Restrictions
Noncirculating; available for research.
Copyright
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.
Barbara Johnes Brenner was born on June 26, 1925 in Brooklyn, New York. Her mother died when she was a year old and she went to live with her maternal grandparents in Rockland County, New York. Her father would visit on weekends and read to her. When the Depression began, she returned to Brooklyn to live with her grandparents, aunts, uncles and cousins together in a three story house. At eight, she moved to New Jersey to live with her father and new step mother and baby brother. It was with her brother at bedtime that she began telling stories. In high school, she wrote "Love Congas All," a play that she directed and starred in for a senior production. After high school, she got a job as a messenger for Prudential Life Insurance Company and was later transferred to the house magazine department. She attended Seton Hall from 1942 to 1943, Rutgers from 1944 to 1946, and New York University from 1953 to 1954.
After working as an artist's agent for her husband, illustrator Fred Brenner, she decided to do some writing. Her first book, Somebody's Slippers, Somebody's Shoes, was published in 1957 and was based on her son's love for a pair of bunny slippers. Her husband Fred also illustrated some of her books including The Flying Patchwork Quilt (1965), If You Were an Ant (1973), and Summer of the Houseboat (1968).
Brenner wrote a musical called "Ostrich Feathers" with music by Arthur Cunningham. The play first appeared as an off Broadway play, starring a young boy named Morgan Freeman, who Brenner said "seemed particularly talented." The play was later published in 1978 as Our Class Presents Ostrich Feathers: A Play in Two Acts. Since that time Brenner has written both fiction and non-fiction books for children, been a contributor to Cricket, Good Housekeeping, and Newsweek, and written the narration for "Noah's Ark," a video narrated by James Earl Jones. She was a writer and editor for the Bank Street College of Education. She has also written books for adults, including Love and Discipline (1983) and The Preschool Handbook (1990).
In 1986, Brenner was given the Pennsylvania School Librarian Association’s Outstanding Pennsylvania Author Award. Voices: Poetry and Art from around the World, a volume of poetry that Brenner edited, was named an ALA Notable Book for Children and recieved an ALA Best Book for Young Adults award.
Sources:
Scope and Content
The collection contains manuscripts, typescripts, galleys, proofs, dummies, blues and dust jackets for 17 titles. The materials are arranged alphabetically by title. Within each title the materials are arranged in the probable order in which they were created. The correspondence is arranged chronologically by title with the exception of correspondence with the de Grummond collection. The titles in the collection can be separated into two groups, fiction and non-fiction.
There are five non-fiction books in the collection: Bodies (1973), Beware! These Animals Are Poison (1979), If You Were an Ant (1973), Have You Ever Heard of a Kangaroo Bird? (1965) and Two Orphan Cubs (1989). There are typescripts, correspondence and research notes for all of these titles. There are galleys for Beware! These Animals Are Poison, If You Were an Ant, and Two Orphan Cubs. If You Were an Ant was illustrated by Brenner's husband, Fred Brenner. There is a dummy, proofs, and a dust jacket for this title as well. Two Orphan Cubs was co-authored by Brenner's editor and friend May Garelick, who saw two bears while visiting her and suggested they write a book together. After numerous rejections and rewrites, the book was finally published by Walker. Unfortunately, Garelick died shortly after it was published. There are also galleys, sketches, a dummy and a press sheet for this title.
There are typescripts and correspondence for the twelve fiction books in the collection: The Flying Patchwork Quilt, A Snake-Lover's Diary (1970), A Year in the Life of Rosie Bernard (1971), Hemi, a Mule (1973), Baltimore Orioles (1974), Cunningham's Rooster (1975), Lizard Tails and Cactus Spines (1975), On the Frontier with Mr. Audubon (1977), Our Class Presents Ostrich Feathers, Mystery of the Disappearing Dogs (1982), The Gorilla Signs Love (1984), and If You Were There in 1776 (1994).
Many of Brenner's books are based on her own experiences or those of her family and friends. Brenner often told her children stories about her childhood in Brooklyn. Her children liked the stories so much, she decided to write the stories down. The stories turned into A Year in the Life of Rosie Bernard, which she said might be classified as a "fictionalized autobiography." There are also galleys, proofs, and layouts for this title. A Snake-Lover's Diary, one of Brenner's favorites, was her first ALA Notable book. The boy in the story loves snakes and was inspired by her son Mark, but the photographs in the book are of her younger son Carl. There are also manuscript notes, galleys, proofs, and a press sheet for this title.
