Learn a little more about the history of the conference and the women behind the awards we give.
Francelia Butler pioneered trails for the scholarly criticism of children's literature. She created the children's literature journal and was a founding member of the Children's Literature Association (ChLA). In 1992, at Butler's request, Hollins launched a children's literature graduate program when the university became the sponsor for her scholarly journal. To this day, the graduate students honor Francelia Butler by running a conference in her name, continuing her vision to blaze trails dedicated to the creativity, insight, and academic study of children's literature.
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Shirley Henn was a retired librarian who worked at Hollins for years. She was very interested in the children's literature program and donated every year to it for the critical and creative awards presented during the Francelia Butler conference. When she died, she left additional possessions to the university, and the department decided to name the critical and creative awards in her honor. |
The art award prize was originally donated by Margaret Kates, a donor who firmly believes in supporting literacy and expression through the arts for children. In 2007 the conference's silent auction took on the role of funding the Margaret Kates Award and supporting the pursuit of imagination and story in art. |
The Francelia Butler Conference is presenting a new prize in honor of the founding director of Hollins' graduate programs in children's literature. The Amanda Cockrell Award joins already established $100 prizes that highlight the creativity, diversity of talent, and drive of Hollins' children's literature graduate students. |