Tasha Tudor
Encyclopedia
Tasha Tudor was an American illustrator and author of children's books.
character Natasha
, and his daughter was soon re-christened Natasha. The name was later shortened to Tasha.
When socializing with her mother's friends, Tudor was usually introduced as "Rosamund Tudor's daughter, Tasha", leading others to believe that her last name was Tudor. Liking the sound of it, she adopted the name and eventually changed her surname legally following her second divorce. She married Thomas McCready in 1938 in Redding, Connecticut
. Tasha and Thomas McCready purchased a large old farm in Webster, New Hampshire
, where four children, Bethany, Seth, Thomas, and Efner, were raised. Her first story, Pumpkin Moonshine, was published in 1938, as a gift for a young niece of her husband. They were divorced in 1961, and her children legally changed their names from McCready to Tudor. A later marriage, to Allan John Woods, lasted only a brief time.
Tasha Tudor illustrated nearly one hundred books, the last being Corgiville Christmas, released in 2003. Several were collaborative works with a New Hampshire friend Mary Mason Campbell. Tudor lived in Marlboro, Vermont
in a house copied from that of other New Hampshire
friends Donn & Doris Purvis. Her son Seth built the replication and lives next door with his family. It is documented in Drawn from New England, and in The Private World of Tasha Tudor. Mother and son worked closely on family endeavors.
in 1945 and 1 is One in 1957. She received the Regina Medal
in 1971 for her contributions to children's literature. Her books feature simple and often rhyming text accompanied by detailed and realistic drawings with soft colors. Text and pictures are often bordered by intricate details such as flowers, birds or other charming objects and animals. The visual or textual content often refers to traditions, artifacts or memories of the 19th century. Her books are highly valued possessions of an appreciative audience—one that has grown since she was first represented in the 1940s by the Pennsylvania shop The Dutch Inn in Mill Hall. She also created thousands of original works of art which appear on Christmas card
s, Advent calendar
s, Valentine
s, posters, and in other forms. The original art is found in museums, libraries and hundreds of private collections around the world.
One of her most famous books is Corgiville Fair, published in 1971. The first of a series to feature anthropomorphic
corgi
s, the book was extremely popular.
. Many of her personal artifacts and doll house objects were shown there as well as the manuscripts and watercolors for Corgiville Fair and A Time to Keep
. The original art for these two books belongs to Colonel Thomas Strong Tudor and was loaned through the auspices of the Pierpont Morgan Library. An exhibition celebrating Tudor's holiday artwork and celebrations, "Tasha Tudor's Spirit of the Holidays", was gathered from private collections. The combined large and impressive exhibition was displayed in 2005/06 at the Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, Massachusetts
and the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan
in 2006/07. It was shown at the Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City from November 2007 through March 2008; and in Lake Charles, La. during the winter of 2008/08. That exhibit included two early oil paintings that Rosamund Tudor created of her daughter circa 1920 and 1930. Many other original paintings and her first miniature illustrated manuscript Hitty's Almanac were included in the 2006 exhibition at the Shelburne Museum
in Vermont.
. Her estate, valued at over 1.2 million pounds, is being contested by the three children she disinherited. According to the Daily Telegraph:
"Her will, written in 2001, left the bulk of the estate to Seth Tudor, 67, and his son Winslow.
It left only £600 each to her two daughters, Bethany Tudor, 69, and Efner Tudor Holmes, and a piece of antique furniture to younger son Thomas Tudor, 64, because of their "estrangement" from her." However, according to Marlboro Probate Court documents, over Tasha Tudor's lifetime she gave her son Thomas Tudor a half share in her home in Marlboro, VT, and over $2,000,000.00 in art work and other gifts, with a similar lifetime disposition to her two daughters.
Titles illustrated by Tasha Tudor include the following:
Biography
Tasha Tudor was born in Boston, Massachusetts as Starling Burgess, the daughter of naval architect W. Starling Burgess, known as "the Skipper" and noted portrait painter, Rosamund Tudor. At birth, she was named after her father, but he was an admirer of the War and PeaceWar and Peace
War and Peace is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in 1869. The work is epic in scale and is regarded as one of the most important works of world literature...
character Natasha
War and Peace
War and Peace is a novel by the Russian author Leo Tolstoy, first published in 1869. The work is epic in scale and is regarded as one of the most important works of world literature...
, and his daughter was soon re-christened Natasha. The name was later shortened to Tasha.
When socializing with her mother's friends, Tudor was usually introduced as "Rosamund Tudor's daughter, Tasha", leading others to believe that her last name was Tudor. Liking the sound of it, she adopted the name and eventually changed her surname legally following her second divorce. She married Thomas McCready in 1938 in Redding, Connecticut
Redding, Connecticut
Mark Twain, a resident of the town in his old age, contributed the first books for a public library which was eventually named after him.-Government:...
