Clarence William Anderson

Clarence William Anderson (1891–1971), born in Wahoo, Nebraska, and known professionally as C.W. Anderson, was a writer and illustrator of children's books. Anderson had an interest in horses and drawing. When he wasn't out riding horses, he was drawing them, taking great interest in their bone structure and conformation. Anderson started his career by illustrating for other authors, but eventually began developing texts to accompany his realistic and lively black and white drawings. He is best known for his "Billy and Blaze" book series.

The adventures of Billy and Blaze revolve around proper care of the horse, while teaching a lesson. Anderson would go to great lengths to give accurate information. He would even go on to write Heads Up, Heels Down as a training tool for young horse lovers. All of the stories Anderson wrote would be based on true stories or people that he knew-only the plots were fictitious.

By the end of Anderson's life, he had written and illustrated over thirty-five horse books, and had also created covers for the Saturday Evening Post. Anderson is the namesake for Andy's Summer Playhouse, a youth theater in Wilton, New Hampshire. Anderson also was a member of the Society of American Graphic Artists.

Artwork portfolios

All Thoroughbreds, Harper and Brothers Publishers, 1948 – 20 illustrations

Post Parade, Harper and Brothers Publishers, 1949 – 15 illustrations

Turf and Bluegrass, Harper and Brothers Publishers, 1950 and 1952 – 15 illustrations

Grey, Bay, and Chestnut, Harper and Brothers Publishers 1952 and 1955 – 10 illustrations

Colts and Champions, Harper and Brothers Publishers, 1955 and 1956 – 10 illustrations

Accent on Youth, 1958 – 10 illustrations

Bred to Run, 1960 – 12 illustrations

The Look of a Thoroughbred, 1963 – 8 illustrations

Before the Bugle, 1965 - 9 illustrations

The World of Horses, 1965 – 8 illustrations

Fillies and Colts, year unknown – 5 illustrations

Man O'War, Horse of the Century, 1970 – 8 illustrations

Works

As author and illustrator

And So to Bed, 1935

Billy and Blaze, 1936

Blaze and the Gypsies, 1937

Blaze and the Forest Fire, 1938

Black Bay and Chestnut, 1939

Deep Through the Heart, 1940

Salute!, 1940

High Courage, 1941

Thoroughbreds, 1942

Big Red, 1943

Heads Up, Heels Down, 1944

A Touch of Greatness, 1945

Tomorrow's Champion, 1946

Bobcat, 1949

Post Parade, 1949

Blaze Finds the Trail, 1950

Horses Are Folks, 1950

A Pony for Linda, 1951

Horse Show, Harper, 1951

Linda and the Indians, 1952

Turf and Bluegrass, 1952

The Crooked Colt, 1954

The Smashers, 1954

Blaze and Thunderbolt, 1955

Colts and Champions, 1956

The Horse of Hurricane Hill, 1956

Afraid to Ride, 1957

Pony for Three, 1958

Blaze and the Mountain Lion, 1959

A Filly for Joan, 1960

Lonesome Little Colt, 1961

Complete Book of Horses, 1963

Blaze and the Indian Cave, 1964

The World of Horses, 1965

Great Heart, 1965

Twenty Gallant Horses, 1965

Blaze and the Lost Quarry, 1966

Another Man o' War, 1966

C. W. Anderson's Favorite Horse Stories, 1967

The Outlaw, 1967

Blaze and the Gray Spotted Pony, 1968

Blaze Shows the Way, 1969

Phantom, Son of the Gray Ghost, 1969

Blaze Finds Forgotten Roads, 1970

The Rumble Seat Pony, 1971

The Blind Connemara, 1971

As illustrator

The Red Roan Pony by Joseph Wharton Lippincott, 1934.

Honey the City Bear by Madalena Paltenghi Grosset & Dunpal, 1937.

Honey on a Raft by Madalena Paltenghi Garden City Press, 1941.

Rumpus Rabbit by Madalena Paltenghi Harper & Brothers, 1939.

A Pony Called Lightning by Miriam E. Mason. Macmillan, 1948.

Midnight, Rodeo Champion by Robert E. Gard, 1951.

A Horse Named Joe by Robert E. Gard, 1956