Maud Petersham
Maud Petersham was an influential American author and illustrator born on August 5, 1890, in Kingston, New York. Growing up in a lively parsonage, she developed a passion for storytelling and art, encouraged by her family's rich cultural background. After graduating from Vassar College, she studied art at the New York School of Fine and Applied Art and subsequently married Miska Petersham, with whom she collaborated on numerous projects. Their joint efforts in children's literature began with the book "Miki," named after their son, which showcased their innovative approach to storytelling and illustration. The couple traveled to Palestine in 1931, inspired by their experiences to create "The Christ Child, as Told by Matthew and Luke."
In 1946, Maud and Miska received the prestigious Caldecott Award for "The Rooster Crows: A Book of American Rhymes and Jingles." Following Miska's sudden death in 1960, Maud continued to write and illustrate, while also pursuing gardening. She often reflected on her pride in her family's achievements, particularly her son’s success as an art instructor. Maud Petersham passed away on November 29, 1971, leaving behind a lasting legacy in children's literature.
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Subject Terms
Maud Petersham
Writer
- Born: August 5, 1890
- Birthplace: Kingston, New York
- Died: November 29, 1971
- Place of death: Ravenna, Ohio
Biography
Maud Fuller Petersham was born on August 5, 1890, in Kingston, New York, where her father was a Baptist minister. She would later recall the parsonage as a lively place, frequented by missionaries who told stories of far-away places that she found as exciting as any fairy tale. During the summer months she and her three sisters would often visit their Quaker grandfather. She developed an early love for the written word, and was frequently to be found with pencil and paper in her hand, writing or drawing.
She graduated from Vassar College, then went to New York to study art at the New York School of Fine and Applied Art. She subsequently married Miska Petersham, the former Petrezselym Mikaly, who had immigrated from Hungary and become a naturalized U.S. citizen. They met through their work at the International Art Service, an advertising firm. After their marriage, the couple began collaborating as freelance artists, which gave Maud her first illustration job for children’s books.
In 1929, Petersham and her husband collaborated on a book, Miki, which was named for their son. Because they worked on the entire book from start to finish, rather than illustrating a text that had been written by another author, they were able to play with the rough drafts until they were able to put together a story they liked. When it was actually accepted, they did the color separations themselves, a tedious process that allowed them to save money, essential in a time when a formerly booming economy had suddenly turned sour.
In 1931, the Petershams were able to spend three months touring Palestine, and came home to write and illustrate The Christ Child, as Told by Matthew and Luke. During the time they were writing the book, they shared a tiny apartment with another family who had just had a child. When they were feeling homesick or down, they would go look at the boy for inspiration. Only later were they to discover that his name was Christian Emmanuel, and they ended up dedicating the book to the family.
In 1946, the Petershams received the Caldecott Award for The Rooster Crows: A Book of American Rhymes and Jingles, which they had put together while their son was serving in the U.S. Army Air Force in World War II. In 1960, Miska Petersham died suddenly, ending their long collaboration. Petersham sold the house in which they had lived together and moved into a smaller apartment, but continued to write on her own, although she also began to do more gardening. When asked to reflect upon her life in 1969, she spoke of her pride in her son’s success as an art instructor with Kent State University and of her two grandchildren. Petersham died on November 29, 1971, still active in the field of children’s literature.