urn:taro:tamu.cush.00089 Inventory of the William A. Owens Papers (Part Two): 1940-1980 Finding aid prepared by Steven M. Jones and Cynthia A. Burdick Cushing Memorial Library, Texas A & M University
College Station, TX 77843-5000 Phone: 979/845-1951 Fax: 979/845-1441 Email: cushing-library@tamu.edu
1982 Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, March 2001. Encoding revised by Aletha Andrew, October 2001. Finding aid written in English. Tue Jul 22 14:56:42 CDT 2003 urn:taro:tamu.cush.00089 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (20030505). Descriptive Summary Cushing Memorial Library,
College Station, TX 77843-5000
Owens, William A., 1905- Inventory of the William A. Owens Papers (Part Two) 1940-1980 27 linear feet William A. Owens, noted folklorist, author, and educator, was born in Pin Hook, Texas on November 2, 1905, the son of Charles and Jessie Ann (Chenault) Owens. He spent his childhood on the small cotton farms around tiny rural communities of Pin Hook, Novice, Faught, and Blossom. In an effort to finance his education, Owens undertook numerous odd jobs as a farmer's hired hand, stock clerk, and for a short time, combination waiter and dishwasher at Dallas University. In 1924 he entered East Texas State Teachers College in Commerce. Owens earned a high school diploma and elementary teaching certificate. After graduation, however, there were few jobs available in country schools and Owens lacked the qualifications to teach in the larger school systems. After two years teaching in country schools, Owens returned to college. He attended Southern Methodist University where he received the BA degree in 1932 and the MA degree in 1933. In 1941, he received his Ph.D. from the State University of Iowa. With the completion of the Master's degree, Owens began his profession in earnest, compiling an enviable record as an academician with legions of grateful former students. While his career as teacher, lecturer, and administrator has been full, he is more widely known as a gifted author. In addition to numerous articles, reviews and short stories, his books serve as monuments to his craft. His works include Swing and Turn: Texas Play-Party Games (1936); Texas Folk Songs (1950, revised in 1976); Slave Mutiny: The Revolt on the Schooner Amistad (1953); Walking on Borrowed Land (1954); Fever in the Earth (1958); Look to the River (1963); This Stubborn Soil (1966); Three Friends: Bedichek, Dobie, Webb (1969); Tales From the Derrick Floor (with Mody C. Boatright, 1970); A Season of Weathering (1973); and A Fair and Happy Land (1975). Part Two of the Owens Papers is divided into seven categories. These are: Personal correspondence 1940-1980 (Series. 1-3), which also includes some printed reviews of Owens' books; Transcripts of the tapes containing the Oral History of Texas Oil Pioneers (Series. 4); Research materials, manuscripts and drafts for unpublished books written by Owens (Series. 5-8); Shorter works by Owens (Series. 9); Works written by other authors (Series. 10), and; Miscellaneous materials and drafts collected by Owens (Series. 11-13). Of special interest in this collection is correspondence concerned with Owens' books, letters from World War II, and the various drafts of books by Owens which have not been published. LIT/Owens MSS 00089 English. Scope and Content Note

Part Two of the William A. Owens papers consists of 42 boxes of papers and 60 books which occupy approximately 27 linear feet of shelf space in the archives. Part Two supplements Part One of the collection in that it emphasizes the years from 1972 to 1980, yet also contains correspondence written prior to 1972. Therefore, it adds much to the first collection.

The collection is divided into seven categories. These are: Personal correspondence 1940-1980 (Series. 1-3), which also includes some printed reviews of Owens' books; Transcripts of the tapes containing the Oral History of Texas Oil Pioneers (Series. 4); Research materials, manuscripts and drafts for unpublished books written by Owens (Series. 5-8); Shorter works by Owens (Series. 9); Works written by other authors (Series. 10), and; Miscellaneous materials and drafts collected by Owens (Series. 11-13). Of special interest in this collection is correspondence concerned with Owens' books, letters from World War II, and the various drafts of books by Owens which have not been published.

