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Laura Ingalls Wilder signing books at the Brown Brothers Book Store in Springfield. Mrs. L.D. Lichty, Mrs. Leslie E. Hatfield, Jane Weigel, Patty Sue Patterson, Linda Robertson, Ann Weigel, and Patsy Curbow are identified in the picture. Published in the Leader & Press on November 17, 1952.(Photo: The Springfield News-Leader Collection)
Laura Ingalls Wilder, beloved in the Ozarks and beyond, will see her name removed from a prestigious literary award.
On Saturday, the Council of the Association for Children's Library Services, a branch of the American Library Association, voted to change the name of the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award to the Literature Children's Literature Award, citing concerns on racism in Wilder's works.
"This decision was made taking into account that Wilder's legacy, represented by his corpus, includes stereotypical expressions of attitudes that are inconsistent with ALSC's core values: inclusiveness, integrity and respect. , and responsiveness, "said the board in a statement.
Wilder, better known for his children's book series Little House on the Prairie, has lived for many years in Mansfield, where the Laura Ingalls Wilder House and Museum is still located.
MORE: The memoirs of Laura Ingalls Wilder reveal many surprises
The library board announced in February that it would review Wilder's work prior to his decision to remove his name from the award.
"The ALSC board of directors recognizes that Wilder's legacy is complex and that his work is not universally accepted," the council said in a statement in February. "She continues to be a center of study and literary analysis, which often highlights anti-Aboriginal and anti-black feelings in her work. The ALSC board recognizes that the inheritance may no longer be in accordance with the intention of the prize awarded to him "
Laura Ingalls Wilder
While the passages in Wilder's work reflect many of the attitudes of the time, the section of literature most often quoted in this debate is taken from the 1935 article entitled "Going West" , on a pioneering family.
In the book, the character "Pa" explains the land his family seeks: "There were no people, only the Indians lived there."
In 1953, Wilder changed the passage to say "there were no settlers there, there were only Indians".
This changed did not appease many critics.
Wilder, however, remains extremely popular, especially in southwestern Missouri.
She has already been inducted into the Public Affairs Hall of Fame of the Missouri State University.
In 2015, the university created a free online course on Wilder's life and career, so popular that a second class was opened.
The press chief contacted Laura Ingalls Wilder's house and museum for comments, and a staff member said the message would be sent to the director.
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Pamela Smith Hill, Laura Ingalls Wilder, biographer and English professor at Missouri State University, explains why Wilder's books are still so popular.
News-Leader
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