Kurt Werth papers, 1919-1983 PDF
Overview of the Collection
- Title
- Kurt Werth papers
- Dates
- 1919-1983 (inclusive)19191983
- Quantity
- 24.5 linear feet, (17 containers)2 record storage boxes; 1 manuscript box; 5 (16x20") boxes; 3 (12x15") boxes; 2 (11x17") boxes; 2 (21x25") boxes; 1 (7x10") box; 1 (9x11") box
- Collection Number
- Coll 100
- Summary
- Kurt Werth (1896-1983) was a German-born illustrator and author of American children's literature. The collection consists of original children's book illustrations and manuscripts, other artwork and manuscripts, personal papers, artifacts, personal and professional correspondence, and papers of his wife, Margaret Werth.
- Repository
- University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives.
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 541-346-3068
spcarref@uoregon.edu - Access Restrictions
-
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.
- Additional Reference Guides
- See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.
- Languages
- English, German
- Sponsor
- Funding for publishing this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC), a division of the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA).
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The Kurt Werth papers represent a major portion of Werth's body of work produced as an illustrator and author of American children's literature. The collection is comprised of original children's book illustrations and manuscripts, other artwork and manuscripts, personal papers, artifacts, personal and professional correspondence, and papers of his wife, Margaret Werth.
The children's book illustrations and manuscripts series primarily includes original artwork created by Werth for children's and juvenile books between the 1950s-1970s. The artwork represents a variety of stages in the illustration process and includes preliminary sketches, dummies, cover art, press-ready color-separated artwork, and proofs. It also includes typed and handwritten manuscript drafts for children's books written by Werth, as well as manuscripts written by other children's literature authors that Werth collaborated with including Rosalys Hall, Sid Fleischman, Millicent Selsam, and Lilian Moore.
The other artwork and manuscripts series primarily represents Werth's early works and includes artwork and writings for non-children's literature created between the 1920s-1940s. Materials include original and printed political cartoons published in American and German periodicals including Common Sense, Free World, Harper's, New York Times, Querschnitt, and Simplicissimus. It also includes artwork and cover proofs for publications, original woodcut prints, greeting card designs, landscape drawings and portraits, story fragments, playscripts, and writings in German.
The personal papers and artifacts series includes biographical information, notes, clippings, memorabilia, artist's tools, relief printing blocks, and a family scrapbook from Europe dated 1926-1938.
The correspondence series contains personal and professional correspondence, including two large files of correspondence with children's literature archives at the University of Minnesota and University of Southern Mississippi. The Margaret Werth papers series includes personal notebooks, literary manuscripts, and poetry created by Margaret Werth.
Historical NoteReturn to Top
Kurt Werth was born September 21, 1896 in Leipzig, Germany. He entered the State Academy for the Graphic Arts in Leipzig in 1913 and studied there for two years before being drafted into the army. When not in action, he filled sketchbooks with scenes of the life around him and illustrated a copy of Rilke's The Cornet Rilke. All of these sketchbooks have been lost.
After the war he returned for two more years of study at the State Academy, leaving in 1921 for Munich where he began illustrating limited edition books which included Shakespeare's Troilus and Cressida, and books by Euripides, Pushkin, Kipling, and the German authors Wasserman and Kleist.
In 1924, Werth began drawing satirical cartoons for the Munich magazine, The Jugend, and the Swiss magazine, Nebelspalter. Four years later he and his wife Margaret, an actress, moved to Berlin where she became part of the City Theater. Here, Werth created satirical cartoons for the Berliner Tageblatt, and the magazines Querschnitt and Simplicissimus, among others.
With Hitler's increasing power, the magazines folded, and Margaret Werth, who was Jewish, was not allowed to work. In the 1939 the Werths emigrated to the United States where Werth found employment illustrating a Sunday column in the New York Times Magazine.
When the United States became involved in World War II, Werth began drawing cartoons for a number of the new magazines that had appeared on the political scene: Common Sense, Free World, The New Republic, Tomorrow, as well as Harper's.
The bulk of these publications disappeared with the war's conclusion, so Werth returned to book publishing, illustrating textbooks for Oxford University Press and other publishing houses. One of his first attempts at illustrating a picture book for children, Rosalys Hall's The Merry Miller, received favorable notice and opened the door to requests from other authors and publishers of children's literature.
Kurt Werth died in New York City on August 25, 1983.
Other Descriptive InformationReturn to Top
The Kurt Werth papers include a scrapbook of photographs previously assigned photograph collection PH020.
