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{{Short description|American illustrator and writer}}

{{Infobox artist
{{Infobox artist
| honorific_prefix =
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Helen Sewell
| name = Helen Sewell
| honorific_suffix =
| honorific_suffix =
| image =
| image =
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| native_name =
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| birth_name = <!--only use if different from name-->
| birth_name = <!--only use if different from name-->
| birth_date = 27 June 1896 <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living artists, {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}} for dead -->
| birth_date = 27 June 1896 <!-- {{Birth date and age|YYYY|MM|DD}} for living artists, {{Birth date|YYYY|MM|DD}} for dead -->
| birth_place = [[Mare Island]], [[California]]
| birth_place = [[Mare Island]], [[California]]
| death_date = 24 February 1957 (aged 60) <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| death_date = 24 February 1957 (aged 60) <!-- {{Death date and age|YYYY|MM|DD|YYYY|MM|DD}} -->
| death_place = [[New York City|New York]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
| death_place = [[New York City|New York]], [[New York (state)|New York]]
| resting_place =
| resting_place =
| resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} -->
| resting_place_coordinates = <!-- {{Coord|LAT|LONG|type:landmark|display=inline}} -->
| nationality = American
| nationality = American
| education = Pratt Institute
| education = [[Pratt Institute]], [[Packer Collegiate Institute]]
| alma_mater =
| alma_mater =
| occupation = [[Illustrator]], [[Author]]
| known_for =
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| notable_works =
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⚫
}}'''Helen Sewell''' (June 27, 1896 – February 24, 1957) was an American illustrator and writer of [[children's books]]. She won a [[Caldecott Medal]] Honor as illustrator of ''The Thanksgiving Story''<ref name= "Lynch">[https://www.britannica.com/biography/Helen-Moore-Sewell Neal, Neal, Helen Moore Sewell, Britannica online]</ref> by [[Alice Dalgliesh]] and she illustrated several novels that were runners-up for the [[Newbery Medal]].
⚫
| website =
Some of her papers were donated to the University of Minnesota,<ref name= "uminn">[http://special.lib.umn.edu/findaid/xml/CLRC-1565.xml Helen Sewell Papers] Children's Literature Research Collections. [[University of Minnesota Libraries]]</ref> and other papers are at [[Cornell University]]. <ref>[https://rmc.library.cornell.edu/EAD/htmldocs/RMM06616.html Helen Sewell papers at Cornell University]</ref>
⚫
}}'''Helen Sewell''' (June 27, 1896 – February 24, 1957) was an American illustrator and writer of [[children's books]]. She was a runner-up for the 1955 [[Caldecott Medal]] as illustrator of ''The Thanksgiving Story'' by [[Alice Dalgliesh]] and she illustrated several novels that were runners-up for the [[Newbery Medal]].

Some of her papers were donated to the University of Minnesota.<ref name=uminn/>

==Early life==
Sewell was born in [[Mare Island]], California,<ref name= "uminn"/> the daughter of Minnie Moore, a watercolor artist,<ref name= "Lynch"/> and [[William Elbridge Sewell]], a Navy commander who later became [[Governor of Guam]].<ref name= "Women">[https://books.google.com/books?id=U9zIeyugktEC&dq=%22Helen+Sewell%22&pg=PA259 Gordon Moris Bakken & Brenda Farrington, ''Encyclopedia of Women in the American West'', page 259, SAGE, 2003]</ref> She had two younger sisters.<ref name= "Lynch"/>

Her mother died in 1901, before the family moved to Guam. Because of her father's naval career she had also lived in England, France and Sweden. Her father died before her eighth birthday, and Sewell and her sisters moved to [[Brooklyn]] to live with an aunt and uncle. At age twelve she became the youngest person to attend the [[Pratt Institute]].<ref name= "Lynch"/> She also studied under [[Alexander Archipenko]], who influenced her drawing style. She graduated from [[Packer Collegiate Institute]].<ref name= "Obit">[https://www.newspapers.com/image/632993509/?terms=%22Helen%20Sewell%22&match=1 Miss Helen Sewell (obituary), ''Ridgewood Herald-News'' (Ridgewood, NJ), February 28, 1957, page 7]</ref>

==Art career==
Sewell began earning money by illustrating greeting cards.<ref name= "Lynch"/> The first book she illustrated was ''The Cruise of the Little Dipper and Other Fairy Tales'', written by [[Susanne Langer]].<ref name= "uminn"/> In 1932 Sewell was the first illustrator of the [[Little House series]] by [[Laura Ingalls Wilder]].<ref name= "Lynch"/><ref>[https://200.hc.com/timeline/1932-laura-ingalls-wilder-publishes-little-house-in-the-big-woods/ Harper Collins timeline - 1932]</ref> For the [[George Macy|Limited Edition Club]] Sewell illustrated the poems of [[Emily Dickinson]], plus [[Jane Austen]]'s [[Pride and Prejudice]] and [[Sense and Sensibility]].<ref name= "Obit"/>

