Material was donated by Miriam Chaikin from 1971 to 1981.
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.
Miriam Chaikin was born on December 8, 1928 in Jerusalem, Israel. She came to the United States in 1929 with her parents Abraham and Leah Chaikin. Before embarking on a career in children's literature, she was involved in political endeavors--working for the American branch of Irgun (fighting for Palestine's independence from Britain) and then working for several members of Congress. When she turned her efforts to the publishing world, she worked as subsidiary rights director, children's book editor, and editorial director for numerous publishing companies including Bobbs-Merrill and Holt, Rinehart & Winston. Before writing books, Ms. Chaikin published numerous poems in Good Housekeeping and Scholastic magazines. She is most noted for her stories about Jewish traditions and culture. In 1984, she won the Sydney Taylor Award from the Association of Jewish Libraries for her entire body of work.
Miriam Chaikin passed away April 19, 2015 at the age of 90.
The collection contains galleys, proofs, and typescripts for six of Ms. Chaikin's books. Finders Weepers (1980) is the story of a little girl who finds a ring that brings her nothing but trouble. There are three sets of proofs for this title. I Should Worry, I Should Care (1979) is about a Jewish girl who moves into a new neighborhood during the rise of Hitler. There are also proofs for this title. The Seventh Day: The Story of the Sabbath (1980) is an informational book about the Jewish Sabbath. The layouts in the collection are paste-ups with text and reproductions of the woodcuts by David Frampton.
Hardlucky (1973) is the humorous story of a man who thinks he is very unlucky. He later realizes that it is not that he is unlucky, rather when he does not pay attention, bad things happen to him. There is a typescript, galleys and proofs for this title. Another humorous picture book by Ms. Chaikin is The Happy Pairr and Other Love Stories (1972). Although the book has only three love stories in the published version, there were four in the original typescript. The original typescript and galleys are in the collection.
Ms. Chaikin's first story Ittki Pittki (1971), is about a foolish
merchant who finds a snake in his tea, and rather than offend the prince who
gave it to him, he drinks it. The collection contains four versions and a final
draft of the typescript. After the book was published, Ms. Chaikin gave a copy
of the book to one of her relatives in Israel. After much excitement from her
relatives, she learned that she and the illustrator, Harold Berson were related.
She then wrote to Mr. Berson explaining her findings. A copy of the letter with
the photograph she sent are in the collection.
Related Collection:
The Harold Berson Papers (DG0082)
Box/Folder
A. Photographs
1/1 Photograph of Miriam Chaikin, 1 item.B. Books
Finders Weepers by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Richard Egielski (New York: Harper & Row, 1980). 1/2-1/3 Proofs, "master set," 22 April 1980, 1/2 Front matter, 6 pp.,chapters 1-4, pp. 1-58. 1/3 Chapters 5-8, pp. 59-120. 1/4-1/5 Proofs, "reading set," 6 May 1980, 1/4 Front matter, 6 pp.,chapters 1-4, pp. 1-58. 1/5 Chapters 5-8, pp. 59-120. 1/6-1/7 Proofs, 1/6 Front matter, pp. i-viii, chapters 1-4, pp. 1-58. 1/7 Chapters 5-8, pp. 59-120. The Happy Pairr and Other Love Stories by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Gustave Nebel (New York: Putnam, 1972). 1/8 Typescript, "original," 32 pp. 1/9 Typescript, minor corrections, 15 October 1971; front matter 2 pp., 21 pp. 1/10 Galley, minor corrections, 20 pp. Hardlucky by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Fernando Krahn (Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1973). 2/1 Typescript, edited with typesetter's marks; 9 pp. 2/2 Galley, "master," 12 July 1972; 4 pp. 2/3 Proofs, "final proof," 18 October 1972; 4 pp. I Should Worry, I Should Care by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Richard Egielski (New York: Harper & Row, 1979). 2/4 Proof of jacket blurb, "proof one," 5 October 1978; 1 item. Proof of jacket blurb, "proof two," 10 October 1978; 1 item. Proof of front matter, "master set-third pass," 19 October 1978; p. iv, 1 item. 2/5-2/6 Proofs, 20 November 1978; 2/5 Front matter, pp. i-viii, chapters 1-4, pp. 1-58. 2/6 Chapters 5-7, pp 59-103. 2/7 Corrected proofs, pp. i, iv, 44, 45, and 105. Ittki Pittki by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Harold Berson (New York: Parents' Magazine Press, 1971). 2/8 Correspondence with illustrator, 1 item. 2/9 Typescript, "original," edited, 8 pp. Typescript, "second version," edited, 6 pp. Typescript, "third version," edited, 6 pp. Typescript, "combination of first and third version," edited, 6 pp. 2/10 Typescript, edited with typesetter's marks, 6 pp. List of corrections 2 pp. Typescript, photocopied with notes to illustrator, 7 pp. The Seventh Day: the Story of the Sabbath by Miriam Chaikin, woodcuts by David Frampton (Garden City: Doubleday, 1980). 2/11-2/17 Layouts with pasted text and woodcut reproductions, 26 September 1979, 2/11 Title page and page numbers, 2 items. 2/12 Pp. 1-7, 4 items. 2/13 Pp. 8-15, 4 items. 2/14 Pp. 16-21, 4 items. 2/15 Pp. 22-31, 4 items. 2/16 Pp. 32-39, 4 items. 2/17 Pp. 40-48, 5 items.
