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Mary and Conrad Buff

メアリー・バフ と コンラッド・バフ

Mary and Conrad Buff

Profile

Gender
Unknown
Nationality
United States, Switzerland
Languages
English
Residence History
Cincinnati, Ohio → Speicher, Switzerland → Los Angeles, California → Pasadena, California → Laguna Hills, California → Albion, Idaho

Career

Occupations
children's book authors, illustrators, painters
Active Years
1937-1968
Influenced By
Nature and landscape painting, Cross-hatching and pointillist techniques
Influenced
Mid-20th century children's authors and illustrators

Education

Bethany College (Kansas)
Degree: Bachelor's
Country: United States
Mary received a bachelor's degree at Bethany College
Chicago Academy of Fine Arts
Fine Arts
Country: United States
Mary studied art
Cincinnati Art Academy
Fine Arts
Country: United States
Mary pursued further art study
School of Arts and Crafts, St. Gallen
Fine Arts
Period: 1900頃
Country: Switzerland
Conrad attended in his youth
Art Students League of Los Angeles
Fine Arts
Period: 1910–1913（在籍）
Country: United States
Conrad attended; also took night classes
Los Angeles High School (night classes)
Fine Arts
Country: United States
Conrad took night classes to develop his painting

Awards

Caldecott Medal (Honor)
1943
Work: Dash & Dart
Category: 児童書イラストレーション
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) / American Library Association (ALA)
Result: Honors (Runner-up)
Newbery Medal (Honor)
1947
Work: Big Tree
Category: 児童文学
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) / American Library Association (ALA)
Result: Honors (Runner-up)
Newbery Medal (Honor)
1952
Work: The Apple and the Arrow
Category: 児童文学
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) / American Library Association (ALA)
Result: Honors (Runner-up)
Newbery Medal (Honor)
1954
Work: Magic Maize
Category: 児童文学
Organization: Association for Library Service to Children (ALSC) / American Library Association (ALA)
Result: Honors (Runner-up)

Awards & Nominations

Works

Major Works

Dancing Cloud: the Navajo boy

1937 Children's book (illustrated)

A story about a Navajo boy; Mary wrote the text and Conrad provided lithograph illustrations.

indigenous culturesnature

Kobi, a boy of Switzerland

1939 Children's book (illustrated)

A story set in Switzerland about a boy named Kobi; a collaborative work with Conrad's lithographs.

culturetradition

Dash & Dart

1942 Children's picture book

A picture book featuring nature and small animals; noted as a Caldecott Honor work.

natureanimals

Big Tree

1946 Children's literature

A story about a great tree and nature; was selected as a Newbery Honor (runner-up).

conservationgrowth

Peter's Pinto, a story of Utah

1949 Children's literature

A boy-and-his-horse story set in Utah, with strong regional color.

boy and animalregional culture

The Apple and the Arrow

1951 Children's literature (legend)

A retelling of the William Tell legend; selected as a Newbery Honor in 1952.

legendcourage

Magic Maize

1953 Children's literature

A folktale-like story revolving around maize; a Newbery Honor in 1954.

folktaleagricultural culture

Forest Folk

1962 Children's picture book

A work depicting forest creatures and the workings of nature.

naturecommunity

Colorado, river of mystery

1968 Children's book (nature/exploration)

A book introducing the Colorado River and local nature.

explorationnature

Bibliography

  • Dancing Cloud: the Navajo boy (1937)
  • Kobi, a boy of Switzerland (1939)
  • Dash & Dart (1942)
  • Big Tree (1946)
  • Peter's Pinto, a story of Utah (1949)
  • The Apple and the Arrow (1951)
  • Magic Maize (1953)
  • Hurry, Skurry, & Flurry (1954)
  • Hah-nee to the cliff dwellers (1956)
  • Dancing Cloud (revised edition, 1957)
  • Elf Owl (1958)
  • Trix and Vix (1960)
  • Forest Folk (1962)
  • Kemi, an Indian boy before the white man came (1966)
  • Colorado, river of mystery (1968)

Style & Themes

Literary Style
Simple, lyrical narration emphasizing natureIllustrations using cross-hatching and pointillist techniques
Recurring Motifs
natureanimalslegend/folktalelandscape

Legacy

Mary and Conrad Buff collaborated on 14 children's books between 1937 and 1968 and were multiple-time Newbery and Caldecott Honor recipients. Conrad is also known for murals and oil paintings, which have been recognized at auction. Major archives of their materials are held at UC Irvine and the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection.

Museums

  • Special Collections & Archives, University of California, Irvine (Mary and Conrad Buff materials) Irvine, California, USA
  • de Grummond Children's Literature Collection University of Southern Mississippi, Hattiesburg, Mississippi, USA Opened in 1966

Archives

  • Special Collections & Archives, University of California, Irvine (Mary and Conrad Buff papers)
  • de Grummond Children's Literature Collection (University of Southern Mississippi)

Trivia

  • The couple collaborated on 14 children's books between 1937 and 1968.
  • They were runners-up (Honors) for the Newbery or Caldecott awards four times.
  • Conrad Buff painted commissioned murals in Los Angeles and Phoenix.
  • Conrad's painting 'Canyon Land' reportedly sold for about $77,000 at auction in 2003.
  • Mary worked as an assistant curator at the Los Angeles County Museum of Art, supporting the household while Conrad pursued painting.