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Don Freeman Papers

An inventory of his papers at Syracuse University

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Freeman, Don, 1908-1978.
Title: Don Freeman Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1954-1962
Quantity: 15 linear ft.
Abstract: Papers of the American illustrator, author. Original texts and illustrations, printer's proofs, and published material.
Language: English
Repository: Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries
222 Waverly Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13244-2010
https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center

Biographical History

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, Freeman 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 sketch books 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]

Freeman's 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.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Don Freeman Papers consists primarily of artwork relating to Freeman's books, with a small amount of miscellany.

Books contains material related to 23 of Freeman's books, including Chuggy and the Blue Caboose, Cyrano the Crow, Norman the Doorman, and Space Witch. Types of material include original illustrations, rough sketches, cover layouts, dummy books, printers' proofs, acetates, and published books.

Miscellaneous contains a poster encouraging reading.

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Arrangement of the Collection

Materials are listed alphabetically by book title in the inventory below; material is arranged physically by title and based on physical size.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

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Related Material

The collection originally contained signed copies of many of Freeman's books. These have been transferred to Rare Books for cataloging. Please refer to the Classic Catalog to locate these items.

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 the Classic Catalog for these related materials.

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Subject Headings

Persons

Freeman, Don, 1908-1978.

Subjects

Authors, American.
Children's literature, American.
Illustrated children's books.
Illustrators -- United States.

Genres and Forms

Color separations.
Correspondence.
Dummies (printed matter)
Illustrations.
Manuscripts for publication.
Proofs (printed matter)

Occupations

Authors.
Illustrators.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Don Freeman Papers,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Finding Aid Information

Created by: [Summit record]
Date: Jun 1967
Revision history: 29 May 2008 - converted to EAD (MRC); 31 Jan 2014 - rehoused (MRC)