In 1975, Cunningham's Rooster was published. The story is about Brenner's friend, Arthur Cunningham, her son's piano teacher, who had written the music for Ostrich Feathers. In addition to typescripts and correspondence, there are also manuscript notes and corrections for this title. The Mystery of the Disappearing Dogs was Brenner's first mystery book and was inspired by her second dog. There is also a galley, a bound uncorrected proof, and a dust jacket for this title.
The Flying Patchwork Quilt is the story of a little girl named Ellen who learns to fly on a quilt. After witnessing both of her boys trying to "become airborne," she realized it was an experience that many children desire. Her idea for the quilt came from a patchwork quilt she had bought and her children had loved. Her husband Fred also illustrated this book. There is also a galley, illustration proofs, press sheets, and a proof for the dust jacket for this title. On the Frontier With Mr. Audubon is a fictional biography of a boy who traveled with Audubon down the Mississippi River. Brenner stated that her love for the country inspired this book and many of her other books about nature. The book was named as an Outstanding Science Book by the Children's Book Council and the National Science Teacher's Association in 1977. That same year it was selected as one of School Library Journal's Best of the Best Books. In addition to typescripts and correspondence, there are also manuscript notes for this title.
Related Collection
The Anne Rockwell Papers (DG0828); The May Garelick Papers (DG0363)
A. Correspondence
B. Books
C. Publisher's Promotional Materials
Box/Folder
A. Correspondence
1/1 Correspondence with the de Grummond Collection, 1966-1997,
n.d., 12 items.
B. Books
BALTIMORE ORIOLES by Barbara Brenner, pictures by J. Winslow Higginbottom (New York: Harper & Row, 1974).
1/2 Correspondence, 1973, 5 items.
1/3 Manuscript notes, 29 pp.
1/4-1/7 Typescripts,
1/4 Edited versions, "#1-#4."
1/5 Edited versions, "#5-#7."
1/6 Edited versions, "unused other versions," 2 copies.
1/7 Edited version, "final version," 14 pp.
Edited with typesetter's marks, 11 pp.
1/8 Proofs, minor corrections, 7 pp.
BEWARE! THESE ANIMALS ARE POISON by Barbara Brenner,illustrated by Jim Spanfeller (New York: Coward, McCann, & Geoghegan,
1979).
1/9 Correspondence, 1976-1978, n.d., 15 items.
1/10 Manuscript notes, 16 pp.
1/11 Book proposal, 2 pp.
"First notes," typewritten, 18 pp.
1/12 Typescript of outlines with portions of first draft, 2 items.
1/13-2/2 Typescripts,
1/13 "Second draft," pp. 1-16.
"Struggling draft," pp. 1-17.
1/14 "Intermediate drafts," 2 copies.
2/1 "Final," 15 October 1977, 5 copies.
2/2 "Final for galleys," 20 December 1977, pp. 1-17.
"Final for galleys," edited with typesetter's marks, 20
December 1977, pp. 1-17.
2/3 Photocopies of illustrations, 5 pp.
Typescript for flap copy, 1 pp.
Typescript of table of contents, 5 pp.
2/4-2/5 Galleys,
2/4 "Author's set," 3 March 1978, 8 pp.
2/5 "Master set," 30 march 1979(?), 11 pp.
BODIES by Barbara Brenner, with photos and design by George Ancona (New York: Dutton, 1973).
2/6 Correspondence, 1971-1973, 3 items.
2/7 Book proposal, 4 pp.
2/8 Manuscript notes, 20 pp.
2/9-2/10 Typescripts, edited,
2/9 5 versions.
2/10 6 versions.
2/11 Dummy, pasted with text and sketches, 1 item.
CUNNINGHAM'S ROOSTER by Barbara Brenner, pictures by Anne Rockwell (New York, Parents; Magazine Press, (1975)
2/12 Correspondence, 1973-1975, 7 items.
2/13 Manuscript notes, 18 pp.
2/14-2/15 Typescripts,
2/14 Edited versions, "#1-#7."
2/15 "Final version," 3 copies.
2/16 Typed list of corrections, 5 pp.
THE FLYING PATCHWORK QUILT by Barbara Brenner, illustrated by Fred Brenner (New York: Young Scott Books, 1965).
3/1 Typescript, carbon copy, 13 pp.
3/2 Galley, minor corrections, 8 pp.
3/3 Illustration proof, p. 9
Illustration proofs with watercolor and colored pencil, pp. 18-19,
6 items.
3/4 Press sheets, 2 items.
3/5 Proof for dust jacket, 1 item.
THE GORILLA SIGNS LOVE by Barbara Brenner (New York: Lothrop, Lee, and Shepard, 1984).