Biographical Sketch | Scope & Content
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ABOUT US | COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS | RESEARCH | EXHIBITS & EVENTS
Accession Number: 2015-164
Inclusive Dates: 1971 - 2014
Volume: 3.45 cubic ft.
Given By : Miriam Chaikin Estate
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:
Exodus by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Charles Mikolaycak; Holiday House, 1987.
Correspondence
Royalty statements
Reviews
Contract
Alexandra’s Scroll: The Story of the First Hanukkah by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Stephen Fieser; Henry Holt & Co., 2002.
Correspondence
Royalty statements
Reviews
Publicity
Print-out of book cover [Russian?]
Contract for “Dancing with the Moon” [2]
Hanukkah by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Ellen Weiss; Holiday House, 1990.
Correspondence
Royalty statements
Publicity
Reviews
Typescript
Contract
Light Another Candle: The Story and Meaning of Hanukkah by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Demi; Clarion Books, 1981.
Correspondence
Royalty statements
Publicity
Notes
Research
Book jacket
Contract
Reviews
Angel Secrets: Stories Based on Jewish Legend by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Leonid Gore; Henry Holt, 2006.
Correspondence
Publicity
Royalty statements
Book jacket proof
Contract [2]
Esther by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Vera Rosenberry; Jewish Publication Society, 1987.
Correspondence
Royalty statements
Reviews
Galley [photocopy]
Contract
Joshua in the Promised Land by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by David Frampton; Clarion, 1982.
Correspondence
Royalty statements
Publicity
Reviews
Book jacket [2]
Contract
Don’t Step on the Sky: A Handful of Haiku by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Hiroe Nakata; Henry Holt, 2002.
Correspondence
Reviews
Royalty statements
Preliminary art
Contract [2]
A Nightmare in History: The Holocaust, 1933-1945 by Miriam Chaikin; Clarion Books, 1987.
Correspondence
Royalty statements
Reveiws
Publicity
Contract
Ittki Pittki by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Harold Berson; Parents’ Magazine Press, 1971.
Correspondence
Royalty statements
Reviews
Publicity
Typescript [2]
Contract
Award
Copyright documents
The Seventh Day: The Story of the Jewish Sabbath by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by David Frampton; Doubleday, 1980.
Correspondence
Royalty statements
Book jacket
Reviews
Publicity
Illustration proofs
Typescript of 4th chapter
Published pages from book
Contract
How Yossi Beat the Evil Urge by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Petra Mathers; Harper & Row, 1983.
Reviews
Publicity
Royalty statements
Illustration proof [photocopy]
Galley
Typescript [3]
Correspondence
Contract
Book jacket
Lower! Higher! You’re A Liar! By Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Richard Egielski; Harper & Row, 1984.
Copyright documents
Correspondence
Publicity
Reviews
Contract
Royalty statements
Hardlucky by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Fernando Krahn; Lippincott, 1973.
Correspondence
Typescript [4]
Contract [2]
Print-out of published book
Reviews
Publicity
Royalty statements
Book jacket
Illustration proof page
Documentation, contract, & publicity re: animated film version
Getting Even by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Richard Egielski; Harper & Row, 1982.
Reviews
Publicity
Correspondence
Contract
Copyright documents
Aviva’s Piano by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Yossi Abolafia; Clarion Books, 1986.
Correspondence
Contract
Publicity
Book jacket
Reviews
Program from stage version
Menorahs, Mezuzas, and Other Jewish Symbols by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Erika Weihs; Clarion Books, 1990.
Contract
Correspondence
Royalty statements
Publicity
Reviews
Sound the Shofar: The Story and Meaning of Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Erika Weihs; Clarion Books, 1986.
