Book cover for The Story of Ferdinand illustrated by Robert Lawson and written by Munro Leaf, 1936. © 1936 Munro Leaf and Robert Lawson, renewed 1964 Munro Leaf and John W. Boyd.
Members' Preview for Under the Cork Tree: The Story of Ferdinand
Free for Museum members and donors
Join us for an exclusive viewing of this fascinating exhibition with Guest Curator Jane Bayard Curley and the sons of author Munro Leaf. Among the most beloved American picture books, The Story of Ferdinand celebrates its ninetieth anniversary in 2026. Created in 1935 by Munro Leaf and illustrated by Robert Lawson, the story introduced an unlikely hero, a gentle bull who refuses to fight, set against the vibrant backdrop of Spain. Since its publication in 1936, Ferdinand has never been out of print, has been translated into more than sixty languages, and has inspired multiple film adaptations. Curator Jane Bayard Curley brings together for the first time original drawings, a book dummy, Munro Leaf’s manuscript, and a cel from Disney’s Academy Award–winning animated short, offering a rare look at the making and enduring legacy of this timeless classic.
The Preview will begin at 5:30 with hors d’oeuvres in the Great Hall. From 6:30 - 7:30 pm guests will be treated to a conversation in the Auditorium with Guest Curator Jane Bayard Curley, Associate Curator Isabel Ruiz Cano and Andrew and James Leaf, the sons of author Munro Leaf. The evening will conclude at 8:00 pm and Ferdinand will be open to the public the following day.
Curated by Jane Bayard Curley
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