C is for Collective: The Political Work of Wanda Gág

Wanda Gág (1893-1946) is best known as the author of several beloved children’s books, including the faux-folktale Millions of Cats (1928) and her alphabet book The ABC Bunny (1933). In the decades after Gag's death in 1946, her works became a favorite for children around the world and a touchstone for many of the twentieth century’s most innovative children’s authors. This talk examines Gág's work for children through the lens of her feminist politics. Focusing on her involvement with magazines such as The Liberator, New Masses, Broom, and the short-lived Folio, and her collaborations with authors such as Claude McKay and Countee Cullen, we consider the political investments of Gág's works for children, as well as their enduring appeal. 

About the speaker

Alicia Meyer is Curator of Research Services at the Kislak Center for Special Collections. Her research focuses on literature, political history, and gender and sexuality studies.