Lloyd (Chudley) Alexander was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 30, 1924. He developed an abiding love of books early on - according to his own recollection, he taught himself to read at the age of 3. He continued to read voraciously although he hated school. After graduating high school, Alexander attended West Chester State Teachers College, but did not complete his degree. He took a job at a bank, and worked there until joining the army in 1943. Alexander was selected for a specialized training program for translators at Lafayette College, after which he was sent to Paris on assignment. He served as an interpreter, translator, documents analyst, and counterespionage agent, achieving the rank of Staff Sergeant. He became acquainted with a number of prominent artists and writers in the Parisian cultural scene, including Paul Éluard, who named Alexander his official translator. In fact, Alexander’s first published books, from 1948-1951, were translations of works by Éluard, Jean-Paul Sartre, and Paul Vialar. But for Alexander personally, a far more important introduction was to take place in Paris: he met his wife Janine Denni, and her daughter Madeleine (Mado). After completing his tour of duty, Lloyd Alexander studied at the Sorbonne (University of Paris) on an army scholarship, and then returned with his new family to Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania.

Alexander aspired to be a novelist, but in the meantime worked in a string of advertising positions at Sun Oil Company (1948-1951), Smith, Kline & French (1951-1952), Arthur H. Thomas Company (1952-1956), and The Bingham Company (1956). By his own admission Alexander was not very invested in his day jobs. Many drafts he wrote during the 1950s and 1960s are typed on the back of company stationery, a habit that got him fired from Sunoco for working on his novel in the office. In 1955 he published his first novel, And Let the Credit Go, a book for adults based on his experiences working at the bank. Further autobiographical fiction for adults include My Five Tigers (1956) and Janine is French (1959). After writing two biographies for young adults at the request of the Jewish Publication Society, Alexander began to consider the possibility of writing children’s fantasy books. Time Cat, about a cat who can time-travel between each of his nine lives, was published in 1963. In the course of researching Time Cat, Alexander became fascinated with Welsh mythology, especially the Mabinogion, and began planning his critically-acclaimed Chronicles of Prydain. The first in the series was The Book of Three, published in 1964, followed by the Newbery-honoree The Black Cauldron (1965). The Castle of Llyr was published in 1966 and Taran Wanderer appeared in 1967; the final installment, The High King, won the Newbery Medal in 1969. Additional stories from the Prydain universe were compiled in The Foundling and Other Tales from Prydain in 1973. Two of these stories were also published separately as picture books illustrated by Evaline Ness: Coll and His White Pig (1965) and The Truthful Harp (1967). In 1985, Disney released The Black Cauldron, an animated feature based on the first two books in the Prydain series.

After making a name for himself with the Chronicles of Prydain, Alexander published popular children's literature continuously for the next forty years. He is well-known for his Westmark fantasy trilogy and the Vesper Holly adventures, about a young heroine best described as a cross between Indiana Jones and Nancy Drew. Lloyd Alexander’s final book, The Golden Dream of Carlo Chuchio, appeared in print in summer of 2007, just months after his death on May 17.

Bibliography

Something about the Author Autobiography Series, vol. 19.

Children’s Literature Review, vol. 48.

This collection contains the literary papers of author Lloyd Alexander, dating from 1941-1995. Drafts, proofs, and planning notes for Alexander's writings, together with correspondence relating to his books, make up the bulk of the collection; other types of materials present include drawings, newspaper clippings, and advertisements.

This collection includes materials from nearly every book by Lloyd Alexander published before 1995, although the amount of documentation varies. Some titles, like The Flagship Hope: Aaron Lopez are represented by only a few pieces of correspondence; others, like The Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian, are represented by planning notes and outlines, multiple versions of drafts, proofs, correspondence, and newspaper clippings. The only books Alexander published before 1995 are not found in this collection are The Four Donkeys (1972) and The Fortune-Tellers (1992). (There are, however, references to The Four Donkeys in "Brandt & Brandt's correspondence file on Lloyd Alexander, 1970," within the "Personal papers" series.)