Use of the CollectionReturn to Top
Restrictions on 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.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Kurt Werth papers, Coll 100, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
1.: Children's book illustrations and manuscripts, circa 1940s-1970sReturn to Top
The children's book illustrations and manuscripts series primarily includes original artwork created by Werth for children's and juvenile books between the 1950s-1970s. The artwork represents a variety of stages in the illustration process and includes preliminary sketches, dummies, cover art, press-ready color-separated artwork, and proofs. The breadth of these publication materials vary for each title. It also includes typed and handwritten manuscript drafts for children's books written by Werth, as well as manuscripts written by other children's literature authors that Werth collaborated with including Rosalys Hall, Sid Fleischman, Millicent Selsam, and Lilian Moore.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
1/1, 5/1 |
Aldo's Tower
|
circa 1954 |
1/2, 9/1 |
Are You Poor? Are You Rich?
|
circa 1940s-1970s |
1/3 |
The Baker's Dozen
|
circa 1950s-1970s |
1/4 |
The Bear in the Bathtub
|
1969 |
1/5-6, 4/1-9, 14/1 |
Bear Trouble
|
circa 1960 |
1/7 |
Boniface the Bunny
|
circa 1945 |
1/8 |
The Breeding Place
|
circa 1940s-1970s |
1/9 |
The Bremen Musicians
|
circa 1940s-1970s |
1/10 |
The Bright and Shining Breadboard
|
circa 1969 |
1/11 |
The Cakebakers and the Shepherds
|
circa 1940s-1970s |
1/12-13 |
Caliph Stork
|
circa 1950s-1970s |
1/14 |
Children of the 'City of Benares'
|
1942 |
1/15 |
The Clockwinder
|
circa 1950s-1970s |
1/16-17, 9/2-3, 14/2 |
The Cobbler's Dilemma
|
circa 1967-1969 |
1/18 |
The Cunning Peasant or The Greedy Sexton
|
circa 1940s-1970s |
1/19 |
Dany on the Playground
|
circa 1950s-1970s |
1/20 |
Elmira! Oh Elmira!
|
circa 1950s-1970s |
7/1-7 |
Feast on Sullivan Street
|
circa 1963 |
1/21 |
The Fellow Who Ate the Little Liver
|
circa 1940s-1970s |
1/22 |
Fly Your Kite
|
circa 1940s-1970s |
1/23 |
The Four Musicians
|
circa 1950s-1970s |
1/24-25 |
The Gentle Hermit
|
circa 1950s-1970s |
1/26 |
"Giacomo and Julio"
|
circa 1940s-1970s |
1/27-28 |
Gideon's Gold
|
circa 1975 |
1/29, 5/2-3, 14/3-7 |
Hear Ye of Boston
|
circa 1964 |
1/30 |
Hear Ye of Philadelphia
|
circa 1968 |
9/4 |
Herbert's Stilts
|
circa 1972 |
1/31, 7/8-10 |
The House that Changed
|
circa 1963 |
1/32-33 |
How a Piglet Crashed the Christmas Party
|
circa 1971 |
1/34, 7/11-13, 9/5-6 |
How Mrs. Claus Saved Christmas
|
1962 |
1/35, 8/1-3 |
Idy, the Fox-chasing Cow
|
circa 1962 |
1/36-38 |
It's Fun to Rhyme
|
circa 1975-1977 |
1/39 |
Isabelle and the Library Cat
|
1966 |
1/40-41 |
It's Snowing!
|
circa 1950s-1970s |
5/4 |
Jonathan D
|
circa 1950s-1970s |
1/42-43 |
King Thrushbeard
|
1966-1968 |
1/44 |
Lazy Jack
|
1970 |
1/45, 8/4-8, 15/1 |
The Little Naturalist
|
circa 1959 |
5/5-6, 15-2 |
The Luck Book
|
circa 1964 |
1/46, 9/7-11 |
McBroom and the Big Wind
|
circa 1967 |
1/47, 10/1-6 |
McBroom the Rainmaker
|
circa 1973 |
1/48 |
McBroom Tells the Truth
|
circa 1966 |
1/49-50, 10/7-10 |
McBroom's Zoo
|
circa 1972 |
1/51, 11/1-6 |
Meet Miki Takino
|
circa 1963 |
2/1 |
The Merry Miller
|
circa 1952 |
11/7-10 |
Miranda's Dragon
|
circa 1968 |
2/2-3 |
Mr. Vinegar
|
circa 1950s-1970s |
2/4-7, 12/1 |
Molly and the Giant
|
circa 1971-1973 |
2/8-9 |
The Monkey, the Lion, and the Snake
|
circa 1966-1967 |
2/10 |
Nele Goes to Bethlehem
|
circa 1940s-1970s |
12/2 |
The Newcomers: Ten Tales of American Immigrants
|
1974 |
2/11 |
One Dark Night
|
circa 1969 |
2/12 |
Orlando, the Liar
|
circa 1940s-1970s |
2/13 |
Pepys' Boy
|
circa 1955 |
12/3 |
The Red Badge of Courage
|
circa 1950s-1970s |
2/14 |
Rosamond and Abibas
|
circa 1940s-1970s |
2/15-16 |
The Sacred Cow
|
circa 1968 |
2/17 |
Sammy and the Slide
|
circa 1940s-1970s |
2/18, 12/4-6 |
Samuel Clemens
|
circa 1970 |
2/19, 12/7-9 |
Scat the Witch's Cat
|
circa 1958 |
2/20-21, 12/10-11, 13/1 |
Stop It, Moppit!
