de Grummond Collection

McCain Library and Archives
University Libraries
University of Southern Mississippi



NANCY WINSLOW PARKER PAPERS

Collection Number
Collection Dates
Collection Volume
DG0762
1972-1980
4.10 cu.ft. (9 boxes)

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

Provenance

Materials received from Nancy Winslow Parker in 1987.

Restrictions

Non-circulating; 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

Nancy Winslow Parker is the illustrator of more than twenty children's books, almost half of which she has written herself. Born in Maplewood, New Jersey in 1930, Parker knew from an early age that she wanted to be an artist when she grew up. That she would also become a writer never occurred to her. She took her bachelor's degree from Mills College in California in 1952 and then moved to New York City to get "rich and famous," in her own words. In New York she worked as a sales promoter for NBC from 1956 to 1960, as a sports promoter for the New York Soccer Club from 1961 to 1963, and again as a sales promoter for RCA from 1964 to 1967. Painting remained a hobby.

Parker further pursued her art education in New York City, taking night classes at the Art Students League in 1956 and 1957. Beginning in 1966, she studied book design for six months at the School of Visual Arts, and by 1967 she was working as art director for Appleton-Century-Crofts publishers. In 1970 she transferred to Holt, Rinehart and Winston where she worked as a graphic designer. In 1972 she quit her job and at last decided to concentrate on a career as a free-lance illustrator. She initially met with little success and soon realized that she could improve her chances of getting published by writing her own stories as well as illustrating them. After Parker was rejected by several publishers, Dodd, Mead accepted her work and in 1974 The Man with the Take-Apart Head was published. Since then, Parker has illustrated or written and illustrated both fiction and non-fiction books for children. She is particularly noted for the subtle and sophisticated sense of humor in stories she has written.

A number of Parker's books have won honors and awards. Willy Bear (1976) received a Christopher Award in 1977, and in 1982 My Mom Travels a Lot (1981) received the same distinction. The latter title also made the New York Times Best Illustrated list. The President's Car (1981) was given Honorable Mention by the New York Academy of Sciences Children's Science Book Awards. Oh, A-Hunting We Will Go (1974) was a Junior Literary Guild selection, and Poofy Loves Company (1980) was an American Library Association Notable Book. In 1975 Parker received a Jane Tinkham Broughton Fellowship in Writing for Children at the Breadloaf Writers Conference at Middlebury College in Vermont.

In 1985 Parker lived in New York City. Her interests include travel, carpentry, tennis, and all aspects of French language and culture.

Sources:


Scope and Content

The collection contains material related to eight of Nancy Winslow Parker's books and one postcard sent to Parker from a friend or relative. Book materials are arranged alphabetically by title and within each title according to the probable order in which they were created. Correspondence related to individual book titles is arranged chronologically and is grouped with the rest of the material related to that title.

The earliest title represented in the collection is Love from Uncle Clyde (1977), an amusing picture book about a boy named Charlie who receives a live hippopotamus as a birthday present. For this book the collection holds one manuscript and several typescripts, notes, sketches, and other materials. Parker's understated sense of humor is quite apparent in The Crocodile Under Louis Finneberg's Bed (1978), about the special friendship between a boy and his eight-foot reptilian pet. This title is represented by correspondence, a manuscript, several typescripts, sketches, notes, an unbound proof, and miscellaneous items.

Hot Cross Buns and Other Old Street Cries (1978) is a songbook illustrated by Parker. Included for this title are a letter to Parker from John Langstaff, a photocopied typescript of the introduction, photocopies of handwritten music and lyrics, sketches, paste-ups, and color separations. For No Bath Tonight (1978), a Jane Yolen story illustrated by Parker, there is correspondence, a photocopied typescript, sketches, several sets of blueprints, color separations, paste-ups, and other items. The largest holdings are for The Ordeal Of Byron B. Blackbear (1979), about a hibernating bear who becomes the unwilling subject of a scientific study. For this title the collection includes correspondence, research materials, notes, numerous versions of manuscripts and typescripts, sketches, two dummies, color separations, galleys, and other materials. There are also significant holdings for Puddums, the Cathcarts' Orange Cat (1980), including research materials, notes, one manuscript and several typescripts, sketches, color separations, and galleys. Of particular interest is the correspondence related to this title, which contains several letters from Parker's niece describing the behavior of her cat, who is also (not coincidentally) named Puddums.

