Annie Carroll Moore
Encyclopedia
Anne Carroll Moore was an American educator and advocate for children's libraries. She was named Annie after an aunt, and officially changed her name to Anne in her fifties, to avoid confustion with Annie E. Moore, another woman who was also publishing material about juvenile libraries at that time.
, the youngest of ten children and the only surviving daughter of Luther Sanborn and Sarah Barker Moore. She described her childhood as a happy one and wrote about growing up in My Roads to Childhood. Moore began her formal education at the Limerick Academy in Maine. She then attended a two-year college, The Bradford Academy in Massachusetts. She was very close to her father and hoped to follow in his footsteps as a musician, despite the biases of her era.
When the death of both her parents and a sister-in-law made her plans to become a lawyer unattainable, she spent several years helping her now widowed brother Harry raise his two children. Her brother suggested that she consider the emerging profession of librarian
, so Moore applied to the State Library School in Albany, N.Y., but lacked the program’s educational requirements. Undaunted, she then applied to the Pratt Institute
Library in Brooklyn
where she was accepted into the one-year program (1895).
(ALA), “Report on the Reading of the Young”. Up to this point children had usually been considered a nuisance in library settings, and often were excluded from libraries until they were at least 14 years of age. As part of her research into the proposed children’s room, Moore visited kindergarten
s (also a new concept at the time), toured various ethnic neighborhoods in the area, and even questioned children whom she encountered on the street. Moore then set out to create a welcoming space for children with child-sized furniture, open stacks, cozy reading nooks, story times, puppet shows, summer programming, quality juvenile literature and perhaps most importantly librarians committed to working with children. When Moore opened the children’s room it drew a line of children circling the block awaiting entry.
Moore remained at the Pratt library for ten years. In 1906 she moved to the New York Public Library
, having accepted the position of Superintendent of the Department of Work with Children, which Director Dr. John Shaw Billings
had offered to her. This rather unwieldy title placed her in charge of children’s programming at all NYPL branches as well as overseeing the Central Children’s Room, which opened in 1911.
Moore also developed a training program for children’s services staff: the “Qualification Test for the Children’s Librarian Grade”. This six-month program included practical training, readings and discussion. She organized hundreds of story times, compiled a list of 2500 Standard Titles in Children’s Literature, and she lobbied for and received permission to loan books to children. The children were required to sign a ledger promising to treat books respectfully, and to return them; "When I write my name in this book I promise to take good care of the books I use in the Library and at home, and to obey the rules of the Library." She also initiated a policy of inclusion, celebrating the ethnic diversity of her patrons through story times, poetry readings and books that celebrated the various backgrounds of recent immigrants to the city.
In 1921 Moore gave a series of lectures and toured the libraries of England and France for the ALA. During this tour she met Walter de la Mare
, L. Leslie Brooke
, and Beatrix Potter
. She is credited with introducing all three to the American public. She also wrote children’s books, the most famous entitled Nicholas, a Manhattan Christmas Story in which the main character was based on a puppet she used in her story times. She wrote of her own childhood in My Roads to Childhood.
During this period Moore began to regularly review children’s books, writing for The Bookman
for six years. Moore eventually went on to become a highly influential children’s book reviewer. From 1924 to 1930 she was the children’s book reviewer for the New York Herald Tribune
. In 1927 her column The Children’s Bookshop became a regular twice monthly feature. By 1936 her reviews were also appearing in The Horn Book Magazine. With a few notable exceptions (e.g. E.B. White’s Stuart Little
and Charlotte’s Web), her stamp of approval or disapproval was often widely accepted as final judgment on a book. Her own confidence in her ability as book reviewer is evident in the stamp she kept in her desk; Not Recommended for Purchase by Expert. By all accounts she wasn’t afraid to use it.
Moore retired in 1941 at age 70. She remained active, writing and teaching for most of her remaining years. She died on 20 January 1961.
), Claire Huchet Bishop
(author: The Five Chinese Brothers
), Marcia Brown
(who illustrated three Caldecott Medal
winners) and Ruth Hill Viguiers (editor of The Horn Book). Several librarians published books that developed from their story times at the New York Public Library Children’s Room during Moore’s tenure, including Mary Gould Davis, Anna Cogswell Tyler and Pura Belpre.
and Frederic Melcher, Editor of Publishers Weekly
, Moore founded Children’s Book Week in 1918.
from the University of Maine
. In 1955 she received an Honorary Doctorate from the Pratt Institute. In 1960, the year before her death, she was awarded the Catholic Library Association’s Regina Medal
“for her pioneer work in children’s library services”.
