Overview of the Collection |
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| Creator: | Freeman, Don, 1908-1978. |
| Title: | Don Freeman Papers |
| Inclusive Dates: | 1954-1962 |
| Quantity: | 14.0 linear ft. |
| Abstract: | Papers of the American illustrator, author. Original texts and illustrations, correspondence, printer's proofs, and published material. |
| Language: | English |
| Repository: | Special Collections Research Center, Syracuse University Library 222 Waverly Avenue Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 http://scrc.syr.edu |
Don Freeman (1908-1978) was an American painter, printmaker, cartoonist, children's book author, and illustrator. Freeman is perhaps best known for the Corduroy books about the toy bear and for Norman the Doorman, the tale of a mouse who works as a doorman at a New York City art museum but longs to be an artist himself.
Born in San Diego, he studied briefly at the San Diego School of Fine Arts and then at the Art Students League in New York, where he filled dozens of sketchbooks with drawings of New York characters, focusing particularly on Broadway and the theatre. His cartoons appeared in magazines and newspapers, among them the New York Times and Herald Tribune. After William Saroyan asked him to illustrate several children's books, Don began writing and illustrating his own work, which soon became his full-time occupation.
"I love the flow of turning the pages, the suspense of what's next. Ideas just come at me and after me. It's all so natural. I work all the time, long into the night, and it's such a pleasure. I don't know when the time ends. I've never been happier in my life!" [Penguin Books author page for Don Freeman]
Freemans' wife, Lydia, was also an artist and collaborated with him on two of his books, Pet of the Met and Chuggy and the Blue Caboose. In addition to writing and illustrating children's books, Freeman was widely known for imaginative, illustrated chalk-talks, some with musical accompaniment.
The Don Freeman Papers contains original artwork, printers' proofs, and published material. Manuscripts contain text, illustrations, acetates, sketches, drafts, printer's proofs, and published editions -- some signed -- of 23 of Freeman's books, including Chuggy and the Blue Caboose, Norman the Doorman and Space Witch. Published material contains five books with no associated artwork.
Manuscripts material is arranged alphabetically by title through Box 11. Titles in boxes 12, 13 and 14 are in no particular order. Published books are in alphabetical order.
There are no access restrictions on this material
Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.
Special Collections Research Center has made a concerted effort over the years to ensure that its manuscript and rare books holdings complement each other. As a result, many of our manuscript collections are supported by books, pamphlets, serials and other items which are cataloged in the Rare Books Collection. Please be sure to search SUMMIT, our main catalog for these related materials.
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
Don Freeman Papers
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Library
Created by: [Summit record]
Date: Jun 1967
Revision history: 29 May 2008 - converted to EAD (MRC)
| Manuscripts | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Beady Bear | ||||||||||
| Text | |||||||||||
| Illustrations - black and white (47): Cover, title page, pages 1-13, 13 (not numbered), 14-31 | |||||||||||
| Dummy copy ("Beady-Eyes"): Text (holograph) and illustrations (colored) | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | The Best Birthday | ||||||||||
| Published book, not autographed | |||||||||||
| Illustrations - black and white (14): Pages 125, 126, 128, 131, 133, 135, 137, 138, 143, 145, 148, 149, 151, 153, 155 | |||||||||||
