Material received from Natalie Carlson between 1970 and 1991.
Noncirculating; available for research.
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.
Natalie Savage Carlson was born on October 3, 1906 in Kernstown, Virginia, but spent much of her childhood on a farm on the Potomac River in Maryland. At age four, she was sent to a convent boarding school along with three older sisters. After three years at the convent she stayed home and was tutored by "Miss Hallie," a family friend. She published her first story on the children's page of the Baltimore Sunday Sun when she was only eight years old. When she was 11, her family moved to Long Beach, California where she completed her high school education in parochial schools.
In California, she worked as a writer for the Long Beach Morning Sun from 1927 to 1929, when she met and married Daniel Carlson, a naval officer. Subsequently, the Carlsons were stationed in Hawaii, Mexico, Canada and France. They also traveled widely in western Europe. As a result of her travels, Carlson's stories describe the lives of children in such diverse locations as an orphanage near Paris, the Arab quarter of Marseilles and the slums of Rome. Carlson emphasizes local customs and celebrations in her books. Often, she uses particularly descriptive foreign words and expressions, defined in a glossary at the end of each book, to add as much authenticity as possible to the story. Carlson says she likes to write about people of different races and nationalities because of her French-Canadian relatives who visited when she was young. She found their differences fascinating and feels that by presenting different cultures to children she is promoting understanding, sympathy and tolerance.
Carlson was awarded the New York Herald Tribune Children's Spring Book Festival Award in 1952 for The Talking Cat and in 1954 for Alphonse, That Bearded One. In 1959 The Family Under the Bridge was a Newbery Honor Book. In 1966 Carlson was the U. S. nominee for the Hans Christian Andersen International Children's Book Award.
Mrs. Carlson died September 23, 1997 in Middletown, Rhode Island.
Sources:
The collection consists of ten series: biographical material, correspondence, radio broadcasts, reviews, speaking engagements, newspaper articles, readings, material for 12 books and five short stories, and unpublished book material. Book materials are arranged alphabetically by title; within each title the organization of the material reflects the probable order in which it was created.
The biographical material consists of photographs of Carlson, her dolls and hand puppets, her childhood home, and the surrounding village. There are also two clippings containing biographical sketches and a 1972 promotional pamphlet from Clearwater (Florida) Library. Correspondence in the collection is divided into letters from Carlson to the de Grummond Collection (1966-1979), letters to Carlson and Harper and Brothers from miscellaneous correspondents (1958-1971), and letters from children to Carlson (1965-1979 and undated). There are typescripts of six radio programs discussing Carlson's books, broadcast between 1963 and 1970, and newspaper and magazine reviews (1965-1974) of her books. The collection contains a 1968 speech Carlson made to Oakland Beach School and programs from other events at which she was a guest speaker (1966-1979 and undated). The oldest material in the collection consists of two newspaper articles (1927, 1932) and four typescripts of dramatic readings (1948, 1950), all by Carlson.
Natalie Savage Carlson has written newspaper articles, short stories, autobiographies and novels for children and adolescents. Her work explores a number of issues including racism and segregation, homelessness, and cultural difference. Although writing since the 1920s, Carlson didn't begin to write fiction until the 1950s. The materials in the collection represent work from all phases of her career, from her early work as a journalist to her most recent works of fiction. For many of the titles the collection includes research materials, one or more typescripts, and occasionally a set of galleys.
Befana's Gift (1969) is the story of an old lady who brings gifts to the Italian people at Christmas and the problems that ensue when she brings one of the characters a grandson. For this title, the collection contains undated research and travel notes as well as other research materials consisting of photographs, post cards, and newspaper and magazine clippings. It also contains a typescript. For Carnival in Paris (1962), the story of an untalented but enthusiastic circus family who try to join a big Paris show, the collection includes photographs of a carnival in France. For Chalou (1967), a story about a dog trapped on a large chunk of ice who travels down the St. Lawrence River to new friends--and new enemies, the collection has one edited typescript.
