Biography of Robert McCloskey
Early Years
Robert McCloskey was born with the name John Robert McCloskey on September 15th, 1914 in Hamilton, Ohio. His parents Howard, a factory timekeepeer, and Mable McCloskey encouraged him at a young age to pursue any and all interests he had (Keene). This included playing many different musical instruments including the piano, harmonica, oboe, and percussion. He later was interested in mechanical or electrical things. McCloskey could be found experimenting with how these things worked. He “built trains and cranes with remote controls” and made his family Christmas tree spin around (Contemporary Authors). McCloskey even dreamt of being an inventor when he grew up. Eventually these interests made way for his love of art. He was exceptionally talented in drawing, painting, and carving. He made many different soap carvings and even taught soap carving at the YMCA (Keene). He shared many of his creations with his school newspaper and yearbook. When he was a senior in high school in 1932, he entered one of his wood carvings in a scholarship contest sponsored by Scholastic Magazine. He won first place which included full tuition to Vesper George School of Art in Boston, MA (Keene).
College and Early Career
Robert McCloskey was born with the name John Robert McCloskey on September 15th, 1914 in Hamilton, Ohio. His parents Howard, a factory timekeepeer, and Mable McCloskey encouraged him at a young age to pursue any and all interests he had (Keene). This included playing many different musical instruments including the piano, harmonica, oboe, and percussion. He later was interested in mechanical or electrical things. McCloskey could be found experimenting with how these things worked. He “built trains and cranes with remote controls” and made his family Christmas tree spin around (Contemporary Authors). McCloskey even dreamt of being an inventor when he grew up. Eventually these interests made way for his love of art. He was exceptionally talented in drawing, painting, and carving. He made many different soap carvings and even taught soap carving at the YMCA (Keene). He shared many of his creations with his school newspaper and yearbook. When he was a senior in high school in 1932, he entered one of his wood carvings in a scholarship contest sponsored by Scholastic Magazine. He won first place which included full tuition to Vesper George School of Art in Boston, MA (Keene).
College and Early Career
While in college, McCloskey studied many different forms of art. He wanted to work on his drawing and painting skills as well as his carving skills. During the summers he would return home and continued teaching art classes at the YMCA. He even became a camp counselor for the YMCA which led to his carving a totem pole (Contemporary Authors). Because of this work, in 1934, McCloskey was offered a position by an architect who wanted bas-relief carvings done in the side of a municipal building. This building housed the library, where the children’s room was later named after him (Contemporary Authors).
Most of his drawings and paintings that he did while in college were of dragons, figures from Greek mythology including many versions of Pegasus, and Spanish galleons. These images where too romantic to be sold. This was in the 1930s when the Great Depression was going on, so it was very hard for him to sell his creations. He attempted to sell them to May Masse, editor of the children’s book department at Viking Press in New York, but she suggested that he table his drawing of the fantastic and focus on objects from the real world (Fannin). He then spent the next two years at the National Academy of design in New York. During these two years (1936-1938) he spent his time creating whatever type of art he could. This included doing commercial artwork which did not interest him at all, but it paid his bills.
In 1938, McCloskey decided to go back to Ohio and focus on the kind of art that made him happy. There, he created a portfolio of real objects as Masse suggested. He brought these drawings back to New York which got him a job working with Francis Scott Bradford creating murals for the Lever Brothers Building (Major Authors).
After this project, he took some of his drawings and idea for a story to May Masse. She approved this story and Lentil was published in 1940 (Fannin). Lentil is a story about a young harmonica player, which combines in his love of music with his passion for art. This book has become a classic for all children.
Award winning Author/Illustrator
In 1938, McCloskey decided to go back to Ohio and focus on the kind of art that made him happy. There, he created a portfolio of real objects as Masse suggested. He brought these drawings back to New York which got him a job working with Francis Scott Bradford creating murals for the Lever Brothers Building (Major Authors).
