Sewell, Helen, 1896-1957

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American author and illustrator of children's books; Caldecott Honor citation for The Thanksgiving story (1954) in 1955.

From the description of The bears on Hemlock Mountain : production material, ca. 1952. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62444178

From the description of Cinderella : production material, ca. 1934. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62444195

From the description of Jimmy and Jemima : production material, ca. 1940. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62451752

From the description of Pride and prejudice : production material, ca. 1940. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62444196

From the description of The Thanksgiving story : production material, ca. 1954. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62444197

From the description of Three tall tales : production material, ca. 1947. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62494898

From the description of Azor and the blue-eyed cow : production material, ca. 1951. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62444177

From the description of Secrets and surprises : production material, ca. 1951. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62451754

From the description of Papers, 1923-1963 (bulk 1929-1954). (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62680864

From the description of Poems : production material, ca. 1952. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62680880

From the description of Baby island : production material, ca. 1937. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62406309

From the description of Sally Gabble and the fairies : production material, ca. 1929. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62406320

From the description of Azor : production material, ca. 1948. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62406308

From the description of The wonderful day : production material, ca. 1946. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 62406321

Helen Sewell wasas born June 27, 1896, in Mare Island, California. She attended the Pratt Institute and studied painting with the artist Archipenko. In 1923 she illustrated her first children's book, The Cruise of the Little Dipper and Other Fairy Tales, by Susanne K. Langer. Throughout her prolific career she illustrated dozens of books, including works by such well-known authors as Elizabeth Coatsworth and Carol Ryrie Brink. Beginning in 1930, she also wrote and illustrated picture books. From the 1940s on she concentrated on illustrating and became one of the most honored in her profession, well known for her adaptable style. She received numerous awards and honors for her work, including a Caldecott Honor citation for The Thanksgiving Story in 1955. She also illustrated books for adults, including several for the Limited Editions Club, including one in 1952 of Emily Dickenson's poems, that was widely praised for her ability to bring out the poems' moods, backdrops, and meaning. Helen Sewell died on February 24, 1957, in New York City.

From the description of Helen Sewell Papers 1923-1963. (University of Minnesota, Minneapolis). WorldCat record id: 435418268

Illustrator.

Helen Moore Sewell, the daughter of William Elbridge Sewell and Minnie Moore, was born into a Navy family and spent part of her early years in Japan and Guam. She attended the Pratt Institute and studied painting with the artist Archipenko. She worked on Christmas and greeting cards, and illustrated many books, particularly for children. She was the original illustrator for the "Little House" books by Laura Ingalls Wilder. She later wrote and illustrated her own books for children.

From the description of Helen Sewell papers, [ca. 1930-1955]. (Cornell University Library). WorldCat record id: 122571755

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Barbara Latham papers Archives of American Art
creatorOf Sewell, Helen, 1896-1957. Cinderella : production material, ca. 1934. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Sewell, Helen, 1896-1957. Helen Sewell Papers 1923-1963. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Green, Archie. John Edwards memorial collection, ca. 1920s-1963. University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
creatorOf Sewell, Helen, 1896-1957. Jimmy and Jemima : production material, ca. 1940. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Sewell, Helen, 1896-1957. Pride and prejudice : production material, ca. 1940. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Sewell, Helen, 1896-1957. Baby island : production material, ca. 1937. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Sewell, Helen, 1896-1957. Sally Gabble and the fairies : production material, ca. 1929. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Sewell, Helen, 1896-1957. Helen Sewell papers, [ca. 1930-1955]. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Sewell, Helen, 1896-1957. The bears on Hemlock Mountain : production material, ca. 1952. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Cautley, Marjorie Sewell, b. 1891. Marjorie Sewell Cautley papers, 1847-1995. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Sewell, Helen, 1896-1957. Papers, 1923-1963 (bulk 1929-1954). University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Sewell, Helen, 1896-1957. The Thanksgiving story : production material, ca. 1954. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Sewell, Barbara Lee. Barbara Lee Sewell scrapbook, circa 1917-1925. Cornell University Library
creatorOf Sewell, Helen, 1896-1957. Poems : production material, ca. 1952. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Papers, 1877-1980, 1913-1980 (bulk). New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Sewell, Helen, 1896-1957. The wonderful day : production material, ca. 1946. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Sewell, Helen, 1896-1957. Azor : production material, ca. 1948. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Louise Seaman Bechtel papers, 1877-1980, 1913-1980 (bulk). New York State Historical Documents Inventory
creatorOf Sewell, Helen, 1896-1957. Secrets and surprises : production material, ca. 1951. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Sewell, Helen, 1897-1957 : [miscellaneous ephemeral material]. Metropolitan Museum of Art, Thomas J. Watson Library
creatorOf Sewell, Helen, 1896-1957. Azor and the blue-eyed cow : production material, ca. 1951. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
creatorOf Sewell, Helen, 1896-1957. Three tall tales : production material, ca. 1947. University of Minnesota, Minneapolis
referencedIn Macy, George. George Macy papers, 1916-1970. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Austen, Jane, 1775-1817 person
associatedWith Bechtel, Louise Seaman, b. 1894. person
associatedWith Boyle, Mildred. person
associatedWith Brink, Carol Ryrie, 1895- person
associatedWith Cautley, Marjorie Sewell, b. 1891. person
associatedWith Coatsworth, Elizabeth Jane, 1893- person
associatedWith Crowley, Maude. person
associatedWith Dalgliesh, Alice, 1893- person
associatedWith Dickinson, Emily, 1830-1886. person
associatedWith Eberle, Irmengarde, 1898- person
associatedWith Eleska, Elena, person
associatedWith Green, Archie. person
associatedWith Latham, Barbara, 1896-1989. person
associatedWith Macy, George. person
associatedWith Potter, Miriam Clark, 1886- person
associatedWith Sewell, Barbara Lee. person
Place Name Admin Code Country
Maine
Massachusetts
United States
Massachusetts
Massachusetts
England
Subject
Animals
Animals
Babies
Bears
Bears
Brothers and sisters
Brothers and sisters
Children's books
Children's literature
Children's literature, American
Christmas stories
Courtship
Cows
Cows
Fairies
Fairies
Fairy tales
Folklore
Illustrators
Picture books
Picture books for children
Pilgrims (New Plymouth Colony)
Pilgrims (New Plymouth Colony)
Shipwrecks
Shipwrecks
Short stories
Sisters
Sisters
Tall tales
Thanksgiving Day
Thanksgiving Day
Young women
Occupation
Illustrator
Activity

Person

Birth 1896-06-27

Death 1957-02-24

Information

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