Skip to main content

Alexander, Lloyd

 Person

Dates

  • Existence: 1924 - 2007

Biography

Lloyd Alexander (1924-2007) was a children's book author from Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania.

Lloyd Chudley Alexander was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, on January 30, 1924. He spent his childhood in the nearby suburb of Drexel Hill and lived there most of his life. Alexander graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1940. His parents would not allow him to be a writer, so he worked for a local bank in Philadelphia. Once he had saved some money, he quit and went to a local college before quitting after one semester. He later served in the United States Army in World War II, which included spending time in Wales to train. The landscape, language, and castles would later become the setting of so many of his books. He served in the army for a time in Paris, before being discharged to attend the University of Paris. At the same time, he met Janine Denni, whom he married in 1946. Alexander moved back to Drexel Hill with Janine and her daughter Madeline.

Alexander worked as an advertisement writer, layout artist, cartoonist, and assistant editor while he tried to get his novels published. It took seven years before his first book was published. He spent the following ten years writing for adults before turning to young adult novels. He won the Newbery Honor Medal for "The Black Cauldron" and the Newbery Medal for "The High King." Series and books by Alexander include the "Prydain Chronicles," the "Westmark Trilogy," the "Vesper Holly Adventures," and over twenty other young adult novels, five adult novels, and four French translations. Alexander played the violin and was a devoted fan of Mozart. Alexander died May 17, 2007, in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania, two weeks after Janine's passing.

Citation:
Wikipedia, via WWW, March 4, 2015 (Lloyd Alexander; spent his childhood in the nearby suburb of Drexel Hill and lived there most of his life; graduated from Upper Darby High School in 1940; worked for a local bank in Philadelphia; quit and went to a local college before quitting after one semester; served in the US Army in World War II, which included spending time in Wales to train; landscape, language, and castles made a great impression and would later become the setting of his books; served in the army for a time in Paris, before being discharged to attend the University of Paris; met Janine, whom he married in 1946; moved back to Drexel Hill with Janine and her daughter Madeline; worked as an advertisement writer, layout artist, cartoonist, and assistant editor while he tried to get his novels published; took seven years before his first book was published; spent the following ten years writing for adults before turning to young adult novels; won the Newbery Honor Medal for The Black Cauldron and the Newbery Medal for The High King; Series and books by Alexander include the Prydain Chronicles, the Westmark Trilogy, the Vesper Holly Adventures, and over twenty other young adult novels, five adult novels, and four French translations; was a devoted fan of Mozart; died May 17, 2007, two weeks after Janine's passing).

found: His Sartre, J. P. The wall, c1948.

found: Washington post WWW site, May 18, 2007 (Lloyd Alexander; b. Lloyd Chudley Alexander, Jan. 30, 1924, Philadelphia; d. May 17, [2007] Drexel Hill, Pa., aged 83; critically acclaimed fantasy and adventure writer whose coming-of-age novels use vivid action and elements of mythology to depict contemporary struggles between good and evil)

found: Time cat, 1984:t.p. (Luyid Aliksandar = لويدالكساندر)

found: Info. converted from 678, 2012-10-27(b. 1924)

Found in 5 Collections and/or Records:

Lloyd Alexander biographical papers, 1980-1995

 Sub-Series — Carton 54: Series 4; Series 5 [Barcode: 31197230355437], Folder: 2-4
Identifier: MSS 6833 Series 4 Sub-Series 1
Scope and Contents note

Subseries contains items that are related to biographies of Lloyd Alexander, including correspondence, drafts, photographs, and other related items. Most of the materials are related to autobiographies that were used in different books or in studies and papers.

Dates: Other: 1980-1995

Lloyd Alexander book manuscripts and adaptations, 1955-2007

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 6833 Series 5 Sub-Series 3
Scope and Contents note Subseries includes a number of book manuscripts in various stages of creation, including beginning notes and ideas, multiple drafts, correspondence with publishers, layout proofs, reviews, and fan mail; and it includes some advance reading copies. There are thirty different book titles, including both adult and children's books. Book titles include: Fifty Years in the Doghouse, Janine, Eden,...
Dates: Other: 1955-2007

Lloyd Alexander collection on France and the Second World War, 1939-1946

 Sub-Series — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MSS 6833 Series 4 Sub-Series 5
Scope and Contents note Subseries includes a variety of materials that were gathered by Lloyd Alexander while he served in France during the Second World War. Materials include correspondence, books and publications, a military hat, a collection of Paul Eluard books possibly used for English translations, French money, bound volumes of the French newspaper Action, photographs, political commentary books, and a variety of similar materials that were gathered in France during and...
Dates: Other: 1939-1946

Lloyd Alexander concert recordings and book programs, 1970-1990

 Sub-Series — Carton 41: Series 1; Series 4; Series 5 [Barcode: 31197230355270], Folder: 11-14, 31-32
Identifier: MSS 6833 Series 4 Sub-Series 2
Scope and Contents note

Subseries includes materials related to book and writing programs and a violin concert. Most of the book conferences were at colleges and universities, and Lloyd Alexander would participate in some manner. The violin concert material comes from a concert featuring Lloyd Alexander playing the violin, and includes invitations, programs, photographs and recordings of the performance.

Dates: Other: 1970-1990

P. Bradford Westwood photographs of Lloyd Alexander

 Collection — Folder 1: [Barcode: 31197239115204]
Identifier: MSS 2077
Scope and Contents

Four 4 x 6 inch color photographs of children's Lloyd Alexander, taken in his home office in Drexel Hill, Pennsylvania in 1998. The photographs were taken by Brad Westwood, Special Collections employee at Brigham Young University, while he was visiting Lloyd Alexander and seeking donation of Alexander's papers to the University.

Dates: 1998

Filtered By

  • Subject: Photographs X

Additional filters:

Type
Archival Object 4
Collection 1
 
Subject
Sound recordings 2
Archives 1
Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences 1
Authors, American -- 20th century 1
Authors, American -- Biography 1