Owens' personal correspondence files are further divided into three more specific categories. The first covers primarily the period 1972-1980 but also includes papers dating from prior to this period. This correspondence is broken down alphabetically according to a key word in the subject, name, company, or book. Within the letter grouping the papers are filed chronologically. The undated material follows the last dated papers. The compilers of the collection attempted as much as possible to keep the material grouped as Owens himself had had it arranged. This material contains correspondence with friends and fans on the writing and publication of his books, with organizations Owens participated in, on awards won by Owens, about folk songs, on the writing of other authors, and other various topics. To be especially noted about the dramatizations of This Stubborn Soil.

The second division of personal correspondence primarily covers 1940-1965. These letters are broken down by their subject matter and then arranged chronologically. The subjects covered are Owens war letters and letters with Annie Laurie Williams, who was Owens' literary agent.

The third division of the correspondence files covers Owens' tour with the National Humanities Series in 1972 and 1973. The production was entitled Frontiers: Settling a Nation, and consisted of Owens and a folksinger. The papers include correspondence concerning the itineraries, reviews, and other matters of the tour. The first nine boxes hold this personal correspondence.

Also included in the correspondence files are the printed reviews of books authored by Owens. They are predominantly newspaper reviews although some were printed in journals and magazines. The reviews are broken down by title and arranged chronologically.

Filling the next seven boxes are the transcripts of the Oral History of Texas Oil Pioneers tapes. These are filed by the number of the tape. There are transcripts from 218 tapes.

The manuscripts of books written by Owens since 1975 compose the next category of the collection. The five titles of the books are Caves of Arayat, Running in Place, Japanese Soldiers in World War II, Not So Far Away, Not So Long Ago, Special Agent 2142, and the second edition of Texas Folk Songs. Of these books, only Texas Folk Songs, 2nd edition, has been published (1976). The first three works concern World War II, and the fourth is the third volume of Owens' autobiography. There are many drafts of each book, some having different titles. The drafts are filed from earliest to latest. Some of the drafts were not identified and have been filed as accurately as possible. The labels of the drafts include the number of the draft, whether it is typescript or a copy, and whether or not it contains written notes. The labels manuscript and typescript were used interchangeably.

One may find it interesting to examine the various drafts and trace the development of the books. Not So Far Away, Not So Long Ago,for example, has thirteen drafts and four different titles. The drafts are in good condition and are usually complete.

There are also numerous shorter works written by Owens. These are predominantly articles, essays, and short stories. Most of them appear in printed form, but some were never published. Of interest in an essay written for a Bicentennial essay contest which Owens subsequently used for a lecture.

Part II of the collection also contains three boxes of short works by other writers. These include histories of World War II operations in which Owens participated, articles on folklore and ethnic groups, and other topics which interested Owens. There are many works that were sent to Owens by students and friends for him to critique. Of special interest are two biographies of Owens and short stories by J. Frank Dobie.

The final category of the boxed papers contain miscellaneous material collected by Owens. These include magazines, pamphlets, and other material.

Shelved alongside of the boxes are sixty books which Owens included in the collection. Most pertain to fields which Owens researched such as folksongs, ethnic groups in Texas, history of the oil industry, and others.

Contained in a mapcase located elsewhere in the archives is the oversized material. Stored there are Owens' Bachelor of Arts and Master of Arts diplomas as well as several maps.