| Box 1 | Bill Bergson and the White Rose Rescue | ||||||||||
| Illustrations - black and white (13): Cover, title page, chapters 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 (one illustration for each chapter); discard - "Eva Lotta and Eric" | |||||||||||
| Acetates (4) | |||||||||||
| Jacket: Title and credits, illustration (black, yellow, purple) | |||||||||||
| Box 2 | Chuggy and the blue Caboose | ||||||||||
| Illustrations - colored (39): Pages 5 (numbered "8"), 6-11, 13 (not numbered), 14 (not numbered), 15, 17-21, 22 (not numbered), 23, 24 (not numbered), 25-31, 33-42, 43 (not numbered), 44, 45 | |||||||||||
| Illustrations - black and white (44): Pages 3, 5-7, 20-25, 27-44, 46-48, unnumbered pages (2 items) | |||||||||||
| Acetates (4): Pages 5, 12, 20, 33 | |||||||||||
| Published book, autographed, December 1966 Published book, not autographed |
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| Box 3 | Come Again, Pelican | ||||||||||
| Illustrations - preliminary sketches (11): Cover (1 black and white, 2 colored) and pages 7, 7, 9, 10, 13, 26, 28, 35 | |||||||||||
| Illustrations - "blues," with added text (26): Jacket, end paper, and pages 1-44 | |||||||||||
| Illustrations - "blues," with text: Pages 01 (blank page), 02 (left end paper), 03 (right end paper), 04 (blank page), 1 (not numbered), 2, 3, 4 (not numbered), 5 (not numbered), 6-12, 13-28, 29-44 | |||||||||||
| Printer's proofs, with text (28): Jacket (complete; front and back flaps; front flap A; front flap B; back flap B; back flap unmarked; back flap clear cut), and pages 1-44, including dedication page and copyright page | |||||||||||
| Fragments - 7 items | |||||||||||
| Acetates (101) Jacket: yellow, red, blue, black, layout End Paper: blue, red, yellow, black Title Page: black, yellow, red, blue Dedication Page: yellow, black, red, blue Page(s) 6, 7: red, yellow, blue, black 8, 9: black, yellow, red, blue 10, 11: red, yellow, blue, black 12, 13 black, red, blue, yellow 14, 15: black, yellow, red, blue 16, 17: blue, red, yellow, black 18, 19: black, yellow, red, blue 20, 21: red, blue, black, yellow 22, 23: black, yellow, red, blue 24, 25: red, yellow, blue, black 26, 27: black, yellow, red, blue 28, 29: red, black, blue, yellow 30: black, yellow, red, blue 31: black, yellow, red, blue 32, 33: red, blue, yellow, black 34, 35: black, yellow, red, blue 36, 37: blue red, yellow, black 38, 39: black, yellow, red, blue 40, 41: blue, black, yellow, red 42, 43: black, yellow, red, blue 44 yellow, blue, black, red |
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| Published book, autographed - December 1966 Published book, not autographed |
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| Box 4 | Cyrano the Crow | ||||||||||
| Illustrations (28): jacket (colored rough sketch, sketch for back); jacket (front and back) and title page and page 23 (colored) (page 23 not numbered); jacket (front and back) and title page and page 23 (black and white); title page; pages 4-47, all with printed text, not numbered (cyrano perched on fence) | |||||||||||
| Printer's proofs (5): Jacket - back and front flaps, cover (for Viking Junior Books), pages 1, 2 (not numbered), 1, 4, 20 (photostat) | |||||||||||
| Dummy copy ("Cyrano"): Text (holograph) and illustrations (colored) | |||||||||||
| Acetates (92): Jacket: red, blue, blue, yellow, black Page(s) 4, 5: blue, red, yellow 6, 7: red, yellow, blue 8, 9: blue, red, yellow 10, 11: blue, red, yellow 12, 13: blue, red, yellow 14, 15: yellow, blue, color not indicated 16, 17: yellow, red, blue 18, 19: red, blue, yellow 20, 21: yellow, red, blue 22, 23: yellow, red, blue, black 24, 25: black, blue, red, yellow 26, 27: yellow, black, blue, red 28, 29: black, blue, red, yellow 30, 31: red, yellow, blue, black 32, 33: black, blue, red, yellow 34, 35: black, red, yellow, blue 36, 37: black, blue, red, yellow 38, 39: red, yellow, black, blue 40, 41: black, blue, red, yellow 42, 43: black, blue, red, yellow 44, 45: red, blue, yellow 46, 47: blue, red, yellow 48, 49: red, black, blue, yellow Catalogue, back and front: red, yellow Not numbered (Cyrano watching television): black, red, blue, yellow |
