Seven Stories: a collection to treasure


Seven Stories, the National Centre for Children’s Books is home to one of the largest specialist children’s literature collections in the world. Established in 1996 the museum holds named collections of artwork and manuscripts by around 140 leading authors and illustrators, and smaller amounts of work by more than 100 others, plus around 35,000 books. The Books for Keeps archive has now been added to that collection, as Collection Manager Kristopher Mckie explains.


The Seven Stories collection extends from c. 1930 to the present day – a period not covered by any other major institution in the country and includes work by Joan Aiken, Edward Ardizzone, Peter Dickinson, Harold Jones, Jan Mark, Philip Pullman, Michael Rosen and Ursula Moray Williams, Enid Blyton, Judith Kerr, Michael Morpurgo, John Agard, David Almond, Barbara Firth, Beverley Naidoo, Grace Nichols, Nick Sharratt and Noel Streatfeild, among many others.


While each writer’s collection is different in its size and content, each gives a unique glimpse into its creator’s work and inspirations and the peculiarities of each individual’s approach to writing.


The Seven Stories collection explores all stages of the making of the book, from the earliest drafts and ideas right through to the finished publications, updated editions and merchandise. Seven Stories collect all that goes into the making of a book including sketches, preliminary drawings, dummy books; notes, drafts and re- drafts; editorial papers, correspondence and reviews.


One of the most recent acquisitions is a collection of papers relating to the running of Books for Keeps donated by founders Richard and Angie Hill. The collection gives a fascinating insight into the magazine’s almost 40-year history as well as a glimpse into the changing children’s book industry.


Collections like the Books for Keeps archive give a unique insight into the rich history of publishing for children in Britain. As well as collecting the papers of key authors and illustrators, Seven Stories


Young Producers explore the Seven Stories collection


has actively acquired more and more papers that tell the wider story of children’ publishing, that can help us understand how publishing trends and reading habits have changed over the years.


Children looking at Enid Blyton Archive as part of Secrets, Mystery and Adventure event at Seven Stories


4 Books for Keeps No.232 September 2018


With each new acquisition the Seven Stories collection becomes broader and more multi-layered – telling not just one story of children’s books in modern Britain but many. The Seven Stories collection now not only documents the history of publishing for children but gives a unique insight into the very nature of children’s culture and childhood in Britain – charting the changing ideas on what subjects our children should and shouldn’t be exposed to, the shifting opinions on whose lives and experiences children’s books should represent, and the impact that wider society and politics has had on childhood experience.


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32