 Published Books included with the Owens Papers Abernathy, Francis Edward, ed. Observations and Reflections on Texas Folklore. Austin: The Encino Press, 1972. Abernathy, Francis Edward, ed. Tales From the Big Thicket. Austin: The University of Texas Press, 1966. Abrahams, Roger D. and George Foss. Anglo-American Folksong Style. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice Hall, 1968. Babcock, Merton C. The American Frontier. New York: Holt, Rinehart and Winston, 1965. Blair, Walter. Native American Humor. San Francisco: Chandler Publishing Co., 1960. Boatright, Mody C. and William A. Owens. Tales From the Derrick Floor. New York: Doubleday and Co., 1970. Colcord, Joanna C. Roll and Go. Indianapolis: Bobbs-Merrill Co., 1924. Commager, Henry Steele. The American Land. New Haven: Yale University Press, 1950. Connelly, W.L. The Oil Business As I Saw It. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1954. Creighton, Helen ed. Songs and Ballads from Nova Scotia. Toronto: J.M. Dent and Sons, 1933. Doerflinger, Wiliam Main. Shantymen and Shantyboys. New York: The Macmillan Co., 1951. Dorson, Richard M. American Folklore. Chicago: The University of Chicago Press, 1959. Engel, Carl. An Introduction to the Study of National Music. London: Longmans, Green, Reader, and Dyer, 1866. Fawcett, F. Burlington. Broadside Ballads of the Restoration Period. London: John Lane the Booley Head, 1930. Flanagan, John T. and Arthur Palmer Hudson, eds. Folklore in American Literature. New York: Row, Peterson and Co., 1958. Fowke, Edith and Alan Mills. Canada's Story in Song. Toronto: W.F. Gage. Golay, Frank H., ed. The United States and the Philippines. Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey: Prentice-Hall, 1966. Graves, Stella Marie. Min River Boat Songs. New York: The John Day Co., 1946. Gummere, Francis B., ed. Old English Ballads. In the Athenaeum Press' series. Boston: Gin and Co., 1894. Heart Songs. New York: The Chapple Publishing Co., 1909. Jordan, Gilbert J. German Texana. Burnet, Texas: Eakin Press, 1980. Jordan, Gilbert J. Yesterday in the Texas Hill Country. College Station: Texas A &#38; M University Press, 1979. Leach, MacEdward, ed. The Ballad Book. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1953. Life's Picture History of World War II. New York: Time Inc., 1950. Loesser, Arthur. Humor in American Song. New York: Howell, Soskin, 1942. Lomax, John A. Cowboy Songs and Other Frontier Ballads. New York: The MacMillan Co., 1936.<Lucas, Celia. Prisoners of Santo Tomas. London: Leo Cooper, 1975. Martin, Christopher. The Amistad Affair. New York: Abelard-Schuman, 1970. Mitchell, Burroughs. The Education of an Editor. New York: Doubleday and Co., 1980. Moore, Chauncey and Ethel Moore. Ballads and Folksongs of the Southwest. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1964. Nevins, Alan et. al. Energy and Man. New York: Appleton-Century-Crofts, Inc., 1960. Nichols, Beverly, ed. A Book of Old Ballads. London: Hutchinson and Co., 1934. Nackman, Mark E. A Nation Within a Nation. Port Washington, New York: Kennikat Press, 1975. Nitobe, Inazo. Bushido, The Soul of Japan. Rutland, Vermont: Charles E. Tuttle Co., 1969. The One Hundred and One Best Songs. Chicago: The Cable Company. Owens, William A. Look to the River. New York: Bantam Pathfinder Editions, 1968. Owens, William A. Texas Folk Songs. Dallas: University Press in Dallas, 1950. Owens, William A. Texas Folk Songs (2nd edition). Dallas: SMU Press, 1976. Palmer, Edgar A., ed. G.I. Songs. New York: Sheridan House, 1944. Paredes, Americo. With His Pistol in His Hand. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1958. Patria, Canciones de la, ed. Cancionero Tipico Mexico. San Antonio: El Centro Commercial, 1940. Pittman, Blair. The Natural World of the Big Thicket. College Station: Texas A &#38; M University Press, 1978. Rister, Carl Coke. Oil! Titan of the Southwest. Norman: University of Oklahoma Press, 1949. Ritchie, Jean. Singing Family of the Cumberlands. New York: Oxford University Press, 1955. Rourke, Constance. American Humor. New York: Doubleday and Co., 1953. Rourke, Constance. The Roots of American Culture. New York: Harcourt, Brace, and Co., 1942. Sargent, Helen Child and George Lyman Kittredge, eds. English and Scottish Popular Ballads. Boston: Houghton Mifflin Co., 1932. Scarborough, Dorothy. A Song Catcher in Southern Mountains. New York: Columbia University Press, 1937. Schackne, Stewart and N. D'Arcy Drade. Oil for the World. New York: Harper and Brothers, 1950. Scott, Sir Walter. Minstrelsy of the Scottish Border, T.F. Henderson, ed., 4 vols. London: Oliver and Boyd, 1932. Shilstone, Beatrice. The First Book of Oil. New York: Franklin Watts, 1969. Smith, Sarah Borders. Historic Bardstown Nelson County. Shepherdsville, Kentucky: Publishers Printing Company, 1968. Smith, Sarah Borders. Historic Nelson County. Louisville, Kentucky: Gateway Press, 1971. Speck, Ernest B., ed. Mody Boatright, Folklorist. Austin: University of Texas Press, 1973. Sterne, Emma Gelders. The Long Black Schooner. Chicago: Follett Publishing Co., 1968. Thomas, Jean. Big Sandy. New York: Henry Holt and Co., 1940. Thompson, Craig. Since Spindletop. Gulf Corp.Tobitt, Janet E. The Ditty Bag. New York: Janet E. Tobitt, 1946. Trantham, Ann Caldwell. A Readers Theatre Script Based on the Writing of William A. Owens, M.A. thesis. North Texas State University, 1977. Whitfield, Irene Therese. French Folk Songs. Lafayette, Louisiana: Louisiana State University Press, 1939. Processing Information