3/6-3/7 Manuscripts,
3/6 "Early drafts," 3 items.
3/7 "First and intermediate drafts," 4 items.
4/1-4/6 Typescripts, edited,
4/1 "Second drafts," 3 items.
4/2 Chapters 1-7(?), 66 pp.
4/3-4/4 "Revision with editor's comments,"
4/3 Chapters 1-10, pp. 1-98.
4/4 Chapters 11-?, pp. 99-154.
4/5-4/7 "Final draft,"
4/5 Chapters 1-9, pp. 1-59.
4/6 Chapters 10-17, pp. 60-120.
4/7 Chapters 18-24, pp. 121-178.
4/8-5/1 Edited with typesetter's marks,
4/8 Chapters 1-9, pp. 1-59.
4/9 Chapters 10-17, pp. 60-120.
5/1 Chapters 18-24, pp. 121-178.
5/2 Style sheet, 1 item.
5/3-5/5 Galleys, "master set - first pass,"
5/3 Chapters 1-7, pp. 1-63.
5/4 Chapters 8-17, pp. 64-133.
5/5 Chapters 18-24, pp. 134-204.
5/6-5/8 Galleys, "master set - second pass,"
5/6 Chapters 1-7, pp. 1-63.
5/7 Chapters 8-17, pp. 64-133.
5/8 Chapters 18-24, pp. 134-204.
5/9 Dust jacket, 1 item.
5/10 Bound uncorrected proofs with dust jacket, 1 item.
HAVE YOU EVER HEARD OF A KANGAROO BIRD?: FASCINATING FACTS ABOUT UNUSUAL BIRDS by Barbara Brenner, illustrated by Fred
Brenner (New York: Young Scott Books, 1965).
6/1 Correspondence, 1978-1980, n.d., 10 items.
6/2 Research materials, 3 items.
Manuscript notes, 45 pp.
6/3 Book proposal, 1 item.
6/4-6/6 Typescripts,
6/4 "Text in various stages," includes handwritten notes and
additions, 66 pp.
6/5 Edited, 24 pp.
Carbon copy, "close to final," 19 pp.
6/6 Carbon copy, "final," pp. 1-20.
6/7 Preliminary illustration, marker and colored pencil, 1 item.
HEMI, A MULE by Barbara Brenner, pictures by J. Winslow Higginbottom (New York: Harper & Row, 1973).
6/8 Correspondence, 1971, 3 items.
6/9 Manuscript notes, 17 items.
6/10 Research materials, 5 items.
6/11-7/2 Typescripts,
6/11-6/13 "Later version, almost final," edited,
6/11 Chapters 1-10, 58 pp.
6/12 Chapters 11-13, 54 pp.
6/13 Chapters 13(?)-15, 62 pp.
7/1-7/2 Edited with typesetter's marks,
7/1 Chapters 1-7, pp. 1-55.
7/2 Chapters 8-14, pp. 56-109.
7/3 Galley, minor corrections, 36 pp.
7/4 Blues, 1 item.
IF YOU WERE AN ANT by Barbara Brenner, illustrated by Fred Brenner (New York: Harper & Row, 1973).
7/5 Correspondence, 1972, 3 items.
7/6 Research notes and materials, 3 items.
7/7 Manuscript, 6 pp.
7/8-7/9 Typescripts, edited,
7/8 "First drafts and alternate first drafts," 4 versions.
7/9 "Second drafts and alternate second drafts," 3 versions.
"Final drafts," 2 versions.
7/10 Dummies, 3 items.
7/11 Galley, minor corrections, 8 pp.
7/12 Proof, "customer's proof," 31 October 1972, 5 pp.
7/13 Dust jackets, 4 items.
IF YOU WERE THERE IN 1776 by Barbara Brenner (New York: Simon & Schuster Books for Young Readers, 1994).
7/14 Correspondence, 1993-1995, 7 items.
7/15 Research materials, 14 items.
7/16 Manuscript notes, 16 pp.
8/1 Notecards, 112 items.
8/2 Partial typescripts, 13 items.
8/3 Typescript of captions, 2 copies.
8/4 Galley, photocopied, 47 pp.
8/5 Correspondence and pictures concerning pictures and copyright,
8 items.
Photographs and pictures used in book, 34 items.
8/6 Photographs, unused, 45 items.
8/7 Proof for jacket illustration, 1 item.
Dust jacket, 1 item.
LIZARD TAILS AND CACTUS SPINES by Barbara Brenner, photos by Merritt S. Keasley III (New York: Harper & Row, 1975).
9/1 Correspondence, 1974-1975, 7 items.
