Naomi C. Chase Lecture Archive

The Naomi C. Chase Lecture in Children’s Literature honors the memory of Dr. Naomi Chase, a classroom teacher who became professor at the University of Minnesota in 1950. Dr. Chase was particularly interested in helping children develop as writers and in her 26 years at the University of Minnesota, she inspired generations of students. With her younger colleague Norine Odland, Dr. Chase created a summer program “Writing For and By Children” which evolved into a course and an annual lecture. In 1980, thanks to the generosity of her friend Dr. Julie Jensen and others, this annual event became the Naomi C. Chase Lecture in Children’s Literature. Invited speakers are authors or illustrators recognized for making a significant contribution to the field of children’s literature. Past speakers included Myra Cohn Livingstone, Katherine Paterson, Paul Fleischman, Lois Lowry, James Cross Giblin, Sy Montgomery, Jane Yolen, Kevin Henkes and others.

Chase Lecture is co-sponsored by the Department of Curriculum and Instruction and the University of Minnesota’s Children’s Literature Research collection, home of the Kerlan.

Archive of Chase Lecture Authors

• Bao Phi (March 25, 2025)

• Jacqueline Briggs Martin (April 16, 2024 )

• Shannon Gibney (March 23, 2023 )

• David Wiesner (April 5, 2022)

• Grace Lin (April 19, 2021)

• Adam Gidwitz (April 10, 2019)

• Kevin Henkes (April 24, 2018)

• Melissa Sweet (April 12, 2017)

• Jon Scieszka (April 22, 2015)

• Jane Yolen (April 17, 2014)