Louise Lee and Richard Floethe Papers
Scope and Contents
The collection contains manuscripts, typescripts, dummies, illustrations, and color separations for 9 titles. The materials are arranged alphabetically by title. Within each title the materials are arranged in the probable order in which they were created. The correspondence was separated by title with the exception of correspondence with the de Grummond Collection.
Three of the books in the collection are from the Floethe's "Around the World" series. There are manuscripts for Farming Around the World (1970), Fishing Around the World (1972), and Houses Around the World (1973). There are color separations with watercolor illustrations, dummies and typescripts for both Farming Around the World and Houses Around the World. There are also galleys and mechanicals for Fishing Around the World.
A Thousand and One Buddhas (1967) describes the construction of a temple built in Kyoto by the Emperor. There is a manuscript for this title as well as for Floating Market (1969), The New Roof (1965), and Jungle People: Story of the Brave Blacks of Surinam (1971). There are watercolor illustrations for Fountain of the Friendly Lion (1966), The Indian and His Pueblo (1960), and Jungle People: Story of the Brave Blacks of Surinam (1971).
The couple's son, Ron Floethe, produced the film, "Let's Help Recycle" in 1973 and Louise Lee wrote the script for the film. Correspondence, notes, lists of scenes and typescripts for this title are also included among the Floethe Papers.
Dates
- 1960-1979
Conditions Governing Access
Noncirculating; available for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The collection is protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U. S. Code). Reproductions can be made only if they are to be used for "private study, scholarship, or research." It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials.
Biographical / Historical
Richard Floethe (pronounced "flirta") was born in 1901 in Essen, Germany. He attended Realschule in Pyrmont and Pedigogium Oberrealschule in Gissen. He studied art in Munich, Dortmund, Weimar and the Bauhaus. He always remembers having a pencil to draw with in his hand. He specialized in graphic arts and was commissioned to do a large mural at the International Exposition in Cologne in 1928. After the completion of the mural, he sailed to the United States.
Louise Lee was born on March 13, 1913 in New York, New York. At the age of ten, she began writing stories and plays using her friends and classmates as characters. She was educated in Switzerland and went to Pasadena Junior College. She later studied drama at Columbia University and the Neighborhood Playhouse Studios.
In 1937 Louise Lee married Richard Floethe, where they lived on a farm in Orange County, New York. They moved to Sarasota, Florida in 1950 when Richard took a job as an instructor at the Ringling School of Art. As a team, the Floethe's published their first book If I Were Captain in 1956. The Floethe's have traveled all over the world and many of their books reflect their interest in various cultures and traditions, including Floating Market (1969), Fishing Around the World (1972), and A Thousand and One Buddhas (1956). During a trip, Richard sketches or films scenes while Louise takes notes.
The Floethe's have two sons, Ron and Stephen. When Ron graduated in 1970, he started his own film production company for children's educational films. His brother Stephen, who worked in TV news for a number of years, later joined the production company. Together with their mother, they have produced numerous children's films including "Let's Help Recycle" (1973), "A Day at the Beach" (1971), and "Must We have Noise" (1972).
Source:
Something About the Author, vol 4, pp. 87-88.
Contemporary Authors, .vol. 1, 33, and 2NR.
Extent
2.30 Cubic Feet (6 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Material was donated by Louise Lee and Richard Floethe from 1971-1976.
- Children's literature -- Illustrations. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Children's literature -- Manuscripts. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Children's literature, American -- 20th century. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Illustrations. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Title
- Louise Lee and Richard Floethe Papers
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Julia Marks Young and Sharon Miller
- Date
- 1998-05-22
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
Repository Details
Part of the de Grummond Childrens Literature Collection Repository
118 College Drive - 5148
Hattiesburg MS 39406-0001
601.266.4345