9/2 Manuscript notes and research materials, 12 items.
9/3 Outline of chapters, 1 item.
Book proposal, 26 pp.
9/4-9/7 Typescript,
9/4 "Rough draft," edited, 92 pp.
9/5 Carbon copy, minor corrections, 86 pp.
9/6-9/7 Edited with typesetter's marks,
9/6 Chapters 1-7, pp. 1-47.
9/7 Chapters 8-12 and index, pp. 48-94.
9/8-9/9 Proofs,
9/8 "Author's set," 23 pp.
9/9 "Printer's set," 23 pp.
9/10 Dust jacket, 1 item.
MYSTERY OF THE DISAPPEARING DOGS by Barbara Brenner, illustrations by Blanche Sims (New York: Knopf, 1982).
10/1 Correspondence, 1981-1982, n.d., 3 items.
Book proposal, 1 item.
10/2-10/7 Typescripts,
10/2 "First draft," edited with handwritten notes, 62 pp.
10/3 "Second and third drafts," 40 pp.
10/3 Carbon copy, edited, 63 pp.
10/4 "Final," edited, 44 pp. (missing chapters 6-10)
10/5 Carbon copy, 46 pp. (missing chapters 7-10)
10/6 Photocopied, chapters 1-10, 72 pp.
10/7 Edited with typesetter's marks, chapters 1-10, pp. 1-78.
11/1 Galley, "master proof," minor corrections, 59 pp.
11/2 Bound uncorrected proof, 1 item.
Dust jacket, photocopied, 1 item.
ON THE FRONTIER WITH MR. AUDUBON by Barbara Brenner (New York: Coward, McCann, & Geoghegan, 1977).
11/3 Correspondence, 1975, n.d., 8 items.
11/4 Manuscript notes, 15 pp.
11/5-11/8 Typescripts, edited,
11/5 "Partial first draft," pp. 1-5, 17-54, and 11 unnumbered
pages.
11/6 "Partial second draft," pp. 1-42.
11/7 "Second draft," pp. 1-58.
11/8 "Final draft," pp. 1-60.
OUR CLASS PRESENTS OSTRICH FEATHERS: A PLAY IN TWO ACTS Barbara Brenner, pictures by Vera B. Williams, assisted by Evelyn
Armstrong (New York: Parents' Magazine Press, 1978).
11/9 Correspondence, 1977, n.d., 3 items.
11/10 Typescript, edited, 3 versions.
11/11 Author's dummy, 1 item.
Artist's dummy, 1 item.
A SNAKE-LOVER'S DIARY by Barbara Brenner (New York: Young Scott Books, 1970).
11/12 Correspondence, 1968-1969, n.d., 13 items.
11/13 Manuscript notes, 14 pp.
12/1-12/4 Typescripts,
12/1 "First draft, not submitted," edited, 48 pp.
12/2 "First draft, submitted," photocopied, 54 pp.
12/3 Edited draft, carbon copy, 54 pp.
12/4 "Final copy," 58 pp.
12/5 Galley, minor corrections, 22 pp.
12/6 Proofs, pp. 1-90.
12/7 Press sheet, 1 item.
TWO ORPHAN CUBS by Barbara Brenner and May Garelick, illustrated by Erika Kors (New York: Walker, 1989).
12/8 Correspondence, 1982-1989, n.d., 16 items.
12/9 Research notes and materials, 12 items.
12/10 Typescripts, edited, 8 versions.
13/1 Dummy, 1 item.
13/2 Sketches, photocopied, 2 items.
13/3 Galley, photocopied, 10 pp.
13/4 Press sheet, 1 item.
A YEAR IN THE LIFE OF ROSIE BERNARD by Barbara Brenner,illustrated by Joan Sandin (New York: Harper & Row, 1971).
13/5 Typescript of outline, 2 copies.
Book proposal, pp. 1-16.
13/6-13/7 Typescripts,
13/6 "First draft," edited, carbon copy, 137 pp.
13/7 Edited with typesetter's marks, pp. 1-139.
13/8-14/1 Galleys, "master,"
13/8 24 March 1971, 179 pp.
14/1 3 May 1971, 179 pp.
14/2 Layouts with pasted text and illustrations, pp. i-x, 1, 6-7, 10-11,
32-33, 56-57, 68-69, 98-99, 114-115, 140-141, 164-165, and dust
jacket.
14/3-14/4 Proofs,
14/3 Edited reproductions, pp. 1-179.
14/4 Corrected reproductions, cut, pp. 1-179.
C. Publisher's Promotional Materials
14/5 Promotional materials, 5 items.
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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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