Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library© 2006 By the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. All rights reserved.
Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Processed by: Special Collections Department
The collection is without restrictions.
Book copyrights pertaining to all the art, including the black and white illustration art are owned by Simon and Schuster, publishers of Misty of Chincoteague , Stormy, Misty's Foal , and Sea Star: Orphan of Chincoteague . Any additional copyrights of this portion of the illustration collection are transferred to the Misty of Chincoteague Foundation, Inc., a registered 501c (3) nonprofit corporation dedicated to the preservation of archives related to the legend of Misty and education. Any and all future royalty proceeds from use of the drawings in the Misty of Chincoteague Foundation Calendar, Misty of Chincoteague art exhibits, or reproductions for sale will be the property of the Misty of Chincoteague Foundation. MCF, Inc. reserves the right to copy any of the art for purposes associated with its role.
Misty of Chincoteague Collection, 1946-1963, Accession #11379, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
This collection was a gift of the Misty of Chincoteague Foundation, Inc. through Elizabeth H. Sutton of Charlottesville, Virginia, on February 9, 1998.
There are ca. 170 illustrations, ca. 1946-1963, chiefly black and white pencil drawings, by Wesley Dennis (1903-1966), noted author and illustrator of books for children and young adults, used in the following books by Marguerite Henry (1902-1997), Misty of Chincoteague [1947], Sea Star: Orphan of Chincoteague [1949], and Stormy, Misty's Foal [1963]. The collaboration between Henry and Dennis contributed significantly to the popularity of horse books. Misty of Chincoteague is one of the best known and most popular of Dennis' work for young readers. The illustrations by Wesley Dennis are often considered a major contributing factor in making Marguerite Henry's stories classic favorites.
There is also a letter, February 4, 1946, from Marguerite Henry to Wesley Dennis, concerning the autographing party for Misty of Chincoteague and Morgan sketches or other horse illustrations by Dennis to be displayed. Other items include a color poster illustration by Wesley Dennis of "Misty" promoting " Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry & Illustrated by Wesley Dennis" and a mat board of twelve black-and-white illustrations used chiefly for Stormy, Misty's Foal .
The Phantom and Misty on half title page
"To . . . all of whom really live on Chincoteague Island . . ." on dedication page
Tree branch on contents page
Spanish galleon on half title page of part one
"A wild, ringing neigh shrilled up from the hold of the Spanish galleon." [page 11]
"Meanwhile, in the dark hold of the ship, a small
bay stallion was pawing the floor
of his stall." [page 13]
"The stallion neighed encouragement to his mares, who were struggling to keep afloat, fighting the wreckage and the sea." [page 16]
Map depicting ". . . Assateague Beach, that long, sandy island which shelters the tidewater country of Virginia and Maryland." [page 16]
"When htey could eat no more, they pawed shallow wells with their hooves for drinking water. Then they rolled in the wiry grass, letting out great whinnies of happiness." [page 19]
"On bitter days, when they stood colse-huddled for comfort, each pony could enjoy the warmth of his neighbor's coat as well as his own." [pages 20-21]
Buoy on half title page of part two
"On a windy Saturday morning, half-past March, a boy and his sister were toiling up the White Hills of Assateague Beach." [page 25]
Suddenly the boy [Paul] bent over and picked up a whitened, bow-shaped object. The girl [Maureen] was at his side in an instant." [page 26]
"A Spanish galleon . . . caught in a northeaster." [page 28]
"Paul and Maureen fell to the sand . . . They watched as the stallion herded his family like a nervous parent on a picnic." [page 30]
"Pied Piper was overtaking the Phantom." [page 34]
". . . you can see that the wild critters have 'No Trespassing' signs tacked up on every pine tree." [page 29]
"Then he [Grandpa] took off his boots and socks and dug his toes in the sand, like fiddler crabs scuttling for home." [page 38]
"Why, she jes' broke the singletree as if 'twas a matchstick, cleared the fence, and blew to her island home with the reins a-stringin' out behind her." [page 42]
"It's time we was gettin' back home to Chincoteague, and Grandma's turkeys." [page 45]
". . . said Paul, as he whisked over the fence . . . Maureen slipped between the rails and caught up with him." [page 46]
"Paul and Maureen flew to Grandpa and hugged him." [page 49]
"Paul learned to burrow under the sand with his toes and lift the clam to the surfac . . . She raked the clams instead with a long wooden rake." [page 51]
"From all over the barnyard came wild geese and tame geese, big ducks and little ducks, marsh hens and chicks." [page 53]
