LARRY DANE BRIMNER PAPERS

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


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Creator: Larry Dane Brimner
Title: DG1197
Dates: 1986-1999
Quantity: 1.30 cubic feet (4 boxes)
Identification: DG1197

Abstract: The Larry Dane Brimner Papers contain typescripts, photocopies of illustrations, printed material, and correspondence created and accumulated by Larry Dane Brimner between 1986 and 1999. Brimner's papers were created from his composition of 28 published books, including picture books, simple books for early readers, and non-fiction works on the planets and sports.

Biographical Note

Larry Dane Brimner was born on November 5, 1949 in St. Petersburg, Florida, to George Frederick and Evelyn (Abernathy) Brimner. He grew up on Kodiak Island, Alaska, and around San Diego, California, where his father was stationed with the Navy. Brimner acquired a strong interest in nature, reading, and creative writing early in life. The relative isolation of Alaska forced him to rely on books and his own imagination for entertainment, thus encouraging his creativity. Brimner took a B.A. degree in British literature from San Diego State College in 1971. He taught in several elementary and high schools in Southern California until 1974 when he took a permanent position as a composition teacher at Central Union High School in El Centro, California.

Brimner published a variety of non-fiction articles for adults while teaching in El Centro. He became interested in writing children's picture books and middle-grade novels while working on an M.A. in writing at San Diego State University. Brimner left Central Union High School in 1984 to write full-time, but soon began teaching education courses at San Diego State University where he would remain until 1992. Although aspiring to write children's fiction, Brimner realized his teaching experience gave him a unique ability to write non-fiction. He published his first book, BMX Freestyle, in 1987 and his first picture book, Country Bear's Good Neighbor, in 1988. In all, Brimner has published more than 75 fiction and non-fiction books for children. He writes and speaks to schoolchildren full time.

Sources:
Something About the Author, ed. Alan Hedblad (Detroit: Gale Group, 2000), 112:26-39.
Eighth Book of Junior Authors and Illustrators, ed. Connie C. Rockman (New York: H. W. Wilson, 2000), 41-43.
Larry Dane Brimner's personal website, www.brimner.com, accessed 18 March 2002.


Scope and Content Note

The Larry Dane Brimner Papers contain typescripts, photocopies of illustrations, printed material, and correspondence created and accumulated by Larry Dane Brimner between 1986 and 1999. Brimner's papers were created from his composition of 28 published books. The papers consist of a single series for books.

The papers contain material for 28 fiction and non-fiction titles written mostly for early readers. They include correspondence and several typescripts for Brimner's first picture book, Country Bear's Good Neighbor (1988), and its sequel, Country Bear's Surprise (1990). Brimner corresponded primarily with James Heacock, his literary agent, and Sandra Jordan, editor-in-chief of Orchard Books. Similarly, the Brimner Papers contain numerous typescripts for four other picture books: Cat on Wheels (2000), Elliot Fry's Good-Bye (1994), If Dogs Had Wings (1996), and Max and Felix (1993). The papers also contain typescripts, letters received, and printed production material for eight simple books for beginning readers that Brimner contributed to Children's Press' Rookie Reader Series between 1996 and 1999.

Among Brimner's non-fiction works, the papers contain page proofs for all nine volumes of a series on the planets of the solar system published by Children's Press in 1998 and 1999, as well as typescripts for three of the titles. The Brimner Papers also feature page proofs for five books on surfing, winter sports, and The NAMES Project AIDS Memorial Quilt. 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.


Series and Subseries

A. Books (1986-1999)

Aggie and Will (1998)

Brave Mary (1996)

Cat on Wheels (2000)

Country Bear's Good Neighbor (1988)

Country Bear's Surprise (1990)

Cowboy Up! (1999)

Dinosaurs Dance (1998)

Earth (1998)

Elliot Fry's Good-Bye (1994)

How Many Ants? (1997)

If Dogs Had Wings (1996)

Jupiter (1999)

Lightning Liz (1998)

Mars (1998)

Max and Felix (1993)

Mercury (1998)

The NAMES Project (1999)

Neptune (1999)

Pluto (1999)

Raindrops (1999)

Saturn (1998)

Skiing (1997)

Snowboarding (1997)

Speed Skating (1997)

Surfing (1997)

Uranus (1999)

Venus (1998)

What Good Is a Tree? (1998)


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.


