Fonds SCA95-GA65 - Barbara Smucker fonds.

Title and statement of responsibility area

Title proper

Barbara Smucker fonds.

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  • Source of title proper: Title from content of the fonds.

Level of description

Fonds

Reference code

SCA95-GA65

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Physical description

78 cm of textual records

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Archival description area

Name of creator

(1915-2003)

Biographical history

Children's author and librarian Barbara Classen Smucker was born September 1, 1915 in Newton, Kansas. Barbara began writing in elementary school and would later go on to earn a degree in journalism from Kansas State University in 1936. After university she taught English and eventually returned to her hometown in 1939 to work as a reporter for the Evening Kansas Republican until 1941. In 1939 Barbara married Donovan Smucker who she had interviewed for the paper. Donovan was a Mennonite Minister and the couple moved to Wadsworth, Ohio where he pastored a church. Donovan later took a job at the Mennonite Biblical Seminary in Chicago where Barbara got the idea for her first book, Henry's Red Sea. From 1967-1969 the couple lived in West Point, Mississippi where Donovan was president of Mary Holmes College. In 1969 they moved to Ontario when Donovan accepted an offer to teach at Conrad Grebel College.

Barbara became a children's librarian at Kitchener Public Library (1969-1977) and then head librarian of Renison College (1977-1982). During this time Barbara continued to write, producing some of her most famous works including Underground to Canada (1977) and Days of Terror (1979). In 1993 the couple moved to Bluffton, Ohio where she would continue to write and speak to children about reading. In all, Barbara wrote 12 books which were published in 16 countries and translated into such languages as Japanese, Danish, Swedish, French and German. She and her books received numerous awards including the Canadian Council Children's Literature Prize and an honorary doctorate from the University of Waterloo. Barbara Smucker died in Bluffton in 2003.

Custodial history

Scope and content

Materials created and accumulated by Barbara Smucker relating to her professional activities. Primarily includes materials relating to her various published works including research, reviews, and manuscripts and typescripts.

Notes area

Physical condition

Extent is measured in linear metres of shelf space as occupied by the fonds.

Immediate source of acquisition

Donated in 1986 by Barbara Smucker.

Arrangement

Some modifications have been made to the original arrangement.

Language of material

  • English
  • Japanese
  • Spanish

Script of material

Language and script note

In English with one item in Japanese and one in Spanish.

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