An iconic, curious monkey has found a new home in Hattiesburg. The University of Southern Mississippi’s McCain Library and Archives now houses the original artworks, drawings and personal artifacts of “Curious George” creators Hans and Margret Rey.
To celebrate the opening of the new exhibit, family members of the Reys traveled from around the world to attend a weeklong celebration that included a documentary, a musical and a public viewing of the collection that preserves the creative legacy of the duo who gave generations of children their favorite curious companion.
For many, the event was both emotional and inspiring. Among the visitors was Engla Unson, a relative of Hans Rey who flew in from Sweden to see the collection. Seeing the exhibit was deeply moving for Unson and her family.
“It’s enormous. It’s quite an experience for all of us,” she said. “You see how productive he was, how much energy he put into his communication through pictures and illustrations. He had a great sense of humor and he was very human. It was easy for him to get in touch with people, especially children.”
She also noted the couple’s compassion and sensitivity.
“He had a very high sense of ecology and love for animals, nature, and peace. I saw a letter he wrote to the president asking to stop the war in Vietnam. That’s incredible.”
The Reys’ journey was anything but simple. Both were born in Germany: Hans, a dreamer and gifted artist, and Margret, a bold, witty woman who often challenged expectations. Before the war, Hans worked in advertising and bookkeeping in Rio, often daydreaming and doodling in his sketchbook. Meanwhile, Margret worked in advertising in Berlin.
When Nazi Germany rose to power, Margret, who was Jewish, fled Berlin and joined Hans in Rio. It was she who encouraged him to pursue his dream of becoming a full-time artist. The two married in August 1935 and soon after settled in Paris, where their creativity flourished.
Their time in Paris inspired “Curious George.” The Reys loved to visit the zoo. Margret brought her camera, Hans brought his sketchbook. Hans started doing cartoons for a French newspaper, and the little monkey first appeared as “Fifi” in a book called “Raffi and the Nine Monkeys.”
But in 1940, as Hitler’s invasion of France closed in, the Reys—German Jews living in Paris—had to flee. With the manuscript for “Curious George” among their few possessions, they escaped on bicycles through France and into Spain and Portugal before eventually sailing to Brazil and then to New York.
“‘Curious George’, in a way, saved them,” said Karlie Herndon, curator of the de Grummond Children’s Literature Collection at USM. “They had started creating ‘Curious George’ before leaving France, and it helped them a few times with Nazi officers along the way.”
With the Reys now in America, they decided to bring the loveable monkey to the states. The first “Curious George” book was published in 1941, just weeks after their arrival. It took 15 years to truly gain global fame, but when it did, the little monkey became an icon.
Herndon explained how the materials made their way to Southern Miss.
“It all started with Lena de Grummond, who founded our collection in 1966. She wrote letters to authors and illustrators asking for materials, and H.A. Rey was one of the first to respond. Over time, and through the efforts of later curators, the rest of the Reys’ collection came to us. When Margret passed away, she left everything else in her will to USM.”
The exhibit now showcases the couple’s collaborative genius—Margret, the determined writer and editor; Hans, the playful artist and dreamer.
“They were just a perfect team,” Herndon said. “Hans’s work only truly blossomed when she came into his life. She saw his potential.”
Today, more than 75 million copies of “Curious George” have been sold in 25 languages, and the character remains timeless.
“He embodies so many sides of our experience as curious people,” Herndon reflected. “He feels fresh and new to everyone who meets him, because he’s just being himself.”
Now, visitors can experience this unique story and creativity up close. From original sketches to personal letters, the McCain Library’s exhibit brings to life the story of two refugees who turned their love of art, nature and curiosity into one of the world’s most beloved children’s stories. The display will be available until mid-December.