May Massee
Encyclopedia
May Massee was a children's book editor. Massee became the head of Doubleday's first juvenile
department in 1922. Upon leaving Doubleday, she started Viking Press
's first juvenile department in 1932. Prior to working at Doubleday, Massee had editor of the American Library Association
's Booklist
.
She worked with a librarian for some time in Wisconsin before attending the Wisconsin Library School in Madison. She worked in several libraries until she was encouraged to work in the children’s room while working for a public library in Buffalo. While she enjoyed this work, she accepted the tempting offer to become editor of The Booklist forcing her to move back to Chicago in 1913. As the magazine’s reputation grew, so did Massee’s.
In 1922, Doubleday invited her to help them open and run their children’s department, the second in the nation. Accepting the offer, she moved to New York. She remained with the publisher until 1933 when she helped found the children’s book department for Viking Press
. She worked with Viking Press
as editor and director until her retirement in 1960, twenty-seven years later. However, she continued working with Viking Press
as an advisory editor until her death from a stroke at her home in New York.
Massee also worked with notable illustrators, such as Elizabeth MacKinstry, Robert Lawson
, and Kurt Wiese
. Bemelmans, Daughtery, Artzybasheff, among others, were authors as well as illustrators. Other Massee authors and illustrators referenced by the May Massee Collection at Emporia State University
are Kate Seredy, Don Freeman, Eyvind Earle, Marguertie de Angeli, Manning de Villeneuve Lee, Hilda van Stockum
, and Leo Politi.
Critics acknowledged Massee’s ability regarding text, design, and illustration as well as her endorsement of new methods of production such as offset lithography. A good number of books published by Massee have since become classics, such as The Story About Ping
(1933) and The Story of Ferdinand
(1936).
In 1959, Massee was awarded the AIGA
's medal for "recognition of [her] exceptional achievements, services or other contributions to the field of graphic design and visual communication" She was the first woman to not only receive the award, but join the organization as well.
It was to Massee that Madeline
book creator Ludwig Bemelmans
once wrote a note explaining his attitude towards writing a children's book: "We are writing for Children but not for Idiots".
The May Massee Collection, was formed by colleagues and friends of children's literature editor May Massee and donated to what is now Emporia State University
, in 1972.
Children's literature
Children's literature is for readers and listeners up to about age twelve; it is often defined in four different ways: books written by children, books written for children, books chosen by children, or books chosen for children. It is often illustrated. The term is used in senses which sometimes...
department in 1922. Upon leaving Doubleday, she started Viking Press
Viking Press
Viking Press is an American publishing company owned by the Penguin Group, which has owned the company since 1975. It was founded in New York City on March 1, 1925, by Harold K. Guinzburg and George S. Oppenheim...
's first juvenile department in 1932. Prior to working at Doubleday, Massee had editor of the American Library Association
American Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
's Booklist
Booklist
Booklist is a publication of the American Library Association that provides critical reviews of books and audiovisual materials for all ages. It is geared toward libraries and booksellers and is available in print or online...
.
Biography
May Massee was born the third of five children to Charlotte and Francis Massee in Chicago, IL. When she was five, her family moved to Milwaukee where she attended the public schools. She graduated from high school at the age of sixteen and attended the state normal school there for two years before teaching elementary school for a year.She worked with a librarian for some time in Wisconsin before attending the Wisconsin Library School in Madison. She worked in several libraries until she was encouraged to work in the children’s room while working for a public library in Buffalo. While she enjoyed this work, she accepted the tempting offer to become editor of The Booklist forcing her to move back to Chicago in 1913. As the magazine’s reputation grew, so did Massee’s.
In 1922, Doubleday invited her to help them open and run their children’s department, the second in the nation. Accepting the offer, she moved to New York. She remained with the publisher until 1933 when she helped found the children’s book department for Viking Press
Viking Press
Viking Press is an American publishing company owned by the Penguin Group, which has owned the company since 1975. It was founded in New York City on March 1, 1925, by Harold K. Guinzburg and George S. Oppenheim...
. She worked with Viking Press
Viking Press
Viking Press is an American publishing company owned by the Penguin Group, which has owned the company since 1975. It was founded in New York City on March 1, 1925, by Harold K. Guinzburg and George S. Oppenheim...
as editor and director until her retirement in 1960, twenty-seven years later. However, she continued working with Viking Press
Viking Press
Viking Press is an American publishing company owned by the Penguin Group, which has owned the company since 1975. It was founded in New York City on March 1, 1925, by Harold K. Guinzburg and George S. Oppenheim...
as an advisory editor until her death from a stroke at her home in New York.
Notable Authors
Some of the most prominent authors Massee worked with are:- Marjorie FlackMarjorie FlackMarjorie Flack was an award-winning artist and writer of children's picture books. Flack was born in Greenport, Long Island, New York in 1897. She was best known for The Story about Ping , popularized by Captain Kangaroo, and for her stories of an insatiably curious Scottish terrier named Angus,...
