Library Discussion - Stories and Pictures by Virginia Lee Burton with Heidi Horner
Sunday, March 26
2:00 p.m.
CAM Auditorium, 27 Pleasant Street, Gloucester, MA
Registration required for all attendees, Free for members, $10 for non-members
Visit the Cape Ann Museum Library & Archives to explore Virginia Lee Burton Demetrios's process as a celebrated author and illustrator of children's books from 1935 to 1962. Enjoy excerpts from Burton's 1943 acceptance speech for the Caldecott Medal, where she describes her inspiration, her methods and what she learned from her best critics-- her children and their friends. Notice how her style changes over time, and what themes remain consistent throughout her work.
Archival processor Heidi Horner will show images from the Virginia Lee Burton Demetrios papers, the most complete collection of her personal papers, given to the Cape Ann Museum by the Demetrios family. The collection includes Burton's unpublished sketchbooks and notebooks, "dummy books" she used to mock up her stories, and fan mail and other correspondence demonstrating the enduring appeal of her work. This talk will touch on all of her published work including The Little House and Mike Mulligan and his Steam Shovel, and even look at a story or two that never made it to print.
The Virginia Lee Burton Demetrios papers are open for research in the Library & Archives, Tuesday through Saturday, 10:00-5:00pm. View the finding aid here.
When attending the event, please have your ticket ready and present it to a Visitors Services Representative upon arrival.