Scope and Contents
The Esther Brann Papers include eight book manuscripts of various versions, some with galley proofs, illustrations, or miscellaneous fragments: Another New Year With Bobbie and Donnie, Five Puppies for Sale, Nanette Goes for the Bread, Nannette of the Wooden Shoes, Nicolina, Patrick Goes A-Hunting, A Quebec Sketchbook, and Yann and His Island. Two published works include Nicolina and Patrick Was His Name.
The correspondence includes seventy-three letters, of which the bulk (forty-one) concerns the Macmillan Company from 1927-1960.
The papers also include a variety of miscellaneous illustrations in various medias (pencil, charcoal, ink, paint) of landscapes, buildings, people and figures, as well as the design of Photo Dolls. Some of Esther's personal documents included are her marriage certificate, obituary, royalty receipts, etc.
Dates
- 1924-1960
Creator
- Brann, Esther (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
Esther Brann was born in New York City on July 21, 1899. She was educated at the Art Students' League, Cooper Union, the National Academy of Design, and the Fontainebleau School of Fine Arts in France. After completing her studies she returned to New York, and, experiencing difficulty in finding work as an illustrator, she decided to write and illustrate her own books.
Her first book was Nanette of the Wooden Shoes, published by Macmillan in 1922. This work was followed by A Quebec Sketchbook (1926), Lupe Goes to School (1930), Nicolina (1931), Yann and His Island (1932), Bobbie and Donnie Were Twins (1933), based on her twin nephews who actually were called Bobbie and Donnie; Around the World With Esther Brann (1935), Another New Year With Bobbie and Donnie (1936), Patrick Was His Name (1938), concerning her family's dog; Patrick Goes A-Hunting (1940), Five Puppies for Sale (1948); and Book for Baby, inspired by her son.
She also illustrated Edna Albert's Little Pilgrim to Penn's Woods and The Shawl with the Yellow Bells, as well as Mary Jane Carr's Children of the Covered Wagon.
Brann married Dr. Richard Schorr, with whom she had a son, Alan Richard. Richard Schorr enlisted in the Navy in 1942 and served for three years as Commander and Lieutenant Commander. He was stationed in Guam for thirteen months, and afterwards posted to Pensacola, Florida; Norfolk, Virginia; Yonkers, New York; and Hayward, Camp Parks, and Long Beach, California. Brann and their son traveled with him, finally settling in Los Angeles, California.
Brann was named one of ten national award winners for her children's books. As well as writing and illustrating, she enjoyed sculpting and jewelry making.
Esther Brann Schorr died on January 3, 1998 in Ventura, California.
Sources:
Ward, Martha E. and Dorothy A. Marquardt. Authors of Books for Young People (Metuchen, N.J: Scarecrow Press) 1971
The H.W. Wilson Company, Junior Book of Authors, 2nd ed.; Junior Authors Electronic (1951), updated 1999.)
Ventura County Star. January 9, 1998.
Extent
18.75 linear feet (20 containers ) : 9 manuscript boxes, 1 half manuscript box, and 10 flat boxes
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Esther Brann (1899-1998) was an author and illustrator of books for children. The collection includes eight manuscripts, two published works, and a series of correspondence relating to Brann's interest in subjects such as her own child and young relatives, and her family's dog.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Esther Brann Schorr in 1968
Processing Information
Collection processed by staff.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
- Book illustrations Subject Source: TGM II, Genre and physical characteristic terms
- Brann, Esther
- Children and Youth Subject Source: Archiveswest
- Children's literature, American -- Authorship Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Literature Subject Source: Archiveswest
- Manuscripts for publication Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Publishers and Publishing Subject Source: Archiveswest
- Publishers and publishing -- Correspondence Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women Subject Source: Archiveswest
- Women authors, American -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Women illustrators -- United States Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Guide to the Esther Brann Papers
- Status
- Revise Description
- Author
- Finding aid prepared by processing staff, Erin Wolfe and Sam Bouchat
- Date
- 2006; 2014
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English.
- Sponsor
- Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Repository Details
Part of the University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives Repository