The President's Cabinet and How It Grew (1978) was a departure from Parker's previous books in that it was non-fiction; a children's introduction to the history and function of the Presidential advisory body. For this title the collection includes correspondence, research materials, notes, a manuscript, several typescripts, sketches, color separations, and galleys. The Substitute (1977), about a magical substitute teacher who can transform her students into different creatures according to the tune she plays on a piano, is represented by correspondence, a photocopy of an original illustrated manuscript, notes, sketches, a dummy, and color separations.



Related Collection

NONE



Series and Subseries


A. Correspondence (1972)

B. Books (1977-1983)


Box Inventory


    Box/Folder

A. Correspondence

1/1 Postcard to Nancy W[inslow] Parker from "Auntie Viv," 27 October 1972.

B. Books

THE CROCODILE UNDER LOUIS FINNEBERG'S BED written and illustrated by Nancy Winslow Parker (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1978). 1/3 Correspondence, 1977-1979, undated, 13 items. 1/4 Manuscript, second draft, 28 November 1976, 5 pp. 1/5 Typescript, corrected and annotated, undated, 6 pp. 1/6 Typescript photocopy, corrected and annotated, undated, 3 pp. 1/7 Typescript, corrected, second draft, 2 February 1977, 3 pp. 1/8 Typescript photocopy, corrected, undated, 3 pp. 1/9 Sketches, graphite, title page, pp. [5-40], dust jacket, unpublished, 24 items. 1/10 Holograph notes, 2 pp. Illustrations, photocopies, title page lettering, p. [17]. Typescript photocopy of front flap text. 1/11 Proof, unbound, with dust jacket. HOT CROSS BUNS AND OTHER OLD STREET CRIES chosen especially for children by John Langstaff, pictures by Nancy Winslow Parker (New York: Atheneum, 1978). 1/12 Holograph letter from Jack L. [i.e., John Langstaff] to Nancy [Winslow Parker], undated, 2 pp. 1/13 Typescript photocopy of introduction, corrected and annotated, 3 pp. Manuscript photocopies of music and lyrics, 18 pp. 1/14 Sketches, graphite, half-title, title page, pp. 3-27, dust jacket, unpublished, 30 items. 1/15 Paste-ups, half-title, pp. 3-28, dust jacket, 16 pp. 1/16 Color separations, pp. i-[27], 16 items. LOVE FROM UNCLE CLYDE story and pictures by Nancy Winslow Parker (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1977). 2/1 Correspondence, 1973-1974, 1976-1978, 22 items. 2/2 Photocopy of newspaper clipping, New York Times, 1979. Manuscript, "The Gift," 1 p. Typescript carbon copy, "The Gift," 1 p. Typescript carbon copy, corrected, "The Gift," 1 p. Typescript, corrected, "The Gift," 1 p. Typescript, edited and marked for typesetter, Love from Uncle Clyde, 1 p. 2/3 Sketches, graphite, title page, half-title, pp. [5-30], dust jacket, unpublished, 53 items. Sketches, ink, pp. [13, 19, 29], unidentified, 4 items. 2/4 Partial dummy, "The Gift," photocopied illustrations and holograph text. Holograph notes, 1 p. Galleys. Dummy, Love from Uncle Clyde, photocopied illustrations and galley text. 2/5 Text paste-ups, pp. [1-30], 20 items. 2/6 - 7 Color separations, 2/6 pp. [3/5/32, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 18, 21], 8 items; 2/7 pp. [22, 25, 26, 29, 31], flaps, dust jacket, 7 items. NO BATH TONIGHT by Jane Yolen, pictures by Nancy Winslow Parker (New York: Crowell, 1978). 2/8 Correspondence, 1977-1978, 4 items. 2/9 Typescript photocopy, corrected and annotated, 2nd revision, 12 October 1977, 8 pp. Sketches, graphite, title page, pp. [2-29], dust jacket, unpublished, 43 items. Galleys, corrected and annotated. Sketches, photocopied, two hand-colored, pp. [16, 22], dust jacket, 3 items. Dummy, photocopied and hand-colored illustrations with galley text. 2/10 Blueprints, set 1. 