(Mary) Carolyn Haywood, a lifelong Philadelphian, was born on January 3, 1898 to Mary Emma Cook Haywood and Charles Haywood. After graduating from Philadelphia High School for Girls, Carolyn attended Philadelphia Normal School and briefly taught at Friends Central School. Her true passion was art, however, and she enrolled in the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts (PAFA) on a scholarship in 1919. She received a travel award and spent a year in Europe, returning to graduate from PAFA in 1924.

Haywood considered herself a “grand-pupil” of the illustrator Howard Pyle, studying under several of his former students, notably Violet Oakley, Elizabeth Shippen Green, and Jessie Willcox Smith (known collectively as “The Red Rose Girls”). The Red Rose Girls influenced Haywood’s early style, as is evident in the book plates and Christmas cards in this collection. Another of Haywood’s strengths was portraiture, an example of which hangs in the Central Children’s Department at the main branch of the Free Library of Philadelphia. Haywood worked as a studio assistant to the artist Violet Oakley, who provided her with opportunities to paint murals around Philadelphia and at the Vassar College alumni house.

Haywood became interested in pursuing children’s book illustration, and brought some of her work to Harcourt, Brace and World juvenile book editor Elizabeth Hamilton. Hamilton liked Haywood’s work and suggested she also write a story “about little American children, doing the things that little American children like to do.” The result was 1939’s “B” Is for Betsy, marketed as a chapter book for beginning independent readers and serving as an introduction to one of Haywood’s most enduring characters. It was quickly followed by six more books for Harcourt, including Primrose Day. Haywood would later identify Primrose Day, a story about a British girl sent to America to escape World War II, as her favorite of her own books. Haywood followed Elizabeth Hamilton to William Morrow and Company, which published Little Eddie, the first of the “Eddie Wilson” books, in 1947.

Haywood illustrated several books written by other authors, but for the most part, wrote and illustrated her own works until the 1970s. After that point, while Haywood continued to write children’s books until her death, her works were illustrated by other artists, notably Glenyn and Victor Ambrus.

In interviews, Haywood explained that she drew her story ideas from her own childhood memories and from the children she knew. Many of her models influenced both the look of the characters in her children’s books and their conversational styles. In her unpublished autobiography, Haywood tells the story of the real-life model for "B" Is for Betsy, and every model received an autographed copy of the book in which he or she appeared. Haywood never married or had children of her own, but she frequently opened her Chestnut Hill home for neighborhood children to visit.

Well-reviewed throughout her career, and particularly appreciated by children’s librarians, Haywood received recognition for her work from organizations in the Philadelphia area. She received a citation from Drexel Institute of Technology Graduate School of Library Science in 1970, and the governor of Pennsylvania named her a “Distinguished Daughter of Pennsylvania” in 1967. Nationally, her Eddie and His Big Deals won the Boys’ Clubs of America Junior Book Award in 1956.

Carolyn Haywood passed away on January 11, 1990.

Bibliography:

Carolyn Haywood Autobiography, box 2, folders 4-8, Carolyn Haywood papers, 1884-1991, Free Library of Philadelphia, Children’s Literature Research Collection.

Something About the Author vol. 75.

“Carolyn Haywood, 1898-1990,” Children’s Literature Review vol. 22.

This collection contains the personal and literary papers of children's author and illustrator Carolyn Haywood. The collection consists of manuscripts, final illustrations, color separations, corrected proofs, galley proofs, sketchbooks, both personal and business correspondence, clippings, audiocassettes, records, audiotapes, photographs, slides, tintypes, scrapbooks, diplomas, and awards.

Many of Carolyn Haywood’s friends and family are represented in the subject files, correspondence, and photographs of this collection. Carolyn Haywood was close to her younger brother, George B. Haywood (1901-1958). This collection includes photographs of George as a boy and a young man, correspondence between George and his sister, and a subject file Carolyn Haywood kept on her brother, which includes a few of his personal papers. Haywood also had a good relationship with her cousin Gale Lew née Wagenseller and her family. Many family photographs as well as correspondence with Gale are in this collection.

