Wilfrid Swancourt Bronson (October 24, 1894 – April 23, 1985) was an American natural history artist and a "prolific writer and illustrator of children's books on various aspects of animal life".[1]
Wilfrid S. Bronson
Wilfrid S. Bronson and his wife, Sonia Joseph Bronson
Following his service in the U.S. Army during the first World War, he worked as a mural painter's assistant in several studios in New York City.[2] In the 1930s and 40s he painted murals for the Works Progress Administration.[citation needed] Bronson accompanied several scientific marine expeditions as a staff artist, resulting in the creation of numerous nature books for children.[2] In 1930 he was part of an expedition to the Galapagos to gather specimens for the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens.[3] In the 1920s he participated in expeditions led by Harry Payne Bingham to study and bring specimens and illustrations of marine life to the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University, which holds many illustrations Bronson made on shipboard to capture the color and form of marine specimens in the era before color photography.[4][5][6]
Booksedit
Fingerfins: The Tale of a Sargasso Fish, 1930 - "a little book of perfect accuracy and excellent illustrations, ... Every child who can read English should say, "Thank you, Mr. Bronson!" for this delightful story."[7]
Children of the Sea, 1939, An enchanting tale of a dolphin and a boy with Bronson's beautiful illustrations and packed with facts from his knowledge of sea life. 164 pages, Harcourt Brace and Company
Stooping Hawk and Stranded Whale: Sons of Liberty, 1942 - "This is an exciting story about a people who have been forgotten, but who still live free and untamed as they did four hundred years ago."[9]
"the Grasshopper Book", 1943, Harcourt, Brace & Co., New York
Turtles, 1945 - "Oh dear, Wilfred Bronson has done some such nice nature books and this is such a disappointment ... Here's a man who knows what can and should be done and owes it to his market to sustain a higher level of intelligent, scientific presentation."[11]
Coyotes, 1946 -
Pinto's Journey 1948, Julian Messner (ISBN0-86534-557-0) - "Good material both in pictures and story for a unit onIndians or the natural life of New Mexico. Could be used in remedial reading."[12]
Starlings, 1948 - "This is an engaging book that manages to put across a considerable amount of information about birds, with humor and affection throughout."[13] "Although Starlings are the chief dramatis personae, it is a good introduction to bird life in general ... Bronson's illustrations are teaching materials in themselves and coupled with his readable style, the result is a very satisfactory book."[12]
Cats, 1950 - "For any household which includes a cat, Wilfred S. Bronson's Cats is indeispensable reading for the whole family. Here is another book which gains my highest recommendation."[14]
Freedom and Plenty: ours to save, 1953 - "An experienced illustrator and writer of non-fiction for this age group gives a splendidly organized and suggestive tally of conservation in our country."[15]
Beetles, 1963 - "The present book is of this same high standard, with complete information based on personal observation as well as a familiarity with the work of entomologists and presented in a tone of conversational informality. ... 40 Half-tone drawings by the author will complete a book that is high in quality all the way."[16]
Dogs: Best Breeds for Young People, 1969 - "Better titled and more clearly organized, it might be the canine Dr. Spock; as is, its common sense is submerged (and for some people may be spoiled by the rather coarse cartoons)."[17]
Referencesedit
^Lewis, Ralph H (1993). Museum curatorship in the National Park Service, 1904-1982(PDF). p. 73.
^ abcLarsen, Nancy. "Wilfrid S. Bronson Paper". umn.edu. University of Minnesotas Libraries. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
^"Will Gather Galapagos Plants for Brooklyn Botanic Garden". Brooklyn Eagle. 20 March 1930. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
^"Denizens of Ocean on View in Museum". New York Times. Jun 24, 1928.
^"Harry Payne Bingham". peabody.yale.edu. Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History. Retrieved 30 August 2015.
^Wilfrid Swancourt Bronson Archives. Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History Repository, Yale University.
^Marion Ponsonby (June 21, 1930). "The Children's Bookshop". The Saturday Review of Literature. Time Inc: 1146.
^"Books for Spring and Summer (book review)". Christian Science Monitor. 25 May 1936.
^"Stooping Hawk and Stranded Whale: Sons of Liberty". www.kirkusreviews.com. Kirkus Media LLC. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
^"Children's Picture Bookshelf: Hooker's Holiday". New York Times. 29 October 1944.
^"Turtles". www.kirkusreviews.com. Kirkus Media LLC. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
^ abAlice R. Brooks (15 May 1948). "The Book World" (PDF). Center for Instructional Materials Service Bulletin. I (6). University of Chicago: 1. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
^"Starlings". www.kirkusreviews.com. Kirkus Media LLC. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
^John F Frederick (November 1950). "Speaking of Books". The Rotarian. LXXVII (5). Rotary International: 38, 39. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
^"Freedom and Plenty". www.kirkusreviews.com. Kirkus Media LLC. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
^"Beetles". www.kirkusreviews.com. Kirkus Media LLC. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
^"Dogs: Best Breeds for Young People". www.kirkusreviews.com. Kirkus Media LLC. Retrieved 11 September 2015.
