Cotsen Children's Library

A collection of correspondence, sketches, proofs, notes, personal writing, photographs, and legal documents related to the life and careers of P. L. Travers (1899-1996) and Mary Shepard (1909-2000).

This collection consists primarily of photographs taken by Rupert Potter (1832-1914), father of children's book author Beatrix Potter (1866-1944). It includes many portraits of Beatrix, of family members, and of friends. In addition, the collection includes studio portraits of Potter family members taken by various commercial photographers; a few photographs taken by Beatrix as aids for illustration; and photographs of animals and farmsteads in the Lake District related to Beatrix Potter Heelis' career as sheep farmer and land preservationist from the 1910s to 1940s.

A collection of letters and other writings written principally by Mary Chrystie, but also other members of Chrystie/Few family, mostly from the 1830s through 1840s. Mary Chrystie is a pious, intelligent, chatty, and wealthy young lady from Fishkill Landing, New York. Unfortunately Mary dies at the early age of 17 from tuberculosis in Nice, France.

Advertising material, mostly catalogs, from publishers and sellers of children's books, toys and educational products.

The Lloyd E. Cotsen Papers consist of papers and personal items of Lloyd Cotsen's related to his time as an executive at Neutrogena Corporation, his art and book collection practices, his philanthropic contributions, his archaeological interests, and photographs shot by Cotsen. Items related to the production of Cotsen Occasional Press publications are also included. Material dates from 1949 to 2021.