"They built a manger, spending long moments deciding just how high it should be placed. They scrubbed a rain barrel to be used for a watering trough." [page 55]
"Paul loped along slowly to save his mount's strength." [page 61]
"The horses were clattering down, each man taking his own." [page 62]
"Suddenly Paul saw Wyle Maddox' horse rear into the air." [page 64]
"Paul Beebe was bringing in the Phantom and a colt! " [page 70]
"The fisherman was trying to get a better view." [page 75]
"They plunged into the water, the stallions
leading, the mares following, neighing encouragement
to their colts." [page 73]
"The Phantom's got a new colt! . . . A boy
hiding a colt's head above the swirling water." [page
77]
"But all the wildness seemed to have ebbed out of the Phantom . . . Then she carefully straddled her colt, and fenced in the small white body with her own slender legs." [page 80]
"The Pied Piper wheeled around Paul . . . And he pushed Paul out of the way while the crowds laughed hysterically." [page 81-82]
"Slowly and dejectedly the wild ponies paraded through the main streets of Chincoteague." [page 85]
"At last the procession turned into the pony penning grounds . . . while children and parents and horse dealers hung over the fence." [pages 86-87]
"Suddenly it was Phantom's turn to be herded into the corral." [page 88]
"Granpa was in the kitchen, standing before a mirror, trimming the bristles in his ears when Maureen and Paul came in with the groceries." [page 91]
"As Paul and Maureen stood inside the big corral, looking at Misty, they knew she was the finest-blooded colt in the world." [page 95]
"Slowly he turned his head and came face to face with the Pied Piper." [page 96]
"Round and round the pen the colts were plodding, searching for their mothers, flinging their heads up, whimpering, trying to suckle anything their muzzles could reach." [page 99]
"The fire chief stood silent and thoughtful. He looked past the grounds and out to the bay, where the masts of the fishing boats formed spider-thin lines against the graying sky." [page 100]
"He [Paul] held onto the fence with one hand and made a watershed over his eyes with the other." [page 107]
"Slowly, cautiously, hardly daring to breathe, he [Paul] climbed up and over the tailgate and into the truck." [page 108]
"And in the occassional flashes of light, he saw the copper-and-white tail of the Phantom sweeping nervously over misty." [page 110]
"Finally she [Maureen] climbed the fence and jumped inside the corral. The wild ponies were refreshed by the rain. They thundered past and around her." [page 118]
"The Phantom was tugging at a rope tied around Misty's neck. A sold rope!" {page 120]
"The ladies of the auxiliary hovered over them anxiously, heaping their plates with oysters and clam fritters, and great helpings of Chincoteague pot pie." [page 125]
"And just when he was doffing his cap and bowing to the crowds, the pony tossed him and his cigar and red cap high into the air." [page 127]
"They turned around to see a station wagon at the curb, with a man and a small boy in the front seat." [page 128]
"She tried standing head-to-tail with Misty, but Misty's tail was so short and floppy that it was not much good." [page 136]
". . . Paul explained to Grandpa one evening as he and Maureen stood and watched him trim one of his ponies' hooves." [page 138]
"When the days grew brisk she [Misty] would gallumph across the hard marsh, then suddenly she would stop stock-still, letting a gull light on her back while her nostrils quivered with excitement." [pages 140-141]
"Other times she [Phantom] stood leaning far out over the fence, and there was a wild, sad look about her." [page 143]
"There was not much talk while Grandma cut slivers of pink ham, dished up oysters, and ladled hot gravy over the dumplings." [page 144]
"Misty grew jealous of the attentions her mother was getting . . . One time she lifted a hat all covered with roses and dropped it in the water barrel." [page 148]
"She [Grandma] and Maureen were hanging up clthes at the time, while Paul, perched on top of a chicken coop, was silently whittling a pole into a clothes prop." [page 150]
"Paul and Maureen each took a long, deep breath as they clutched the tiny wishbone that was to decide their fate." [page 153]
"But the Phantom was not running a race. She was enjoying herself." [page 157]
"With the fence as a mounting block, Maureen swung up behind Paul." [page 160]
"All I want is wings on my feet." [page 162]
"With one bar down, Maureen put her heels into Phantom's side and Phantom sailed over the hurdle and out upon the marshy plain." [page 164]
"It's the Pied Piper! . . . He's coming to git the Phantom." [page 167]
"Misty's quizzical little face with its funny blaze was peering around at them." [page 170]
"Reckon I never heard a pony talk up so plain . . . 'I'm Misty of Chicoteague' . . ." [page 173]
by Wesley Dennis of "Misty" promoting " Misty of Chincoteague by Marguerite Henry & Illustrated by Wesley Dennis."
with twelve black-and-white illustrations by Wesley Dennis, chiefly for this book