James Landreth

A Catherine Milhous Story

The accompanying story “A German Lesson” is a brief biographical sketch of my association, perhaps I might be bold enough to call it a friendship, with Hedy Fishman.  The time period for this story was from about 1959 to 1962 when I was studying German in high school.  After 1962 I went away to college and although I studied German there for a few years I kept contact with Hedy when I would return on winter break or summer vacations.  However, I did not, on those occasions, attempt to speak German, nor to try to study it with her again.

Sometime around that time I knew that I would not be seeing her much longer because my life’s journey was beginning to take a different path, one that would likely take me away from the city of my birth.  And so I asked her if I might have a memento of our time together.  I expected that since she was an artist that she might give me one of her drawings.  I was disappointed that she did not choose to do so.  Instead she gave me a watercolor entitled “Morning Light, Capri” by Katherine Milhouse.  It was a pretty painting and it hung on our walls for many years.  It was eventually given to our son.

Well, it turns out that Katherine Milhouse was a tenant in the house where Hedy lived – and where I would go for my German tutorial – on Chestnut Street in Philadelphia and they were close friends.  I don’t recall ever having met Miss Milhous, though I might have by chance encountered her on the stairs of Hedy’s apartment.  But that painting was what Hedy chose to give me. 

So, now a word (from Wiki) about Katherine Milhouse.  She was a children’s author and artist who was born in Philadelphia in 1894.  She demonstrated her lifelong devotion to the Commonwealth, setting all her books in Pennsylvania.  Her talents were recognized by the American Library Association which awarded her the Caldecott Medal for the Egg Tree (1950).  The Caldecott Medal is awarded annually to the artist of the most distinguished American picture book for children. This book paints a picture of a Pennsylvania Dutch family and their magnificent Easter celebration.  Her use of bright tempera paints brought to life the bold borders and vibrant pages of  the books.   Despite her journeys abroad, Milhous’s heart remained in Philadelphia.  She remained there after finishing her schooling and worked there for the remainder of her career. 

Katherine Milhous died on December 5, 1977 at age 83.

We also have a copy of her book Appolonia’s Valentine