Marguerite de Angeli Archive

The Marguerite de Angeli Archive has been awarded a Save Michigan History Grant by the Michigan State Historical Records Advisory Board! Library staff will be entering the handwritten records of the collection into the archival software that was purchased with the grant. Currently with the paper binder, its virtually impossible to find information about a specific item in the collection. This project will make it much easier for both library staff and researchers to use the collection.

This is a small but greatly needed step towards modernizing access to the collection.

See the official announcement here.

Black and white portrait of Marguerite deAngeli

The Marguerite deAngeli Library in Lapeer, Michigan, houses the Marguerite de Angeli Archive, one of the largest collections of original artwork, manuscripts, personal correspondences and memorabilia of Marguerite de Angeli outside of her family. The library feels a special stewardship for the works of Mrs. de Angeli and is actively pursuing strategies that will preserve her works and continue public awareness of her as years go by.

Marguerite Lofft de Angeli is one of the best known and highly regarded author/illustrators of American children's literature in the 20th century.

Born in Lapeer, Michigan in 1889, she was awarded the Newbery Medal in 1950 for The Door in the Wall and was among the first to be inducted into the Michigan Women's Hall of Fame. She created a stream of children's fiction that enriched this country's literature and described its astonishing cultural diversity.

Her body of work encompasses over 50 years, 28 books written and illustrated, and more than a dozen books illustrated for other writers.