The Children’s Literature Collection consists of published 19th through 21st–century books for children and adolescents, original artwork for illustrations in children’s picture books, and a small collection of comic books. The collection supplements the Instructional Materials Center in Belk Library and Information Commons with historical literature and collections. Click here for a history of the collection.
Named collections include:
Elaine J. O’Quinn Girls’ Studies Collection: Collection focuses on popular literature, mainly series books, for intended for early to mid-20th century adolescent girl readers. Collection also includes a selection of series books for boys, reference works, comic books, and ephemeral periodicals. The collection was gathered by Appalachian State University Professor of English Dr. Elaine J. O’Quinn, who researches and teaches about the literature and literacy of girls. Over 500 books. Click here to see all titles.
Beulah Campbell Collection of Original Illustrations for Children’s Literature
- Beulah C. Campbell Collection: Collection primarily contains Appalachian State University Professor Emerita Beulah C. Campbell’s personal files, her collection of original illustrations for children’s books (digitized and linked below), and materials related to various authors and illustrators of children’s books.
- Digitized Illustration Collection: Collection comprises original artwork for children’s literature and picture books collected by Campbell. She used these illustrations by major European and American artists as teaching tools for her children’s literature classes. Additions to the collection have come from Ann Jackson, wife of writer Jesse Jackson. Over 400 illustrations.
- Book Collection: Books associated with the original illustrations. Over 140 titles. Click here to see all titles.
Comic Book Collection: The Comic Book Collection includes a concentration of Golden Age comics (circa 1938–circa 1946) and themed comics relating to girls and the literature of Nathaniel Hawthorne. Over 100 comics.
Mary Peacock Douglas Collection: Books related to education that were owned by Mary Peacock Douglas, a nationally-known school librarian and former member of the Appalachian State University Library Science department. Her children’s Christmas book collection formed the basis of the Historical Children’s Literature Collection, although they are not identified as part of this collection in the Library’s catalog. 38 titles. The Mary Peacock Douglas Papers are available in the University Archives. Click here to see all titles.
How to Use the Collections
Please visit the Using Archives, Manuscripts, and Rare Books page to learn how to use these collections.