This collection houses a wealth of materials related to the "Red Rose Girls." Haywood kept subject files on Jessie Willcox Smith, Elizabeth Shippen Green (Elliott), and Violet Oakley, which include photographs of and clippings about the women and their work. There are also correspondence files with Jessie Willcox Smith and Violet Oakley, the latter of which is more extensive. Haywood maintained a frequent and longstanding correspondence with Violet Oakley and Oakley’s long-term companion, Edith Emerson. Oakley and Emerson, like Haywood, were members of the Christian Science church. This collection includes a subject file on Christian Science, as well as a cassette tape of a Christian Science lecture.

Haywood received her first piece of fan mail from a young girl named "Caroly"--Caroline Stuart McDougal--who became one of Haywood's frequent correspondents. She later became an editor, and in addition to a correspondence file, notes with Caroly's editorial comments can be found with some of Haywood's writings.

After Elizabeth Hamilton, Connie (Constance) Epstein was Haywood’s editor at William Morrow and Company. Epstein was also a friend, and is well-represented in this collection.

Haywood lived in Philadelphia her whole life and was involved with Philadelphia’s children book community. She frequently attended events at the Free Library of Philadelphia, where she mixed with Carolyn Field (Head of the Office of Work with Children) and local authors Lloyd Alexander, Katherine Milhous, and Marguerite de Angeli. This collection contains correspondence files with each, as well as a certificate illuminated by de Angeli that was presented to Haywood by the Drexel Institute of Technology Graduate School of Library Science.

Carolyn Haywood’s records were maintained by her secretary and literary executrix, Glenna Luizzi. After Haywood’s death, Luizzi completed her final manuscript for Eddie’s Friend, Boodles, published in 1991.

This collection is arranged in twelve series: I. Articles, stories, and speeches; II. Awards; III. Book manuscripts and illustrations; IV. Clippings and reprints; V. Correspondence; VI. Personal artwork; VII. Photographs and slides; VIII. Promotional materials; IX. Published volumes; X. Scrapbooks; XI. Sound recordings; XII. Subject files.

Series I. Articles, stories, and speeches are divided into two subseries, then arranged alphabetically by title. The subseries are: i. Fiction; ii. Non-Fiction.

Subseries II. Awards are arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Series III. Book manuscripts and illustrations are arranged alphabetically by title, with fifty-four subseries. The subseries are: i. The Adventures of Pinocchio; ii. Annie Pat and Eddie; iii. Autobiography; iv. Away Went the Balloons; v. "B" Is for Betsy; vi. Back to School with Betsy; vii. Betsy and Billy; viii. Betsy and the Boys; ix. Betsy and the Circus; x. Betsy and Mr. Kilpatrick; xi. Betsy's Little Star; xii. Betsy's Play School; xiii. Betsy's Winterhouse; xiv. "C" is for Cupcake; xv. The Country Cousin; xvi. Eddie and Gardenia; xvii. Eddie and His Big Deals; xviii. Eddie and Louella; xix. Eddie and the Fire Engine; xx. Eddie and Dog Holder; xxi. Eddie Makes Music; xxii. Eddie's Friend, Boodles; xxiii. Eddie's Green Thumb; xxiv. Eddie's Happenings; xxv. Eddie's Menagerie; xxvi. Eddie's Pay Dirt; xxvii. Eddie's Valuable Property; xxviii. Ever-Ready Eddie; xxix. Happy Birthday from Carolyn Haywood; xxx. Halloween Treats; xxxi. Hello, Star; xxxii. Here Comes the Bus!; xxxiii. Here's a Penny; xxxiv. How the Reindeer Saved Santa; xxxv. Junior; xxxvi. The King's Monster; xxxvii. Little Eddie; xxxviii. Make a Joyful Noise!; xxxix. Merry Christmas from Betsy; xl. Merry Christmas from Eddie; xli. Mixed-Up Twins; xlii. Penny Goes to Camp; xliii. Penny and Peter; xliv. The Pine Barrens Mystery; xlv. Primrose Day; xlvi. Robert Rows the River; xlvii. Santa Claus Forever!; xlviii. Snowbound with Betsy; xlix. Summer Fun; l. A Sundae with Judy; li. Taffy and Melissa Molasses; lii. Two and Two Are Four; liii. A Valentine Fantasy; liv. Unidentified works. Within each subseries, materials are arranged in probable order of creation.

Series IV. Clippings and reprints are divided into two subseries. The subseries are: i. Book reviews; ii. Articles about Carolyn Haywood. Book reviews are arranged alphabetically by book title. Articles are arranged by author.