. Tasha and Thomas McCready purchased a large old farm in Webster, New Hampshire
Webster, New Hampshire
Webster is a town in Merrimack County, New Hampshire, United States. The population was 1,872 at the 2010 census.- History :A part of Boscawen until 1860, the town takes its name from American statesman Daniel Webster.- Geography :...
, where four children, Bethany, Seth, Thomas, and Efner, were raised. Her first story, Pumpkin Moonshine, was published in 1938, as a gift for a young niece of her husband. They were divorced in 1961, and her children legally changed their names from McCready to Tudor. A later marriage, to Allan John Woods, lasted only a brief time.
Tasha Tudor illustrated nearly one hundred books, the last being Corgiville Christmas, released in 2003. Several were collaborative works with a New Hampshire friend Mary Mason Campbell. Tudor lived in Marlboro, Vermont
Marlboro, Vermont
Marlboro is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 978 at the 2000 census. The town is home to both the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum and Marlboro College, which each summer hosts the Marlboro Music School and Festival....
in a house copied from that of other New Hampshire
New Hampshire
New Hampshire is a state in the New England region of the northeastern United States of America. The state was named after the southern English county of Hampshire. It is bordered by Massachusetts to the south, Vermont to the west, Maine and the Atlantic Ocean to the east, and the Canadian...
friends Donn & Doris Purvis. Her son Seth built the replication and lives next door with his family. It is documented in Drawn from New England, and in The Private World of Tasha Tudor. Mother and son worked closely on family endeavors.
Awards
She received many awards and honors, including Caldecott Honors for Mother GooseMother Goose
The familiar figure of Mother Goose is an imaginary author of a collection of fairy tales and nursery rhymes which are often published as Mother Goose Rhymes. As a character, she appears in one "nursery rhyme". A Christmas pantomime called Mother Goose is often performed in the United Kingdom...
in 1945 and 1 is One in 1957. She received the 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"....
in 1971 for her contributions to children's literature. Her books feature simple and often rhyming text accompanied by detailed and realistic drawings with soft colors. Text and pictures are often bordered by intricate details such as flowers, birds or other charming objects and animals. The visual or textual content often refers to traditions, artifacts or memories of the 19th century. Her books are highly valued possessions of an appreciative audience—one that has grown since she was first represented in the 1940s by the Pennsylvania shop The Dutch Inn in Mill Hall. She also created thousands of original works of art which appear on Christmas card
Christmas card
A Christmas card is a greeting card sent as part of the traditional celebration of Christmas in order to convey between people a range of sentiments related to the Christmas and holiday season. Christmas cards are usually exchanged during the weeks preceding Christmas Day by many people in Western...
s, Advent calendar
Advent calendar
An Advent calendar is a special calendar which is used to count or celebrate the days of Advent in anticipation of Christmas. Some calendars are strictly religious, whereas others are secular in content...
s, Valentine
Valentine
Valentine may refer to:* Valentine's Day, a holiday, or a card or gift given on that day-People:* Valentine , the pseudonym of Archibald Thomas Pechey* Saint Valentine, the name of several martyred saints of ancient Rome* Pope Valentine...
s, posters, and in other forms. The original art is found in museums, libraries and hundreds of private collections around the world.
One of her most famous books is Corgiville Fair, published in 1971. The first of a series to feature anthropomorphic
Anthropomorphism
Anthropomorphism is any attribution of human characteristics to animals, non-living things, phenomena, material states, objects or abstract concepts, such as organizations, governments, spirits or deities. The term was coined in the mid 1700s...
corgi
Welsh Corgi
The Welsh corgi is a small type of herding dog that originated in Wales. Two distinct breeds are recognized: the Pembroke Welsh corgi and the Cardigan Welsh corgi, with the Pembroke being the more common..-Description:...
s, the book was extremely popular.
Later years
Tudor toured the country for many years, giving speeches at libraries, colleges and museums. Her last major appearances were at the 1996/97 retrospective exhibition at Colonial WilliamsburgColonial Williamsburg
Colonial Williamsburg is the private foundation representing the historic district of the city of Williamsburg, Virginia, USA. The district includes buildings dating from 1699 to 1780 which made colonial Virginia's capital. The capital straddled the boundary of the original shires of Virginia —...
. Many of her personal artifacts and doll house objects were shown there as well as the manuscripts and watercolors for Corgiville Fair and A Time to Keep
A Time to Keep
A Time to Keep is a play written by David Edgar and Stephanie Dale.It is the fifth play to be specifically written for community actors in Dorchester, with the aim of providing a rollicking story with many roles. The "community play" contains over 100 characters, from George III and his court to...
