Julian
Wehr (1898–1970)
was born August Julian Wehrfritz in Brooklyn, New York. Wehr's father, August Wehrfritz, came to the United
States as a German immigrant. Julian’s mother, Emielie Gertrude Tugart was born
in Manhattan, New York.
Known
as the "American Master of Animated Books", Wehr invented and
patented the animated children's book that contained moveable
paper parts using tabs, that were read by many children in the 1940s, 50s and
60s. Wehr created over 30 animated books. Around 9 million copies of Wehr's books were sold in the
United States and Great Britain, and were translated and sold in France,
Germany, and Spain.
Although
animated books were a great source of pride and family income during the
financially difficult years of World War II, Wehr's artistic
passion was sculpting. Julian was trained at the Art Students League
in New York City with many other
modern artists, Mr. Wehr used a variety of media to communicate his values of equality,
the importance of family and beauty in nature. A fire in 1947 destroyed Wehr's studio and two
years of sculpting, save for a mahogany head sculpture of an African American
man Wehr had sketched once on a New
York City Subway trip.
Mr.
Wehr married twice and had four children, Camilla, David, Paul and Jeanine. He
was an adoring father and was happiest when working in his studio and being
with his family. From
son Paul’s writings about living in Vermont:
“Life would thereafter become easier as
Dad’s books found their market and a steady income. We could then buy a house
in Roxbury in the valley below, with school two miles nearer. The farm would
become our summer home and its cow barn Dad’s sculpting studio. Dad would climb
the hill from town each day to create his books and sculpture, the solitary
life he enjoyed.”
Julian Wehr
died in 1970 at the age of 72.
Many and
various materials documenting Wehr's creations have been collected and are stored at the University
of Virginia Albert and Shirley Small
Special Collections Library which has a section
specializing in children's literature.
University of Virginia Library
Wikipedia Article on Julian Wehr
University of Virginia Library
Wikipedia Article on Julian Wehr