Archives & Special Collections invites authors and illustrators near the beginning of their career to apply for financial support to assist in the creation of new children’s literature from the James Marshall Fellowship Fund.
Fellows are given the opportunity to be inspired by and obtain insight from the original artwork and archives of over 100 illustrators and authors of children’s literature, including the James Marshall Papers, as well as to access the substantial special collections of books for children that make up the Northeast Children’s Literature Collection. Applicants are invited to propose projects in which works are written, illustrated, or produced for the entertainment or instruction of children and young adults.
Fellows are awarded $4,000.00 USD. The fellowship is awarded on a competitive basis to applicants who are selected by the Head of Archives & Special Collections and the Archivist for the Northeast Children’s Literature Collection. Criteria for selection include demonstrated significance of the proposed project and the necessity of consulting the Northeast Children’s Literature Collection in support of the project.
The James Marshall Fellowship recipient agrees to consult the Northeast Children’s Literature Collection for the purpose outlined in the project proposal and to describe the value of the research experience in relation to the project.
Application Requirements and Payment
Applicants should submit the following materials with their application:
- brief description (no more than two pages) of the project
- preliminary list of collections to be consulted
- resume or curriculum vitae
Fellows must be in residence for at least five full research days and must, at the end of their visit, provide an accounting of their research findings through either:
- a 1,500 word blog post on the department’s blog
- making themselves available for a 45 minute interview for the department’s podcast, d’Archive or
- presenting at a small colloquium of library staff.
We will not be able to fund awards for researchers who do not meet these requirements. Fellowship funds are paid following completion of the requirements of the fellowship. A minimum period of eight weeks is necessary to process and deliver the award check.
Deadline
Applications are accepted and reviewed annually. The deadline for submission is January 30 for research visits between March and February. Applicants will receive written notification if their proposal is approved within six weeks of the deadline.
Particular consideration will be given to applicants who utilize any of the following collections:
American scholar and pioneering professor of literature at the University of Connecticut, 1965-1992, who elevated children’s literature from “kiddie lit” to “a platform for reform” as described in her New York Times obituary. Butler uplifted the academic standing of the study of children’s literature, created one of the most popular courses in UConn history, established the Children’s Literature Association (ChLA) and its journal Children’s Literature. The collection contains over 400 hours of audio recordings of appearances by authors and illustrators in Butler’s children’s literature course. Guest lecturers included Madeleine L’Engle, Maurice Sendak, and Isaac Bashevis Singer, among others.
Paris-born American Illustrator of children’s books and political cartoonist, Simont received the Caldecott Medal in 1957 for “A Tree Is Nice,” written by Janice May Udry and published in 1956. A significant recent acquisition of additional material includes over 285 sketchbooks, illustrations made for the army while serving in WWII, and work for Sports Illustrated.
Russian-born American artist and illustrator, Slobodkina is best known for her children’s picture book Caps for Sale however her introduction to children’s literature illustration was born out of financial necessity, moving away from abstract art. Educated at the National Academy of Design, she worked in oils and textiles, and many of her children’s book illustrations are collaged. Slobodkina’s first marriage was to Russian-born abstract painter Ilya Bolotowsky (1933-1938), a co-founding member of the American Abstract Artists group which promoted and fostered public understanding of abstract art.
American children’s author and illustrator, Szekeres was educated at Pratt Institute. She found an early career experience working briefly as a commercial artist illustrating children’s fashion stylistically restrictive. So began a focus on illustrating anthropomorphized animals in over 150 books for children. A significant addition of artwork was acquired in 2019, completing the archive.
Chinese-born American children’s book illustrator and author of over 100 books, Young won a Caldecott medal for his translation of Lon Po Po: A Red Riding Hood Story from China. Young was focused on cultural traditions and exchange. A recent addition of material to Ed Young’s archive reflects the enormous creativity and self-reflection of the artist. Documented is Young’s attempt to record lifetime activity and reflections in the form of notes, journals, and playful objects, covering the period 2006-2022, as well as textual and visual notes working out creative ideas. Of note are early shadow puppet performances and animations.
About the James Marshall Fellowship Fund
The Billie M. Levy Travel and Research Grant was established in 2002 through the generous gifts of private donors in honor of Billie M. Levy.
The James Marshall Fellowship was established in 2004 through the generous gifts of private donors in honor of the illustrator and author James E. Marshall (1942-1992). Marshall spent a good part of his life in Mansfield, Connecticut in a small house in Mansfield Hollow, where he became one of the most distinguished contemporary American children’s book authors and illustrators. A friend to the University of Connecticut, Marshall regularly visited with students in Francelia Butler’s groundbreaking children’s literature course. By the time of his death, Marshall, a self-taught artist, had illustrated and written fifty-four books, and illustrated another twenty-nine books. The James Marshall Fellowship was first awarded in 2008.