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Friends of Murray Library dedicates new artworks for Messiah College's collection of children's illustrations in honor of the inauguration of Kim S. Phipps

	The illustration "Community at Work," by Megan Lloyd-Thompson of Carlisle, is on display at Murray Library on the Messiah College campus. Click on image to download print-quality version
	"Country and Townscape," an illustration by Megan Lloyd-Thompson of Carlisle, is part of a collection at Messiah College's Murray Library. Click on image to download print-quality version

GRANTHAM, Pa. (Sept. 23, 2005) — Friends of Murray Library at Messiah College unveiled two new artwork additions by a local artist to “The Ruth E. Engle Memorial Collection of Children’s Book Illustration” at a dedication on Sept. 22 in Murray Library.

During the dedication, Carlisle artist Megan Lloyd-Thompson said a few words about her two paintings, “Country and Townscape” and “Community at Work,” illustrations which were included in the book “Pioneer Church” by Carolyn Otto. The original paintings were selected by Friends of Murray Library to commemorate the upcoming Oct. 14 inauguration of Kim S. Phipps, Ph.D., as the eighth president of Messiah College and in recognition of the inaugural theme, “Created and Called for Community.” The two illustrations bring together themes of community and service that are not only evocative of the history of Messiah College, but also representative of the lives of President Phipps and the late Ruth E. Engle of Lancaster County—friend of the College and patron of the arts for whom the collection is named.

In addition to the comments from artist Lloyd-Thompson and the gift presentation in honor of President Phipps, the program on Sept. 22 also included a greeting and invocation by the Friends of Murray Library Chairman E. Morris Sider; an introduction of the artworks selection committee by Friends of Murray Library Board Member Phil Lawlis; and closing remarks from Murray Library Director Jonathan Lauer.

Lloyd-Thompson’s paintings are just two of the five additions to the Engle Collection during the past year, representing a 50 percent increase in the collection’s holdings. Two of the artworks were purchased with gifts from David and Jean Byer, both charter and lifetime members of Friends of Murray Library. Friends and other donors sponsored the purchase of the other three pieces, including Lloyd-Thompson’s artworks. Following is a list of the illustrations, the illustrators and the books for which they were created:

• “Country & Townscape” and “Community at Work,” two paintings created by Carlisle artist Megan Lloyd-Thompson for “ Pioneer Church” by Carolyn Otto. The paintings for “ Pioneer Church” were featured in a one-woman exhibition at the Cumberland County Historical Society in 2003-2004. Lloyd-Thompson has illustrated 36 children’s books, one of which she also authored. Honors for her work include the Parents’ Choice Award, International Reading Association-Children’s Book Council’s Teachers’ Choice, American Library Association’s Notable Book in Language Arts, Children’s Book Council’s Outstanding Science Trade Book, and an Oppenheim Toy Portfolio Gold Medal/Best Book.
• “Jane Flying for Peter,” created by Australian artist Robert Ingpen for the 2004 Centenary Edition of “Peter Pan and Wendy” by J. M. Barrie. Ingpen is the only Australian to be awarded the prestigious Hans Christian Anderson Medal. He also was awarded the Australian Dromkeen Medal for his contributions to children’s literature. Exhibitions of his work have been held in both Europe and America.
• “Nanuq and Snow,” created by Illinois artist Wendell Minor for “Snow Bear” by Jill Craighead George, with whom he has collaborated on numerous picture books. Minor’s cover illustrations have enhanced nearly 2,000 works and he is the recipient of many awards for his children’s picture books, including the John Burroughs List of Nature Books, the Parents’ Choice Award, the American Library Association’s “ Booklist” journal’s Editors’ Choice, “ Smithsonian” magazine’s Notable Books for Children, and Outstanding Science Trade Books for Children. Combining his affinity for the environment and his love of the outdoors, Minor travels to research the subject for every book he illustrates.
• “People Came to Ask Sense Pass King for Advice,” created by the late Trina Schart Hyman for “Sense Pass King: A Story from Cameroon,” retold by Katrin Tchana (the artist’s daughter). Trina Schart Hyman, a prolific, award-winning illustrator of children’s books, died of cancer in November 2004. She illustrated more than 150 books, one of which won the Caldecott Medal, the highest honor for children’s books, three of which garnered Caldecott Honors.

The Ruth E. Engle Memorial Collection of Children’s Book Illustration was dedicated in April 2004, and included 10 charter artworks. The collection was established to reflect significant aspects of Engle’s multifaceted life, honoring her abiding love for children, for books and for libraries. Both a charter member and board member of Friends of Murray Library, Engle contributed vision and vitality to the organization from its founding in 1993. Some of Engle’s other achievements included teaching, developing the educational program for inpatient adolescents at Hershey Medical Center’s Psychiatric Unit, serving on the boards of the Elizabethtown Children and Youth Services and Lancaster’s Beth Shalom Home for teenage single mothers. She also earned a graduate degree in clinical psychology at the age of 50.

The Engle Collection is open and viewable to the public during normal library hours. Murray Library at Messiah College is open Monday through Thursday from 7:30 a.m. to midnight, Friday 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m., 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. on Saturday, and Sunday between 2 p.m. and midnight. For more information contact Cherie Fieser, collection curator, at (717) 691-6006, extension 7181.

Friends of Murray Library was formed in 1993 to stimulate interest in the collections and facilities of Murray Library; to provide an opportunity for those interested in the library to participate in exhibits, programs and volunteer activities; to attract gifts of books, manuscripts and other materials for the library's enrichment; and to encourage and receive financial contributions for needs beyond the library budget, such as building special collections like the Engle Collection.

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ARTICLE DATE: TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14, 2004
ARTICLE NUMBER: MC-103-05