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Inventory

Books
Beady Bear / Beady-Eyes (earlier title)
Oversize 1 Cover - black and white mounted on board
Box 1 Dummy copy ("Beady Eyes") - holograph text with watercolor illustrations
Box 1 Illustrations (47 items)
pen and ink; cover, title page, pages 1-13, 13 (not numbered), 14-31
The Best Birthday
Box 1 Illustrations (14 items)
pen and ink; pages 125, 126, 128, 131, 133, 135, 137, 138, 143, 145, 148, 149, 151, 153/155 on same sheet
Bill Bergson and the White Rose Rescue
Box 1 Acetates (4 items)
jacket: title and credits, illustration (black, yellow, purple)
Box 1 Illustrations (13 items)
pen and ink; cover, title page, chapters 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19 (one illustration for each chapter); discard - "Eva Lotta and Eric"
The Circus in Peter's Closet
Oversize 1 Acetates
end paper
Oversize 1 Illustrations (8 items)
end paper, pages 5, 6, 10, 11, 18, 19, 23, 34, 35, 38, 39, 46, 47
Chuggy and the Blue Caboose
Oversize 2 Acetates (4 items)
pages 5, 12, 20, 33
Oversize 2 Illustrations (83 items)
color (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
pen and ink (44): pages 3, 5-7, 20-25, 27-44, 46-48, unnumbered pages (2 items)
Oversize 2 Published book
Come Again, Pelican
Oversize 3 Acetates (101 items)
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
Oversize 3 Illustrations (84 items)
preliminary sketches (11): Cover (1 black and white, 2 colored) and pages 7, 7, 9, 10, 13, 26, 28, 35
"blues," with added text (26): Jacket, end paper, and pages 1-44
"blues," with text (47): 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
Oversize 3 Printer's proofs, with text (28 items)
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
Oversize 3 Published book
Oversize 3 Miscellaneous fragments (7 items)
Cyrano the Crow
Oversize 4 Acetates (92 items)
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
Cyrano watching television, not numbered: black, red, blue, yellow
Box 1 Dummy copy - spiral bound notebook with holograph text and watercolor illustrations
Oversize 4 Illustrations (28 items)
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)
Oversize 4 Printer's proofs (5 items)
jacket - back and front flaps, cover for Viking Junior Books; pages 1, 2 (not numbered), 1, 4, 20 (photostat)
Oversize 4 Published book
Dandelion
Oversize 5 Acetates (54 items)
page 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
Box 2 Dummy copy
holograph text with pencil illustrations
Box 2 Illustrations, proofs (9 items)
illustrations (8): pen and ink sketches on board, pencil sketches
printer's proofs (1): pages 46, 47
Fly High, Fly Low
Oversize 6 Acetates (120 items)
jacket: blue, yellow, black, red
end paper: yellow, red, blue, black
title page: black, yellow, blue, red
pages 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
Oversize 6 Illustrations (3 items)
pages 6, 7 (not numbered), not numbered (letter "B" with bird inside), not numbered (letter "B" with bird inside)
Oversize 6 Published book
Ghost Town Treasure
Oversize 7 Illustrations
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)
Hattie the Backstage Bat
Map-Case 131 Illustrations - cover illustrations, black and white, on oversize board (2 items)
Hector Goes Fishing
Oversize 8 Acetates
jacket front
Oversize 8 Illustrations (34 items)
ink and pencil: jacket (back), cover (front), pages 3, 8-11, 13-46, 48
Oversize 8 Printer's proofs (38 items)
jacket, pages 1, 7, 3, 2, 3, 2, 5, 8-43, 45-48
Oversize 8 Published book
Hobo Hill
Oversize 8 Illustrations (28 items)
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")
Kid Sister
Oversize 1 Acetates
cover: black, yellow, red
end paper: black, yellow, red
Oversize 1 Illustrations (16 items)
rough sketches (3): Front view, ink; front view, pencil; side view, ink
final (13): pages 37, 49, 59, 71, 75, 89, 105, 115, 123, 131, 137, 153, not numbered
Monkeys Are Funny That Way
Oversize 7 Acetates (2 items)
jacket: blue, red
Oversize 7 Illustrations (15 items)
jacket and cloth cover, pages 2-17, 19, 21-28
The Night the Lights Went Out
Oversize 1 Acetates (43 items)
pages 2, 3, 5-11, 12 (2), 13-19, 22-32, 34-48
Box 2 Illustrations (36 items)
cover (color); pages 5-8, 10, 12-14, 18-21, 23-24, 28, 31-41, 44-47
not numbered (4): parents washing dishes, family with toy train, boy with train, rough sketch of smiling light bulb
catalog illustration: boy in coonskin cap reading in bed
Oversize 1 Illustrations (3 items)
cover, front and back
not numbered (2): boy looking out window, view of mailbox and house from road
Norman the Doorman
Oversize 9 Acetates (131 items)
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)
Oversize 9 Illustrations (34 items)
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
Oversize 9 Published book
Oversize 9 Typescript
corrected manuscript, final corrected manuscript, typed finished manuscript
Ski Pup
Oversize 10 Acetates (132 items)
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
Oversize 10 Illustrations (34 items)
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
Oversize 10 Printer's proof - title "Ski Pup" in 2 parts
Oversize 10 Published book
Oversize 10 Typescript - corrected manuscript, carbon copy
Space Witch
Oversize 2 Acetates (28 items)
cover, pages 4-28, 29 (not numbered), 30-43
Oversize 2 Illustrations (29 items)
pen and ink; jacket (black and white, 2 colored), cover (cut), pages 4-16, 16 (not numbered), 16-48
Oversize 2 Printer's proof - title page
Oversize 2 Typescript
Third Monkey
Oversize 5 Acetates (12 items)
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
Oversize 11 Acetates (92 items)
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
This for That
Oversize 12 Acetates (95 items)
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
Oversize 12 Illustrations (33 items)
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
Discards: pages 10, 11, 14, 15, 18, 19
Sketch of arm
Oversize 12 Dummy copy - typed text, color illustrations
Oversize 12 Published book jacket
The Turtle and the Dove
Oversize 13 Acetates (50 items)
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
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
Box 2 Dummy copies (2 items)
bound volume with holograph text, pen-and-ink and watercolor illustrations; set of folded signatures with printed text and pencil illustrations, some with added color
Box 2 Illustrations (3 items)
cover, black and white; rough sketches of turtle swimming, turtle and dove (many studies on a single page)
Oversize 13 Illustrations - layout for jacket text; cloth cover design in black, white and blue (2 items)
Box 2 Typescript
The Worst Room in the School
Box 2 Illustrations (17 items)
cover, pages iv, 4, 23, 26, 40, 48, 53, 78, 86, 108, 112, 127, 134, 136, 156, not numbered
Miscellaneous
Oversize 6 Poster, "Let's Read More"

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