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| Published book – autographed, December 1966 Published book, not autographed |
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| Box 5 | Dandelion | ||||||||||
| Illustrations: cover (colored fragment "Dandy"), pages 5 (not numbered; pencil sketch), 26 (not numbered; black and white), 28, 29 (not numbered; 2 pieces), 36 (not numbered; black and red), 40, 4 (not numbered; black and white, 3 sketches of Dandy) | |||||||||||
| Discards: not numbered (Dandy at Ginny Giraffe's door), not numbered ("before and after" sketch of Dandy in profile) | |||||||||||
| Printer's proofs: page 46, 47 | |||||||||||
| Dummy copy: text (holograph) and illustrations (pencil) | |||||||||||
| Acetates (54): Page(s) 2 (dedication), 3 (title): black, yellow 5: black, yellow 6, 7: black, yellow 8, 9: black, yellow 10, 11: black, yellow 12, 13: black, yellow 14: black, yellow 15, 16: black, yellow 17, 18: black, yellow 19: black, yellow 20: color not indicated 20, 21: black, yellow 22: yellow, black 23, 24: black, yellow 25, 26: black, yellow 27: black, yellow 28, 29: black, yellow 30, 31: black, yellow 32, 33: yellow, black 34, 35: yellow, black 36, 37: black, yellow 38, 39: black, yellow 40, 41: black, yellow 42, 43: yellow, black 44, 45: black, yellow 46, 47: black, yellow 48: yellow, black not numbered (back view of Dandy walking down the street in new clothes) |
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| Published book, not autographed | |||||||||||
| Box 6 | Fly High, Fly Low | ||||||||||
| Illustrations (3): Pages 6, 7 (not numbered), not numbered (letter "B" with bird inside), not numbered (letter "B" with bird inside) | |||||||||||
| Acetates (120):
Jacket: blue, yellow, black, red
End paper: yellow, red, blue, black
Title page: black, yellow, blue, red Page(s) 6, 7: black, yellow, blue, red 8, 9: yellow, blue, black, red 10, 11: black, red, yellow, blue 12, 13: yellow, blue, black, red 14, 15: blue, red, black, yellow 16, 17: yellow, blue, red, black 18, 19: blue, red, yellow, black 20, 21: blue, red, yellow, black 22, 23: blue, black, yellow, red 24, 25: red, blue, black, yellow 26, 27: black, red, yellow, blue 28, 29: red, black, blue, yellow 30, 31: blue, black, red, yellow 32, 33: black, red, yellow, blue 34, 35: red, black, blue, yellow 36, 37: yellow, red, black, blue 38, 39: red, blue, black, yellow 40, 41: yellow, blue, red, black 42, 43: blue, black, red, yellow 44, 45: black, yellow, blue, red 46, 47: blue, black, red, yellow 48, 49: red, yellow, blue, black 50, 51: red, blue, black, yellow 52, 53: black, red, yellow, blue 54, 55: red, blue, black, yellow 56, 57: black, red, yellow, blue Not numbered ("false title"): black, yellow, red, blue |
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| Published book, not autographed | |||||||||||
| Box 7 | Norman the Doorman | ||||||||||
| Text: corrected manuscript, final corrected manuscript, typed finished manuscript | |||||||||||
| Illustrations (34): cover (front and back, black, blue-red, blue, red-yellow, red, yellow; stapled together), front - colored (matted), end paper, pages 3 (title page), 3 (new art), 4, 5, 5 (with holograph text), 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 10, 11, 11, 14, 14, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 28, 29, 31, 32, 34, 34, 39, 40, 51, 52 54, 55 (numbered "54"), 55, 56 (numbered "55"), 56, 58, 59 | |||||||||||
