Man Who Was Dr Seuss

Key Dates in the Life of Theodor Geisel

1904 Theodor Seuss Geisel is born in Springfield, Mass., March 2, the son of Theodor Robert and Henrietta Seuss Geisel. 1921 Theodor Geisel attends Dartmouth College, where he begins writing and drawing for the Jack-O-Lantern, the campus magazine. 1925 Theodor Geisel graduates from Dartmouth in June. 1926-1927 Geisel attends Oxford University, in England, meets Helen Palmer and tours England and Europe. 1927 Geisel sells a cartoon to The Saturday Evening Post. When it is published, it bears the name "Seuss." Geisel marries Helen Palmer. 1928 Geisel begins drawing an advertising campaign under the title, "Quick Henry, The Flit." That phrase becomes nationally popular. The Flit campaign sustains him financially for 17 years. 1931 Geisel illustrates his first book, Boners, published by the Viking Press. His second book, More Boners, is published the same year. 1937 And to Think That I Saw it on Mulberry Street is published by The Vanguard Press, after numerous (27) rejections. It is the first Dr. Seuss book. 1938 The 500 Hats of Bartholomew Cubbins is published by The Vanguard Press. 1939 The Seven Lady Godivas is published by Random House. It is his only adult book and his only failure. It begins his life-long association with Random House and publisher Bennett Cerf. The King's Stilts is also published. 1940 Horton Hatches the Egg is published. 1940-1942 Geisel works as an editorial cartoonist for the newspaper PM. 1943-1946 Geisel serves in the Army U.S. Signal Corps, Information and Educational Division, under director Frank Capra; Geisel receives the Legion of Merit for his work on informational films and receives the first of three Academy Awards for his film Hitler Lives. (Originally written for the Army under the title Your Job in Germany.) 1947 McElligot's Pool is published. It is named a Caldecott Honor Book in children's literature. Geisel wins second Academy Award for Design for Death (written with Helen Geisel). 1948 Thidwick the Big-Hearted Moose is published by Random House. Geisel purchases a hill-top home in La Jolla, California where he will live the rest of his life. 1949 Bartholomew and the Oobleck is published; it too is named a Caldecott Honor Book. 1950 If I Ran the Zoo is published. It too, is named a Caldecott Honor Book. 1951 Geisel wins third Academy Award for the cartoon film Gerald McBoing-Boing. 1952 Geisel writes the script and songs and designs the sets for the film, The 5,000 Fingers of Dr. T. It is not successful. Geisel abandons Hollywood. 1953 Scrambled Eggs Super! is published. 1954 Horton Hears a Who! is published. 1955 On Beyond Zebra! is published. 1956 If I Ran the Circus is published. Geisel receives an honorary doctoral degree from Dartmouth College, his alma mater. 1957 How the Grinch Stole Christmas! is published and becomes one of his most popular books. The Cat in the Hat is published, the first of the Random House Beginner Books, for young readers. 1958 The Cat in the Hat Comes Back and Yertle the Turtle and Other Stories are published; Geisel becomes president of Beginner Books, a division of Random House. 1959 Happy Birthday to You! is published. 1960 Green Eggs and Ham is published, which has become-in terms of sales-Geisel's most popular book. One Fish Two Fish Red Fish Blue Fish is also published. 1961 The Sneeches and Other Stories is published. Geisel also publishes Ten Apples Up On Top! under the pseudonym Theo. LeSieg (Geisel spelled backwards). 1962 Dr. Seuss's Sleep Book is published. 1963 Hop on Pop and Dr. Seuss's ABC are published. 1965 Fox in Sox, I Had Trouble Getting to Solla Sollew and I Wish I Had Duck Feet (Theo. LeSieg, pseudonym) are all published. 1966 Come Over to My House (Theo LeSieg, pseudonym) is published. 1967 The Cat in the Hat Song Book is published. Helen Palmer Geisel dies by her own hand October 23. 1968 The Foot Book is published, the first of the Bright and Early Books for readers pre: Beginner books. The Eye Book (Theo. LeSieg, pseudonym) is also published in the same series. Geisel receives an honorary doctoral degree from American International College. Dr. Seuss's Lost World Revisited: A Forward Backward Glance is published, despite a legal fight. Geisel marries Audrey Stone Diamond August 5. 1969 I can Lick 50 Tigers Today! and Other Stories and My Book about Me-By Me, Myself, I Wrote It! I Drew It! are published. 1970 I Can Draw It Myself and Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? are published. 1971 I Can Write-by Me, Myself (Theo. LeSieg, pseudonym) and The Lorax, about the loss of the environment are published. The Lorax becomes the most controversial Dr. Seuss book. He receives a Peabody Award for his television specials How the Grinch Stole Christmas! and Horton Hears a Who! 1972 In a People House (Theo. LeSieg, pseudonym) and Marvin K. Mooney, Will You Please Go Now! are published. 1973 The Many Mice of Mr. Brice (Theo. LeSieg, pseudonym), Did I Ever Tell You How Lucky You Are? and The Shape of Me and Other Stuff are all published. 1975 Because a Little Bug Went Ka-Choo! (Rosetta Stone, pseudonym), Oh, The Thinks You Can Think! and Would You Rather be a Bullfrog? (Theo. LeSieg) are published. 1976 Hooper Humperdink ... ? Not Him! (Theo. LeSieg) and The Cat's Quizzer are published. 1977 Try to Remember the First of Octember (Theo. LeSieg) is published. Geisel receives an honorary doctoral degree from Lake Forest College and receives an Emmy Award for Halloween is Grinch Night. 1978 I Can Read with My Eyes Shut! is published. 1979 Oh Say Can You Say? is published. 1980 Maybe You Should Fly a Jet! Maybe You Should Be a Vet! (Theo. LeSieg) is published. Geisel receives an honorary doctoral degree from Whittier College and receives the Laura Ingalls Wilder Award from the American Library Association. 1981 The Tooth Book (Theo. LeSieg) is published. 1982 Hunches in Bunches is published. Geisel wins an Emmy for the television special The Grinch Grinches the Cat in the Hat. 1983 Geisel receives an honorary doctoral degree from John F. Kennedy University. 1984 The Butter Battle Book, about warfare, is published. It becomes as controversial as The Lorax. Geisel wins a Pulitzer Prize for his contribution to children's literature. 1985 Geisel receives an honorary doctoral degree from Princeton University. The entire graduating class stands and recites Green Eggs and Ham, in tribute to Seuss. 1986 You're Only Young Once! is published. He receives an honorary doctoral degree from the University of Hartford. 1987 I Am Not Going to Get Up Today! is published. He receives an honorary doctoral degree from Brown University, his eighth honorary degree. 1990 Oh, The Places You'll Go! is published, and quickly becomes a widely popular high school and...