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.
54 Nancy Ekholm Burkert (American, born 1933) Finished drawing for James and the Giant Peach, 1961 “James’s large frightened eyes traveled slowly around the room. The creatures, some sitting on chairs, others reclining on a sofa, were all watching him intently.” Ink and graphite on illustration board, 36 x 27 cm Houghton Library, TypDr 970.B247.61j (21) Sz 2 The Philip Hofer Charitable Trust and Betty McAndrew funds, 1997 Burkert carefully researched her participants, studying specimens in entomology books on species that inhabited the story’s initial setting in the south of England. These renderings also reflect Burkert’s admiration for the anthropomorphic creatures of J. J. Grandville. They sit and lounge on equally accurate Chippendale and Sheraton furniture. This domestic environment further reinforces the credibility of their anthropomorphic identities. 96
55 Anna Sewell (British, 1820–1878, author) C. Hewitt (British, life dates unknown, illustrator) Black Beauty: His Grooms and Companions. The Autobiography of a Horse. Translated from the Original Equine London: Jarrold and Sons, 1877 17 x 12 cm Houghton Library, Typ 805.77.7826 Gift of Peter J. Solomon, 2020 This book appeared during an upsurge in animal welfare advocacy. Beauty, as narrator, relates the story of his life under different owners—good and bad—and establishes a close bond with the reader. The anticruelty message resonated deeply with Victorian audiences. The bearing rein, which painfully constricted a horse’s head, was never outlawed, but Sewell’s narrative curtailed its use. There have been over nine film adaptations of Black Beauty, the first with sound in 1946. 97
- 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 104 and 105: 50 L. Frank Baum (American, 1856-19
- Page 106 and 107: 52 Munro Leaf (American, 1905-1976,
- 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
55<br />
Anna Sewell (British, 1820–1878, author)<br />
C. Hewitt (British, life dates unknown, illustrator)<br />
Black Beauty: His Grooms and Companions. The<br />
Autobiography of a Horse. Translated from <strong>the</strong> Orig<strong>in</strong>al<br />
Equ<strong>in</strong>e<br />
London: Jarrold and Sons, 1877<br />
17 x 12 cm<br />
Houghton Library, Typ 805.77.7826<br />
Gift of <strong>Peter</strong> J. <strong>Solomon</strong>, 2020<br />
This book appeared dur<strong>in</strong>g an upsurge <strong>in</strong> animal welfare<br />
advocacy. Beauty, as narrator, relates <strong>the</strong> story of his life<br />
under different owners—good and bad—and establishes<br />
a close bond with <strong>the</strong> reader. The anticruelty message<br />
resonated deeply with Victorian audiences. The bear<strong>in</strong>g<br />
re<strong>in</strong>, which pa<strong>in</strong>fully constricted a horse’s head, was never<br />
outlawed, but Sewell’s narrative curtailed its use. There<br />
have been over n<strong>in</strong>e film adaptations of Black Beauty, <strong>the</strong><br />
first with sound <strong>in</strong> 1946.<br />
97
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