de Grummond Collection

McCain Library and Archives
University Libraries
University of Southern Mississippi



BERTA AND ELMER HADER PAPERS

Collection Number
Collection Dates
Collection Volume
DG0410
1930-1974
2.70 cu.ft. (6 boxes)

Biographical Sketch | Scope & Content | Related Collections | Series & Subseries | Box Inventory


Provenance
Material was donated by Berta and Elmer Hader and from Mr. and Mrs. Richard Horner between 1966 and 1979.

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.

Biographical Sketch
Berta Hoerner Hader was born in 1891 in San Pedro, Coahuila, Mexico where her parents had undertaken a cotton growing venture. In 1894, the venture failing, her family moved to Parras, Mexico and later to Amarillo, Texas. After her father died when she was five years old, they moved to New York where she received most of her education. She began art classes and won several school literary and artistic prizes. In 1909, she moved with her mother and brother to Seattle, Washington where she attended the Washington School of Journalism and apprenticed at Western Engraving Company until 1912. It was here she learned fashion design and illustration. In 1915 she moved to San Francisco and worked in fashion illustration. While studying in Carmel, she shared a house with Rose Wilder Lane, Laura Ingalls Wilder's daughter, and was instrumental in getting Wilder's first "Little House" book published. Between 1915 and 1918 she attended the California School of Design.

It was in San Francisco that she met her future husband, Elmer Hader. Elmer Stanley Hader was born in 1889 in Pajaro, California but spent most of his youth in San Francisco. During the great earthquake and fire of 1906 he worked for the city in the National Guard. He attended the California School of Design in San Francisco from 1907-1910. In 1912 Hader attended the Julian Academy in Paris, France, paying his way through school working as a vaudevillian for two years. After serving in France during World War I, Hader moved to New York where he and Berta were married on July 14, 1919.

The Haders began to illustrate feature pages for children in several leading magazines, including Good Housekeeping, McCall's, Pictorial Review, Century, and The Christian Science Monitor. This was the beginning of many years of collaboration. In 1927 and 1928 they illustrated and wrote seven small picture books called the "Happy Hours" books. Their first full- length book, The Picture Book of Travel, was published in 1928. In 1944, The Little Stone House, which detailed the building of their house in Nyack, New York, overlooking the Hudson River, was published. This home was the setting of the "Willow Hill" series of books, which depicted their love of animals and nature. In 1949 they won the Caldecott Medal for The Big Snow (1948) describing a great blizzard of January 1948.

The Haders continued writing and illustrating at their home until the mid- 1960s. As well as completing their own books, they also illustrated other's books. Either would suggest a plot and they both would plan it. One would start an illustration and the other would finish it. Pacifists and conservationists long before it was the fashion, their love of nature and animals is apparent in their work. They received the Caldecott Honor Book Award for Cock-a-doodle-doo in 1940 and for The Mighty Hunter in 1944, as well as for The Big Snow. Elmer Hader died in 1973, and Berta Hader died in 1976.

Sources:

Scope and Content
The collection contains correspondence, biographical material, drawings, and material from twenty-one books (1930-1962) and six titles of uncertain publication. The titles are arranged alphabetically with material for each title organized in the probable order in which it was created.

The correspondence consists of letters to the de Grummond Collection (1966- 1971) and letters to Elmer Hader regarding publications (1932 and undated). The biographical material includes undated photographs and a publisher's pamphlet. There are also several Christmas cards and a drawing titled "Welcome to New York."

The Banana Tree House (1938), written by Phillis Garrard and illustrated by the Haders, is the story of a small girl living in the Bermuda Islands. For this title there are sketches and proofs of illustrations. The Big Snow (1948), their Caldecott Medal Award winner, describes how animals survived the blizzard in January of 1948 with a little help from people. Three thumbnail dummies, six typescripts, and graphite sketches show the progression of this book. Billy Butter (1936) is the story of a goat living on Telegraph Hill in San Francisco and the adventures he has. The collection contains proofs of illustrations and endpapers for this title. For The Cat and the Kitten (1940), the story of a family of cats who live with a little girl, the collection includes a typescript and dummy.