|
circa 1959 |
2/22 |
The Story of San Francisco
|
circa 1955 |
2/23 |
Tales Merry and Wise
|
1958 |
2/24-25 |
The Tales of Baron Meunchhausen
|
circa 1974 |
2/26 |
That Lincoln Boy
|
circa 1968 |
2/27-30, 13/2-3, 15/3-6 |
The Three Beggar Kings
|
1966-1974 |
2/31 |
The Three Cornered House
|
circa 1950s-1970s |
2/32 |
Three Robbers and Beppo
|
circa 1950s-1970s |
2/33, 13/4-9 |
A Tiger Called Thomas
|
circa 1963 |
2/34 |
Tinker's Castle
|
circa 1964 |
8/9-14 |
Tony's Birds
|
circa 1961 |
2/35 |
The Turnip
|
circa 1940s-1970s |
2/36 |
The Twelve Travellers
|
circa 1940s-1970s |
15/7 |
Unidentified works
|
circa 1950s-1970s |
2/37 |
The Valiant Tailor
|
1965 |
2/38-39 |
What Are You Afraid Of?
|
circa 1971-1972 |
8/15 |
Where Do You Go?
|
circa 1950s-1970s |
2/40 |
Who's Afraid?
|
1976 |
2/41-42 |
The Wolf and the Shepherds
|
circa 1950s-1970s |
2.: Other artwork and manuscripts, 1919-1970sReturn to Top
The other artwork and manuscripts series primarily represents Werth's early works and includes artwork and writings for non-children's literature created between the 1920s-1940s. Materials include original and printed political cartoons published in American and German periodicals including Common Sense, Free World, Harper's, New York Times, Querschnitt, and Simplicissimus. It also includes artwork and cover proofs for publications, original woodcut prints and relief printing blocks, greeting card designs, landscape drawings and portraits, story fragments, playscripts, and writings in German.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box/Folder | ||
2/43-47 |
Book illustrations, The Adventurous Simplicissimus
|
circa 1930s-1970s |
2/48 |
Book illustrations, clippings
|
circa 1940s |
2/49 |
Book illustrations, Cyrano de Bergerac
|
1930 |
2/50 |
Book illustrations, The Wedding of San Domingo
|
1930 |
6/1 |
Book jacket proofs
|
circa 1940s-1950s |
6/2-4, 15/8 |
Early works
|
circa 1920s-1950s |
2/51 |
Greeting card designs
|
circa 1919-1970s |
2/52 |
Mural photographs
|
circa 1920s-1940s |
15/9 |
Periodical illustrations, clippings
|
circa 1940s |
3/1-2 |
Playscripts in German
|
circa 1920s-1960s |
3/3 |
Reference texts
|
circa 1950s-1970s |
Box | ||
16 |
Relief printing blocks
|
circa 1920s-1970s |
Box/Folder | ||
6/5-6, 15/10 |
Sketches
|
circa 1950s-1982 |
3/4 |
Story fragments, handwritten
|
circa 1940s-1960s |
6/7 |
Woodcut prints
|
circa 1920s-1970s |
3/5 |
Writings in German
|
circa 1941-1960s |
3.: Personal papers and artifacts, 1926-1983Return to Top
The personal papers and artifacts series includes biographical information, notes, clippings, memorabilia, artist's tools, and a family scrapbook from Europe dated 1926-1938.
Container(s) | Description | Dates |
---|---|---|
Box | ||
16 |
Artist's tools
|
circa 1940s-1970s |
Box/Folder | ||
3/6 |
Biographical material
|
circa 1969-1983 |
3/7 |
Collected artwork
|
1953-1970 |
3/8-9 |
Collected clippings and ephemera
|
circa 1930s-1983 |
3/10 |
Notes
|
circa 1940s-1970s |
Box | ||
17 |
Scrapbook
|
1926-1938 |
4.: Correspondence, circa 1941-1981Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 3/11-15
The correspondence series contains personal and professional correspondence. The bulk of these materials include two files of correspondence with children's literature archives at the University of Minnesota and University of Southern Mississippi.
5.: Margaret Werth papers, circa 1930s-1968Return to Top
Container(s): Box-folder 3/16-18
The Margaret Werth papers series includes personal notebooks and typed literary manuscripts created by Margaret Werth.
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
- Subject Terms :
- Children's literature--Authorship
- Children's literature--Illustrations
- Form or Genre Terms :
- Book illustrations