2/11 Dust jacket specifications, 1 item. Blueprints, set 2. 2/12 Blueprints, set 3. 3/1 - 3 Color separations, 3/1 sample art, title page, pp. [4-12], 11 items; 3/2 pp. [13-22], 10 items; 3/3 pp. [23-31], dust jacket cover, dust jacket back, 11 items. 3/4 Paste-ups, 18 items. 4/1 Proof, unbound, with dust jacket. THE ORDEAL OF BYRON B. BLACKBEAR by Nancy Winslow Parker, with drawings by the author (New York: Dodd, Mead, 1979). 4/2 Correspondence, 1973, 1977-1978, 29 items. 4/3 Research materials, 3 items. Holograph notes, 6 items. 4/4 Manuscript, various titles, 4 January 1973, 12 pp. 4/5 Typescript, "The Secret in the Woods, or The Ordeal of Byron B. Blackbear," version I, July 1973, 7 pp. 4/6 Typescript carbon copy, "The Secret in the Woods, or The Ordeal of Byron B. Blackbear," draft # 4, undated, 7 pp. 4/7 Manuscript, "The Secret in the Woods," August 1973, version 2, 4 pp. 4/8 Typescript, "The Secret in the Woods, or The Ordeal of Byron B. Blackbear," August 1973, 6 pp. 4/9 Manuscript, "The Secret in the Woods, or The Ordeal of Byron B. Blackbear," 10 January [1974?], 8 pp. 4/10 Typescript, undated, 6 pp. 4/11 Typescript, draft 3, with holograph corrections, undated, 6 pp. 4/12 Manuscript, "The Secret in the Woods," rewrite 4, 28 June 1974, 8 pp. 4/13 Manuscript, "The Secret in the Woods," 29 June [1974?], 9 pp. 4/14 Typescript, "The Secret in the Woods," with holograph corrections, 30 June 1974, 7 pp. 4/15 Manuscript, 15 January 1977, 4 pp. 4/16 Manuscript, 18 September 1977, 3 pp. 4/17 Typescript carbon copy, "The Ordeal of Byron B. Blackbear," 15 January [1978?], 2 pp. 4/18 Typescript carbon copy, "The Ordeal of Byron B. Blackbear," with holograph corrections, 17 January 1978, 2 pp. 4/19 Typescript, "The Ordeal of Byron B. Blackbear," with holograph corrections, 28 February 1978, 4 pp. 4/20 Manuscript, front matter and back matter, 3 pp. 4/21 Typescript, front matter and back matter, 3 pp. 4/22 Sketches, graphite, front matter, title page, pp. [7-61], back matter, unpublished, miscellaneous, 91 items. 4/23 Sketches, photocopied, with holograph annotations, pp. [21-49], unpublished, 14 items. 4/24 Sketches, photocopied, hand-colored, pp. [9, 13, 41, 61], 4 items. 4/25 Dummy, graphite illustrations with typescript text paste-ups and holograph corrections. Typescript editorial notes, 3 pp. 4/26 Dummy, photocopied and hand-colored illustrations with typescript text paste-ups. 4/27-5/3 Color separations, 4/27 front matter, title page, pp. [9, 11, 13, 14], 8 items; 5/1 pp. [15, 17, 21, 23, 25, 27, 28, 29, 31, 33], 10 items; 5/2 pp. [35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, 49, 53, 55], 9 items; 5/3 pp. [56, 57, 59, 61, 7/19/51], back matter, cover stamping, dust jacket, bookmark, 12 items. 5/4 Holograph lettering for title page, section headings, and dust jacket, 5 items. 5/5 Galleys, corrected, 6 pp. 6/1 Display text, title page, pp. [7, 19, 51], 1 item. 6/2 Text paste-ups, title page, pp. 19, 51], 2 items. 6/3 Ad card material, 3 items. 6/4 Dust jackets, 2 items. 6/5 Proof, unbound, with dust jacket. Promotionals and reviews, 6 items. THE PRESIDENT'S CABINET AND HOW IT GREW by Nancy Winslow Parker, with an Introduction by the Honorable Dean Rusk (New York: Parents' Magazine Press, 1978). 6/6 Correspondence, 1972-1975, 1977-1983, 36 items. 6/7 Research materials, 1977-1978, undated, 8 items. 