- Ludwig BemelmansLudwig BemelmansLudwig Bemelmans was an Austrian author, an internationally known gourmet, and a writer and illustrator of children's books. He is most noted today for his Madeline books, six of which were published from 1939-1961...
- Robert McCloskeyRobert McCloskeyRobert McCloskey was an American author and illustrator of children's books. McCloskey wrote and illustrated eight books, two of which won the Caldecott Medal, the American Library Association's annual award of distinction for children's book illustration.Many of McCloskey's books were set on the...
- James DaughertyJames DaughertyJames Henry Daugherty was an American modernist painter, muralist, children's book author, and illustrator. -Life:...
- Boris ArtzybasheffBoris ArtzybasheffBoris Artzybasheff was an American illustrator active in the United States, notable for his strongly worked and often surreal designs....
- Munro LeafMunro LeafWilbur Monroe Leaf , was an American author of children's literature who wrote and illustrated nearly 40 books during his 40-year career. He is best known for The Story of Ferdinand , a children's classic which he wrote on a yellow legal-length pad in less than an hour...
Massee also worked with notable illustrators, such as Elizabeth MacKinstry, Robert Lawson
Robert Lawson
Robert Lawson may refer to:*Robert Lawson , American Revolutionary War militia general*Robert Lawson , Scottish architect who emigrated to New Zealand*Robert Lawson , American author and artist...
, and Kurt Wiese
Kurt Wiese
Kurt Wiese was an award-winning German-born book illustrator. Wiese wrote and illustrated 20 children's books and illustrated another 300 for other authors.- Biography :Wiese was born in Minden, Germany...
. Bemelmans, Daughtery, Artzybasheff, among others, were authors as well as illustrators. Other Massee authors and illustrators referenced by the May Massee Collection at Emporia State University
Emporia State University
Emporia State University is a university in the city of Emporia in Lyon County, Kansas, just east of the Flint Hills.- History :...
are Kate Seredy, Don Freeman, Eyvind Earle, Marguertie de Angeli, Manning de Villeneuve Lee, Hilda van Stockum
Hilda van Stockum
Hilda Gerarda van Stockum was a children's book author and artist. She was born in Rotterdam in the Netherlands. Her father was an officer in the Dutch Royal Navy. She grew up in the Netherlands and Ireland, living for many years in the United States, and lived in England from about 1973...
, and Leo Politi.
Influence
Many of the books she edited won prestigious awards in children’s literature. Over twenty received honorable citations for the Randolph Caldecott medal with four winning the medal for “the most distinguished American picture book for children.” Her motto was “Nothing too much, not even moderation.” She often encouraged her authors to try new things and experiment with their stories and illustrations. Willing to take risks, she helped to establish high critical standards for children’s literature. She published books that were not considered popular: books with minority protagonists, stories set in Russia, Hungary, etc.Critics acknowledged Massee’s ability regarding text, design, and illustration as well as her endorsement of new methods of production such as offset lithography. A good number of books published by Massee have since become classics, such as The Story About Ping
The Story about Ping
The Story About Ping is a popular children's book. First published in 1933, Ping is a colorfully illustrated story about a domesticated Chinese duck lost on the Yangtze River.-Publication information:...
(1933) and The Story of Ferdinand
The Story of Ferdinand
The Story of Ferdinand is the best known work written by American author Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson. The children's book tells the story of a bull who would rather smell flowers than fight in bullfights...
(1936).
In 1959, Massee was awarded the AIGA
Aiga
‘Aiga is a word in the Samoan language which means 'family.' The aiga is the family unit of Samoan society and differs from the Western sense in that it consists more than just a mother, father and children. The Samoan family, also referred to as an 'extended family' is based on the culture's...
's medal for "recognition of [her] exceptional achievements, services or other contributions to the field of graphic design and visual communication" She was the first woman to not only receive the award, but join the organization as well.
It was to Massee that Madeline
Madeline
Madeline is a children's book series written by Ludwig Bemelmans, an Austrian author. The books have been adapted into numerous formats, spawning telefilms, television series and a live action feature film...
book creator Ludwig Bemelmans
Ludwig Bemelmans
Ludwig Bemelmans was an Austrian author, an internationally known gourmet, and a writer and illustrator of children's books. He is most noted today for his Madeline books, six of which were published from 1939-1961...
once wrote a note explaining his attitude towards writing a children's book: "We are writing for Children but not for Idiots".
The May Massee Collection, was formed by colleagues and friends of children's literature editor May Massee and donated to what is now Emporia State University
Emporia State University
Emporia State University is a university in the city of Emporia in Lyon County, Kansas, just east of the Flint Hills.- History :...
, in 1972.