This collection contains the literary papers of author and illustrator Robert Lawson (1892-1957), collected by Frederick R. Gardner. Materials date from 1900 to 1983. Lawson’s illustrations make up the bulk of this collection; illustrations for forty-seven titles and unpublished artworks are represented. In addition to etchings and illustrations in graphite, pen and ink, and watercolor, the collection includes articles, clippings, correspondence, manuscript drafts, photographs, promotional materials, slides, and speeches. Some of Frederick R. Gardner's records relating to his collecting project are also represented. Of particular note are the dummy for Munro Leaf’s
The Story of Ferdinand (1936) and the original art for
Mr. Popper’s Penguins (1938) and
Wee Gillis (1938).
Held at: Free Library of Philadelphia: Rare Book Department [Contact Us]