Animals Are Us: Anthropomorphism in Children’s Literature; Celebrating the Peter J. Solomon Collection
Why do we tell stories to children through and about animals? Are there reasons why we shouldn’t? Animals Are Us invites explores these questions and more through influential historic examples of anthropomorphism in dialogue with contemporary books drawn from the collection of Peter J. Solomon (Harvard College Class of 1960, MBA 1963) and the holdings of Houghton Library. The exhibition invites you to engage critically with animal anthropomorphism, and delight in the artfulness of this enduring literary genre.
Catalog of an exhibition on view at Houghton Library, Harvard University, September 1, 2021 - January 7, 2022.
Why do we tell stories to children through and about animals? Are there reasons why we shouldn’t? Animals Are Us invites explores these questions and more through influential historic examples of anthropomorphism in dialogue with contemporary books drawn from the collection of Peter J. Solomon (Harvard College Class of 1960, MBA 1963) and the holdings of Houghton Library. The exhibition invites you to engage critically with animal anthropomorphism, and delight in the artfulness of this enduring literary genre.
Catalog of an exhibition on view at Houghton Library, Harvard University, September 1, 2021 - January 7, 2022.
50 L. Frank Baum (American, 1856–1919, author) W. W. Denslow (American, 1856–1915, illustrator) The Wonderful Wizard of Oz Chicago, New York: G. M. Hill Co., 1900 22 x 18 cm Houghton Library, Typ 970.00.1950 Gift of Philip Hofer, date unknown Anthropomorphism in The Wonderful Wizard of Oz spans the animal (the Cowardly Lion), the vegetable (the Scarecrow), and the mineral (the Tin Woodman). Over fifty cinematic versions of the various Oz books exist, but the 1939 movie starring Judy Garland brought cult status to the original publication and its author. Recently, L. Frank Baum’s prominence in American literature has diminished due to his 1890s editorials advocating the genocide of all Native Americans. Whether his reputation suffers irrevocably has yet to be seen. 92
51 A. A. Milne (British, 1882–1956, author) Ernest H. Shepard (British, 1879–1976, illustrator) Winnie-the-Pooh London: Methuen & Co., Ltd., 1926 23 x 19 cm Houghton Library, EC9.M6357.926wa Gift of William B. Osgood Field, 1944 Milne was inspired by the stuffed animals of his son Christopher Robin to weave this beloved narrative. Stuffed animals universally embody a young child’s tenuous distinction between fact and fantasy, and the bonds between Christopher Robin and Pooh are powerful and endearing. Disney expressed interest in acquiring the rights as early as 1938 but didn’t succeed until 1961. The first animated Pooh film appeared in 1966, and a host of them have followed. 93
- Page 54 and 55: 10 Aesop (Greece, 620-564 BCE, auth
- Page 56 and 57: 12 Alexander Calder (American, 1898
- Page 58 and 59: 14 Rudyard Kipling (British, 1865-1
- Page 60 and 61: 48
- Page 62 and 63: 16 Attributed to Oliver Goldsmith (
- Page 64 and 65: 18 Charles H. Bennett (British, 182
- Page 66 and 67: 20 L. Frank Baum (American, 1856-19
- Page 68 and 69: 22 Beatrix Potter (British, 1866-19
- Page 70 and 71: 24 Charles Addams (American, 1912-1
- Page 72 and 73: 60
- Page 74 and 75: 26 Thomas Bewick (British, 1753-182
- Page 76 and 77: 28 Edward Lear (British, 1812-1888,
- Page 78 and 79: 30 Lulu Delacre (American, born 195
- Page 80 and 81: 32 Innosanto Nagara (Indonesian, bo
- Page 82 and 83: 33 Joel Chandler Harris (American,
- Page 84 and 85: 35 Julius Lester (American, 1939-20
- Page 86 and 87: 37 E. B. White (American, 1899-1985
- Page 88 and 89: 39 Dr. Seuss [Theodor Geisel] (Amer
- Page 90 and 91: 40 Photograph of Beatrix Potter as
- Page 92 and 93: 42 Beatrix Potter (British, 1866-19
- Page 94 and 95: 44 Wanda Gág (American, 1893-1946,
- Page 96 and 97: 46 Ashley Bryan (American, born 192
- Page 98 and 99: 48 Garth Williams (American, 1912-1
- Page 100 and 101: 49A Silver pocket watch belonging t
- Page 102 and 103: 49C Lewis Carroll [Charles Dodgson]
- Page 106 and 107: 52 Munro Leaf (American, 1905-1976,
- Page 108 and 109: 54 Nancy Ekholm Burkert (American,
- Page 110 and 111: 98
- Page 112 and 113: 56 Park Benjamin Jr. (American, 182
- Page 115: 58 Beatrix Potter (British, 1866-19
- Page 118 and 119: 60 Maurice Sendak (American, 1928-2
- Page 120 and 121: 62 David Wiesner (American, born 19
- Page 122 and 123: 63 Unknown creator The Royal Game o
- Page 124 and 125: 110
- Page 126 and 127: 65 Maurice Sendak (American, 1928-2
- Page 128 and 129: 67 Julie Flett (Cree-Métis, born 1
- Page 130 and 131: 116
- Page 132 and 133: Page 67: Illustration from CDB! by
- Page 134 and 135: Bryan, Ashley, 25, 84 Burkert, Nanc
- Page 136 and 137: Lac La Croix First Nation, 113. See
- Page 138: 3, 12-13, 18, 24-25, 35, 39, 43, 63
- Page 142: ISBN 9780981885872 90000 > 9 780981
50<br />
L. Frank Baum (American, 1856–1919, author)<br />
W. W. Denslow (American, 1856–1915, illustrator)<br />
The Wonderful Wizard of Oz<br />
Chicago, New York: G. M. Hill Co., 1900<br />
22 x 18 cm<br />
Houghton Library, Typ 970.00.1950<br />
Gift of Philip Hofer, date unknown<br />
<strong>Anthropomorphism</strong> <strong>in</strong> The Wonderful Wizard of Oz spans <strong>the</strong> animal<br />
(<strong>the</strong> Cowardly Lion), <strong>the</strong> vegetable (<strong>the</strong> Scarecrow), and <strong>the</strong> m<strong>in</strong>eral<br />
(<strong>the</strong> T<strong>in</strong> Woodman). Over fifty c<strong>in</strong>ematic versions of <strong>the</strong> various Oz<br />
books exist, but <strong>the</strong> 1939 movie starr<strong>in</strong>g Judy Garland brought cult<br />
status to <strong>the</strong> orig<strong>in</strong>al publication and its author. Recently, L. Frank<br />
Baum’s prom<strong>in</strong>ence <strong>in</strong> American literature has dim<strong>in</strong>ished due to<br />
his 1890s editorials advocat<strong>in</strong>g <strong>the</strong> genocide of all Native Americans.<br />
Whe<strong>the</strong>r his reputation suffers irrevocably has yet to be seen.<br />
92
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