Series V. Correspondence are divided into two subseries. The subseries are: i. Business correspondence; ii. Personal correspondence. Within each subseries, materials are arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

Series VI. Personal artwork is arranged alphabetically by folder title, with two subseries for Christmas cards and Sketchbooks.

Series VII. Photographs and slides are divided into three subseries. The subseries are: i. Artwork-related photographs; ii. Carolyn Haywood, family, and friends; iii. Color slides of travel. Within each subseries, the photographs are arranged alphabetically by folder title.

Series VIII. Promotional materials alphabetically by title.

Series IX. Published volumes are divided into two subseries for Books by Carolyn Haywood and Books by other authors. Within each subseries, books are arranged alphabetically; by title in the first subseries and by author in the second.

Series X. Scrapbooks are arranged alphabetically by title.

Series XI. Sound recordings are arranged alphabetically by title, with two subseries for "Carnival of Books" and "Carolyn Haywood reading."

Series XII. Subject files are arranged alphabetically by folder title, with one subseries for Diplomas.

Publication Information:

Free Library of Philadelphia: Children's Literature Research Collection

Finding Aid Author:

Finding aid prepared by Celia Caust-Ellenbogen and Lindsay Friedman.

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. Please contact the Curator for information on access.

Use Restrictions:

The right of access to material does not imply the right of publication. Permission for reprinting, reproduction, or extensive quotation from the rare books, manuscripts, prints, or drawings must be obtained through written application, 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 such material. A reproduction fee will be charged if the material is to be reproduced in a commercial publication. Some of the materials in this collection may be too fragile for use without the Curator’s supervision.

Immediate Source of Acquisition:

Gift of Carolyn Haywood and her estate, 1975-2008.

Historic Strawberry Mansion: Book of Honor.

University of Minnesota: Carolyn Haywood papers, 1939-1962, CLRC-1169.

University of Southern Mississippi : Carolyn Haywood papers, 1949-1981, DG0436.

• Dell Publishing Company. -- Correspondence
• Green Tiger Press. -- Correspondence
• Harcourt Brace & Company. -- Correspondence
• Kerlan Collection. -- Correspondence
• Manayunk National Bank. (Firm).
• Pennsylvania Academy of the Fine Arts. -- Correspondence
• Pocket Books. -- Correspondence
• Saul, Ewing, Remick & Saul. -- Correspondence
• Strawberry Mansion (Museum : Philadelphia, Pa.). -- Correspondence
• University of Minnesota. College of Education. -- Correspondence
• University of Southern Mississippi. -- Correspondence
• William Morrow and Company. -- Correspondence
• Woodmere Art Gallery. -- Correspondence

• 45 rpm records
• 78 rpm records
• Artifacts (object genre)
• Audiocassettes
• Audiotapes
• Autobiographies
• Books
• Clippings
• Correspondence
• Diplomas
• Drawings (visual works)
• Dummies (printed matter)
• Ephemera
• Galley proofs
• Gem photographs
• Illustrations
• Manuscripts
• Mechanicals (camera-ready copy)
• Photograph albums
• Photographs
• Scrapbooks
• Sketchbooks
• Slides (photographs)
• Tintypes (prints)

• Philadelphia (Pa.)

• Alexander, Lloyd -- Correspondence
• Ambrus, Glenys -- Correspondence
• Ambrus, Victor G. -- Correspondence
• Breckenridge, Hugh H. (Hugh Henry), 1870-1937 -- Correspondence
• Cozens, Henrietta
• De Angeli, Marguerite, 1889-1987 -- Correspondence
• Elliott, Elizabeth Shippen Green
• Emerson, Edith, 1888-1965 -- Correspondence
• Epstein, Connie C.
• Field, Carolyn W., 1916-2010
• Haywood, Carolyn, 1898-1990
• Haywood, George
• Haywood, Mary Emma Cook
• Klauder, Elfrieda
• Lew, Gale Wagenseller
• Milhous, Katherine, 1894- -- Correspondence
• Oakley, Violet , 1874-1961
• Pomfret, John E. (John Edwin), 1898-1981 -- Correspondence
• Roelofs, Helen Hooker O’Malley, 1905-1993 -- Correspondence
• Smith, Jessie Willcox, 1863-1935

• Children's authors--20th century
• Children's literature--20th century
• Illustrated children's books--20th century
• Illustration of books--20th century