Cock-a-Doodle Doo: The Story of a Little Red Rooster (1939) is about the narrow escapes of a little chick trying to be with his own kind. Cricket: The Story of a Little Circus Pony (1938) details the adventures of a circus pony who retires to the farm and becomes the star of a barnyard circus. For both titles the collection has proofs of illustrations. Ding Dong Bell: Pussy's in the Well (1957), the story of a cat who falls in a well and brings good fortune to the family that adopts him, is the most documented title in the collection. The collection contains a thumbnail dummy, nine typescripts, five dummies, multiple original illustrations, dust jacket material, and an unbound copy. For The Friendly Phoebe (1953), the story of an orphaned baby bird cared for by a kind couple, the collection includes an unbound copy.

Home on the Range: Jeremiah Jones and His Friend Little Bear in the Far West (1955) tells the story of Jerry and Little Bear and their adventures when they trade places. The collection includes two versions of unbound proofs and dust jackets for this book. For How Dear to My Heart (1940), which sentimentally describes the seasons of the year, there are several proofs. Humpy: Son of the Sands (1937) is the story of a baby camel in the desert who travels to an oasis and saves a man's life. Two versions of unbound copies and dust jackets are in the collection. The Inside Story of the Hader Books (1937) tells how the Haders work together to create their books. For this title the collection includes an unbound copy and dust jacket. Recreating the world of natural history, Little Antelope: An Indian for a Day (1962) is the story of a boy's wish to be an Indian. The collection contains an unbound copy and two dust jackets for this title.

Little Chip of Willow Hill (1958), one of the "Willow Hill" series, is about a chipmunk who has much to learn about the world. For this book the papers include an unbound copy, dust jacket, and a publisher's pamphlet. The Little Stone House: A Story of Building a House in the Country (1944) is the story of how the Haders built their stone house on Willow Hill in Nyack, N.Y. For this title the collection has an illustration and proofs. For Little Town (1940) there are two sketches and proofs; and for Picture Book of Mother Goose (1930), the Haders' rendition of the classic rhymes, there are press sheets, proofs, and unbound copies. Rainbow's End (1945) is about a carpenter, ship-wrecked with his cat on a beautiful little cove, who has a way with animals and soon befriends the animals and people in a nearby town. The collection contains four proofs of illustrations for this book.

Sonny Elephant: A Jungle Tale (1930) is the story of an Indian elephant whose adventurous spirit leads him to investigate Man on the edge of the jungle. For this title there are an unbound copy and dust jacket. Stop Look Listen (1936), in which John and Mary follow the good teaching of their parents, presents safety rules in a nonfrightening way. For this book there are an unbound copy, dust jackets, and endpapers. Tommy Thatcher Goes to Sea (1937) is an outdoor story set on the fishing shores of Maine about a boy who yearns to go to sea and finally does. There are sketches and proofs for this book.

Also in the collection is material for seven miscellaneous titles, which may or may not have been published. Included are proofs of illustrations from "American Myths," "Snow White," and "Princess and the Pea." For "G for Giraffe," there are research notes, a dummy, and correspondence; for "Kitten Breeches," there are a typescript, correspondence and a dummy; for "A Penny for Your Thoughts" there are manuscript notes and edited typescripts; and for "Powhatan" there are research notes and materials, two edited typescripts, page layouts of text, and sketches.

