de Grummond Collection

Provenance

Materials received from the d'Aulaires between 1966 and 1978.

Restrictions

Noncirculating; available for research.

Copyright

This 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.

Biographical Sketch

Edgar Parin was born in Switzerland on 30 September 1898. He took his mother's maiden name, d'Aulaire, when he became an artist. Edgar, who was a pupil of Henry Matisse, illustrated books in Germany from 1922 to 1926, and painted frescoes in Norway from 1926 to 1927.

Ingri, who was born in Norway on 27 December 1904, knew as a young girl that she wanted to be an artist. When she was 15, the renowned Norwegian painter Harriet Backer encouraged Ingri to pursue art as a career. Ingri later studied at art schools in Norway, Germany, and France.

The two met while they were attending art school in Paris, and they were married in 1925. After a vacation to the United States, the couple decided to immigrate to America in 1929. Initially, the couple pursued individual careers; Edgar concentrating on murals and Ingri on children's portraits. Acting on a librarian's suggestion, the d'Aulaires collaborated on The Magic Rug (1931).

Many of the d'Aulaire's early books depict the scenery and folktales of Norway. The couple later shifted their attention to the United States, and produced books about American heroes such as Pochontas, Benjamin Franklin, and Buffalo Bill.

Using their research and travel experiences as inspiration, this husband and wife team produced over 20 picture books for children. They received various awards for their work. Edgar illustrated Nora Burglon's book, Children of the Soil: A Story of Scandinavia (1932) which was a 1932 Newbery Honor Book. Abraham Lincoln (1939) received the Caldecott Medal in 1940, and the 1953 Boy's Club award went to Buffalo Bill (1952). This team received the Catholic Library Association Regina Medal for "continued distinguished contribution to children's literature." Their 1972 work, D'Aulaires' Trolls was one of the New York Times Book Review's outstanding books of 1972. It was also a National Book Award finalist in 1973, and was nominated for the Hans Christian Andersen Award in 1974.

Ingri died on 24 October 1980, and Edgar on 1 May 1986.

Sources:

Box/Folder


A.   Autobiographical Material

     1/1  Christmas cards, 3 items.


B.   Book

     COLUMBUS by Ingri and Edgar Parin d'Aulaire (New York:
     Doubleday, 1955)

     1/2  Lithograph, was later revised and used as the cover and
            pp. 9.