According to the American Libraries article, “100 of the most important leaders we had in the 20th century”, Anne Carroll Moore is one of the most influential figures in 20th century librarianship in the United States. She was dubbed the “Grande Dame of Children’s Services”; a pioneer in the newly emerging specialty of children’s literature, librarianship and publishing.
Early life and education 1871-1894
Moore was born in Limerick, MaineLimerick, Maine
Limerick is a town in York County, Maine, United States. It is part of the Portland–South Portland–Biddeford, Maine metropolitan statistical area. The population was 2,240 at the 2000 census.-History:...
, the youngest of ten children and the only surviving daughter of Luther Sanborn and Sarah Barker Moore. She described her childhood as a happy one and wrote about growing up in My Roads to Childhood. Moore began her formal education at the Limerick Academy in Maine. She then attended a two-year college, The Bradford Academy in Massachusetts. She was very close to her father and hoped to follow in his footsteps as a musician, despite the biases of her era.
When the death of both her parents and a sister-in-law made her plans to become a lawyer unattainable, she spent several years helping her now widowed brother Harry raise his two children. Her brother suggested that she consider the emerging profession of librarian
Librarian
A librarian is an information professional trained in library and information science, which is the organization and management of information services or materials for those with information needs...
, so Moore applied to the State Library School in Albany, N.Y., but lacked the program’s educational requirements. Undaunted, she then applied to the Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute
Pratt Institute is a private art college in New York City located in Brooklyn, New York, with satellite campuses in Manhattan and Utica. Pratt is one of the leading undergraduate art schools in the United States and offers programs in Architecture, Graphic Design, History of Art and Design,...
Library in Brooklyn
Brooklyn
Brooklyn is the most populous of New York City's five boroughs, with nearly 2.6 million residents, and the second-largest in area. Since 1896, Brooklyn has had the same boundaries as Kings County, which is now the most populous county in New York State and the second-most densely populated...
where she was accepted into the one-year program (1895).
Early career 1895-1906
In 1896 Moore graduated from Pratt, and accepted an offer to organize a children’s room at that same institute, partly due to a paper which Lutie Stearns had presented at the 1894 meeting of the American Library AssociationAmerican Library Association
The American Library Association is a non-profit organization based in the United States that promotes libraries and library education internationally. It is the oldest and largest library association in the world, with more than 62,000 members....
(ALA), “Report on the Reading of the Young”. Up to this point children had usually been considered a nuisance in library settings, and often were excluded from libraries until they were at least 14 years of age. As part of her research into the proposed children’s room, Moore visited kindergarten
Kindergarten
A kindergarten is a preschool educational institution for children. The term was created by Friedrich Fröbel for the play and activity institute that he created in 1837 in Bad Blankenburg as a social experience for children for their transition from home to school...
s (also a new concept at the time), toured various ethnic neighborhoods in the area, and even questioned children whom she encountered on the street. Moore then set out to create a welcoming space for children with child-sized furniture, open stacks, cozy reading nooks, story times, puppet shows, summer programming, quality juvenile literature and perhaps most importantly librarians committed to working with children. When Moore opened the children’s room it drew a line of children circling the block awaiting entry.
Moore remained at the Pratt library for ten years. In 1906 she moved to the New York Public Library
New York Public Library
The New York Public Library is the largest public library in North America and is one of the United States' most significant research libraries...
, having accepted the position of Superintendent of the Department of Work with Children, which Director Dr. John Shaw Billings
John Shaw Billings
John Shaw Billings was an American librarian and surgeon best known as the modernizer of the Library of the Surgeon General's Office of the Army and as the first director of the New York Public Library.-Biography:...
had offered to her. This rather unwieldy title placed her in charge of children’s programming at all NYPL branches as well as overseeing the Central Children’s Room, which opened in 1911.
