"Grasshopper Green and the Good Fun Club" manuscript and correspondence, circa 1941-1989

File — Box: BMA.JR.001, Folder: 3

Identifier: BMA.JR.001.003

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The John Rae Collection was donated to the Research Center by his son, Walter Rae, and granddaughter, Jennifer Rae. These materials primarily concern the artist’s illustration career from approximately 1920 to 1950. Also included in the collection are Walter Rae’s unpublished biography of his father, detailing his art career.

Examples of Rae’s published work are included in the form of print proofs, book jackets, magazine tear sheets, cards, booklets, and advertisements. Specifically, his extensive work in children’s literature is represented in the collection by illustrated dustjackets for the books Lucy Locket the Girl with the Pocket (1928), written by Rae himself; Rob Roy: The Frontier Twins (1937), by Constance Lindsay Skinner; and The Winds of God (1941), by Irving Bacheller. Rae’s illustrations are seen in the baby journal, The Best Baby, published by Borden Eagle Brand (circa 1920), and The Runabouts, a guidebook for child-raising published by House of Health (1923).

The collection also includes photographs of Rae’s commissioned oil portraits, including his portrait of Albert Einstein; Rae’s undated manuscript for his children’s book, Grasshopper Green and the Good Fun Club; handwritten song lyrics and sheet music; and a number of original sketches, including two bound sketchbooks.

Dates

Creation: circa 1941-1989

Creator

From the Collection: Rae, John, 1882-1963 (Person)
From the Collection: Rae, Walter, 1916-1998 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open to researchers by appointment only. Please contact the Research Center for information on access and research.

Extent

From the Collection: 0.417 Linear Feet (1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

General

Note about “Grasshopper Green” by Walter Rae, undated

Rejection letter from Margaret Ferguson, Editor in Chief, Books for Young Readers, Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Inc., to Walter Rae, undated

Memo from May Davenport rejecting manuscript, May Davenport Publishers, to Rosamond Rae, May 1, 1989

Typewritten draft of John Rae’s unpublished manuscript, “Grasshopper Green and the Good Funnies,” 1941. Handwritten note from former BMA Research Center Manager, Virginia O’Hara: “dated 1941, probably Rae’s original or 1st version.”

Typewritten draft of John Rae’s unpublished manuscript, “Grasshopper Green and the Good Fun Club,” 1941. Note from VO: “dated 1941, (poss. Retyped version by family)”

Manuscript file folder with John Rae’s handwriting, “G.G. and the Good Fun Club,” undated