Publicity
Correspondence
Contract
Review
Children’s Bible Stories from Genesis to Daniel by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Yvonne Gilbert; Dial Books for Young Readers, 1993.
Reviews
Correspondence
Royalty statements
Contract
Copyright documents
Ask Another Question: The Story and Meaning of Passover by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Marvin Friedman; Clarion Books, 1985.
Correspondence
Reviews
Publicity
Book jacket
Contract
Make Noise, Make Merry: The Story and Meaning of Purim by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Demi; Clarion Books, 1983.
Reviews
Royalty statements
Publicity
Correspondence
Book jacket [2]
Shake A Palm Branch: The Story and Meaning of Sukkot by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Marvin Friedman; Clarion Books, 1984.
Reviews
Publicity
Book jacket
Contract
Yossi Asks the Angels for Help by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Petra Mathers; Harper & Row, 1985.
Reviews
Correspondence
Publicity
Book jacket [3]
Contract
Royalty statements
Yossi Tries to Help God by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Denise Saldutti; Harper & Row, 1987.
Reviews
Publicity
Book jacket
Contract
Royalty statements
Angels Sweep the Desert Floor: Bible Legends About Moses in the Wilderness by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Alexander Koshkin; Clarion Books, 2002.
Correspondence
Royalty statements
Publicity
Book jacket [2]
Reviews
Contract
Clouds of Glory: Legends and Stories About Bible Times by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by David Frampton; Clarion Books, 1998.
Correspondence
Copyright documents
Book jacket [2]
Publicity
Reviews
Proof pages
Proof [photocopy]
The Happy Pairr and Other Love Stories by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Gustave E. Nebel; Putnam, 1972.
Book jacket [3]
Reviews
Correspondence
Publicity
Published pages [photocopy]
Contract
Feathers in the Wind by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Denise Saldutti; Harper & Row, 1989.
Contract
Review
Book jacket [3]
Correspondence
Royalty statements
Friends Forever by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Richard Egielski; Harper & Row, 1988.
Correspondence
Reviews
Publicity
Book jacket [2]
Contract
Royalty statements
Finders Weepers by Miriam Chaikin, Richard Egielski; Harper & Row, 1980.
Publicity
Fan mail
Review
Contract
Book jacket [2]
Royalty statements
Correspondence
Published story from World Over [2]
I Should Worry, I Should Care by Miriam Chaikin, illustrated by Richard Egielski; Harper & Row, 1979.
Royalty statements
Publicity
Book cover
Fan mail
Correspondence
Published story from World Over
Published story from World Over [photocopy]
Reviews
Book jacket
Contract
Jewish Wisdom for Daily Life: Sayings of Rabbi Menahem Mendl of Kotzk edited by Miriam Chaikin, translated by Gabriel Lisowski; Arcade Publishing, 2014.
Correspondence
Proof [color print-out]
Galley
“Molly Series” by Miriam Chaikin; Harper & Row, 1980-1988.
Correspondence
Research
Notes
Play script w/notes
Royalty statements
Articles:
“What’s Going on in Publishing?” By Miriam Chaikin in The Advocate; Vol. 1, No. 3, Spring 1982.
Published article [3]
Correspondence
“What’s Good About Israel?” by Miriam Chaikin in The Jewish Week; May 4, 1984.
Published article [3]
Published article [photocopies]
Typescript [2]
“The Market for Children’s Books Today” by Miriam Chaikin in The Writer; February, 1982.
Published article [2]
Published article [photocopies]
Correspondence
“An Affectionate Look at Israel’s Tower of Babble” by Miriam Chaikin in The Jewish Week; February 27, 1987.
Published article
Published article [photocopies]
Notes
Typescript
Correspondence
Poetry:
Miscellaneous haiku and tanka from various publications:
All The Shells, 2014
Ribbons, 2007-2014
Red Lights, 2011-2014
Tanka Society of America, 2000
Prune Juice, 2009
Seed Packets, 2010
Sharing the Sun, 2010
Bottle Rockets, 2009
The Pebbled Shore, 2009
Accession Number: 2016-251
Inclusive Dates: 2002 - 2014; [n.d.]
Volume: .70 cubic ft.
Given By : Miriam Chaikin Estate
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:
USB drives containing photographs, videos, family information, & miscellaneous files from MC’s computer
CDs and diskettes w/files from MC’s computer
Handwritten notes on index cards [in plastic box]
Correspondence
Miscellaneous poetry by Miriam Chaikin
Reviews
Royalty statements
Publishing agreements/contracts
Copyright documents
Fan mail
Dust jacket for Don’t Step on the Sky
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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