Processed Steven M. Jones and Cynthia A. Burdick.

 Access

No restrictions.

 Usage Restrictions

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Online Index Terms

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online catalog of Cushing Memorial Library. Researchers wishing to find related materials should search the catalog under these index terms.

Names Owens, William A., 1905- . Boatright, Mody Coggin, 1896-1970--Correspondence. Bedichek, Roy, 1878-1959--Correspondence. Dobie, J. Frank (James Frank), 1888-1964--Correspondence. Williams, Annie Laurie--Correspondence. Organizations National Humanities Series. State University of Iowa--Alumni and alumnae. United States. Army. Counter Intelligence Corps. Subjects Educators--Texas--Correspondence. Folklorists--Texas--Correspondence. Oral history--History--20th century. Petroleum engineering--Texas--Archives. Oil fields--Texas--Archives.. Slave trade in literature. Mutiny--United States--History--Sources. Biographers--Texas--Correspondence. Historians--Texas--Correspondence. Folklore and education--History--20th century. Literary agents--Correspondence. Folk songs--Texas--History--Sources. Places Pin Hook (Tex.). College Station (Tex.). Titles Texas folk songs. Caves of arayat. Running in place. Japanese soldiers in World War II. Not so far away, not so long ago. This stubborn soil: a frontier boyhood. Tales from the derrick floor: a people's history of the oil industry. Oral history of Texas oil pioneers. Slave mutiny, the revolt on the schooner Amistad. Related Collection

LIT/Owens MSS 00088. William A. Owens Papers (Part One): 1922-1979

Items separated include the following oversize documents, which are stored elsewhere in Cushing Memorial Library: two large prints of an oil gusher; four parts of a copy of an old map of Virginia; a copy of an 1898 map of Jefferson County, Texas; Owens' Batchelor of Arts and Master of Arts diplomas from Southern Methodist University.

 Provenance

Purchased from William A. Owens.

 Detailed Description of the Papers Series 1. Personal correspondence. A-Z, 1947-1980 and undated.

Correspondence concerning Owens' books, with Mody C. Boatright on film production of his books; concerning works by other authors; film rights for Slave Mutiny folksongs; Owens' papers at Texas A &#38; M.; publication of the Bedichek papers; folksongs; dramatization of This Stubborn Soil; Bedichek's letters; National Endowment for the Humanities; royalty information from This Stubborn Soil; contract with Michael Frary for Impressions of the Big Thicket;; with Dotson Rader; and publication of John Steinbeck's letters.