6/8 Holograph notes, 73 pp. 6/9 Manuscript, 12 pp. 6/10 Typescript, "The President's Cabinet: A Picture Book of U.S. Government," 18 pp. 6/11 Typescript carbon copy, "The President's Cabinet: A Picture Book of U.S. Government," 18 pp. 6/12 Typescript, corrected, 29 pp. 6/13 Sketches, graphite, pp. [7-33], dust jacket, unpublished, 72 items. 6/14 Sketches, photocopied, pp. [18, 20, 23, 24, 26], unpublished, 7 items. 7/1-3 Color separations, 7/1 title page, pp. [2/3, 4/5, 5, 6/7, 8/9, 10/11, 12/13]; 7/2 pp. [14/15, 16/17, 18/19, 20/21, 22/23, 24/25]; 7/3 pp. [26/27, 28/29, 30/31, 32/33], endpapers, dust jacket. 7/4 Galleys, pp. [14, 15, 27]. PUDDUMS, THE CATHCARTS' ORANGE CAT written and illustrated by Nancy Winslow Parker (New York: Atheneum, 1980). 7/5 Correspondence, 1978-1980, 1982-1983, 51 items. 7/6 Research materials, 2 items. 7/7 Manuscript, outline, 5 pp. Holograph notes for dedication, 1 p. 7/8 Manuscript, "Puddums, or The Soapdish Mystery," 12 September 1978, first draft, 6 pp. 7/9 Typescript, draft # 1, corrected, 8 pp. 7/10 Typescript, "Puddums, the Cathcarts' Orange Cat," September 1978, corrected, 10 pp. 7/11 Typescript, corrected and annotated, 5 pp. 7/12 Miscellaneous typescript pages, 4 items. 7/13 Sketches, graphite, pp. [9-32], dust jacket, unpublished, miscellaneous, 51 items. 8/1 Dummy, photocopied illustrations with typescript text paste-ups and holograph corrections. 8/2 Dummy pages, photocopied, 5 items. 8/3 Galleys, corrected. 8/4 Galleys, corrected and annotated. 8/5 Galleys, corrected and annotated. 8/6 Galleys. 8/7 Galleys, corrected and annotated. 8/8 Galleys, annotated. 8/9 Galleys and display text, 21 items. 8/10 Dummy, photocopied illustrations with galley text, annotated. 8/11 Sketches, photocopied, dust jacket, 5 items. 8/12 Illustrations, photocopied, pp. [9-31], dust jacket, unpublished, 17 items. 8/13 Text paste-ups, pp. [1, 3, 4/5, 6/7], lettering, front flap, rear flap, 9 pp. 8/14 Color separations, pp. [9-32], illuminated letters, unpublished, 28 items. 8/15 Design specification materials, 7 items. Partial blueprint, annotated, 5 pp. 8/16 Unbound proof. 8/17 Unbound proof, annotated. 8/18 Photograph with annotated mounting board, used for rear flap. 8/19 Dust jacket, North American edition (Atheneum). Cover, United Kingdom edition (J. M. Dent). 8/20 Color separations, dust jacket, 7 items. THE SUBSTITUTE by Ann Lawler, illustrated by Nancy Winslow Parker (New York: Parents' Magazine Press, 1977). 9/1 Correspondence, 1976-1977, 8 items. 9/2 Illustrated maunuscript photocopy, annotated by Parker, 17 pp. 9/3 Typescript, 4 pp. 9/4 Holograph notes, 2 pp. Typescript editorial notes, 1 p. 9/5 Sketches, graphite, title page, pp. [3-31], dust jacket, unpublished, miscellaneous, 49 items. 9/6 Sketches, graphite and crayon, 3 items. Sketches, photocopied and hand-colored, pp. [3, 16], 2 items. 9/7 Dummy, photocopied illustrations with typescript photocopy text paste-ups, corrected and annotated. 9/8-10 Color separations, 9/8 pp. [2/3, 6/7, 8/9, 10/11, 12/13], 5 items; 9/9 pp. [14/15, 16/17, 18/19, 20/21, 22/23], 5 items; 9/10 pp. [24/25, 26/27, 28/29, 30/31], dust jacket, 5 items.


Processed: June 1992
Revised: June 2001

Biographical Sketch | Scope & Content | Related Collections | Series & Subseries | Box Inventory
[Return to top]

ABOUT US | COLLECTION HIGHLIGHTS | RESEARCH | EXHIBITS & EVENTS

SEARCH LIBRARY CATALOG | FINDING AIDS | SPECIAL COLLECTIONS

UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES HOME | SOUTHERN MISS HOME

 

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