The John Gould Fletcher & Charlie May Simon Fletcher Collection consists of personal correspondence and writings of Pulitzer Prize winner, John Gould Fletcher and children’s author, Charlie May Simon. The correspondence within Series I of this collection depicts daily life of the couple, and of John Gould Fletcher’s battle with depression.
Arkansas State Teachers College (now UCA) librarian Gladys Sachse, with elementary school librarian Lillian Faulk, were instrumental in establishing the Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award. Named in honor of Arkansas author Charlie May Simon, the award allowed children to vote for their favorite book each year. Series II of this collection provides insight into the origins of the award, as well as the rapport which developed among committee members and with the authors presented with the award.
The Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award continues to afford children in grades 4-6 the opportunity to vote for their favorite author, under the direction of the Arkansas State Library. Current information, including recent winners may be found at the Arkansas State Library website.
Series I: John Gould Fletcher & Charlie May Simon Fletcher Correspondence
Box 1: Correspondence 1941-1954
—File 1: “Canadian Crossing” poem c. 1941 and First Edition of South Star
—File 2: Captain Sam Head correspondence, November 7, 1942 and April 13, 1944
—File 3: Fentem Utley correspondence with “Missouri Girls” song, December 14, 1943, April 23, 1944, and June 22, 1944
—File 4: Reverend Jerry Wallace correspondence, May 17, 1950
—File 5: Bessie and Celia Boggs correspondence, June 7, 1954
Series II: Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award
Box 1: Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award material; Arkansas Elementary Council material; The Children’s Book Council Incorporated material
—File 1: Index
—File 2: Charlie May Simon (Fletcher) material
—File 3: Preparatory records for Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award
—File 4: Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award Medallion
—File 5: Children’s book awards in other States
—File 6: Arkansas Elementary Council, 1969-1978
—File 7: Arkansas Elementary Council, 1978-1982
—File 8: Book Selection Committee material, 1972-1985
—File 9: The Children’s Book Council Incorporated material, 1971-1981
—File 10: Correspondence, Undated
—File 11: Correspondence, 1964
—File 12: Correspondence, 1965
—File 13: Correspondence, 1967-1968
—File 14: Correspondence, 1969-1970
—File 15: Correspondence, 1970-1971
—File 16: Correspondence, 1971-1972
—File 17: Correspondence, 1972-1973
—File 18: Correspondence, 1973-1974
—File 19: Correspondence, 1974-1975
—File 20: Correspondence, 1975-1976
—File 21: Correspondence, 1976-1977
—File 22: Correspondence, 1977-1978
—File 23: Correspondence, 1978-1979
—File 24: Correspondence, 1979-1980
Box 2: Correspondence; Meeting Minutes; Publicity; Reading List Development
—File 1: Correspondence, 1980-1981
—File 2: Correspondence, 1981-1982
—File 3: Correspondence, 1982-1983
—File 4: Correspondence, 1983-1984
—File 5: Correspondence, 1984-1985
—File 6: Correspondence, 1985-1986
—File 7: Meeting Minutes, 1970-1984
—File 8: Publicity, 1970-1976
—File 9: Publicity, 1977-1983
—File 10: Lillian Faulk recommendations for Charlie May Simon Children’s Book Award master reading list, 1969-1979
—File 11: Reading List Development, 1969-1970
—File 12: Reading List Development, 1970-1971
—File 13: Reading List Development, 1971-1972
—File 14: Reading List Development, 1972-1973
—File 15: Reading List Development, 1973-1974
—File 16: Reading List Development, 1974-1975
—File 17: Reading List Development, 1975-1976
—File 18: Reading List Development, 1976-1977
—File 19: Reading List Development, 1977-1978
—File 20: Reading List Development, 1978-1979
Box 3: Reading List Development; Final Reading Lists; Participating Schools; Survey; Voting Ballots; Voting Results by Title; Announcements of Winners
—File 1: Reading List Development, 1979-1980
—File 2: Reading List Development, 1980-1981
—File 3: Reading List Development, 1981-1982
—File 4: Reading List Development, 1982-1983
—File 5: Reading List Development, 1983-1984
—File 6: Reading List Development, 1984-1985
—File 7: Final Reading List, 1970-1983
—File 8: Participating Schools, 1971-1982
—File 9: Survey, 1980-1981
—File 10: Voting Ballots, 1971-1983
—File 11: Voting Results by Title, 1970-1985
—File 12: Announcement of Winners, 1970-1984
—File 13: Summary List of Winners, 1971-1982
—File 14: Winning Authors Correspondence, 1968-1983
—File 15: Tally of Votes, 1971-1984 (Oversized Box)
End of Collection.