Dr. Irvin Kerlan (1912-1963), a University of Minnesota alumnus, was a renowned medical researcher and chief of medical research at the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in Washington, D.C. With a distinguished career focused on toxicity and public health, Dr. Kerlan was also an avid collector, initially drawn to rare books and later specializing in children’s literature.

In the 1940s, Dr. Kerlan began curating what would become the prestigious Kerlan Collection, carefully selecting notable children’s books each year, including Newbery Award winners and timeless classics. He expanded his collection to include invaluable background materials, corresponding with authors and illustrators who shared their original manuscripts, artwork, and personal communications.

Dr. Kerlan organized exhibitions from his collection, displaying them in libraries and galleries across North America, Europe, and Asia. In 1949, he partnered with the University of Minnesota, establishing a permanent home for the Kerlan Collection. Tragically, Dr. Kerlan passed away at 51 in a traffic accident in 1963. Today, the University of Minnesota Libraries and the Children’s Literature Research Collections carry on his legacy, preserving and expanding the Kerlan Collection for future generations.

Details:

Oil on Board

Size: 34-1/2 X 24-1/4