1-1 Personal correspondence, August-October, 1972/ A. Correspondence plus travel information concerning the AUSS meeting, held in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. 1-2 Personal correspondence, January, 1973-October, 1974/A. Correspondence from friends concerning A Season of Weathering; newspaper article on Owens' life. 1-3 Personal correspondence, March-October, 1975/A. Correspondence concerning The Distinguished Speaker's Series; letters dealing with the revised publication of Texas Folk Songs. 1-4 Personal correspondence, January-October, 1976/A. Correspondence concerning Owens' lecture at the Phi Phi Banquet. 1-5 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1977/A. Correspondence concerning transcription of cajun folk songs; newspaper clippings about oral histories; letters regarding the housing of William A. Owens' files with Texas A & M University. 1-6 Personal correspondence, March-November, 1978/A. correspondence concerning transcriptions of cajun folk songs. 1-7 Personal correspondence, February-April, 1979/A. 1-8 Personal correspondence, undated/A. Christmas cards and letters; Slave Mutiny book jacket. 1-9 Personal correspondence, 1963-1972/B. Newspaper articles; letter from Pam Barnes concerning John Steinbeck papers at Columbia. 1-10 Personal correspondence, 1973/B. From Ben Brantley with traffic safety rhymes; concerning A Season of Weathering; from Elizabeth Bowne on her book Beyond the Jungle; newspaper article about W.A.O.; review of Owens' lecture at East Texas State University; review of Impressions of the Big Thicket. 1-11 Personal correspondence, 1974-1975/B. From Geneva Berry on her book Paint the Sand Black; from Jacques Barzun on Owens' And Then the People (later Not So Far Away, Not So Long Ago). 1-12 Personal correspondence, 1976/B. From Geneva Berry on her writing letter honoring Katherine Ann Porter; letter requesting the use of some songs in Swing and Turn and Texas Folk Songs. 1-13 Personal correspondence, 1977-1979/B. Concerning publication of Not So Far Away, Not So Long Ago; short story by Geneva Berry; letters on Berry's novel. 1-14 Personal correspondence, no dates/B. 1-15 Personal correspondence, circa 1947-1948, 1954, 1960-1967/C. Correspondence with Mody C. Boatright. 1-16 Personal correspondence, January 1971-August 1972/C. Correspondence with Columbia University concerning Owens' retirement as summer school Dean and subsequent resumption of his teaching responsibilities; publisher-author agreement, between Scribner's sons and Owens for Book on Family Migration. 1-17 Personal correspondence, September-December, 1972/C. Correspondence with John Cushman; in regards to the copy rights on W.A. Owens' books; letters concerned with the negotiations for the playwriting and production of This Stubborn Soil. 1-18 Personal correspondence, February-December, 1973/C. Correspondence dealing with the film rights of Slave Mutiny; letters concerned with Owens' Fall lecture tour. 1-19 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1974/C. Correspondence concerning copy rights to Look to the River; W.A. Owens' review of Plow Horse Cavalry; copy of agreement between Scribner's Sons and Owens for publishing rights of Book on Family Migration. 1-20 Personal correspondence, January-June, 1975/C. Newspaper article on Annie Laurie Williams; correspondence in regards to the possible publication of A Fair and Happy Land; article on Jacques Barzun's retirement from Columbia University. 1-21 Personal correspondence, July-September, 1975/C. Correspondence concerned with This Stuborn Soil; Winter 1973, Fall/Winter 1974-1975, Quartet magazine from Richard H. Costa. 1-22 Personal correspondence, October-December, 1975/C. Correspondence dealing with A Fair and Happy Land. 1-23 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1976/C. Correspondence and promotional information dealing with Czech Fest related to book on Czech folk songs; letter requesting use of Annie Laurie Williams letters in regards to a biography of Truman Capote (Copy of his statement of authenticity of the project). 1-24 Personal correspondence, January-June, 1977/C. Enquiry into film rights for Look to the River; request to look at Annie Laurie Williams' letters. 1-25 Personal correspondence, July-December, 1977/C. Letter from Father Michael J. Clerkin dealing with Priests and Nuns who had been Japanese prisoners during WWII. 1-26 Personal correspondence, January-July, 1978/C. Continuation of correspondence with Father Michael J. Clerkin in regards to the missionaries during WWII. 1-27 Personal correspondence, January-August, 1979/C. Correspondence with the Panhandle Pen Women's organization dealing with Owens' participation as a judge in their book-length ms. contest; application and letters from Creative Artists Public Service Program (CAPS). 