Series and Subseries

A. Correspondence (1932-1971 and undated)

B. Biographical Material (undated)

C. Drawings (1957-1974 and undated)

D. Books (1930-1952)

E. Miscellaneous Titles


             

Box Inventory

Box/Folder A. Correspondence 1/1 To the de Grummond Collection, 1966 and 1971, 5 items. To the Haders regarding publications, 1932 and undated, 2 items. B. Biographical Material 1/2 Photographs, undated, 2 items. Publisher's pamphlet, undated. C. Drawings 1/3 Christmas cards, 1957-1974 and undated, 11 items. "Welcome to New York," ink and watercolor. D. Books BANANA TREE HOUSE BY by Phillis Garrard, pictures by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Coward-McCann, 1938). 1/4 Sketches, graphite, colored pencil, and transparent watercolors, pp. 2, 19, 41, 57, 71, 97, and dust jacket, 3 items. Proofs, title page, illustrations on pp. 2-108, and dust jacket, 34 items. THE BIG SNOW by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Macmillan, 1948). 1/5 Thumbnail dummies, graphite, 3 items. 1/6 Typescript, edited, 5 pp. Typescript, edited, 5 pp. Typescript, edited, 3 pp. Typescript, edited, 4 pp. Typescript, edited, 7 pp. Typescript, partial, edited, 4 pp. Sketches, graphite, title page and frontispiece, 2 items. BILLY BUTTER by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Macmillan, 1936). 1/7 Proofs, pp. 2, 19, 38, 59, 78, 91, and endpapers, 2 items. THE CAT AND THE KITTEN by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Macmillan, 1940). 1/8 Typescript, edited, title page and pp. 1-45. 1/9 Dummy with paste-ups of text and illustrations, graphite and watercolor sketches, and 2 dust jackets. COCK-A-DOODLE DOO: THE STORY OF A LITTLE RED ROOSTER by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Macmillan, 1939). 1/10 Proofs, pp. 24-25, 28-29, 32-33, and 36-37. CRICKET: THE STORY OF A LITTLE CIRCUS PONY told and pictured by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Macmillan, 1938). 2/1 Proofs, pp. 2, 19, 37, 73, 92, 125, and 144. DING DONG BELL: PUSSY'S IN THE WELL by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Macmillan, 1957). 2/2 Thumbnail dummy, graphite. Typescript, edited, 6 pp. Typescript, edited, 10 pp. Typescript, edited, pp. 1-8. Typescript, edited, pp. 1-12. Typescript, edited, pp. 1-9. 2/3 Typescript, edited, pp. 1-9. Typescript, edited, pp. 1-11. Typescript, edited, pp. 1-15. Typescript, edited, pp. 1-14. Typescripts, edited, page 1 (2 versions), front matter, 2 pp., and p. 48. 2/4 Dummy with text paste-ups and graphite illustrations, pp. 1- 32, incomplete. Dummy with text paste-ups and graphite illustrations, pp. 1- 48 and dust jacket. 2/5 Dummy with text paste-ups and graphite and transparent watercolor illustrations, pp. 1-48, and letter with suggested changes. 2/6 Illustrations, graphite and charcoal, pp. 2, 3, 4, 8-9, 12- 13, 16-17, 20-21, 24-25, and 28-29. 2/7 Illustrations, graphite and charcoal, pp. 32-33, 36-37, 40- 41, 42, 44-45, 47, and 26. 2/8-2/11 Illustrations, transparent watercolors and graphite, 2/8 p. 2; 2/9 title page, p. 3; 2/10 pp. 6-7; 2/11 pp. 10-11. 3/1-3/14 Illustrations, transparent watercolors and graphite, 3/1 p. 14; 3/2 p. 15; 3/3 p. 18; 3/4 p. 19; 3/5 p. 23; 3/6 p. 27; 3/7 p. 30; 3/8 p. 31; 3/9 p. 34; 3/10 p. 35; 3/11 p. 38; 3/12 p. 39; 3/13 p. 43; 3/14 p. 46. 4/1 Dummy with paste-ups of text and illustrations and inserts of graphite illustrations, pp. 1-48. 4/2 Dummy with graphite illustrations and inserts and paste-ups of text and proofs of illustrations, pp. 1-48 and cover page. 4/3 Dust jacket and title page material, 5 items. 4/4 Proof, unbound, in dust jacket. THE FARMER IN THE DELL by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Macmillan, 1931). 4/5 Sketches, watercolor, 4 items. [stored separately] THE FRIENDLY PHOEBE by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Macmillan, 1953). 