Richard Erdoes facts for kids

Richard Erdoes was a talented artist, photographer, and writer. He was born in Frankfurt, Germany, on July 7, 1912, and passed away in Santa Fe, New Mexico, on July 16, 2008. He often said he had roots from Austria, Hungary, and Germany, and also from different religions.

Richard Erdoes' Early Life and Family

Richard Erdoes was born in Frankfurt, Germany. His mother was Maria Josefa Schrom. Sadly, his father, Richárd Erdős Sr., who was an opera singer, had passed away just before Richard was born. Richard grew up traveling a lot with his mother and his aunt, Leopoldine Sangora, who was an actress. They moved around Germany and Austria for her acting jobs.

Richard Erdoes' Career as an Artist and Writer

Starting His Art Career in Europe

In 1933, Richard Erdoes was studying at the Berlin Academy of Art. This was when Adolf Hitler and the Nazis came to power in Germany. Richard drew political cartoons that were against Hitler. He published these in a secret newspaper. Because of his drawings, the Nazis started looking for him. He had to leave Germany quickly.

He went to Vienna, Austria, and continued his art training there. He also wrote and illustrated books for children. He drew cartoons for newspapers that were against the Nazis. When Austria was taken over by the Nazis in 1938, he had to flee again. He first went to Paris, France, then to London, England, before finally moving to the United States. In London, he married his first wife, Elsie Schulhof, who was also an artist.

Moving to New York and Becoming a Commercial Artist

In New York City, Richard Erdoes became a successful commercial artist. He was known for his detailed and fun drawings. His artwork appeared in many famous magazines like National Geographic and Life Magazine. While working at Life Magazine, he met Jean Sternbergh, who was an art director there. They got married in 1951 and had three children together. Richard also illustrated many children's books during this time.

Focusing on Native American Culture and Rights

In 1967, Richard Erdoes went to the Pine Ridge Indian Reservation for a job with Life Magazine. This trip changed his life and became a very important part of his work. He was very interested in Native American culture. He was also upset by the difficult living conditions on the reservation. He felt strongly about the Civil Rights Movement that was happening at the time.

Richard Erdoes started writing books about Native American history, stories, and myths. He also wrote about important Native American leaders and writers like Mary Crow Dog and John Fire Lame Deer. His apartment in New York City became a meeting place for the American Indian Movement (AIM) in the early 1970s. He helped with the legal defense of some AIM members. In 1975, his family moved to Santa Fe, New Mexico. There, he continued to write and work for Native American civil rights.

His writings and drawings are kept safe at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library at Yale University.

Richard Erdoes' Published Works

Richard Erdoes wrote, illustrated, and helped create many books.

Books Written by Richard Erdoes

• Musicians Around the World
• Peddlers and Vendors Around the World (1967)
• Policeman Around the World
• The Sun Dance People: The Plains Indians Their Past and Present (1972)
• The Rain Dance People: The Pueblo Indians, Their Past and Present (1976)
• Sound of Flutes (1976)
• Woman Who Dared (1978)
• Native Americans: The Navajos (1979)
• Native Americans (1982)
• Native Americans: The Pueblos (1983)
• The Richard Erdoes Illustrated Treasury of Classic Unlaundered Limericks (1984)
• Crying for a Dream: The World through Native American Eyes (1990)
• Tales from the American Frontier (1992)
• A.D. 1000: Living on the Brink of Apocalypse (1994)
• Saloons of the Old West (1997)
• Legends and Tales of the American West (1998)

Books Illustrated by Richard Erdoes

• The Cat and The Devil (1964) by James Joyce
• Come over to My House (1966) by Theo. LeSieg (a pen name for Dr. Seuss)
• The Spotted Stones (1978) by Silvio Bedini

Books He Edited or Collaborated On

• Lame Deer, Seeker of Visions (1972), with John Fire Lame Deer
• American Indian Myths and Legends (1984), with Alfonso Ortiz
• Lakota Woman (1991) by Mary Crow Dog
• Crow Dog: Four Generations of Sioux Medicine Men (1996), with Leonard Crow Dog
• American Indian Trickster Tales (1999), with Alfonso Ortiz
• Ojibwa Warrior: Dennis Banks and the Rise of the American Indian Movement (2005), with Dennis Banks
• Ohitika Woman (2009), with Mary Brave Bird

Awards and Recognition for Richard Erdoes

Richard Erdoes received several awards for his work:

• American Institute of Graphic Arts
• Viennese Museum of Applied Arts
• Art Directors Club of New York
• Society of Illustrators
• American Book Award, Before Columbus Foundation (1991) - for Lakota Woman
• Austrian Cross of Honour for Science and Art (1999)