1-28 Personal correspondence, undated/C. 2-1 Personal correspondence, circa 1953. September 1969-April 1972/D. Correspondence with Nemours Ltd; in regards to ownership of film rights for Slave Mutiny; copy of the Literary Purchase agreement between William A. Owens and Nemours Ltd. 2-2 Personal correspondence, March-December, 1973/D. Correspondence from friends and fans on A Season of Weathering. 2-3 Personal correspondence, January-October, 1975/D. Copy of the rights statement for Tales From the Derrick Floor; correspondence concerning Owens' acquisition of some of Roy Bedichek's letters. 2-4 Personal correspondence, January 1976-December 1978/D. 2-5 Personal correspondence, January-October, 1979/D. 2-6 Personal correspondence, October 1972-December 1973/E. Correspondence with Ranko Estreich in regards to the possible publication of their novel; with Loula Grace Erdman on her writing and a writers conference which Owens lectured at. 2-7 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1974/E. With L.G. Erdman on her writing and the writers conference; from Southwestern Library Association announcing A Season of Weathering as winner of award; with Estreich about her novel. 2-8 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1975/E. From L.G. Erdman about her text in the Michael Frary book of Impressions of the Panhandle; with Estreich on her novel, The Losers. 2-9 Personal correspondence, February-December, 1976/E. With Ranko Estreich on her novel. 2-10 Personal correspondence, January-November, 1977/E. With R. Estreich on her novel. 2-11 Personal correspondence, March 1978-June 1979/E. With R. Estreich on her novel. 2-12 Personal correspondence, undated/E. 2-13 Personal correspondence, February 1951, September 1966, May-December 1972/F. Concerning a dramatization of This Stubborn Soil. 2-14 Personal correspondence, February 1973-December 1974/F. From Women in Communications announcing award for A Season of Weathering. 2-15 Personal correspondence, February-November, 1975/F. From Ted Fenner about his ms. 2-16 Personal correspondence, January 1976-September 1978/F. Concerning transcription of cajun folksongs. 2-17 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1979 plus undated/F. From publishers on Owens' texts Running in Place and Not So Far Away; on possibility of film productions of Fever in the Earth and Tales From the Derrick Floor and Look to the River. 2-18 Personal correspondence, November 1967, June 1968, August 1972-September 1973/G. Letter to Owens when a judge for Texas Institute of Letters' literary awards. 2-19 Personal correspondence, March-December, 1974/G. From John Geddes on his writing. 2-20 Personal correspondence, February-December, 1975/G. From Sarah Gross on her book; contains an introduction to Sarah Gross The Riverside Journal (later Green Girl); fifty page typed journal by S. Gross from 1935. 2-21 Personal correspondence, February-December, 1976/G. On Sarah Gross' journals; five Smith County Historical Society (Tyler, Tex) newsletters; letter to a publisher on Owens' book; edited quotations of Dobie, Bedichek and Webb;on writing by Lyman Grant. 2-22 Personal correspondence, February-July, 1977/G. Evaluative report on the Owens' papers acquired by Texas A & M; correspondence concerning the purchase of Owens' papers by Texas A & M; letter from Lyman Grant concerning the acquisition of 24 letters of Bedichek and Doughty by Owens. 2-23 Personal correspondence, August-November, 1977/G. Correspondence concerning publication of a book based on Owens experiences as an agent in the CIC in WWII. 2-24 Personal correspondence, April 1978-February 1979, undated/G. 2-25 Personal correspondence, circa 1959, 1965-December 1972/H. 2-26 Personal correspondence, January-November, 1973/H. Letters to Owens dealing with his appearance on the Today show; letters from friends and fans concerning the publication of A Season of Weathering. 2-27 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1974/G. Letters concerned with Owens proposed position as writer-in-residence at Texas A & M. 2-28 Personal correspondence, February-June, 1975/H. Correspondence with the Southern Methodist University Press concerning a grant for Jessie Ann Owens to work on Texas Folk Songs; acceptance of William A. Owens to Texas A & M as a writer-in-residence. 