UConn to House Maurice Sendak Archive
The finished artwork for his published books, and certain manuscripts, sketches, and other related materials created by Maurice Sendak, considered the leading artist of children’s books in the 20th century, will be hosted and maintained at the University of Connecticut. Under an agreement with, and supported by a grant from, The Maurice Sendak Foundation, the artwork and source materials for books, such as Where the Wild Things Are, In the Night Kitchen, and Outside Over There, will serve as a resource for research by students, faculty, staff, and the public. They will be part of Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center.
Sendak lived in Connecticut and supported UConn for many years, speaking to the children’s literature classes of Francelia Butler, professor of English, in the 1970s and 1980s and receiving an honorary Doctor of Fine Arts degree.
“You would only have to spend an afternoon with Maurice to know that he was the ultimate mentor and nurturer of talent,” says Lynn Caponera, president of The Maurice Sendak Foundation. “He profoundly admired UConn’s dedication to the art of the book, both in its collections and in its teachings. We, the friends who he entrusted to carry on his legacy through the Foundation, couldn’t be more pleased with this exciting collaboration.”
“Maurice Sendak created books that will live forever. His work changed the course of children’s literature in the 20th century,” says Katharine Capshaw, professor of English and president of the Children’s Literature Association. “Sendak’s books connect profoundly to children’s inner fears and vast resourcefulness. He treated young people with respect, valuing their creativity and sense of ethics, and his work illuminated the joy and mystery of the imagination.”
“Imagine now opening up students to the world of one of the most celebrated creators of visual literature for children’s picture books . . . and walking across campus to take part in what amounts to a private master class with Maurice Sendak,” says Cora Lynn Deibler, head of the Department of Art and Art History and a professor of illustration. “As you pore through the work, you will be receiving a one-on-one tutorial in excellence in the form — from creativity and concept, through design and execution.”
—kenneth best
Artwork © The Maurice Sendak Foundation, Inc.
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