The Half Sisters (1970) is the semi-autobiographical tale of Carlson's childhood. For this title, the collection contains one typescript. For Jaky or Dodo? (1978), the tale of a Parisian mongrel who successfully leads a double life until both of his owners enter him in the same dog show, the collection has newspaper and magazine clippings, a typescript, photocopies of the book's illustrations and a hand puppet. King of the Cats and Other Tales (1980) is a collection of stories based on Breton folklore. For this title, the collection has a typescript, two sets of galleys, paste-ups, copies of the illustrations and two photographic proofs. (The collection includes a typescript for one of the stories, "The Korrigan's Jacket," which was also published in Cricket; see description below.) Luvvy and the Girls (1971), sequel to The Half Sisters, tells of a twelve-year-old girl who is delighted that she is finally old enough to go to boarding school with her older half sisters. In the collection there are various research materials including photographs, postcards and tourist brochures, miscellaneous notes, and a preliminary draft. The collection also has two typescripts and six pages of miscellaneous typescript.
Carlson wrote a series of books about orphelines, French orphan girls. The collection contains photographs and a typescript for The Orphelines in the Enchanted Castle (1964). Sailor's Choice (1966) is the tale of a Newfoundland, a massive breed of dog, who chooses a young boy for his new master. For this title the collection includes miscellaneous research notes, a preliminary, hand written draft, and an edited typescript. For School Bell in the Valley (1963), the story of ten-year-old Belle Mundy's adventures trying to help support her family in the 1920s, the collection has one set of unmarked galleys. Time for the White Egret (1978) tells of a cattle egret who goes in search of "time" as the solution to his problems. The collection has one edited typescript for this title.
The collection contains five short stories. "The Korrigan's Jacket" was published in Cricket magazine in 1978 and in King of Cats and Other Tales in 1980. For this title, there is an edited typescript. For "Little Sister's Old Christmas," published in The Scribner Anthology for Young People (1976), the collection includes a first draft, a typescript, and a recording of Carlson reading the story. There are also recordings of Carlson reading three other stories: "The Loup Garou in the Mill," "The Little Old Dog and the Big Old Bear," and "The Talking Cat."
In the 1980's Carlson authored a series of picture books about Spooky, a clever black cat formerly owned by a wicked witch. The collection holds two unpublished typescripts for books in this series.
Related Collections
The Robert Quackenbush Papers (DG1097) and The Gail Owens Papers (DG0756)
General (1958-1971)
Children (1965-1979 and undated)
Box/Folder
A. Biographical Material
1/1 Photographs, undated, 12 items.
Clippings, undated, 2 items.
Pamphlet, "Natalie Savage Carlson and Her Books," undated.
B. Correspondence
de Grummond
1/2 To the de Grummond Collection, 1966-1979, 1991, 11 items.
General
1/3 To Carlson and Harper and Brothers, 1958-1971, 12 items.
Children
1/4 1965-1972, 96 items.
1/5 1973-1978, 127 items.
1/6 1979, 81 items.
2/1 Undated, 119 items.
C. Radio Broadcasts
2/2 Typescripts of programs, 21 December 1958 - 31 October 1970, 6 items.
D. Newspaper and Magazine Reviews
2/3 1965
2/4 1966
2/5 1967
2/6 1968
2/7 1969
2/8 1970-1971
2/9 1972, 1974, and undated
E. Speaking Engagements
3/1 Oakland Beach School, 3 April 1968; 3 3/4" recording.
Programs, 1966-1979 and undated, 5 items.
F. Newspaper Articles
3/2 By Carlson, 1927 and 1932, 2 items.
G. Readings
3/3 "The Dance of the Cobra: A Dramatic Monolog," typescript, 1948, 2 pp.
"A 'Gentleman' Farmer: A Humorous Reading," typescrips, 1948, 2 pp.
"The Threat of the Sea: A Dramatic Reading," typescript, 1950, 2 pp.
"Tony the Abandoned: A Dramatic Reading," typescript, 1950, 3 pp.
"Voice of Old Ironsides," typescript, undated, 8 pp.
H. Books
BEFANA'S GIFT by Natalie Carlson, illustrated by Robert Quackenbush (New York: Harper, 1969).
3/4 Research and travel notes, undated, and notebook, 3 items.
3/5 Research material, January 1967 and undated, 31 items.
3/6 Typescript, marked for typesetter, chapters 1-8, pp. 1-73, irregular pagination.
CARNIVAL IN PARIS by Natalie Carlson, illustrated by Fermin Rocker (New York: Harper, 1962).
3/7 Research photographs, undated, 15 items.
CHALOU by Natalie Carlson, illustrated by George Loh (New York: Harper, 1967).
3/8 Typescript, edited, chapters 1-12, pp. 1-89.
