Margaret K. McElderry, influential children's book editor, publisher, dies at 98 -- People involved with children's books know the name, Margaret K.McElderry. According to the New York Times, Ms. McElderry, who was an influential editor and publisher in the children's book industry, died in her Manhattan home Monday at the age of 98.
Ms. McElderry was the first children's book editor who had an imprint named after her -- Margaret McElderry Books at Atheneum. Her imprint survived several corporate mergers and is still in use today at Simon & Schuster. Ms. McElderry helped nurture the careers of many of the biggest names in children' literature, both writers and illustrators. Such names include Susan Cooper, Eleanor Estes, and Helen Oxenbury.
Many of her books won Newbery or Caldecott awards. In 1952, Ms. McElderry had the rare distinction of editing both of that year's winners -- Eleanor Estes's Ginger Pye picked up the Newbery that year, while Nicholas Mordinoff won the Caldecott for his book with Will Lipkind, Finder's Keepers.
Margaret Knox McElderry was born in Pittsburgh on June 12, 1912, and graduated from Mount Holyoke College. Though she had an early interest in publishing, she was advised against it and instead graduated from Carnegie Library School in Pittsburgh and pursued a first career as a public librarian in the New York Public Library.
After World War II, she joined Harcourt, Brace, managing the children's book department, and her career in publishing took off.
Ms. McElderry is credited with taking risks in her publishing efforts. One example is her publishing of the 1950 book, The Two Reds, when many observers said the title evoked Communism (the book was about a red-haired boy with a red cat). According to the New York Times, the book was removed from the window of F. A. O. Schwartz. She also published books translated from Japanese and German at a time after the war when this was considered unpopular. She was not afraid to bring international titles to the United States.
The editor won many accolades during her career, including an honorary doctorate from Mount Holyoke and the distinction of giving the American Library Association's honorary May Hill Arbuthnot lecture.
Arguably the best legacy Margaret K. McElderry leaves behind, however, is the long list of books she helped put in the hands of children. For that, thousands of writers, artists, librarians, teachers, families, and readers are in her debt.
R.I.P. Margaret K. McElderry.
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