Help us match $1M for de Grummond

The University of Southern Mississippi is proud to house the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection, one of North America’s premier research centers dedicated to the rich world of children’s literature. Our collection features the timeless works of legendary authors and illustrators such as Randolph Caldecott, John Newbery, Kate Greenaway, H.A. Rey and Margret Rey and Ezra Jack Keats. Scholars from across the country and around the globe visit us to explore various materials—from fables and fairy tales to nursery rhymes and children's magazines.

In 2023, the de Grummond Curatorship Endowment initiative was announced to ensure the continued preservation, promotion, and growth of the de Grummond Children’s Literature Curatorship Endowment and provide discretionary support for the curator. Earlier this year, an anonymous donor came forward to help us reach our goal. If $1,000,000 in gifts can be raised collectively for the Curatorship Endowment, the anonymous donor has agreed to match that support with a $1,000,000 gift of their own, but only if that fundraising milestone is reached by December 31, 2024. To date, we have raised over $700,000!

Now is the perfect time to make your mark on the future of children’s literature. Your support will help us expand the collection and enhance its legacy for future generations. Join us in this vital endeavor and help us continue our mission. Thank you for believing in the power of stories!

Click here to learn more about the de Grummond Collection Curatorship & Match Challenge.