Library: Archives & Special Collections: Children Literature & Early Education

Collection Subject: Children Literature & Early Education

Anne Rogovin - Teaching Materials Collection and Papers [c. 1970-1992]
Courier-Express Newspaper Collections [1926-1982] The Courier-Express newspaper was born in 1926, with the merger of the Buffalo Courier and the Buffalo Express to form the Buffalo Courier-Express. William J. Conners, owner of the Buffalo Courier, was the person instrumental in bringing the two papers together. During the 19th century numerous newspapers existed. The Buffalo Courier-Express merger can trace its roots back to 1828. From 1828 to 1926, twelve separate newspapers merged during those years, ending with the formation of the Buffalo Courier-Express; quite a chronology for the history of this newspaper. The Courier and then the Courier-Express took a liberal position on all issues. In the late 1970s, the Courier-Express was sold to Cowles-Media, an out of state publisher. Cowles Media decided to close the paper in 1982. The September 19, 1982 issue was the last one for this very popular Buffalo newspaper. Cowles Media donated the library to the Buffalo and Erie County Historical Society and Buffalo State College.
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Lester Glassner African American Experience Collection: Artifacts, Sheet Music, and Ephemera [c. 1850-2005] Born February 23, 1939, Lester Glassner’s childhood was spent among a variety of towns and cities in upstate New York, including Buffalo, Geneva, Auburn, and Lockport, as he moved frequently with his parents who, by necessity, followed employment opportunities occasioned by the war. Life in the years during and immediately following World War II offered little in terms of nurturing a bright and cheerful childhood. Lester, as a young boy, must have sensed this and either by chance or sheer determination, frequently accompanied by his mother Beatrice, was able to find his way out of this lack-luster reality through two unusual venues: the 5-and-10-cent stores and the movie theatres. Lester had a certain amount of after-school freedom. He went to the movies and as he recalls in his book, the B-rated Hollywood movies, trashy, low-budget and dumbed-down as they were, had a healthy contempt for reality. The stars who populated these films became the basis of a vast collection of signed "8 by 10 glossies" that he amassed over a period of years, as well as the impetus for an active interest in early theatre architecture and interior decorator of movie houses. The other venue was the "5-and 10s" as they were called, such as Kresge's, Neisner's, Grants, and Woolworth's. Every time the Glassner family moved, there was a new one to be explored. Wandering the aisles of these magical stores offered a virtually endless variety of wonders for an imaginative child. He loved all the plastic tawdriness of this merchandise, and as he recalls, the fantasy-filled contents of the dime stores were his "tickets to a land that lay somewhere over the rainbow - object lessons in how to survive the dreariness of war and post-war reality." At the time of publication of Dime Store Days, Quentin Crisp noted in the foreword that Lester's memory "dwell[ed] not on the sparseness of these years but on the brittle ornaments with which he desperately tried to decorate them." In the years following the publication of the book, Lester Glassner lived with his various collections in a small private museum, actually a 4-story town house on E. 7th Street which was also his almost comfortless home until his death.
Lois Lenski Children and Young Adult Literature Collection [1930-1974] In 1957, the well-known author-illustrator, Lois Lenski (1893-1974), presented a collection of her books, original illustrations, and manuscripts, as well as extensive files of research materials to the E. H. Butler Library of SUNY Buffalo State College. Lois Lenski was the author and illustrator of over 200 children’s books and winner of the coveted Newbery and Caldecutt award in children’s literature. She was best known for her hands on research in compiling her works. Periodic generous gifts from Miss Lenski have considerably enlarged the initial collection, and it is considered one of the most complete collections in the country. The collection contains not only the originals manuscripts, both longhand and typescript, of several of her books, but also, in many instances, includes her notes, original sketches, and correspondence showing the inception of ideas. It is extremely valuable as resource materials for in-depth studies of how a recognized author created the books which have won her the top awards in the field of children’s literature. By examining the notebooks and correspondence, students can become aware of Lenski’s methods of research in obtaining the materials she needed when writing her books. Lenski’s approach to the environmental background of her regional stories, as illustrated in her correspondence with children and concerned adults, is a technique unique to Lenski, and one which should be of special value to individuals interested in the writing of regional realistic fiction. Numerous boxes and folders contain copies of her books, photos, manuscripts, notes, drawings, awards, and work of students whom inspired Lois Lenski to write and publish.
Margaret Goff Clark-Children and Young Adult Literature Collection and Papers [c. 1930-2004] Margaret Goff Clark was born March 7, 1913 in Oklahoma City, USA. At five, she and her family moved to Olean, New York. She attended Columbia University and State University in Buffalo, earning a bachelor’s degree in education. She began writing when her children were young and published her first book, "The Mystery Of Seneca Hill" in 1961. As a result, Ms. Clark was adopted into the Seneca Indian tribe in 1962. Many of her books are based on her experiences traveling to parks and nature areas. She cottages in Algonquin Park in Ontario, Canada. "Death At Their Heels" was written in 1975, after visiting it one summer. Most recently, Ms. Clark has been writing books about endangered species in Florida, including the manatee and the Florida black bear. Her 1993 book on the endangered Florida panther was dedicated to her husband Charles R. Clark. In addition to books, Ms. Clark has contributed over 200 short stories to magazines such as "American Girl, The Instructor, Teen Talk" and other Canadian and American magazines. Margaret Goff Clark passed away in 2004. –taken from Goodreads.com on 05/07/2018
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New York State Art Teachers Association (NYSATA) Collection [c. 1949-2021]
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Sallie G. Randolph Presidential Biographies and Literature Collection [c. 1984-1991] A frequent speaker at programs for lawyers and writers, Sallie Randolph has taught law, writing and journalism in a variety of educational settings. At UB Law School she developed a copyright compliance and directed a publishing and copyright clinic. She has also taught media law for journalism majors at Buffalo State College and professional writing for numerous institutions. Sallie Randolph is a member of the Bar Association of Erie County and a former chair of its Intellectual Property Committee. She is also a member of the New York State Bar Association, and belongs to several IP-related sections and committees. Writers’ organizations of which she is a member include the American Society of Journalists and Authors (ASJA), Biographers International Organization (BIO), the Authors Guild, the Society of Children's Book Writers and Illustrators (SCBWI), Romance Writers of America (RWA) and several others. She has served on the ASJA Board of Directors and as a former chair of its Legal Resources Committee. Select publications include being the lead author of Author Law A to Z (Capital Books, 2005) and co-contributor of the legal chapter for The ASJA Guide to Freelance Writing: A Professional Guide to the Business, for Nonfiction Writers of All Experience Levels, edited by Timothy Harper (St. Martin's Griffin, 2003).
Thompson, Albert Albert “Al” Thompson was the first African American to be appointed Superintendent of the Buffalo, New York Public Schools. This file contains personal papers that were kept by Mr. Thompson and his wife Mrs. Freddie Mae Thompson. Mrs. Thompson kept a clipping file that spans the period that her husband served as School Superintendent. Mrs. Sharon Holley arranged for Mrs. Thompson to place the records and 20 photographs on loan to be microfilmed and scanned.
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Western New York Foreign Language Education Council Records [c. 1974-1987]

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Daniel DiLandro, MLS, CA
College Archivist & Special Collections Librarian
Email: dilanddm@buffalostate.edu
Phone: 716-878-6308

Hope Dunbar, MLIS, JD
Special Collections Archivist
Email: dunbarhm@buffalostate.edu
Phone: 716-878-4790