Related Material

Oversize material is kept in box 4.


Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

(Identify the item and cite the series), Larry Dane Brimner 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 Larry Dane Brimner on June 18, 1999.

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

.

Books

Aggie and Will by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrated by Rebecca McKillip Thornburgh, Rookie Reader Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1998)
4/1Photocopies of lightly edited page proofs for pp. 1-32 with black and white illustrations, color proof of cover, and letter received, January 1998, (18 sheets)
Brave Mary by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrated by Marilyn Mets, Rookie Reader Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1996)
1/1First typescript, edited, (1 p.)
1/2Second typescript, edited, (2 pp.)
1/3Third typescript, 2 pp. (2 copies)
1/4 Manuscripts and a typescript probably following the third typescript but of uncertain order, edited, (3 pp.)
1/5Final typescript, 2 pp. (5 copies)
1/6Final typescripts edited to determine page breaks, (3 pp.)
1/7Word list
1/8Photocopies of sketches of illustrations for pp. 3-31 with letter received, October 1995, (30 pp.)
Cat on Wheels by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrated by Mary Peterson (Honesdale, Penn.: Boyds Mills Press, 2000)
1/9First typescript, edited, (1 p.)
1/10Second typescript, edited, (3 pp.)
1/11Third typescript, edited, (3 pp.)
1/12Fourth typescript, edited, (3 pp.)
1/13Fifth typescript, edited, (3 pp.)
1/14Sixth typescript, lightly edited, ( 5 pp.)
1/15Seventh typescript, (5 pp.)
1/16Eighth typescript, edited, (4 pp.)
1/17Ninth typescript, edited, (4 pp.)
1/18Tenth typescript, ( 4 pp.)
1/19Eleventh typescript, (4 pp.)
1/20Twelfth typescript, 5 pp. (2 copies)
1/21Thirteenth typescript, lightly edited, (4 pp.)
1/22Fourteenth typescript, 4 pp. (2 copies - 1 edited)
1/23Fifteenth typescript, lightly edited, (5 pp.)
1/24Sixteenth typescript, lightly edited, (5 pp. )
1/25Seventeenth typescript, (5 pp.)
1/26Eighteenth typescript, (5 pp.)
1/27Record of submissions and letters received, November 1994-July 1997, (7 items)
Country Bear's Good Neighbor by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrations by Ruth Tietjen Councell (New York: Franklin Watts, Orchard Books, 1988)
1/28First typescript, edited, (1 p.)
1/29Second typescript, edited, (2 pp.)
1/30Dummy without illustrations, (1 signature)
1/31Third typescript, edited, ( 4 pp.)
1/32Fourth typescript, (4 pp.)
1/33Fifth typescript, edited, (3 pp.)
1/34Sixth typescript, (4 pp.)
1/35Correspondence with Sandra Jordan (editor-in-chief), 23 September-3 December 1986, (5 items)
1/36Drafts of alternate endings with letter sent to Sandra Jordan, 19 December 1986, (4 items)
1/37Publicity flyer and review, March 1988, (2 items)
Country Bear's Surprise by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrations by Ruth Tietjen Councell (New York: Franklin Watts, Orchard Books, 1991)
1/38First typescript, edited, (2 pp.)
1/39Second typescript, 5 pp. (2 copies - 1 edited)
1/40Third typescript, edited, (4 pp.)
1/41Fourth typescript, 5 pp. (3 copies)
1/42Correspondence with James Heacock (agent), Sandra Jordan (editor-in-chief), and Karen Klocker (editor), February 1987-December 1990, (11 items)
1/43Press sheet of book pages and dust jacket
Cowboy Up! by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrated by Susan Miller, Rookie Reader Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1999)
1/44Typescript, 1 p. (3 copies)
4/2Photocopies of early sketches of illustrations for pp. 3-31, (15 sheets)
1/45Photocopies of revised sketches of illustrations for pp. 3-31 with letter received, June 1998, (15 sheets)
4/3Page proofs for pp. 1-32 with black and white illustrations, color proof of cover, and two letters received, August-September 1998, (18 sheets)
Dinosaurs Dance by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrated by Patrick Girouard, Rookie Reader Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1998)
1/46Typescript, (2 pp.)
1/47Clipping about the illustrator, 1 February 1998, (2 pp.)
Earth by Larry Dane Brimner, True Book Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1998)
1/48Typescript for pp. 6-44, edited, (5 pp. )
2/1Page proofs for pp. 1-48 with black and white illustrations, April 1998, (48 pp.)
Elliot Fry's Good-Bye by Larry Dane Brimner, pictures by Eugenie Fernandes (Honesdale, Penn.: Boyds Mills Press, 1994)
2/2Composition notes, (9 items)
2/3First typescript, edited, (5 pp.)
2/4Second typescript, edited, 5 pp. (2 copies)
2/5Third typescript, (5 pp.)
2/6Fourth typescript, lightly edited, (5 pp.)
2/7Fifth typescript, lightly edited, (5 pp.)
2/8Sixth typescript, edited, (7 pp.)
2/9Seventh typescript, lightly edited, (9 pp.)
2/10Eighth typescript, lightly edited, (6 pp.)
2/11Ninth typescript, edited, (6 pp.)
2/12Tenth typescript, edited, (6 pp. )
2/13Eleventh typescript, lightly edited, (6 pp.)
2/14Twelfth typescript, edited, (6 pp. )
2/15Thirteenth typescript, edited, (6 pp.)
2/16Fourteenth typescript, edited, (6 pp.)
2/17Fifteenth typescript, (5 pp.)
2/18Assorted typescript pages, (4 pp.)