4/6 Proof, unbound, in dust jacket. HOME ON THE RANGE: JEREMIAH JONES AND HIS FRIEND LITTLE BEAR IN THE FAR WEST story and pictures by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Macmillan, 1955). 4/7 Proof, unbound, in dust jacket, 2 versions. HOW DEAR TO MY HEART by Mary Margaret McBride, illustrated by Elmer Hader (New York: Macmillan Co., 1940). 4/8 Proofs, illustrations on pp. 1-185, 16 items. HUMPY: SON OF THE SANDS by Hamilton Williamson, pictures by Berta and Elmer Hader (Garden City, N.Y.: Doubleday, Doran & Co., 1937). 4/9 Proof, unbound, in dust jacket, 2 versions. THE INSIDE STORY OF THE HADER BOOKS told and pictured by Berta and Elmer for the Macmillan Company (New York: Macmillan, 1937). 4/10 Proof, unbound, in dust jacket, with watercolors added, 3 versions. LITTLE ANTELOPE: AN INDIAN FOR A DAY by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Macmillan, 1962). 4/11 Proof, unbound, and 2 dust jackets. LITTLE CHIP OF WILLOW HILL by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Macmillan, 1958). 4/12 Proof, unbound, in dust jacket. Publisher's pamphlet for the series "Willow Hill Stories." THE LITTLE STONE HOUSE: A STORY OF BUILDING A HOUSE IN THE COUNTRY by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Macmillan, 1944). 5/1 Illustration, ink and transparent watercolors, p. i. Proofs, color illustrations only, pp. 1-62, 32 items. LITTLE TOWN by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Macmillan, 1940). 5/2 Sketches, charcoal, 2 items. Proofs, front matter and p. 2, 3 items. PICTURE BOOK OF MOTHER GOOSE by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Coward-McCann, 1930). 5/3 Press sheets, 2 items. [stored separately] Proof, front matter, 4 items. 5/4 Proof, unbound, pp. 11-82, 85-106, 109-134, and 137-152. 5/5 Proof, unbound. RAINBOW'S END by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Macmillan, 1945). 5/6 Proofs, illustrations on pp. i, 35, 134, and 167. SONNY ELEPHANT: A JUNGLE TALE by Madge A. Bigham, illustrated by Berta and Elmer Hader (Boston: Little, Brown, 1930). 5/7 Proof, unbound, in dust jacket. STOP LOOK LISTEN by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Longmans, Green, 1936). 5/8 Proof, unbound, with 2 endpapers and 2 dust jackets. TOMMY THATCHER GOES TO SEA story and pictures by Berta and Elmer Hader (New York: Macmillan, 1937). 5/9 Sketches, transparent watercolors, 4 items. Proofs, title page and illustrations on endpapers, pp. 2, 23, 42, 51, 69, 88, and 92. Dust jacket. E. Miscellaneous Titles Published 6/1 "American Myths" Proofs, 6 illustrations. "The Princess and the Pea" Proofs, 2 illustrations. "Snow White" Proofs, 6 illustrations. Unpublished 6/2 "G for Giraffe" Research notes, 2 items. Dummy, graphite and charcoal. Letter from publisher, 20 September 1940. 6/3 "Kitten Breeches" Typescript, edited, pp. 1-65, and epilogue (2 pp.). "Suggested titles." Letters from Good Housekeeping, 3 February 1931 and February 1932. 6/4 Dummy with text paste-ups and illustrations, ink, graphite, and transparent watercolors; and 2 dust jackets. 6/5 "A Penny For Your Thoughts" Manuscript notes, 1 item. Typescripts, edited, 4 versions (53 pp.) and 8 miscellaneous pages. 6/6 "Powhatan" Research notes and materials. Typescripts, edited, 2 versions. Page layout of text, 16 items. Sketches, graphite, and notes on illustrations, 7 items.

Processed: June 1991
Revised: June 2001


Biographical Sketch|Scope & Content|Related Collections|Series & Subseries|Box Inventory

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The de Grummond Children's Literature Collection

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118 College Drive, #5148
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