THE HALF SISTERS by Natalie Carlson, illustrated by Thomas de Grazia (New York: Harper, 1970).
4/1 - 2 Typescript, marked for typesetter,
4/1 front matter and chapters 1-5, pp. 1-52, irregular
pagination;
4/2 chapters 6-12, pp. 53-131.
JAKY OR DODO? by Natalie Carlson, illustrated by Gail Owens (New York: Scribner, 1978).
4/3 Research material, 1969 and undated, 6 items.
4/4 Typescript, edited and marked for typesetter, front matter and chapters
1-8, pp. 1-50.
Drawings, copies, 32 items.
4/5 Hand puppet.
KING OF THE CATS AND OTHER TALES by Natalie Carlson, illustrated by David Frampton (New York: Doubleday, 1980).
4/6 Typescript, marked for typesetter, front matter and pp. 1-49.
4/7 Galleys, first run, front matter and pp. 1-72.
4/8 Galleys, final, front matter and pp. 6-33.
5/1 - 2 Paste-up,
5/1 front matter and pp. 1-29;
5/2 pp. 30-73.
5/3 Reproduction proof, title page.
Illustrations, copies, 11 items.
Photographic proof of illustration, p. 16.
[See also Short Stories, Folder 6/10]
LUVVY AND THE GIRLS by Natalie Carlson, illustrated by Thomas di Grazia (New York: Harper 1971).
5/4 Research photographs, 1965-1970 and undated, 10 items.
Research materials, undated, 9 items.
Notes, manuscript, 38 pp.
Notes and preliminary draft, 1 notebook.
5/5 - 6 Typescript, corrected,
5/6 chapters 1-6, 60 pp., unpaginated;
5/6 corrected, chapters 7-13, 75 pp;
5/7 Typescript, miscellaneous, 6 pp.
6/1 - 2 Typescript, marked for typesetter,
6/1 front matter and chapters 1-6, pp. 1-61;
6/2 chapters 7-13, pp. 62-133.
THE ORPHELINES IN THE ENCHANTED CASTLE by Natalie Carlson, illustrated by Adriana Saviozzi (New York: Harper, 1964).
6/3 Research photographs, December 1965 and undated, 4 items.
6/4 Typescript, edited and marked for typesetter, chapters 1-7, pp. 1-65.
SAILOR'S CHOICE by Natalie Carlson, illustrated by George Loh (New York: Harper, 1966).
6/5 Research material, undated, 7 items.
Notes, manuscript, 1 notebook.
Preliminary draft, 24 pp.
6/6 - 7 Typescript, edited,
6/6 chapters 1-5, pp. 1-58;
6/7 chapters 6-11, pp. 59-124, and glossary.
SCHOOL BELL IN THE VALLEY by Natalie Carlson, illustrated by Gilbert Riswold (New York: Harcourt Brace, 1963).
6/8 Galleys, unmarked, pp. 1-74.
TIME FOR THE WHITE EGRET by Natalie Carlson, illustrated by Charles Robinson (New York: Scribner, 1978).
6/9 Typescript, edited, 3 pp.
I. Short Stories
6/10 "The Korrigan's Jacket" (illustrated by Michael R. Hague, Cricket: The Magazine for Children, vol. 5, no. 8, April
1978), typescript, edited, 6 pp.
"Little Sister's Old Christmas" (The Scribner Anthology for Young People [New York: Scribner, 1976]), typescript, first draft, corrected, 6 pp.;
typescript marked for typesetter, pp. 4-11.
"The Loup Garou in the Mill," "The Little Old Dog and the Big Old Bear," and "Little Sister's Old Christmas," read by Carlson, undated,
cassette.
"The Talking Cat," read by Carlson, undated, 1/4" reel.
J. Unpublished Books
6/11 Typescript, "Spooky and the Sky Snake," undated, 5 pp.
Typescript photocopy, "Spooky in Outer Space," undated, 5 pp.
Biographical Sketch| Scope & Content|
Related Collections| Series &
Subseries| Box Inventory
[Return to top]
ABOUT US | COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS | RESEARCH | EXHIBITS & EVENTS
Contact:
The de Grummond Children's Literature Collection
The University of Southern Mississippi
118 College Drive, #5148
Hattiesburg, MS 39406-0001
(601) 266-4349
Comments and Questions
This page is maintained by the de Grummond
Collection.
The
University of Southern Mississippi
AA/EOE/ADAI