These steps recall a journey that began right here twenty years ago. In the early part of 2002, I climbed for my first time. I had heard about the extensive de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection in a kiddie lit class and wanted to see for myself. I had no idea as I entered the McCain Library how big it would become in my life.
The display room exhibition, arranged by the curator Dee Jones, chronicled the life of writer/illustrator Ezra Jack Keats from his baby shoes to his award-winning children’s books. Taking out my pencil and paper (which writers should carry everywhere they go), I made notes that would eventually become an article, “Celebrate Variety,” in Highlights for Children. I will not repeat the whole twenty years here, but will jump right ahead to closure on this journey.
The trip on this day would finish work on my book, Becoming Ezra Jack Keats. I returned, prompted by three questions from the copy editor that needed double-checking for verification. As an aside, I give kudos to that meticulous copy editor. Most of her work involved matching the style guide used by University Press of Mississippi in things like changing my date format (March 11,1916) to theirs (11 March 1916). She found a few extra and a few missing commas, made some minor clarification changes, and questioned a few items before she sent it for me for a final check. I was pleased that she made no changes that affected the telling of Ezra’s story. I’ve graded enough junior high writing to know the copy editor’s work is tedious and requires intense concentration. I wondered if there could be any joy in it, so I was particularly glad to get this comment from her after I sent the edited manuscript back to her following my de Grummond visit, “It’s been a pleasure working with you and reading your very enjoyable book.”
I had followed the tradition I’ve learned over these twenty years to let de Grummond know which files I needed. I understood the questions from the copy editor and knew I might have typed something into my computer incorrectly. (Typing accurately is not a strong suit, and I think I could never have been a writer before computers make this kind of thing so easy to correct.)
My expected last visit for this project was a really good one. All three of my questioned passages turned out to be correct. I had a nice visit with Curator Ellen Ruffin and Assistant Curator Brooke Cruthirds who have supported my work all the way through. And I got a new supply of notecards featuring Ezra Jack Keats’ art for the thank you notes I will surely have to write.
I have no idea how many trips up these steps I’ve taken or how many hours I have spent combing through the Keats information. So, now that I am finished with the research, am I through climbing these steps? Probably not. I’ve enjoyed every minute and will miss the research and the people enough that if it’s necessary I’ll make up an excuse to return!