2/19Letters received, February-April 1992, (2 items)
2/20Advertising flyer
How Many Ants? by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrated by Joan Cottle, Rookie Reader Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1997)
2/21Typescripts, edited, (2 pp.)
2/22Photocopies of layouts with rough sketches of illustrations for pp. 1-31, (16 sheets)
2/23Cover
If Dogs Had Wings by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrated by Chris L. Demarest (Honesdale, Penn.: Boyds Mills Press, 1996)
2/24First typescript, (5 pp.)
2/25Second typescript, 5 pp. (3 copies - 1 lightly edited)
2/26Third typescript, lightly edited, (5 pp.)
2/27Fourth typescript, lightly edited, (5 pp.)
2/28First galley with cover letter, November 1995, (4 pp.)
2/29Second galley, January 1996, (4 pp.)
2/30Clipping
Jupiter by Larry Dane Brimner, True Book Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1999)
2/31Page proofs for pp. 1-48 with black and white illustrations, June 1998, (48 pp.)
Lightning Liz by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrated by Brian Floca, Rookie Reader Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1998)
2/32Typescript, edited, (3 pp.)
Mars by Larry Dane Brimner, True Book Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1998)
2/33Page proofs for pp. 1-48 with black and white illustrations, edited, with letter received, January 1998, (48 pp.)
Max and Felix by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrated by Les Gray (Honesdale, Penn.: Boyds Mills Press, 1993)
2/34Composition notes, (3 items)
2/35First typescript for chapters 1-2, edited, (4 pp.)
2/36Second typescript for chapters 1-4, edited, (9 pp.)
2/37Third typescript for chapters 1-4, with letter received dated 10 October 1990, (11 pp.)
2/38Record of submissions, April 1990-February 1991, and letter received, 16 May 1991
2/39Galley, lightly edited: front matter, chapters 1-4, with letter received, March 1992, (10 pp.)
Mercury by Larry Dane Brimner, True Book Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1998)
2/40Typescript for pp. 6-43, edited, (7 pp.)
3/1Page proofs for pp. 1-48 with black and white illustrations, edited, with letter received, January 1998, (48 pp.)
The NAMES Project by Larry Dane Brimner, Cornerstones of Freedom Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1999)
3/2Second page proofs for pp. 1-32 with black and white illustrations, with note and letter received, March 1999, (32 pp.)
Neptune by Larry Dane Brimner, True Book Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1999)
3/3Page proofs for pp. 1-48 with black and white illustrations, with letter received, July-August 1998, (48 pp.)
Pluto by Larry Dane Brimner, True Book Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1999)
3/4Page proofs for pp. 1-48 with black and white illustrations, with letter received, August-September 1998, (48 pp.)
Raindrops by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrated by David J. Brooks, Rookie Reader Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1999)
4/4Layout with early sketches of illustrations for pp. 3-31, (16 sheets)
4/5Page proofs for pp. 1-32 with black and white illustrations, August 1998, (17 sheets)
Saturn by Larry Dane Brimner, True Book Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1998)
3/5Page proofs for pp. 1-48 with black and white illustrations, with letter received, June 1998, (48 pp.)
Skiing by Larry Dane Brimner, True Book Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1997)
3/6Page proofs for pp. 1-48 with black and white illustrations, edited, with letter received, May 1997, (48 pp.)
Snowboarding by Larry Dane Brimner, First Book Series (New York: Grolier, Franklin Watts, 1997)
3/7Page proofs for pp. 1-64 with black and white illustrations, with letter received, February 1997, (64 pp.)
Speed Skating by Larry Dane Brimner, True Book Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1997)
3/8Page proofs for pp. 1-18 & 28-48 with black and white illustrations, with two pieces of correspondence, 16 April-1 May 1997, (39 pp.)
3/9Page proofs for pp. 19-25 with black and white illustrations, edited, with letter received, 16 April-2 May 1997, (7 pp.)
Surfing by Larry Dane Brimner, First Book Series (New York: Grolier, Franklin Watts, 1997)
3/10Photocopies of edited page proofs for pp. 1-64 with black and white illustrations and letter received, March-April 1997, (64 pp.)
Uranus by Larry Dane Brimner, True Book Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1999)
3/11Page proofs for pp. 1-48 with black and white illustrations, with letter received, July 1998, (48 pp.)
Venus by Larry Dane Brimner, True Book Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1998)
3/12First typescript for pp. 1-48, edited, (15 pp.)
3/13Second typescript for pp. 6-43, edited, (5 pp.)
3/14Page proofs for pp. 1-48 with black and white illustrations, with letter received, March-April 1998, (48 pp.)
What Good Is a Tree? by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrated by Leo Landry, Rookie Reader Series (New York: Grolier, Children's Press, 1998)
4/6Page proofs for pp. 1-32 with color illustrations and letter received, January 1998, (18 sheets)
3/15Press sheet of book pages

