Peter Neumeyer Honored by Mortar Board
Peter F. Neumeyer was honored by the SDSU chapter of Mortar Board with the 2007 Faculty Outstanding Service Award
at its October 6 ceremony and brunch. Neumeyer is best known for his scholarly work on E. B. White,
The Annotated Charlotte's Web, and has also written many children's books, including the "Donald" series
in collaboration with artist Edward Gorey. Neumeyer's nomination for this award was submitted by the library's dean,
Connie Vinita Dowell. "He is an exceptional individual who is dedicated to education at all levels,
and who has continued to support the university and enhance its international reputation in his retirement," according to Dowell.
Neumeyer, professor emeritus of English and Comparative Literature at SDSU, founded the university's children's
literature program in the 1970s. His leadership of this program inspired a generation of students to prize
children's literature for its intrinsic value and provided the foundation for what is now one of the largest
programs of its kind in the country and home to the National Center for the Study of Children's Literature.
Neumeyer has given many of his personal papers to the library's Special Collections and University Archives,
where they form an important record of the birth and development of the children's literature program at the university.
Neumeyer's most recent gift included the first sketches for Why We Have Day and Night. The library has been able
to acquire the original Edward Gorey artwork for all three of the "Donald" books through the generosity of the Friends
of the Library.
The Mortar Board award was accepted on behalf of Neumeyer, who was unable to attend the ceremony, by his wife and
collaborator, Helen, and son Zack.
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