Olive Beaupre Miller
Encyclopedia
Olive Beaupre Miller (September 11, 1883 – March 25, 1968) was an American
author
, publisher
and editor
of children's literature
.
She received her B.A. from Smith College
in 1904.
The Book House for Children publishing company was founded in 1919 printing popular children’s literature edited by Miller to meet her standards:
Earlier versions of The Book House contained some short stories (such as Little Black Sambo
) which were later recognized to be racist and were removed from the set, and replaced with newer stories of, e.g. The U.S. Space Program.
The company was also remarkable for its large female staff when most women did not work outside the home.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
, publisher
Publishing
Publishing is the process of production and dissemination of literature or information—the activity of making information available to the general public...
and editor
Editing
Editing is the process of selecting and preparing written, visual, audible, and film media used to convey information through the processes of correction, condensation, organization, and other modifications performed with an intention of producing a correct, consistent, accurate, and complete...
of children's literature
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...
.
She received her B.A. from Smith College
Smith College
Smith College is a private, independent women's liberal arts college located in Northampton, Massachusetts. It is the largest member of the Seven Sisters...
in 1904.
The Book House for Children publishing company was founded in 1919 printing popular children’s literature edited by Miller to meet her standards:
- "First,--To be well equipped for life, to have ideas and the ability to express them, the child needs a broad background of familiarity with the best in literature.
- "Second,--His stories and rhymes must be selected with care that he may absorb no distorted view of life and its actual values, but may grow up to be mentally clear about values and emotionally impelled to seek what is truly desirable and worthwhile in human living.
- "Third,--The stories and rhymes selected must be graded to the child's understanding at different periods of his growth, graded as to vocabulary, as to subject matter and as to complexity of structure and plot." http://www.valerieslivingbooks.com/mbh.htm
Earlier versions of The Book House contained some short stories (such as Little Black Sambo
Little Black Sambo
The Story of Little Black Sambo is a children's book written and illustrated by Helen Bannerman, and first published by Grant Richards in October 1899 as one in a series of small-format books called The Dumpy Books for Children....
) which were later recognized to be racist and were removed from the set, and replaced with newer stories of, e.g. The U.S. Space Program.
The company was also remarkable for its large female staff when most women did not work outside the home.
External links
- Smith College - Olive Beaupré Miller Papers, 1864-1992
- Olive Beaupre Miller at the Winnetka Historical Society
- My Book House review of the 12 volume set
- My Book House cover illustrations from Childscapes.com
- My Book House Blog