2-29 Personal correspondence, July-December, 1975/H. Letter and agreement between Harper and Row Publishers, Inc. and W.A. Owens on a contribution (by Owens) to From Parnassus; newspaper article on the death of Ernst Putzi Hanfstaegl; and correspondence with the Hanfstaegl Family. 3-1 Personal correspondence, January-June, 1976/H. Correspondence concerned with Owens move to College Station, Tex.; copy of a speech, given by Owens, at a Phi Kappa Phi banquet; correspondence concerned with the publication of Texas Folk Songs. 3-2 Personal correspondence, July-December, 1976/H. Continued correspondence concerned with publication of Texas Folk Songs; newspaper article on Katherine Anne Porter. 3-3 Personal correspondence, January-June, 1977/H. Correspondence concerning the purchase of the Owens papers by Texas A & M; newspaper clipping on the movement dedicated to Father Leopold Moczygemba; letter and copies of articles by Joe Holly to W.A. Owens; correspondence concerning Louisiana Folk Songs and The Library of Congress; letter informing Owens of the death of Beatrice Hacker. 3-4 Personal correspondence, July-December, 1977/H. Royalty agreement for Owens' contribution to From Parnassus; note given to Owens written by Lady Bird Johnson regarding the inclusion of Big Thicket in the LBJ Ranch library; letters to TAMU in regards to the processing of Owens' papers; correspondence with TAMU library on Owens' contribution for life membership in the Friends of the Sterling C. Evans Library. 3-5 Personal correspondence, February 1978-August 1979/H. Correspondence concerning publication of Texas Folk Songs; letters to publishers concerning possible publication of Running in Place. 3-6 Personal correspondence, undated/H. Newspaper clipping on Ethel Osbourne Hill (Ma Thicket); article on plagiarism suit filed against Alex Haley and his novel Roots. 3-7 Personal correspondence, September 1971-March 1976, undated/I. Copy of PIP magazine; copy of the University of Iowa Department of English Newsletter. 3-8 Personal correspondence, June 1970-September 1972/J. Correspondence with Berea College concerning recordings made of Bascom Lamar, contained in Mrs. Laura Boulton's private collection. 3-9 Personal correspondence, January-November, 1973/J. A letter from the president of The Big Thicket Association asking Owens to speak before the Texas Legislature; correspondence concerned with Owens lecture scheduled for November of 1973. 3-10 Personal correspondence, February-November, 1974/J. Letter from Bill Jamison, Texas Commission on the Arts and Humanities discussing the financial status of the commission for 1976-1977; correspondence with Philip D. Jones, director of the University of Texas Press, concerning publication of the Roy Bedichek letters. 3-11 Personal correspondence, January-October, 1975/J. Continued correspondence with the University of Texas Press concerning publication of the Bedichek letters; letter from Barbara Jordan concerning H.R. 2223. 3-12 Personal correspondence, February 1976-June 1977/J. Copies of fellowship applications for independent study; information of Texas Folklore Festival; correspondence with Gilbert Jordan concerning German folklore in Texas. 3-13 Personal correspondence, August-November, 1977/J. With Gilbert Jordan on German-Texas folksongs; concerning G. Jordan's book. 3-14 Personal correspondence, February-December, 1978/J. With G. Jordan on his book. 3-15 Personal correspondence, January-September 1979 plus undated/J. On publication of G. Jordan's book Yesterday in the Texas Hill Country (with a review by The Houston Post); with G. Jordan on German-Texas folksongs. 3-16 Personal correspondence, May-December, 1972/K. From Warren Kliewer on dramatization of This Stubborn Soil; from John Konrad on his book. 3-17 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1973/K. From John Konrad on his writing; from Robert Knapp about Alfred Wilkes; from W. Kliewer on dramatization of This Stubborn Soil. 3-18 Personal correspondence, February-December, 1974/K. With William J. Kilgore on Owens' lectures at Baylor University; from John Konrad on his novel; to Chester Kielman requesting Bedichek letters and material for A Fair and Happy Land. 3-19 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1975/K. From W. Kliewer on stage production of This Stubborn Soil; newspaper article by Dan Kilgore; with Justin Kidd on Owens speaking at Louisianna State University; from William Keylor and Dora Weiner on Owens' essay in From Parnassus: Essays Honoring Jacques Barzun. 