Melcher, Frederic Gershom (1879-1963), won the Regina Medal in 1962 for his contributions to children’s literature. In 1919, he helped found Children’s Book Week. He established the Newbery Medal in 1921 for the outstanding children’s book of the year, and the Caldecott Medal in 1937 for the best-illustrated children’s book of the year. Born on April 12, 1879, in Malden, Massachusetts, Melcher was coeditor of Publishers’ Weekly for 40 years. In addition, he served as board chairman of the R. R. Bowker Publishing Company. He died on March 9, 1963.
See also Caldecott Medal; Literature for children (Awards).