. The original art for these two books belongs to Colonel Thomas Strong Tudor and was loaned through the auspices of the Pierpont Morgan Library. An exhibition celebrating Tudor's holiday artwork and celebrations, "Tasha Tudor's Spirit of the Holidays", was gathered from private collections. The combined large and impressive exhibition was displayed in 2005/06 at the Norman Rockwell Museum, Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Stockbridge, Massachusetts
Stockbridge is a town in Berkshire County in Western Massachusetts. It is part of the Pittsfield, Massachusetts, Metropolitan Statistical Area. The population was 1,947 at the 2010 census...
and the Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan
Dearborn, Michigan
-Economy:Ford Motor Company has its world headquarters in Dearborn. In addition its Dearborn campus contains many research, testing, finance and some production facilities. Ford Land controls the numerous properties owned by Ford including sales and leasing to unrelated businesses such as the...
in 2006/07. It was shown at the Toy and Miniature Museum of Kansas City from November 2007 through March 2008; and in Lake Charles, La. during the winter of 2008/08. That exhibit included two early oil paintings that Rosamund Tudor created of her daughter circa 1920 and 1930. Many other original paintings and her first miniature illustrated manuscript Hitty's Almanac were included in the 2006 exhibition at the Shelburne Museum
Shelburne Museum
Shelburne Museum is a museum of art and Americana located in Shelburne, Vermont, United States. Over 150,000 works are exhibited in 39 exhibition buildings, 25 of which are historic and were relocated to the Museum grounds...
in Vermont.
Death
She died on June 18, 2008 in Marlboro, VermontMarlboro, Vermont
Marlboro is a town in Windham County, Vermont, United States. The population was 978 at the 2000 census. The town is home to both the Southern Vermont Natural History Museum and Marlboro College, which each summer hosts the Marlboro Music School and Festival....
. Her estate, valued at over 1.2 million pounds, is being contested by the three children she disinherited. According to the Daily Telegraph:
"Her will, written in 2001, left the bulk of the estate to Seth Tudor, 67, and his son Winslow.
It left only £600 each to her two daughters, Bethany Tudor, 69, and Efner Tudor Holmes, and a piece of antique furniture to younger son Thomas Tudor, 64, because of their "estrangement" from her." However, according to Marlboro Probate Court documents, over Tasha Tudor's lifetime she gave her son Thomas Tudor a half share in her home in Marlboro, VT, and over $2,000,000.00 in art work and other gifts, with a similar lifetime disposition to her two daughters.
Legacy
Tudor's daughters Bethany Tudor and Efner Holmes are also accomplished authors and illustrators.Books
Titles written and illustrated by Tasha Tudor include the following:- Pumpkin Moonshine
- A Tale for Easter
- Snow before Christmas
- Thistly B
- The Dolls' Christmas
- Edgar Allan Crow
- Amanda and the Bear
- A is for Annabelle
- 1 is One
- A Time to Keep
- Corgiville Fair
- Tasha Tudor's Seasons of Delight
- The Great Corgiville Kidnapping
Titles illustrated by Tasha Tudor include the following:
- The Wind in the WillowsThe Wind in the WillowsThe Wind in the Willows is a classic of children's literature by Kenneth Grahame, first published in 1908. Alternately slow moving and fast paced, it focuses on four anthropomorphised animal characters in a pastoral version of England...
, 1966, World Publishing - Wings from the Wind, 1964, J. B. Lippincott
- A Basket of Herbs, 1983, Stephen Greene Press
- The Night Before Christmas, 1975, Rand McNally & Company
- The Secret GardenThe Secret GardenThe Secret Garden is a novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It was initially published in serial format starting in the autumn of 1910, and was first published in its entirety in 1911. It is now one of Burnett's most popular novels, and is considered to be a classic of English children's...
, 1962, Harper & Row Publishers - A Little PrincessA Little PrincessA Little Princess is a 1905 children's novel by Frances Hodgson Burnett. It is a revised and expanded version of Burnett's 1888 serialized novel entitled Sara Crewe: or, What Happened at Miss Minchin's Boarding School, which was published in St. Nicholas Magazine.According to Burnett, she...
, 1963, HarperCollins Publishers - A Child's Garden of VersesA Child's Garden of VersesA Child's Garden of Verses is a collection of poetry for children by the Scottish author Robert Louis Stevenson. The collection first appeared in 1885 under the title Penny Whistles, but has been reprinted many times, often in illustrated versions...
, 1947, Henry Z. Walck, Inc.
External links
- Official site
- http://www.tashatudorandfamily.com/
- http://www.theworldoftashatudor.com/
- http://www.cellardoorbooks.com/
- http://www.thegavel.net/2021.html/
- http://www.ortakales.com/illustrators/Tudor.html
- http://www.thehenryford.org/calendar/tashatudor/tashatudor.asp
- http://www.nrm.org/page65
- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/06/20/books/20tudor.html?_r=1&ref=obituaries
- http://www.boston.com/news/local/vermont/articles/2009/03/15/the_fall_of_the_house_of_tudor/