Louisiana Tech University, went to Rome for a six-week art course, and received a Master's Degree in illustration from Syracuse University.

Though he originally intended to illustrate for other authors, publishers recommended that Phillips write stories for his own illustrations. His first publication was Red Raspberry Crunch, a book of verse with pen & ink illustrations. His venture into color illustrations came with The Hoity-Toity Mouse and Other Bayou Tales, a collection of short stories using characters Phillips found in the Louisiana bayou running through his front yard.

Phillips never completed his third children's book, "The Puppy from the Piney Woods." He died from a malignant brain tumor on June 10, 1979, just two days short of his thirtieth birthday.

Sources:
Compiled from sources within the Charles Fox Phillips Papers

Scope and Content Note

The Charles Fox Phillips Papers contain typescripts, pen and ink sketches, watercolor illustrations, dummies, galleys, and proofs for two published and two unpublished works created between 1977 and 1979. The material is organized into three series: published works, unpublished works, and letters sent.

The papers in the published works series contain typescripts, pen & ink and watercolor illustrations, dummies, galleys, and proofs for two books published in 1978 and 1979. Most of the materials in this series are production items for The Hoity-Toity Mouse and Other Bayou Tales (1979). The papers also include the author's dummy of Red Raspberry Crunch (1978), which contains original pen & ink illustrations. The papers in the published works series are arranged alphabetically by title and the material for each book is arranged chronologically in order of creation where known.

The unpublished works series contains material for two works: The Puppy from the Piney Woods and one untitled work. The material for the titled work precedes that of the untitled, and the material for each composition is arranged chronologically in order of creation where known. The Puppy From the Piney Woods is the story of an abused puppy who runs away from home and eventually finds happiness with a kindly farmer. The papers include a book dummy and seven watercolor illustrations Phillips completed before he died. The dummy contains photocopies of the completed illustrations as well as photocopied rough sketches of the remaining book illustrations. The material also includes small watercolor sketches of each important book character. The untitled work appears to have been Phillips's earliest (ca. 1977) serious attempt at creating an illustrated story, although he did not follow through with its production. The story takes place in the kingdom of Penloch where elitist pens discriminate against working-class pencils - and crayons, the author later added - until an ink strike reveals the pencils' worth. The papers contain the author's sketches for this work as well as one unfinished watercolor.

The letters sent series contains selected letters sent from Charles Phillips' mother, Judith Fox Phillips, to the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection. These letters were selected and photocopied from the de Grummond Collection's correspondence file because they provide information on Charles Fox Phillips' life and interests. They are arranged chronologically.

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), Charles Fox Phillips 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 Mr. and Mrs. Robert Phillips and the David McKay Company (publisher) between 1979 and 1987.

Processing Information

Processed by C. Alder, December 2001. 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

Contact:
The de Grummond Children's Literature Collection
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive, #5148
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
(601) 266-4349
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