Most of the characters in Sewell's art work were drawn from her imagination, and she rarely used artist models.<ref name= "Women"/> When illustrating the [[Little House series]] she consulted photographs of the Wilder family.<ref>[https://www.nocloo.com/helen-sewell-biography/ Nocloo's Helen Sewell Biography]</ref>


Starting with the 1947 book ''Three Tall Tales'' Sewell began using a comic book style to add fun to amusing stories, for children had told her that her animals were too true to life for humorous books.<ref name= "Women"/>
⚫
==Life==


⚫
==Death==
Sewell was born in [[Mare Island]], California;<ref name=uminn/> her father was [[William Elbridge Sewell]], who later became [[Governor of Guam]].<ref name=Guampedia/> She studied at the [[Pratt Institute]], including classes with [[Alexander Archipenko]].<ref name=uminn/> Her first book was published in 1923, ''The Cruise of the Little Dipper and Other Fairy Tales'', written by [[Susanne Langer]],<ref name=uminn/> and she continued to illustrate throughout her life, including some works for adults. Sewell was the first illustrator of the [[Little House series]] by [[Laura Ingalls Wilder]] (1932 to 1943), replaced by [[Garth Williams]] in 1953 and subsequent editions.<ref name=purple/><ref name=uill/> She died on February 24, 1957, in New York City.<ref name=uminn/>
She died on February 24, 1957, in New York City,<ref name= "uminn"/> after a long illness.<ref name= "Women"/>


==Works illustrated==
==Works illustrated==
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*1934 ''Bluebonnets for Lucinda'', Frances Clarke Sayers
*1934 ''Bluebonnets for Lucinda'', Frances Clarke Sayers
*1934 ''Cinderella''
*1934 ''Cinderella''
*1935 ''Anne Frances'', Eliza Orne White
*1935 ''Anne Frances'', [[Eliza Orne White]]
*1935 ''[[Little House on the Prairie (novel)|Little House on the Prairie]]'', Laura Ingalls Wilder
*1935 ''[[Little House on the Prairie (novel)|Little House on the Prairie]]'', Laura Ingalls Wilder
*1935 ''Mrs. Hermit Crab'', Mimpsy Rhys
*1935 ''Mrs. Hermit Crab'', Mimpsy Rhys
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*1941 ''Peggy and the Pup'', Helen Sewell
*1941 ''Peggy and the Pup'', Helen Sewell
*1941 ''Tag-Along Tooloo'', Frances Clarke Sayers
*1941 ''Tag-Along Tooloo'', Frances Clarke Sayers
*1942 ''The Blue-Eyed Lady, [[Ferenc Molnar]]
*1942 ''The Blue-Eyed Lady'', [[Ferenc Molnar]]
* 1943 ''[[These Happy Golden Years]]'', [[Laura Ingalls Wilder]] (co-illus. Boyle) – last of the original [[Little House books]]
* 1943 ''[[These Happy Golden Years]]'', [[Laura Ingalls Wilder]] (co-illus. Boyle) – last of the original [[Little House books]]
*1944 ''A Bee in Her Bonnet'', Eva Kristofferson
*1944 ''A Bee in Her Bonnet'', Eva Kristofferson
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*1952 ''[[The Bears on Hemlock Mountain]]'', [[Alice Dalgliesh]]
*1952 ''[[The Bears on Hemlock Mountain]]'', [[Alice Dalgliesh]]
*1952 ''The Colonel's Squad'', Alf Evers
*1952 ''The Colonel's Squad'', Alf Evers
*1952 ''Mrs. McThing'', Mary Ellen Chase (co-illus. Madeleine Gekiere)
*1952 ''Mrs. McThing'', Mary Ellen Chase (co-illus. [[Madeleine Gekiere]])
*1952 (edition) ''Poems'', [[Emily Dickinson]]
*1952 (edition) ''Poems'', [[Emily Dickinson]]
*1952 ''The White Horse'', [[Elizabeth Coatsworth]]
*1952 ''The White Horse'', [[Elizabeth Coatsworth]]
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*1954 ''[[The Thanksgiving Story]]'', Alice Dalgliesh
*1954 ''[[The Thanksgiving Story]]'', Alice Dalgliesh
*1955 ''The Three Kings of Saba'', Alf Evers
*1955 ''The Three Kings of Saba'', Alf Evers
*1957 (edition) ''[[Sense and Sensibility]], [[Jane Austen]]
*1957 (edition) ''[[Sense and Sensibility]]'', [[Jane Austen]]


