MPB Television Show “Mississippi Roads” to feature USM’s de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection during October Broadcasts

Tue, 10/22/2019 - 11:01am | By: David Tisdale

Mississippi Public Broadcasting’s (MPB) popular television show “Mississippi Roads” will feature The University of Southern Mississippi’s (USM) deGrummond Children’s Literature Collection during broadcasts of the program Oct. 24 and Oct. 27 at 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. 

Mississippi Roads host Walt Grayson will give viewers an inside look at the Collection, one of North Americas' leading research centers in the field of children's literature. Founded in 1966 by Dr. Lena Y. de Grummond, the Collection holds the original manuscripts and illustrations of more than 1,300 authors and illustrators, as well as 180,000-plus published books, dating from 1530 to the present.

​The collection contains the works of authors and illustrators Randolph Caldecott, John Newbery, Kate Greenaway, H.A. and Margret Rey and Ezra Jack Keats, some of the most celebrated names in children’s literature with Caldecott, Newbery and Greenaway all having prestigious national awards named in their honor, and the Rey’s being the creators of Curious George. Keats, the man behind The Snowy Day, is one of America’s most groundbreaking authors with his efforts to break the color barrier in children’s publishing, and The Snowy Day is considered one of the most important American books of the 20th century.

These original materials are supplemented by a book collection of historical and contemporary children's literature that include Aesop’s Fables that date back to 1530, a board game from 1790, more than 100 versions of the Cinderella story, and the papers of popular young adult author, John Green. ​

"We're thrilled to be featured on Mississippi Roads, and for the opportunity to share with its audiences the wonderful treasures of children's literature housed in our collection here at USM," said Ellen Ruffin, curator of the deGrummond Collection.

Mississippi Roads takes viewers of the show on an extraordinary tour to the towns, events, attractions, history, art, music, food, natural beauty and intriguing individuals that make Mississippi unique. For more information on the deGrummond Collection, visit https://www.degrummond.org/. For information about Mississippi Roads, visit http://www.mpbonline.org/mississippiroads/.