Largest gift by first-time donors establishes Kerlan endowed chair

$2 million contribution safeguards Kerlan Collection’s future and inspires new fundraising

MINNEAPOLIS/ST. PAUL (10/15/2024) — The University of Minnesota Libraries today announced the largest gift by first-time donors in its history. The $2 million contribution establishes an endowed curatorial chair for the world-renowned Kerlan Collection of Children’s Literature, which is home to original artwork and text for beloved classics like Goodnight Moon and Strega Nona, and much more.

The gift comes from a family of bibliophiles in San Francisco, Cathy and Glen Miranker, with a passion for children’s books, libraries, and Sherlock Holmes.

“We believe reading and listening to children’s books is more than a pastime — it’s a lifeline to a better future for kids and to a more caring, imaginative society,” the Mirankers said. “We are honored to support the collection and its dynamic curator, Lisa Von Drasek.”

Von Drasek’s new title is Miranker Family Curatorial Chair for the Kerlan Collection of Children’s Literature at the University of Minnesota Libraries.

“It would not be an exaggeration,” Von Drasek said, “to say that the Miranker Family Endowed Curatorial Chair ensures that the Kerlan will always have a librarian archivist with a background in children’s literature, child development, literacy, and have a practice in teaching and learning.”

“The Kerlan Collection is astounding,” the Mirankers said, “with unrivaled holdings, a commitment to access and outreach, and deep connections with the writers and artists engaged in the single-most important area of publishing — children’s literature. We also anticipate that our gift will be a game-changer for the whole UMN library system by igniting new and creative fundraising efforts.”

“We are so grateful to Cathy and Glen — for the gift and for this partnership, which will advance the Kerlan for years to come,” said Lisa German, University Librarian and Dean of Libraries at the University of Minnesota.

German said that the Libraries will use this gift to demonstrate the positive impact of philanthropy and to inspire excitement and additional support for the Kerlan and other special collections at University of Minnesota Libraries.

About The Kerlan

Original cover artwork illustration for “Goodnight Moon”The Kerlan Collection of Children’s Literature stands at the forefront of children’s literature archives worldwide. An internationally recognized children’s literature library and archive, The Kerlan holds more than 100,000 children’s books, original manuscripts, correspondence, artworks, galleys, color proofs, and other material for more than 1,700 authors and illustrators. Open to the public, the Kerlan is a rich resource for researchers, educators, families, and all who love children’s literature.

Albert Einstein said “the only thing that you absolutely have to know is the  location of the library.” The Mirankers would add that they “absolutely know that the Kerlan is the best location in the world of children’s literature.”

About Glen and Cathy Miranker

Beside his devotion to Sherlock Holmes, Glen also collects and lectures on Enigma cipher machines used by Germany in World War II, as well as the work at Bletchley Park that cracked the Enigmas code. He serves as a board member at the Rare Book School (where he is also a perennial student and a fundraiser) and the San Francisco Silent Film Festival, and was a past board member of the American Foundation for Toronto Public Library. Before retiring in 2004, he ran hardware development and served as Apple’s Chief Technology Officer (Hardware).

Cathy is a modern quilter with a minimalist sensibility, with quilts currently on display in two global exhibitions and at art galleries in New York and California. Before turning full-time to quilting, she had a varied career as a hand bookbinder; grant writer; teacher and blogger at Bookmaking with Kids; author of books about kids’ software; marketing writer for Silicon Valley companies; as well as a newspaper columnist, editor and reporter.

About Lisa Von Drasek

Lisa Von Drasek is the Miranker Family Curatorial Chair of the Kerlan Collection of Children’s Literature. While previously serving as director of Bank Street’s Center for Children’s Literature, Lisa founded the Cook Prize, given to a STEM book chosen by children grades 3-4. She has served as a juror on the Caldecott Committee, The New York Times Best Illustrated, the Newbery Committee, The Ezra Jack Keats Award, Trudi Birger Prize (Jerusalem Book Fair) National Book Awards for Young People’s Literature, and American Library Association’s Notable Children’s Books.

Upcoming events at the Kerlan

October 22: 49th Annual Kerlan Award Honoring Lisa Yee

The Kerlan Award is given yearly in recognition of singular attainments in the creation of children’s literature and in appreciation for the generous donation of unique resources to the Kerlan Collection. Lisa Yee is the author of Maizy Chen’s Last Chance, which is a Newbery Honor book, National Book Award Finalist, and winner of the Asian Pacific American Children’s Literature Award. Her latest novel is a New York Times Bestseller — The Misfits, about a group of awkward undercover crime fighters. She is also the author of over 21 books for young people, including the groundbreaking Millicent Min, Girl Genius; Stanford Wong Flunks Big-Time and the DC Super Hero Girls series. Lisa is a frequent contributor to NPR’s Books We Love. A third-generation Chinese American, she divides her time between Western Massachusetts and Los Angeles — but you can always find her at www.LisaYee.com

October 29: Dear Readers and Riders: The Life of Marguerite Henry

Henry was a beloved and best-selling children’s author who wrote adventure stories that featured horses and other animals. She won the Newbery Medal for King of the Wind, a 1948 book about horses, and she was a runner-up for two others. Misty of Chincoteague (1947) is one of the most popular children’s books of all time. In doing research for her book, Teague relied heavily on Henry’s archival materials, which are held in the University of Minnesota Libraries’ Kerlan Collection for Children’s Literature.

November 14: Journey to Joy: Rise of Representation in Children’s Picture Books

The Kerlan Collection contains over 100 years of children’s picture book history. That history has not always been one to celebrate. Children’s literature in the United States has included stereotypical and hurtful images of any person or child who is not white. We do not wish to shut the door on this painful past. Nor do we wish to dwell on it. Therefore, in curatorial consultation with award-winning children’s book author Andrea Davis Pinkney, we have taken over the entire Elmer L. Andersen exhibit space to create a four-floor exhibit called Journey to Joy: Rise, Relevance, Representation in Children’s Picture Books.

Praise for The Kerlan

“The Kerlan is one of the most significant collections of twentieth century  children’s book manuscripts and art in the world. The Kerlan’s policy of open  access and the librarians’ high level of responsiveness has been invaluable to  me as a researcher in the field.”

—Leonard Marcus: children’s book historian, author, and critic

“When you walk into the Kerlan, you get to peel back the curtain on the  creative life of the author or illustrator. The imaginative positioning of  archival materials in digital exhibits makes it possible for anyone in the world  to access and learn from these rare materials.”

—Andrea Davis Pinkney, award-winning author

“Children’s literature, children’s books. This is one of the first ways we as  humans learn to connect. All the material—the love and the passion and the  hard work is at the Kerlan.”

—Kate DiCamillo, award winning author and National Ambassador for  Children’s Literature

“The Kerlan Collection is amazing! There is nothing else like it. Thousands  of pieces of children’s book history in one spot.”

—Jon Scieszka, award winning author, National Ambassador for Children’s  Literature

“The Kerlan is a treasure trove of  information that is both scholarly and accessible to a wide audience. It is a joy to use, vibrant and comprehensive.”

—Barbara McClintock, award-winning illustrator