: For Students, Faculty, and Staff
The Kerlan Collection of Children’s Literature has recently acquired materials from the estate of award-winning author Marijane Meaker (1927-2022).
Meaker, who also wrote under the pseudonyms Vin Packer, Ann Aldrich, Laura Winston, M.E. Kerr, and Mary James, published books in genres ranging from mystery to nonfiction to young adult and children’s literature. In 1993, she was awarded the Margaret A. Edwards Award, administered by the American Library Association in recognition of a significant and lasting contribution to young adult literature.
Meaker is also credited with, as her New York Times obituary states, “jump-starting the lesbian pulp fiction genre” for her 1952 novel “Spring Fire.”
Prior to this acquisition, the Kerlan Collection already held several boxes of production materials — including typescripts, proofs, and correspondence — related to over 20 of Meaker’s young adult books, written under the name M.E. Kerr. These new materials, donated by Meaker’s estate, include papers and manuscripts associated with Meaker’s other pseudonyms; photos; and years’ worth of artwork and correspondence from the author Patricia Highsmith, with whom Meaker was in a relationship in the late 1950s.
“Although there were other nationally renowned collections whose scope would have been suitable for the Meaker papers, the estate selected the Kerlan as its repository for our reputation of presenting the whole person of the writer and providing open access to anyone who is interested in the author’s works,” says Lisa Von Drasek, Miranker Family Curatorial Chair of the Kerlan Collection. “Meaker wrote for children, young adults and adults. We are honored and excited to share these manuscripts, correspondence, and rare materials with teachers, researchers, and students.”
Unpublished manuscript for a novel written by Marijane Meaker with the author’s handwritten notes.
Letter written by author Patricia Highsmith to Marijane Meaker.
The Kerlan’s collection of Marijane Meaker materials includes photos of friends and family from throughout Meaker’s life.