| Discard: Norman in front of sculpture | |||||||||||
| Acetates (131): Jacket: red, yellow, black, blue End paper (also page 71): black, yellow, red, blue Title page: yellow, red, blue 5 (dedication): black, yellow, blue, red 7,8: black, yellow, red, blue 9, 10: black, red, yellow, blue 11, 12: black, blue, yellow, red 13, 14: black, blue, yellow, red 15, 16: black, blue, red, yellow 17, 18: black, yellow, blue, red 19, 20: black, yellow, red, blue 21, 22: black, yellow, red, blue 23, 24: black, blue, red, yellow 25, 26: black, red, yellow, blue 27, 28: yellow, red, blue, black 29, 30: yellow, blue, red, black 31, 32: black, yellow, red, blue 33, 34: black, blue, red, yellow 35, 36: red, yellow 37, 38: blue, black 39, 40: black, yellow, blue, red 41, 42: black, yellow, red, blue 43, 44: black, yellow, blue, red 45, 46: black, red, yellow, blue 47, 48, blue, red, yellow, black 49, 50: blue, red, yellow, black 51, 52: red, blue, black, yellow 53, 54: black, yellow, red, blue 55, 56: black, blue, red, yellow 57, 58: black, blue, red, yellow 59, 60: black, blue, yellow, red 61, 62: black, yellow, red, blue 63: black, blue, red, yellow Initials - "N" and "D" (4 sheets) |
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| Published book, not autographed | |||||||||||
| Box 7 | Hatttie the Backstage Bat | ||||||||||
| Box 8 | Ski Pup | ||||||||||
| Text: corrected manuscript, carbon copy | |||||||||||
| Illustrations (33): Jacket (pencil sketch, 3 colored rough sketches), title page (incomplete rough of final drawing, colored rough - not used), note re. placement and style of title, pages 6, 7, 7, 7, 16, 12, 13, 13, 17, 18, 20, 21, 21, 23, 23, 25, 26, 28, 29, 29, 35, 36, 36, 37, 39, 40, 40, 42, 43, 48, 53, 53, 54, 55, 56, 56 | |||||||||||
| Discards: Colored sketch of Hugo "leaning" on his skis | |||||||||||
| Printer's proof: Title "Ski Pup" in 2 parts | |||||||||||
| Acetates (132): Jacket: blue, black, yellow, red, printing directions Jacket - front - Hugo and skier (discarded): title, black, yellow, blue Cover: with printing directions, unknown color, discards (title, red, yellow, black) End paper: black, yellow, red, blue Page(s) i, iv: (no artwork) ii, iii (title): black, yellow, red, blue iv, 1: black with text, yellow, red, blue 2, 3: black with text, yellow, red, blue 4, 5: black with text, blue, red, yellow, (5) sketch with printing instructions 6, 7: black with text yellow, red, blue 8, 9: black with text, blue, red, yellow 10, 11: black with text, red, blue, yellow 12, 13: black with text, yellow, red, blue 14, 15: black with text, yellow, red, blue 16, 17: black with text, yellow, red, blue 18, 19: black with text, yellow, red, blue 20, 21: black with text, yellow, red, blue 22, 23: black with text yellow, red, blue 24, 25: black- with text, yellow, red, blue 26, 27: black with text, black ("new"), yellow, red, blue 28, 29: black with text, red, blue, yellow 30, 31: black with text, blue, yellow, red 32, 33: black -with text, blue, red, yellow 34, 35: black with text, red, yellow, blue 36, 37: black with text, blue, red, yellow 38, 39: black with text yellow, red, blue 40, 41: black with text yellow, red, blue 42, 43: black with text, blue, red, yellow 44, 45: black with text, yellow, red, blue 46, 47: black with text, yellow, red, blue 48, 49: black with text, yellow, red, blue 50, 51: black with text, red, yellow, blue 52; black with text, blue, red, yellow |
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| Published book, not autographed | |||||||||||
| Box 9 | Space Witch | ||||||||||
| Text | |||||||||||
| Illustrations - black and white (29): Jacket (black and white, 2 colored), cover (cut), pages 4-16, 16 (not numbered), 16-48 | |||||||||||
| Printer's proof: Page 1 (title) | |||||||||||