==See also==
==See also==
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==References==
==References==
{{reflist |25em |refs=
{{reflist}}
<ref name=uminn>
[http://special.lib.umn.edu/findaid/xml/CLRC-1565.xml "Helen Sewell Papers"] (finding aid). Children's Literature Research Collections. [[University of Minnesota Libraries]]. With biographical sketch.</ref>
<ref name=purple>
[http://www.purplehousepress.com/liw.htm "Laura Ingalls Wilder and her Little House Books"] (gallery). Purple House Press (purplehousepress.com).</ref>
<ref name=uill>
[http://ccb.lis.illinois.edu/Projects/Additions%20on%209-20-07/CCB/CCB/sswanke2/bib-desc.html "Bibliographic Description"]. ''Little House in the Big Woods by Laura Ingalls Wilder''. Quote: "Site created November 14, 2004 by Sharon Swanke for Christine Jenkins' "History of Children's Literature" class at the University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign."<!--unknown whether Jenkins author and Swanke staff assistant or Swanke author of student coursework--></ref>
<ref name=Guampedia>
{{cite web|last=Leon-Guerrero |first=Jillette |title=Guam Leaders from 1899-1904: 12. William Elbridge Sewell |url=http://guampedia.com/guam-leaders-from-1899-1904/#toc-william-elbridge-sewell-feb-9-1903-march-1904 |work=Guampedia |publisher=[[University of Guam]] |accessdate=2010-10-27 |archiveurl=https://www.webcitation.org/5tdCAGtPm?url=http://guampedia.com/guam-leaders-from-1899-1904/ |location=Guam |date=August 9, 2010 |archivedate=October 20, 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref>

}}


==External links==
==External links==
* {{Gutenberg author | id=51345}}
* {{FadedPage|id=Sewell, Helen|name=Helen Sewell|author=yes}}
* {{FadedPage|id=Sewell, Helen|name=Helen Sewell|author=yes}}
* {{LCAuth|n79078121|Helen Sewell|55|}}
* {{LCAuth|n79078121|Helen Sewell|55|}}
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[[Category:Artists from Vallejo, California]]
[[Category:Artists from Vallejo, California]]
[[Category:Writers from Vallejo, California]]
[[Category:Writers from Vallejo, California]]
[[Category:20th-century American women artists]]
[[Category:20th-century American people]]

Latest revision as of 21:50, 4 July 2023

Helen Sewell
Born27 June 1896
Mare Island, California
Died24 February 1957 (aged 60)
New York, New York
NationalityAmerican
BildungPratt Institute, Packer Collegiate Institute

Helen Sewell (June 27, 1896 – February 24, 1957) was an American illustrator and writer of children's books. She won a Caldecott Medal Honor as illustrator of The Thanksgiving Story[1] by Alice Dalgliesh and she illustrated several novels that were runners-up for the Newbery Medal.

Some of her papers were donated to the University of Minnesota,[2] and other papers are at Cornell University. [3]


Early life

[edit]

Sewell was born in Mare Island, California,[2] the daughter of Minnie Moore, a watercolor artist,[1] and William Elbridge Sewell, a Navy commander who later became Governor of Guam.[4] She had two younger sisters.[1]

Her mother died in 1901, before the family moved to Guam. Because of her father's naval career she had also lived in England, France and Sweden. Her father died before her eighth birthday, and Sewell and her sisters moved to Brooklyn to live with an aunt and uncle. At age twelve she became the youngest person to attend the Pratt Institute.[1] She also studied under Alexander Archipenko, who influenced her drawing style. She graduated from Packer Collegiate Institute.[5]

Art career

[edit]

Sewell began earning money by illustrating greeting cards.[1] The first book she illustrated was The Cruise of the Little Dipper and Other Fairy Tales, written by Susanne Langer.[2] In 1932 Sewell was the first illustrator of the Little House series by Laura Ingalls Wilder.[1][6] For the Limited Edition Club Sewell illustrated the poems of Emily Dickinson, plus Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Sense and Sensibility.[5]

Most of the characters in Sewell's art work were drawn from her imagination, and she rarely used artist models.[4] When illustrating the Little House series she consulted photographs of the Wilder family.[7]

Starting with the 1947 book Three Tall Tales Sewell began using a comic book style to add fun to amusing stories, for children had told her that her animals were too true to life for humorous books.[4]

Death

[edit]

She died on February 24, 1957, in New York City,[2] after a long illness.[4]

Works illustrated

[edit]

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. ^ a b c d e f Neal, Neal, Helen Moore Sewell, Britannica online
  2. ^ a b c d Helen Sewell Papers Children's Literature Research Collections. University of Minnesota Libraries
  3. ^ Helen Sewell papers at Cornell University
  4. ^ a b c d Gordon Moris Bakken & Brenda Farrington, Encyclopedia of Women in the American West, page 259, SAGE, 2003
  5. ^ a b Miss Helen Sewell (obituary), Ridgewood Herald-News (Ridgewood, NJ), February 28, 1957, page 7
  6. ^ Harper Collins timeline - 1932
  7. ^ Nocloo's Helen Sewell Biography
[edit]
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