Among its distinguished holdings, the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection is honored to house the papers of H.A. and Margret Rey, creators of Curious George. This fall, the de Grummond Collection at The University of Southern Mississippi will welcome members of the Rey family to Hattiesburg for a reunion and host a series of events Oct. 23-28 to celebrate their first visit to the Rey Collection and de Grummond.
“I am honored to welcome the Reys’ extended family to Hattiesburg,” said Karlie Herndon, curator of the de Grummond Collection. “This reunion was delayed due to COVID-19, so we are truly delighted to have a second chance to celebrate. With exhibitions, a film screening, and even a never-before-seen musical, the Reys’ legacy continues to enrich our community.”
The magic of Curious George transcends generations, delighting children and adults alike with his timeless curiosity and playful spirit. In conjunction with Prospect Gallery, de Grummond is organizing events that will appeal to all ages.
Schedule of Events
Prospect Gallery, Downtown Hattiesburg
Thursday, Oct. 23 and Friday, Oct. 24 | 11 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Curious George: Original Works on Paper Exhibit Opens
Featuring rarely seen Rey materials, including original artwork, letters and unpublished photographs
Saturday, Oct. 25 | 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
Final day to view Curious George: Original Works on Paper
Saturday, Oct. 25 | 10:30 a.m.
Children’s programming featuring story time, a yellow hat craft, and visits with Curious George
Southern Miss Campus
Monday, Oct. 27 | 7:30 p.m.
First public performance of selections from Rey of Light, a musical about H.A. and Margret Rey’s life together, featuring the author, composer and the Hub City Players
Location: Joseph Paul Student Theater, Thad Cochran Center
Oct. 24 – Dec. 15
Rey exhibition in McCain Library and Archives, second floor
Tuesday, Oct. 28 | 6:30 p.m.
Special viewing of Rey documentary, Monkey Business: The Adventures of Curious George’s Creators followed by a Q&A
Location: Gonzales Auditorium, Liberal Arts Building
Wednesday, Oct. 29 | 9 – 11 a.m.
Coffee and Cookies with the Curator
Location: McCain Library and Archives, second floor
“Prospect Gallery is excited to host Curious George: Original Works on Paper from the H.A. and Margret Rey Collection. Southern Miss is fortunate to have this in the de Grummond Collection,” said Catherine Edmonson, program director at Prospect Gallery. “There’s nothing like seeing an original artwork, especially when it’s an iconic image like Curious George. Even the pencil smudges are exciting, as they’re a window into an artist’s process.”
Dr. Lena de Grummond, a former professor of library science at Southern Miss, collected original materials from authors and illustrators of children’s books to use as resources for her students. She sent handwritten letters to many authors and illustrators, including the Reys, who were among the first to respond to her request for materials.
The Reys created Curious George while living in France in early 1940. When the German army approached Paris that June, the Reys fled on bicycles to Orleans, where they boarded a train for the Spanish border. They traveled on to New York City by way of Spain, Portugal and Brazil between June and October. After settling in New York City, the Reys signed a contract with Houghton Mifflin of Boston for four children’s books in February 1941. Later that year they published Curious George, which would not become popular until a decade later.
About the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection
The de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection is one of North America’s leading research centers in the field of children’s literature. The Collection holds the original manuscripts and illustrations of more than 1,400 authors and illustrators, as well as more than 200,000 mostly American and British published books dating back to 1530.