| Acetates (28): Cover, pages 4-28, 29 (not numbered), 30-43 | |||||||||||
| Published book, not autographed | |||||||||||
| Box 9 | Third Monkey | ||||||||||
| Acetates (104): Cover: blue, red, black, yellow, printing directions End paper: ("monkey village") red, blue, yellow, color not indicated Page(s) 8, 9: red, yellow, blue, black 10, 11: black, blue, red, yellow 12, 13: yellow, red, blue, black 14, 15: red, yellow, blue, black 16, 17: black, blue, red, yellow 18, 19: black, yellow, blue, red 20, 21: black, blue, yellow, red 22, 23: black, yellow, blue, red 24, 25: black, red, blue, yellow 26, 27: red, black, yellow, blue 28, 29: black, blue, yellow, red 30: yellow, red, blue, black 31: blue, yellow, red, black 32: yellow, red, blue, black 34: black, blue, yellow, red 35: blue, yellow, black, red 36, 37: red, blue, yellow, black 38, 39: yellow, red, blue, black 40, 41: black, blue, yellow, red 42, 43: yellow, black, blue, red, discarded sketch with printing directions 44, 45: red, black, blue, yellow, discarded sketch with printing directions 46, 47: black, red, yellow, blue 48: red, yellow, blue, black Not numbered: yellow, red, blue, color not indicated |
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| Published book, not autographed | |||||||||||
| Box 10 | This for That | ||||||||||
| Text | |||||||||||
| Illustrations (33): Cover, title page Page(s) 6, 7 (numbered 1) - with holograph text 6, 7 (not numbered) 8, 9 (numbered 2, 3) - with holograph text 8, 9 (not numbered) - with printed text 10, 11 (numbered 4, 5) - with holograph text 10, 11 (not numbered) - pencil sketch 12, 13 (numbered 6, 7) 14, 15 (numbered 8, 9) 16, 17 (not numbered) 18, 19 (not numbered) - pencil sketch 20, 21 (numbered 16, 17) 24 (numbered 20) 26, 27 (numbered 22, 23) - with holograph text 28, 29 (numbered 24, 25) - with holograph text 30, 31 (not numbered) - with holograph text 32, 33 (numbered 28, 29) - with holograph text 34, 35 (numbered 30, 31) - with holograph text 38, 39 (not numbered) 40, 41 (not numbered) - with holograph text 43 (not numbered) 44, 45 (numbered 40, 41) 48, 49 (numbered 44, 45) 50, 51 (numbered 46, 47) with holograph text 52, 53 (numbered 48, 49) with holograph text 54, 55 (numbered 51) with holograph text 60, 61 (not numbered) with holograph text |
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| Discards: pages 10, 11, 14, 15, 18, 19 | |||||||||||
| Pencil drawing of arm | |||||||||||
| Acetates (95): Jacket: blue, color not indicated Title page: brown with printed text, blue, yellow Page(s) 5: brown, blue, yellow 6, 7: brown with printed text blue, yellow 8, 9: brown with printed text blue, yellow 10, 11: brown with printed text yellow, blue 12, 13: brown with printed text blue, yellow 14, 15: brown with printed text blue, yellow 16, 17: brown with printed text yellow, blue 18, 19: brown with printed text blue, yellow 20, 21: brown with printed text blue, yellow 22, 23: brown with printed text yellow, blue 24, 25: brown with printed text blue, yellow 26, 27: brown with printed text blue, yellow 28, 29: brown with printed text yellow, blue 30, 31: brown with printed text blue, yellow 32, 33: brown with printed text blue, yellow 34, 35: brown with printed text yellow, blase 36, 37: blue with printed text brown, yellow 38, 39: brown with printed text blue, yellow 40, 41: brown with printed text blue, yellow 42, 43: brown with printed text blue, yellow 44, 45: brown blue, yellow 46, 47: brown with printed text blue, yellow 48, 49: brown with printed text, blue, yellow 50, 51: brown with printed text, blue, yellow 52, 53: brown with printed text, blue, yellow 54, 55: brown with printed text, blue, yellow 56, 57: brown with printed text, yellow, blue 58, 59: brown with printed text, yellow, blue 60, 61: brown with printed text, blue, yellow 62: brown, blue, color not indicated |