Sourcesedit
Wilfrid S. Bronson papers, University of Minnesota Libraries Children's Literature Research Collections Archives & Special Collections · University of Minnesota Libraries
wilfrid, bronson, wilfrid, swancourt, bronson, october, 1894, april, 1985, american, natural, history, artist, prolific, writer, illustrator, children, books, various, aspects, animal, life, wife, sonia, joseph, bronsonbornwilfrid, swancourt, branson, 1894, oc. Wilfrid Swancourt Bronson October 24 1894 April 23 1985 was an American natural history artist and a prolific writer and illustrator of children s books on various aspects of animal life 1 Wilfrid S BronsonWilfrid S Bronson and his wife Sonia Joseph BronsonBornWilfrid Swancourt Branson 1894 10 24 October 24 1894Chicago IllinoisDiedApril 23 1985 1985 04 23 aged 90 OccupationChildren s books authorNationalityAmericanYears active1910s 1980s Born in Chicago Illinois Bronson attended the School of the Art Institute of Chicago 2 Following his service in the U S Army during the first World War he worked as a mural painter s assistant in several studios in New York City 2 In the 1930s and 40s he painted murals for the Works Progress Administration citation needed Bronson accompanied several scientific marine expeditions as a staff artist resulting in the creation of numerous nature books for children 2 In 1930 he was part of an expedition to the Galapagos to gather specimens for the Brooklyn Botanic Gardens 3 In the 1920s he participated in expeditions led by Harry Payne Bingham to study and bring specimens and illustrations of marine life to the Peabody Museum of Natural History at Yale University which holds many illustrations Bronson made on shipboard to capture the color and form of marine specimens in the era before color photography 4 5 6 Books editFingerfins The Tale of a Sargasso Fish 1930 a little book of perfect accuracy and excellent illustrations Every child who can read English should say Thank you Mr Bronson for this delightful story 7 Water People 1936 Wise Parslow 8 Children of the Sea 1939 An enchanting tale of a dolphin and a boy with Bronson s beautiful illustrations and packed with facts from his knowledge of sea life 164 pages Harcourt Brace and Company Stooping Hawk and Stranded Whale Sons of Liberty 1942 This is an exciting story about a people who have been forgotten but who still live free and untamed as they did four hundred years ago 9 the Grasshopper Book 1943 Harcourt Brace amp Co New York Hooker s Holiday 1944 10 Turtles 1945 Oh dear Wilfred Bronson has done some such nice nature books and this is such a disappointment Here s a man who knows what can and should be done and owes it to his market to sustain a higher level of intelligent scientific presentation 11 Coyotes 1946 Pinto s Journey 1948 Julian Messner ISBN 0 86534 557 0 Good material both in pictures and story for a unit onIndians or the natural life of New Mexico Could be used in remedial reading 12 Starlings 1948 This is an engaging book that manages to put across a considerable amount of information about birds with humor and affection throughout 13 Although Starlings are the chief dramatis personae it is a good introduction to bird life in general Bronson s illustrations are teaching materials in themselves and coupled with his readable style the result is a very satisfactory book 12 Cats 1950 For any household which includes a cat Wilfred S Bronson s Cats is indeispensable reading for the whole family Here is another book which gains my highest recommendation 14 Freedom and Plenty ours to save 1953 An experienced illustrator and writer of non fiction for this age group gives a splendidly organized and suggestive tally of conservation in our country 15 Beetles 1963 The present book is of this same high standard with complete information based on personal observation as well as a familiarity with the work of entomologists and presented in a tone of conversational informality 40 Half tone drawings by the author will complete a book that is high in quality all the way 16 Dogs Best Breeds for Young People 1969 Better titled and more clearly organized it might be the canine Dr Spock as is its common sense is submerged and for some people may be spoiled by the rather coarse cartoons 17 References edit Lewis Ralph H 1993 Museum curatorship in the National Park Service 1904 1982 PDF p 73 a b c Larsen Nancy Wilfrid S Bronson Paper umn edu University of Minnesotas Libraries Retrieved 30 August 2015 Will Gather Galapagos Plants for Brooklyn Botanic Garden Brooklyn Eagle 20 March 1930 Retrieved 30 August 2015 Denizens of Ocean on View in Museum New York Times Jun 24 1928 Harry Payne Bingham peabody yale edu Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History Retrieved 30 August 2015 Wilfrid Swancourt Bronson Archives Yale Peabody Museum of Natural History Repository Yale University Marion Ponsonby June 21 1930 The Children s Bookshop The Saturday Review of Literature Time Inc 1146 Books for Spring and Summer book review Christian Science Monitor 25 May 1936 Stooping Hawk and Stranded Whale Sons of Liberty www kirkusreviews com Kirkus Media LLC Retrieved 11 September 2015 Children s Picture Bookshelf Hooker s Holiday New York Times 29 October 1944 Turtles www kirkusreviews com Kirkus Media LLC Retrieved 11 September 2015 a b Alice R Brooks 15 May 1948 The Book World PDF Center for Instructional Materials Service Bulletin I 6 University of Chicago 1 Retrieved 11 September 2015 Starlings www kirkusreviews com Kirkus Media LLC Retrieved 11 September 2015 John F Frederick November 1950 Speaking of Books The Rotarian LXXVII 5 Rotary International 38 39 Retrieved 11 September 2015 Freedom and Plenty www kirkusreviews com Kirkus Media LLC Retrieved 11 September 2015 Beetles www kirkusreviews com Kirkus Media LLC Retrieved 11 September 2015 Dogs Best Breeds for Young People www kirkusreviews com Kirkus Media LLC Retrieved 11 September 2015 Sources editWilfrid S Bronson papers University of Minnesota Libraries Children s Literature Research Collections Archives amp Special Collections University of Minnesota Libraries Portal nbsp Children s literature Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Wilfrid S Bronson amp oldid 1167446433, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
