My dear Noel, I don’t know what to write to you, so I shall tell you a story about four little rabbits whose names were Flopsy, Mopsy, Cotton-tail and Peter. So wrote Beatrix Potter, in 1893, to Noel Moore, the young son of her former nannie, Annie Moore. This tale of disobedience begins and ends with cozy domestic details and contains a thrilling adventure in the middle, each episode accompanied by an illustration, the narrative paced to fit within an eight-page letter. Potter was writing for the simple pleasure of telling a story to a cherished young friend—with no thought of publication at the time. The simple plot, and its setting and characters taken from the everyday experiences of the author, became the basis of one of the most beloved children’s stories of all time.

This is one of 22 picture letters that Potter wrote to the children in her circle during her most creative years, along with manuscripts, artwork and children’s toys, currently on view in an engrossing exhibition at the Morgan Library and Museum. The animal characters that spring to life in her letters and books are the work of a largely self-taught artist whose work centered on her interest in the natural world. Her appreciation for nature deepend over the years, finally becoming her main occupation as an award-winning farmer and conservationist in later years.

Left: The Tale of Peter Rabbit, London: privately printed, 1901; The Morgan Library & Museum, New York. Center: Beatrix Potter with her pet rabbit, Benjamin Bouncer, 1891; Cotsen Children’s Library. Department of Rare Books and Special Collections. Princeton University Library, Photography: Princeton University Library. Right: Beatrix Potter with her pet mouse Xarifa, 1885; Cotsen Children’s Library. Department of Rare Books and Special Collections. Princeton University Library Photography: Princeton University Library.

The daughter of a wealthy textile manufacturer, Potter and her younger brother Bertram grew up with all the privileges that her parents could bestow on them—except for the companionship of other children, and engagement in everyday London life. During the summer months, they were even more isolated when the family moved to Scotland and later, the Lakes District of England.

But they were allowed to roam freely there, and to have many pets beyond the family dogs and cats that were always around. Beatrix had a succession of rabbits, including Peter Rabbit. She bought this pet in 1892, taught him tricks, drew him in a multitude of poses, took him on summer vacations, and mourned his loss when he died in 1901. In addition, the children’s quarters became home to various mice, newts, salamanders, hedghogs, a canary, guineapigs, and a white rat with pink eyes among so many others.

Her study of these creatures --as keen as a scientist's--is evident in her drawings, most of which were done in ink with a fine crow quill pen. The enduring principles in nature, which could be ruthless, became a recurring theme in her books. In one, for example, a cat moves into a house inhabited by mice, who worry that he will “nibble off their heads” if they don’t maintain a vigilant watch.

Perhaps that was a metaphor for ruthlessness in the publishing world, considering the disaster that followed the success of the publication of her first book. The London publisher, Frederick Warne and Company, issued the first edition of Peter Rabbit in October 1902. The first printing was sold out before publication, and 28,000 copies were in print by the end of the year. The astounding success of Peter Rabbit caught the publishers off guard, however, and they failed to file for copyright in America. This oversight left the field open for their overseas competitors, who flooded the market with pirated editions and never paid a “halfpenny” to the author.

Left: Autograph letter to Eric Moore, August 21, 1892; Cotsen Children’s Library. Department of Rare Books and Special Collections. Princeton University Library, Photography: Princeton University Library. Right: Autograph letter to Noel Moore, March 4, 1897, pages 2 and 3; The Morgan Library & Museum, New York. MA 2009.10 Gift of Colonel David McC. McKell, 1959.

Following these events, Potter stoutly defended her rights to her other publications and licensed commercial products—as well as the conduct of her own affairs. While she enjoyed the life of privilege provided by her family, she was under their thumb when it came to choosing a husband. When she became engaged to her editor, Norman Warne, in 1905, at the age of 35, her parents were horrified that their only daughter chose to marry a “tradesman.” Potter’s compromise was to keep the engagement a secret, but within a year, Warne had died of leukemia.

Later the same year, Potter used her own income and her inheritance from an aunt to purchase Hill Top Farm in Near Sawrey in the Lake District, and subsequently purchased adjacent properties to start a sheep farm. In 1912, the local solicitor who had helped her with her property investments, William Heelis, proposed marriage. She kept this engagement a secret from her parents, who she was certain would again disapprove because he was a mere local. Following her father’s death in 1914, Beatrix Potter was a wealthy woman with a family of her own, which included Heelis’s large extended family. She and her husband enjoyed a happy marriage of thirty years, with Potter devoting her time to farming and conservation when failing eyesight made it difficult for her to draw.

At the time of her death in 1943, Potter left nearly all her property to the National Trust, including over 4,000 acres of land, sixteen farms, cottages and herds of cattle and Herdwick sheep as well as manuscripts and drawings not owned outright by her publisher. Hers was the largest gift at that time to the (British) National Trust and it enabled the preservation of the lands now included in the Lake District National Park.

Beatrix Potter | The Picture Letters continues through January 27, 2013 at The Morgan Library and Museum. 225 Madison Avenue at 36^th Street, NY, NY. Information.

Family programs. Information.
Sunday Storytime in Mr. Morgan's Library. Join us and some of your favorite Beatrix Potter's storybook friends-Peter Rabbit, Jemima Puddle-Duck, and Tom Kitten- for Sunday Storytime in Mr. Morgan's Library. This one hour drop-in program offers families a refresher on the beloved tales before viewing Beatrix Potter: The Picture Letters. Presented in cooperation with The Beatrix Potter Society. Appropriate for ages 2 and up. Every Sunday, at 11:30 am and 2:30 pm, beginning November 4, 2012 through January 27, 2013. Free with Museum admission.

The World of Peter Rabbit and Friends. What if you suddenly saw Peter Rabbit run through Mr. McGregor's lush rows of cabbages, losing his jacket and shoes before making it home safely? In these excerpts from the beautifully animated BBC series inspired by Beatrix Potter's signature illustrations, favorite characters spring to life. Following the film, children will be invited to share their thoughts with a member of The Beatrix Potter Society. Appropriate for ages 3–10.Screening by permission of Frederick Warne & Co. Film directed by Dianne Jackson, 1992–1995. Saturday, January 12, 2013,  2–3 p.m. Tickets: $6; $4 for Members; $2 for Children. Tickets.

Film screening. Information.
Miss Potter. (2006, 92 minutes). Director: Chris Noonan. Creatively combining stories from the life of Beatrix Potter (played by Renée Zellweger) with animated sequences of some of her beloved characters, this charming film tells the story of the famous author and illustrator, and her trials and adventures along the road to publishing the children's books which have delighted generations for ages. Also starring Ewan McGregor and Emily Watson. Friday, December 07, 2012,  7 p.m. Free from 7-9 pm.

Adult Workshop
Learning from Beatrix Potter: Children's Book Design 101In this three-hour workshop, offered to coincide with the exhibition Beatrix Potter: The Picture Letters, Pat Cummings, Parsons and Pratt faculty member, children's book illustrator and author, will lead participants in the writing and designing of a short children's book. During the workshop, Pat Cummings will sign some of her own works. Friday, January 18, 2013, 6–9 p.m. Tickets: $20; Members $15. Tickets.