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| Published book, jacket only | |||||||||||
| Box 11 | The Turtle and the Dove | ||||||||||
| Text | |||||||||||
| Illustrations (5): Cover (black and white, black and white and blue), title page (2, 3) | |||||||||||
| Rough sketches: turtle swimming, turtle and dove (many studies on a single page) | |||||||||||
| Dummy copies: illustrated (colored) and text (holograph), illustrated (pencil) and text (printed) | |||||||||||
| Acetates (50): Cover: black, blue End paper: black, blue Title page (2, 3): blue, black Page(s) 4, 5: blue, black 6, 7: black, blue 8, 9: black, blue 10, 11: black, blue 12, 13: black, blue 14, 15: black, blue 16, 17: blue, black 18: black, blue 19: black, blue, located in same folder as 18 20, 21: blue, black 22, 23: black, blue 24, 25: black, blue 26, 27: black, blue 28, 29: black, blue 30, 31: black, blue 32, 33: black, blue 34, 35: black, blue 36, 37: black, blue 38, 39: black, blue 40, 41: black, blue 42, 43: black, blue 44: black, blue |
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| Published book, not autographed | |||||||||||
| "Let's read more" - wall poster, printed | |||||||||||
| Box 12 | Hector Goes Fishing | ||||||||||
| Illustrations - ink and pencil (34): Jacket (back), cover (front), pages 3, 8-11, 13-46, 48 | |||||||||||
| Printer's proofs (38): Jacket, pages 1, 7, 3, 2, 3, 2, 5, 8-43, 45-48 | |||||||||||
| Acetates (1): Jacket front | |||||||||||
| Published book, not autographed | |||||||||||
| Box 12 | Hobo Hill | ||||||||||
| Illustrations (28): Jacket, title page, pages 32, 17, 19, 39, 24, 29, 82, chapter heading 3, 47, chapter heading 4, 76, not numbered, 96, 64, last chapter, 67, chapter heading 1, not numbered (4 items), 51, 90, 97, not numbered ("call those dogs off"), not numbered ("watching the sunset") | |||||||||||
| Box 12 | The Night the Lights Went Out | ||||||||||
| Illustrations (38): Jacket (front and back, front, back), pages 5-8, 10-12, 13 (2), 14, 18-24, 28, 31-40, 44-47, not numbered (4 items: parents washing dishes, winter outdoor scene, family climbing stairs, family with toy train) | |||||||||||
| Acetates (43): Pages 2, 3, 5-11, 12 (2), 13-19, 22-32, 34-48 | |||||||||||
| Published book, not autographed | |||||||||||
| Box 13 | The Circus in Peter's Closet | ||||||||||
| Illustrations (8): End paper, pages 5, 6, 10, 11, 18, 19, 23, 34, 35, 38, 39, 46, 47 | |||||||||||
| Acetates (1): End paper | |||||||||||
| Box 13 | Ghost Town Treasure | ||||||||||
| Illustrations (26): End paper, pages 2, 6, 7, 7, 8, 12, 13, 26, 29, 35, 40, 55, 58, 59, 62, 66, 67, 71, 72, 79, 86, 87, not numbered (7 items) | |||||||||||
| Box 13 | Kid Sister | ||||||||||
| Illustrations - rough sketches (3): Front view - ink, front view – pencil, side view – ink | |||||||||||
| Illustrations - final (13): pages 37, 49, 59, 71, 75, 89, 105, 115, 123, 131, 137, 153, not numbered | |||||||||||
| Acetates (6): Cover: black, yellow, red End paper: black, yellow, red |
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| Box 13 | Monkeys Are Funny That Way | ||||||||||
| Illustrations (15): Jacket and cloth cover, pages 2-17, 19, 21-28 | |||||||||||
| Acetates (2): Jacket: blue, red |
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| Box 13 | The Worst Room in the School | ||||||||||
| Illustrations (17): Cover, pages iv, 4, 23, 26, 40, 48, 53, 78, 86, 108, 112, 127, 134, 136, 156, not numbered | |||||||||||
| Published books, not autographed the guard mouse, mike's house, mop top, pet of the met, the uninvited donkey | |||||||||||
| Published books | |||||||||||
| Box 14 | The Guard Mouse | ||||||||||
| Box 14 | Mike's House | ||||||||||
| Box 14 | Mop Top | ||||||||||
| Box 14 | Pet of the Met | ||||||||||
| Box 14 | The Uninvited Donkey | ||||||||||
