University of Southern Mississippi Awarded ChLA Archive
RSSBy Rocco Staino -- School Library Journal, 08/03/2009
The Children’s Literature Association (ChLA) has decided to house its archive at the University of Southern Mississippi’s de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection.The ChLA, an association of children’s literature scholars that encourages high standards of criticism,
Ellen Ruffin, curator of the de Grummond Collection.
scholarship, research, and teaching in children’s literature, was in need of a home for its archives and invited bids from several universities that hold significant children’s literature collections.
After reviewing many applications from across the country, the decision was announced at ChLA’s 2009 International Conference in Charlotte, NC, last month.
“We won this prestigious archive due to the prominence of the de Grummond Collection and the excellent proposal presented by its curator, Ellen Ruffin,” says the university’s dean of libraries, Carole Kiehl. “This award further confirms and strengthens the international importance of Collection and its significance for researchers in children’s literature.”
Founded in 1966 by Lena Y. de Grummond, the collection holds the original manuscripts and illustrations of more than 1,200 authors and illustrators, and has more than 100,000 published books dating from 1530 to the present. It is located in the university’s McCain Library and Archives.
The collection’s primary focus is on historical and contemporary American and British children's literature. It also houses a collection of original material given by Margret and H.A. Rey, creators of the popular Curious George character.
“We’re thrilled with the decision of the Children’s Literature Association’s board to place their archive with us,” Ruffin says. “The ChLA is the pre-imminent organization in encouraging serious scholarship and research in children’s literature. We look forward to working with them for many years.”
ChLA founded the first peer-reviewed journal and the first scholarly conference devoted to the literary study of children’s literature. Today it produces two peer-reviewed academic journals in addition to co-publishing scholarly monographs.
Southern Mississippi assistant professor of English Eric Tribunella says having the ChLA’s archives on campus opens up exciting research possibilities for him and his students, and further enhances the university’s reputation in the children’s literature community.
“Southern Miss is already recognized internationally as one of the major research centers for the scholarly study of children’s literature, so the decision to house the organization’s archives at de Grummond reinforces the international prominence of both the collection and the university,” he says.
