Scope and Contents
The collection consists primarily of artwork and storyboards for books authored and illustrated by Harvey Weiss, as well as correspondence, clippings, printed material, photographs and other material relating to various book projects and several illustrated journals. The collection documents Harvey Weiss's career as a children's illustrator and author, and his process of researching, writing and illustrating books.
Dates
- circa 1955-2007
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The Harvey Weiss Papers is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from the Estate of Harvey Weiss on the Jockey Hollow Fund, 2008.
Arrangement
Organized into eight series: I. Writing and Research Files. II. Book Proofs and Related Material. III. Illustrated Journals. IV. Correspondence. V. Other Papers. VI. Photographs. VII. Printed Material. VIII. Book Art, Storyboards, and Oversize Photographs.
While the series arrangement reflects, as far as possible, an intellectual arrangement of material, the bulk of the material is oversize and is therefore physically arranged by size. As a result, the box numbers are not contiguous and material within each series overlaps with and/or relates to material found in other series. In order to locate all relevant material within this collection, researchers will need to consult each series described in the Collection Contents section.
While the series arrangement reflects, as far as possible, an intellectual arrangement of material, the bulk of the material is oversize and is therefore physically arranged by size. As a result, the box numbers are not contiguous and material within each series overlaps with and/or relates to material found in other series. In order to locate all relevant material within this collection, researchers will need to consult each series described in the Collection Contents section.
Extent
25.6 Linear Feet ((95 boxes) + 1 roll)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
The collection consists primarily of artwork and storyboards for books authored and illustrated by Harvey Weiss, as well as correspondence, clippings, printed material, photographs and other material relating to various book projects and several illustrated journals. The collection documents Harvey Weiss's career as a children's illustrator and author, and his process of researching, writing and illustrating books.
Harvey Weiss (1922-2007)
Harvey Weiss was an illustrator and author of children's books. His works include the eleven-volume "Beginning Artists Library" series, including titles such as Clay, Wood, and Wire: A How-to-Do-It Book of Sculpture (1956), Pencil, Pen and Brush Drawings for Beginners (1961), and Ceramics: From Clay to Kiln (1966). His other books include How to Be an Inventor (1980), Machines and How They Work (1983), and Maps: Getting From Here to There (1991). He also illustrated books by Miriam Schlein, to whom he was once married, and Joan M. Lexau, among other authors.
Weiss was a noted sculptor, and his sculptures form part of many private and public collections. He was also a professor of sculpture at Adelphi University.
Weiss was a noted sculptor, and his sculptures form part of many private and public collections. He was also a professor of sculpture at Adelphi University.
Processing Information
Collections are processed to a variety of levels, depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived research value, the availability of staff, competing priorities, and whether or not further accruals are expected. The library attempts to provide a basic level of preservation and access for all collections as they are acquired, and does more extensive processing of higher priority collections as time and resources permit.
This collection received a basic level of processing, including rehousing and minimal organization, in 2008. A new call number was assigned in 2013. Information included in the Description of Papers note and Collection Contents section is drawn from information supplied with the collection and from an initial survey of the contents. Folder titles appearing in the contents list below are often based on those provided by the creator or previous custodian. Titles have not been verified against the contents of the folders in all cases. Otherwise, folder titles are supplied by staff during initial processing.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
Former call number: Uncat MSS 1043
This collection received a basic level of processing, including rehousing and minimal organization, in 2008. A new call number was assigned in 2013. Information included in the Description of Papers note and Collection Contents section is drawn from information supplied with the collection and from an initial survey of the contents. Folder titles appearing in the contents list below are often based on those provided by the creator or previous custodian. Titles have not been verified against the contents of the folders in all cases. Otherwise, folder titles are supplied by staff during initial processing.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
Former call number: Uncat MSS 1043
- Authors, American -- 20th Century -- Archives
- Authors, American -- Juvenile literature
- Children's literature, American -- 20th century
- Children's stories, American
- Illustration of books -- United States
- Illustrations (layout features)
- Illustrators, American -- 20th Century -- Archives
- Photographs
- Picture books for children -- United States
- Weiss, Harvey
Creator
- Title
- Guide to the Harvey Weiss Papers
- Author
- by Leigh Golden and Jennifer Meehan
- Date
- 2008
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English.
Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository
Location
121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511
Opening Hours
Access Information
The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.