Many unpublished writings are also present in this collection. Half of the titles in the "Writings for adults" series are unpublished novels at various stages of completion. Alexander worked long and hard on several complete drafts of Eden, a novel about Philadelphia-area socialites, but was unable to find a publisher. However, he barely got past the chapter list for How to Live With Your Psychiatrist, a humorous book about psychiatry. There are also unpublished drafts of some essays, plays, translations of French works, and a large number of short stories. Nearly all the works in the “Writings for children” were eventually published. The exceptions are a poem entitled “The Fox”; a picture-book written and illustrated by Alexander called “Peter Simple”; a proposed work for the Jewish Publication Society entitled “Follow the Drinking Gourd”; “The Phoenix”; and “Regia-Doria.”

There are several types of correspondence in this collection, grouped according to original order. Alexander’s own correspondence files on his books (the letters he received and, sometimes, copies of the letters he sent) are kept with other materials relating to those titles. In most cases, Alexander’s correspondence files are further divided by stage, such as editing and production, publicity and promotion, or the published book itself (consisting of thank-you letters Alexander received from the friends and associates to whom he sent complimentary copies of his books). The collection also includes correspondence files collected by Brandt & Brandt, Alexander's literary agency, and Ann Durell, Alexander's editor.

At Brandt & Brandt Alexander was managed by Bernice Baumgarten, then Carol Brandt, and finally Carl D. Brandt, with whom he maintained a personal relationship. At some point, the agency transferred to Alexander the correspondence file they maintained on him from 1949-1970. Brandt & Brandt's correspondence file is arranged chronologically, and kept in the “Personal papers” series.

Lloyd Alexander cultivated a deep friendship with his editor, Ann Durell. He first worked with Durell on Time Cat (1963) while she was at Holt, Rinehart and Winston publishing house. It appears that when she moved to Dutton publishing house around 1970, Lloyd began publishing there in order to continue working with her. It may have been around that time when she transferred to Alexander the correspondence files she had maintained on his books at Holt, Rinehart and Winston, including correspondence related to Time Cat (1963) and the Prydain series (1964-1968). Durell's correspondence files were arranged by book, and kept in the subseries of each title. Although some letters in Durell's files refer to other books, they have been left where they were in keeping with in original order.

Durell’s influence is especially apparent on the drafts of Alexander’s works that have "attached annotations" - post-it notes covered with editorial comments. Where the notes were glued or taped down, and removing them would have damaged the materials, they remain in place. Where the notes were loose, they were photocopied in place and then removed to mylar for preservation.

Other individuals whose names frequently recur in this collection are Max L. Jacobson, an old army friend of Alexander's with whom he frequently discussed his works in progress; Marianne Carus, founder of Cricket magazine for children; and Carolyn W. Field, coordinator of the Office of Work with Children for the Free Library of Philadelphia from 1953 to 1983, who was instrumental in arranging for the donation of this collection.

This collection is arranged in three series: I. Writings for adults; II. Writings for children; III. Personal papers. Series I (Writings for adults) is arranged alphabetically by title, with additional subseries for translations and shorter works. The subseries are: i. And Let the Credit Go; ii. Another Country; iii. The Beautiful Children, version 1; iv. The Beautiful Children, version 2; v. Captain Billy Webb; vi. Eden; vii. Fifty Years in the Doghouse; viii. How to Live With Your Psychiatrist; ix. Janine is French; x. My Five Tigers; xi. My Love Affair With Music; xii. Park Avenue Vet; xiii. Short stories, essays, and plays; xiv. Translations; xv. Untitled Hector Berlioz novel. Within each subseries, materials are arranged in probable order of creation.