After this project, he took some of his drawings and idea for a story to May Masse. She approved this story and Lentil was published in 1940 (Fannin). Lentil is a story about a young harmonica player, which combines in his love of music with his passion for art. This book has become a classic for all children.
Award winning Author/Illustrator
McCloskey’s next book Make Way for Ducklings was published in 1941. He was originally inspired to write this book when he was in college and he would see the duck and other wildlife on his walks through Boston Public Garden. He even sketched multiple images of the ducks and included them in his portfolio. Ten years later, an editor suggested he use them in a story (Keene). However, in order to write this book, McCloskey needed to do some more research. His research consisted of getting live ducks and keeping them in his apartment bathtub, all the while observing and sketching them (Keene). This research worked obviously since McCloskey earned a Caldecott Medal in 1942. This book even inspired a sculpture of ducks by Nancy Schön on display in the Boston Common (Keene).
In the years that followed, McCloskey wrote and illustrated other books including Homer Price, which was published while he was serving in the U.S. Army. After he was discharged from the Army, McCloskey moved to Maine with his wife and 2 children, Sarah and Jane. He married a librarian, Margaret Durand, who is the daughter of children's author Ruth Sawyer, shortly after Lentil was published in November of 1940 (Fannin). His life in Maine prompted the books Blueberries for Sal and One Morning in Maine, which are set on an island off the coast of Maine called Deer Lake Island. Blueberries for Sal is about a mother and daughter who go blueberry picking on Blueberry Hill. The mother plans on canning the berries she picks, while Sal is more interested in eating them. McCloskey modeled the character Sal after his own daughter Sarah. The illustrations and text for this book are done all in blue ink similar to the color of blueberries. The book was so well received that it awarded McCloskey a Caldecott Honor award in 1949 (Fannin).
One Morning in Maine also involves Sal, but she is joined by her younger sister Jane, which is also the name of McCloskey’s other daughter. Sal has a loose tooth, but loses it before she can make a wish on it. Instead, she makes wishes for herself and her younger sister on a seagull feather and a defective spark plug which later come true. The public also loved this book, and awarded McCloskey his second Caldecott Honor award in 1953 (Fannin). McCloskey received another Caldecott Award with his book Time for Wonder which is also set on Deer Isle. This award was given to him in 1957, and with it, he became the first illustrator to receive this award twice (Keene).
Later Years
As McCloskey got older, he retired with his wife near Deer Isle. After he published Burt Dow: Deep-Water Man (1963), he focused exclusively on his artwork (Contemporary Authors). He was considered a recluse since he enjoyed his peace and quiet avoiding the public as his books became more and more popular with adults and children alike. He frequently turned down interviews, preferring to be alone on his quiet island. His wife passed away in 1991, and McCloskey passed away in 2003. Many different obituaries have given his books the honor of being some of the “most beloved children’s book of the twentieth century” (Keene). Even after his death, his books continue to be printed by publishers and loved by children.
In the years that followed, McCloskey wrote and illustrated other books including Homer Price, which was published while he was serving in the U.S. Army. After he was discharged from the Army, McCloskey moved to Maine with his wife and 2 children, Sarah and Jane. He married a librarian, Margaret Durand, who is the daughter of children's author Ruth Sawyer, shortly after Lentil was published in November of 1940 (Fannin). His life in Maine prompted the books Blueberries for Sal and One Morning in Maine, which are set on an island off the coast of Maine called Deer Lake Island. Blueberries for Sal is about a mother and daughter who go blueberry picking on Blueberry Hill. The mother plans on canning the berries she picks, while Sal is more interested in eating them. McCloskey modeled the character Sal after his own daughter Sarah. The illustrations and text for this book are done all in blue ink similar to the color of blueberries. The book was so well received that it awarded McCloskey a Caldecott Honor award in 1949 (Fannin).