Moore also developed a training program for children’s services staff: the “Qualification Test for the Children’s Librarian Grade”. This six-month program included practical training, readings and discussion. She organized hundreds of story times, compiled a list of 2500 Standard Titles in Children’s Literature, and she lobbied for and received permission to loan books to children. The children were required to sign a ledger promising to treat books respectfully, and to return them; "When I write my name in this book I promise to take good care of the books I use in the Library and at home, and to obey the rules of the Library." She also initiated a policy of inclusion, celebrating the ethnic diversity of her patrons through story times, poetry readings and books that celebrated the various backgrounds of recent immigrants to the city.
The Four Respects
Moore developed a set of standards that she called “The Four Respects”:- 1. Respect for children. She wanted children to be treated as individuals and to be treated seriously.
- 2. Respect for children’s books. Moore was adamant that books for children should be well-written, factually accurate and should not mix fact and fantasy.
- 3. Respect for fellow workers. She insisted that the children’s library be viewed as an integral and equal part of the complete library.
- 4. Respect for the professional standing of children’s librarians. Moore felt that the profession must recognize children’s librarianship as a professional specialty.
Librarian, book reviewer, lecturer, writer 1918-1941
In 1918 Moore delivered a series of lectures to a group of New York publishers and booksellers, promoting the need for quality writing for children. It was the norm of the day that children’s books were primarily vehicles for morality lessons, and Moore felt they should be more than this; she stressed the importance of providing access to well written books for the young.In 1921 Moore gave a series of lectures and toured the libraries of England and France for the ALA. During this tour she met Walter de la Mare
Walter de la Mare
Walter John de la Mare , OM CH was an English poet, short story writer and novelist, probably best remembered for his works for children and the poem "The Listeners"....
, L. Leslie Brooke
L. Leslie Brooke
Leonard Leslie Brooke was a British artist and writer who was born on 24 September 1862, in Birkenhead, England. His skillful and witty illustrations in Andrew Lang's Nursery Rhyme Book established his reputation as a leading children's book illustrator of pen-and-ink line drawings and watercolors...
, and Beatrix Potter
Beatrix Potter
Helen Beatrix Potter was an English author, illustrator, natural scientist and conservationist best known for her imaginative children’s books featuring animals such as those in The Tale of Peter Rabbit which celebrated the British landscape and country life.Born into a privileged Unitarian...
. She is credited with introducing all three to the American public. She also wrote children’s books, the most famous entitled Nicholas, a Manhattan Christmas Story in which the main character was based on a puppet she used in her story times. She wrote of her own childhood in My Roads to Childhood.
During this period Moore began to regularly review children’s books, writing for The Bookman
The Bookman
The Bookman may refer to:*The Bookman *The Bookman...
for six years. Moore eventually went on to become a highly influential children’s book reviewer. From 1924 to 1930 she was the children’s book reviewer for the New York Herald Tribune
New York Herald Tribune
The New York Herald Tribune was a daily newspaper created in 1924 when the New York Tribune acquired the New York Herald.Other predecessors, which had earlier merged into the New York Tribune, included the original The New Yorker newsweekly , and the Whig Party's Log Cabin.The paper was home to...
. In 1927 her column The Children’s Bookshop became a regular twice monthly feature. By 1936 her reviews were also appearing in The Horn Book Magazine. With a few notable exceptions (e.g. E.B. White’s Stuart Little
Stuart Little
Stuart Little is a 1945 children's novel by E. B. White, his first book for children, and is widely recognized as a classic in children's literature. Stuart Little was illustrated by the subsequently award-winning artist Garth Williams, also his first work for children...
and Charlotte’s Web), her stamp of approval or disapproval was often widely accepted as final judgment on a book. Her own confidence in her ability as book reviewer is evident in the stamp she kept in her desk; Not Recommended for Purchase by Expert. By all accounts she wasn’t afraid to use it.
Moore retired in 1941 at age 70. She remained active, writing and teaching for most of her remaining years. She died on 20 January 1961.
Publications
- Roads to Childhood (1920)
- Nicholas, A Manhattan Christmas Story (1920)
- My Roads to Childhood (1920)
- Nicholas and the Golden Goose (1924)
- The Three Owls (1924)
- Three Owls (Volume II) (1924)
- Cross-Roads to Childhood (1925)
- Reading for Pleasure (1932)
- A Century of Kate GreenawayKate GreenawayCatherine Greenaway , known as Kate Greenaway, was an English children's book illustrator and writer, who spent much of her childhood at Rolleston, Nottinghamshire. She studied at what is now the Royal College of Art in London, which at that time had a separate section for women, and was headed by...