Series II (Writings for children) is arranged alphabetically by title, with additional subseries for “The Prydain Chronicles,” “The Vesper Holly Adventures,” and “The Westmark Trilogy.” The subseries are: i. Border Hawk: August Bondi; ii. The Cat Who Wished to Be a Man; iii. Dream-of-Jade: The Emperor’s Cat; iv. The First Two Lives of Lukas-Kasha; v. The Flagship Hope: Aaron Lopez; vi. Follow the Drinking Gourd; vii. The Fox; viii. The House Gobbaleen; ix. How the Cat Swallowed Thunder; x. The King’s Fountain; xi. The Marvelous Misadventures of Sebastian; xii. The Pearls and the Pie; xiii. Peter Simple; xiv. The Phoenix; xv. The Prydain Chronicles; xvi. Regia-Doria; xvii. The Remarkable Journey of Prince Jen; xviii. Rembrandt: Portrait of the Artist; xix. Time Cat; xx. The Town Cats and Other Tales; xxi. The Two Brothers; xxii. The Vesper Holly Adventures; xxiii. The Westmark Trilogy; xxiv. The Wizard in the Tree. Subseries xv (The Prydain Chronicles) is further divided into sub-subseries: a. The Book of Three; b. The Black Cauldron; c. The Castle of Llyr; d. Taran Wanderer; e. The High King; f. Coll and His White Pig; g. The Truthful Harp; h. The Foundling and Other Tales of Prydain. Subseries xxii (The Vesper Holly Adventures) is also divided into sub-subseries: a. The Illyrian Adventure; b. The El Dorado Adventure; c. The Drackenberg Adventure; d. The Jedera Adventure; e. The Philadelphia Adventure. Subseries xxiii (The Westmark Trilogy), too, is divided into sub-subseries: a. Westmark; b. The Kestrel; c. The Beggar Queen. Within each subseries, or sub-subseries, materials are arranged in probable order of creation.

Series III (Personal papers) is arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Publication Information:

Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection

Finding Aid Author:

Finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen

Sponsor:

The processing of this collection was made possible through generous funding from The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation, administered through the Council on Library and Information Resources’ “Cataloging Hidden Special Collections and Archives” Project.

Access Restrictions:

This collection is open to researchers by appointment. Some of the materials in this collection may be too fragile for use without the Curator’s supervision. Please contact the Curator for information on access.

Use Restrictions:

The right of access to material does not imply the right of publication. The Free Library of Philadelphia holds the copyright for all materials created by Lloyd Alexander. Permission for reprinting, reproduction, or extensive quotation from his works must be obtained through written application to the Free Library of Philadelphia, stating the use to be made of the material. The reader bears the responsibility for any possible infringement of copyright laws in the publication of materials not created by Alexander.

A reproduction fee will be charged if the material is to be reproduced in a commercial publication.

Immediate Source of Acquisition:

Gift of Lloyd Alexander, 1995.

Brigham Young University: Lloyd Alexander Papers, 1924-2007, MSS 6833.

Millersville University: Ruthe A. Rutherford papers, 1929-1993.

University of Minnesota: Margaret Zemach collection, 1959-1985, CLRC-85.

University of Southern Mississippi: Ezra Jack Keats Papers, 1916-1997, DG0001.

• Clippings
• Correspondence
• Drawings (visual works)
• Ephemera
• Galley proofs
• Manuscripts
• Microfilms
• Photographs
• Telegrams

• Alexander, Janine
• Binyon, Claude, 1905-1978
• Brandt, Carl (Carl D.)
• Brillat-Savarin, 1755-1826
• Camuti, Louis J.
• Chaulot, Paul
• Desnos, Robert, 1900-1945
• Durell, Ann
• Jacob, Max, 1876-1944
• Prévert, Jacques, 1900-1977
• Sartre, Jean-Paul, 1905-1980
• Valéry, Paul, 1871-1945
• Éluard, Paul, 1895-1952

• Cats
• Children's authors--20th century
• Children's literature--20th century
• Fantasy literature
• Holly, Vesper (Fictitious character)
• Prydain (Imaginary place)