One Morning in Maine also involves Sal, but she is joined by her younger sister Jane, which is also the name of McCloskey’s other daughter. Sal has a loose tooth, but loses it before she can make a wish on it. Instead, she makes wishes for herself and her younger sister on a seagull feather and a defective spark plug which later come true. The public also loved this book, and awarded McCloskey his second Caldecott Honor award in 1953 (Fannin). McCloskey received another Caldecott Award with his book Time for Wonder which is also set on Deer Isle. This award was given to him in 1957, and with it, he became the first illustrator to receive this award twice (Keene).
Later Years
As McCloskey got older, he retired with his wife near Deer Isle. After he published Burt Dow: Deep-Water Man (1963), he focused exclusively on his artwork (Contemporary Authors). He was considered a recluse since he enjoyed his peace and quiet avoiding the public as his books became more and more popular with adults and children alike. He frequently turned down interviews, preferring to be alone on his quiet island. His wife passed away in 1991, and McCloskey passed away in 2003. Many different obituaries have given his books the honor of being some of the “most beloved children’s book of the twentieth century” (Keene). Even after his death, his books continue to be printed by publishers and loved by children.
Resources:
Barancik, Steve. Photograph. Grown-Up’s Guide to the Best Children’s Books. Web 10 Feb. 2015.
Deming, Melissa. Photograph. Summer Reading List, June 7, 2012. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.
Famous Author Documentaries Vol. II. Perf. Robert McCloskey. Weston Woods Studios, 2007. DVD
Fannin, Alice. “(John) Robert McCloskey.” American Writers for Children, 1900-1960. Ed. John Cech. Detroit: Gale Research, 1983. Dictionary of Literary Biography Vol. 22. Literature Resource Center. Web. 6 Feb. 2015.
“(John) Robert McCloskey.” Major Authors and Illustrators for Children and Young Adults. Detroit: Gale, 2002. Biography in Context. Web. 4 Feb. 2015.
Jones, Richard. “Robert McCloskey” Photograph. Hey Hamilton, 10 September, 2014. Web. 5 Feb 2015.
Keene, Ann. “McCloskey, Robert.”American Council of Learned Societies. New York: Oxford University Press. 2014. American National Biography Online. Web. 6 Feb. 2015.
McCloskey, Jane and Sal. Photograph “Robert McCloskey, 1914-2003” 1 Aug, 2003. Web. 5 Feb. 2015.
“Robert McCloskey.” Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2007. Literature Resource Center. Web. 6 Feb. 2015.
“Robert McCloskey.” Current Biography (Bio Ref Bank) (2003): Current Biography Illustrated (H.W. Wilson). Web. 4 Feb. 2015.
Barancik, Steve. Photograph. Grown-Up’s Guide to the Best Children’s Books. Web 10 Feb. 2015.
Deming, Melissa. Photograph. Summer Reading List, June 7, 2012. Web. 10 Feb. 2015.
Famous Author Documentaries Vol. II. Perf. Robert McCloskey. Weston Woods Studios, 2007. DVD
Fannin, Alice. “(John) Robert McCloskey.” American Writers for Children, 1900-1960. Ed. John Cech. Detroit: Gale Research, 1983. Dictionary of Literary Biography Vol. 22. Literature Resource Center. Web. 6 Feb. 2015.
“(John) Robert McCloskey.” Major Authors and Illustrators for Children and Young Adults. Detroit: Gale, 2002. Biography in Context. Web. 4 Feb. 2015.
Jones, Richard. “Robert McCloskey” Photograph. Hey Hamilton, 10 September, 2014. Web. 5 Feb 2015.
Keene, Ann. “McCloskey, Robert.”American Council of Learned Societies. New York: Oxford University Press. 2014. American National Biography Online. Web. 6 Feb. 2015.
McCloskey, Jane and Sal. Photograph “Robert McCloskey, 1914-2003” 1 Aug, 2003. Web. 5 Feb. 2015.
“Robert McCloskey.” Contemporary Authors Online. Detroit: Gale, 2007. Literature Resource Center. Web. 6 Feb. 2015.
“Robert McCloskey.” Current Biography (Bio Ref Bank) (2003): Current Biography Illustrated (H.W. Wilson). Web. 4 Feb. 2015.