Margaret Ayer

Last updated
Margaret Ayer
BornJune 29, 1894
New York City
DiedApril 24, 1981
Castro Valley, California
Education
Occupations
  • Writer
  • Illustrator
Organizations
SpouseAlfred Babbington Smith
Parents
  • Ira Ayer
  • Louise Foster Ayer

Margaret Ayer (d. 1981) was an American author and self-illustrator of six books for children. She also illustrated 52 books, [1] including Anna and the King of Siam , written by other authors. In addition, she contributed short stories and articles to children's magazines. [2]

Contents

Early life career

Born in New York City to Ira Ayer, a physician, and Louise Foster Ayer, she spent much of her childhood in Mexico and the Philippines, where she traveled with her parents and developed an interest in art. [3] As an adult, she lived in Thailand (formerly known as Siam) from 1916 until 1928 and visited again in 1962–63. [1]

Ayer studied at the Philadelphia Museum School of Industrial Arts and received private art instruction in Paris and Rome. She was a member of the Artists Guild of New York, serving for a time as its vice president. She also held membership in the Asia Society, the Society of Illustrators, and the Women's National Book Association. [1]

Some of Ayers' manuscripts, publications, illustrations, and correspondence related to her interest in art and in Thailand are available to the public in the University of Oregon Libraries archives in Eugene. [1] In addition, a watercolor and pencil study for the book jacket of Surprise at Sampey Place can be found in the archives of the University of Minnesota Libraries in Minneapolis. [3]

Personal life

Ayer married Alfred Babbington Smith, a banker. She died in Castro Valley, California, in 1981. [1]

Bibliography

Author and illustrator

Illustrator

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 "Margaret Ayer papers, 1918–1970". University of Oregon Special Collections and University Archives. Archived from the original on May 2, 2023. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
  2. 1 2 3 "Margaret Ayer" . Contemporary Authors Online. Gale. May 22, 2002. Archived from the original on December 12, 2019. Retrieved June 1, 2019.
  3. 1 2 "Margaret Ayer Collection". University of Minnesota Libraries. Archived from the original on May 31, 2019. Retrieved May 30, 2019.
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