Accession Number: 2012-107

Inclusive Dates: 2004-2011

Volume: .40 cu. ft.

Given By : Larry Dane Brimner

Copyright: This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).

Form of Material:

Subway: The Story of Tunnels, Tubes, & Tracks by Larry Dane Brimner, illustrated by Neil Waldman; Boyds Mills Press, 2004.

Typescript [5]
Correspondence
Research
Editor’s notes/remarks
Proposal
Proof [print-out]

 


Accession Number: 2014-297

Inclusive Dates: 2013-2014

Volume: .75 cu. ft.

Given By : Larry Dane Brimner

Copyright: This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).

Form of Material:

Strike!: The Farm Workers’ Fight For Their Rights by Larry Dane Brimner; Calkins Creek/Highlights, 2014.

Correspondence
Research
Proposal
Typescripts [5]
Edited proof pages
1st proof
1st proof w/corrections – stored in oversize box
2nd proof w/corrections – stored in oversize box
3rd proof
4th proof
5th proof
Partial proof [print-out]
Final proof [print-out]
Photographs/artwork [on dvd]


Accession Number: 2016-026

Inclusive Dates: 2015

Volume: .35 cu. ft.

Given By : Larry Dane Brimner

Copyright: This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).

Form of Material:

The Rain Wizard: The Amazing, Mysterious, True Life of Charles Mallory Hatfield by Larry Dane Brimner; Pennsylvania: Calkin’s Creek. 2015.

Reviews
Correspondence
Drafts, typescripts (edited)
Galley proof

 


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