(1934) - The Choice of a Hobby (1935)
- New Roads to Childhood (1946)
- Joseph A. Altsheler and American History (1961)
Moore’s mentors, and those she mentored
Moore credited two women as her most influential mentors, Mary Wright Plummer and Caroline Hewins. Throughout her career Moore surrounded herself with talented librarians, storytellers and writers. She mentored in turn many significant authors of children’s literature, including Margaret McElderry (book editor and publisher), Eleanor Estes (winner; 1952 Newbery MedalNewbery Medal
The John Newbery Medal is a literary award given by the Association for Library Service to Children, a division of the American Library Association . The award is given to the author of the most distinguished contribution to American literature for children. The award has been given since 1922. ...
), Claire Huchet Bishop
Claire Huchet Bishop
Claire Huchet Bishop was a children's novelist and librarian, winner of the Newbery Honor for Pancakes-Paris and All Alone and the Josette Frank Award for Twenty and Ten...
(author: The Five Chinese Brothers
The Five Chinese Brothers
The Five Chinese Brothers is an American children's book written by Claire Huchet Bishop and illustrated by Kurt Wiese. It was originally published in 1938 by Coward-McCann.The book is a retelling of a Chinese folk tale.-Plot:...
), Marcia Brown
Marcia Brown
Marcia Joan Brown is an American children's author and illustrator of more than 30 children's books. She has won the Caldecott Medal three times, the only person to do so until David Wiesner in 2007. She is also the winner of the 1977 Regina Medal, a six-time recipient of the Caldecott Honor, and...
(who illustrated three Caldecott Medal
Caldecott Medal
The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually by the Association for Library Service to Children , a division of the American Library Association, to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children published that year. The award was named in honor of nineteenth-century English...
winners) and Ruth Hill Viguiers (editor of The Horn Book). Several librarians published books that developed from their story times at the New York Public Library Children’s Room during Moore’s tenure, including Mary Gould Davis, Anna Cogswell Tyler and Pura Belpre.
Children’s Book Week
Along with Franklin K. Mathieus , Chief Librarian for the Boy Scouts of AmericaBoy Scouts of America
The Boy Scouts of America is one of the largest youth organizations in the United States, with over 4.5 million youth members in its age-related divisions...
and Frederic Melcher, Editor of Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly
Publishers Weekly, aka PW, is an American weekly trade news magazine targeted at publishers, librarians, booksellers and literary agents...
, Moore founded Children’s Book Week in 1918.
Awards and recognitions
In 1932 Moore received from the Pratt Institute a special award, the Diploma of Honour. In 1940 she was twice awarded the Doctor of LettersDoctor of Letters
Doctor of Letters is a university academic degree, often a higher doctorate which is frequently awarded as an honorary degree in recognition of outstanding scholarship or other merits.-Commonwealth:...
from the University of Maine
University of Maine
The University of Maine is a public research university located in Orono, Maine, United States. The university was established in 1865 as a land grant college and is referred to as the flagship university of the University of Maine System...
. In 1955 she received an Honorary Doctorate from the Pratt Institute. In 1960, the year before her death, she was awarded the Catholic Library Association’s Regina Medal
Regina Medal
The Regina Medal is an American Literary award of the Catholic Library Association. It was established in 1959 to recognize "continued, distinguished contribution to children’s literature without regard to the nature of the contribution"....
“for her pioneer work in children’s library services”.
According to the American Libraries article, “100 of the most important leaders we had in the 20th century”, Anne Carroll Moore is one of the most influential figures in 20th century librarianship in the United States. She was dubbed the “Grande Dame of Children’s Services”; a pioneer in the newly emerging specialty of children’s literature, librarianship and publishing.
External links
- http://kids.nypl.org/parents/ocs_centennial_acm.cfm http://kids.nypl.org/parents/ocs_centennial_acm.cfm
- http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/21/080721fa_fact_lepore?currentPage=all http://www.newyorker.com/reporting/2008/07/21/080721fa_fact_lepore?currentPage=all
- http://openlibrary.org/a/OL2182188A/Anne_Carroll_Moore http://openlibrary.org/a/OL2182188A/Anne_Carroll_Moore