December 22, 1939 Jerry Pickney, award winning illustrator of children’s books, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Pickney began drawing at the age of four and earned a scholarship to the Philadelphia Museum College of Art. After graduation, he held a number of positions in the field of design and illustration. Eventually he opened the Jerry [...]
Tag Archives | Coretta Scott King Award
March 12th in African American History – Virginia Hamilton
March 12, 1936 Virginia Hamilton, children’s books author, was born in Yellow Springs, Ohio. Hamilton earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio State University in 1958 and published her first book, “Zeely,” in 1967.
June 27th in African American History – Thelma Lucille Sayles (Lucille Clifton)
June 27, 1936 Thelma Lucille Sayles (Lucille Clifton), poet and educator, was born in Depew, New York. Clifton graduated from the State University of New York in 1955 and over the next 15 years worked for the New York State Division of Employment and the federal Office of Education. In 1996, her poetry was included [...]
February 19th in African American History – Virginia Hamilton
February 19, 2002 Virginia Hamilton, children’s book author, died. Hamilton was born March 12, 1936 in Yellow Springs, Ohio. She earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from Ohio State University in 1958 and published her first book, “Zeely,” in 1967. Over her career, she wrote 35 books, including “M. C. Higgins, the Great” which won [...]
February 13th in African American History – Lucille Clifton
February 13, 2010 Lucille Clifton, writer and educator, died. Clifton was born Thelma Lucille Sayles on June 27, 1936 in Depew, New York. She graduated from the State University of New York in 1955 and worked as a claims clerk in the New York State Division of Employment and as a literature assistant in the [...]