3-20 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1976/K. With Justin Kidd on Owens speaking at Louisianna State University; from William Keylor and Dora Weiner on From Parnassus; from John Konrad on his novel. 3-21 Personal correspondence, February 1977-September 1978/K. From John Konrad on his novel; to Chester Kielman naming Lyman Grant as Owens' deputy to work on the Bedichek papers; with Warren Kliewer on stage production of This Stubborn Soil; to C. Kielman giving Walter Rundell access to the Bedichek collection. 3-22 Personal correspondence, undated/K. Newspaper article on death of Manuel Komroff; from John Konrad on his novel; memorium of Joseph Krutch. 3-23 Personal correspondence, March 1968-December 1972/L. From Al Lowman acknowledging permission to quote Owens' books; with Millard Lampell on his writing and work; from Rosalie Lieberman on her novella. 3-24 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1973/L. From Rosalie Lieberman on her novella; from Sam Liberto on a ms. by Jim Wellington. 3-25 Personal correspondence, January-November, 1974/L. With Rosalie Lieberman on publication of her novella; Fall 1973 Loblolly student magazine; with Anita Low on Panhandle Pen Women conference. 3-26 Personal correspondence, April 1975-December 1976/L. Newspaper article on Loblolly student magazine; from Kenneth Lohf on Steinbeck letters; from John Linder on writing; from Wanda Landrey on her book. 3-27 Personal correspondence, January 1977-December 1977/L. Correspondence with John Linder concerning his return to school. 3-28 Personal correspondence, January 1978-November 1978/L. Correspondence with John Linder about the work on his manuscript; letter from Lloyd Lyman on the progress of the Bedichek letters. 4-1 Personal correspondence, January-September, 1979/ L. Correspondence from Lloyd Lyman concerning the publication of Running in Place; letters from John Linder concerning his manuscript Easter Insurrection. 4-2 Personal correspondence, undated/L. 4-3 Personal correspondence, circa 1948, 1970; February 1971-December 1971/M. Letter to President McGill of Columbia University outlining the qualities necessary for the Dean of summer school. 4-4 Personal correspondence, May-December, 1972/M. Correspondence from friends in regards to reception given in honor of Dean and Mrs. Owens by President McGill of Columbia. 4-5 Personal correspondence, May-November, 1973/M. Correspondence from friends concerning the publication of A Season of Weathering. 4-6 Personal correspondence, 1974/M. Poetry by McNally; correspondence concerning Owens' trip to England. 4-7 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1975/M. Letter from James A. Michener, inviting Owens to become a member of the National Society of Literature and the Arts ; correspondence concerning the publication of A Fair and Happy Land; Owens' visit to A & M. 4-8 Personal correspondence, January-April, 1976/M. 4-9 Personal correspondence, May-December, 1976/M. Correspondence concerned with the Lamar Journal of the Humanities Bicentennial edition; offer from the University of Texas Arlington to buy W.A. Owens' personal papers; letters concerned with the closure of the Wheelock Post Office. 4-10 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1977/M. Correspondence concerned with the attempted acquisition of the W.A. Owens papers by the University of Texas at Arlington; correspondence concerned with W.A. Owens' manuscript based on his war years. 4-11 Personal correspondence, January-September, 1978/M. Invitation and information concerned with the AUSS 1978 annual meeting; Arizona Quarterly (Summer 1978). 4-12 Personal correspondence, January-September, 1979/M. Correspondence concerned with Owens' teaching visit to Texas A & M; correspondence with Kendall McCook. 4-13 Personal correspondence, undated/M. Newspaper clippings on: Nyack schoolboard; chief editor at Scribners; Burroughs Mitchell; Cherry Rhodes; editorial by V. Shannon. Xerox copies of some of Bedichek's personal letters. 4-14 Personal correspondence, July 1971-October 1974/N. Correspondence concerned with the National Endowment for the Humanities Fellowship letters. 4-15 Personal correspondence, April 1975-September 1979, undated/N. Continued correspondence with the National Endowment for the Humanities; rejection of Not So Far Away, Not So Long Ago from publisher. 4-16 Personal correspondence, January 1947-September 1966/O. Application for a home mortgage loan; poll tax receipts, income tax information, teachers retirement system receipts; releases and royalty information for This Stubborn Soil; family letters. 4-17 Personal correspondence, April 1967-December 1970/O. Copy of William A. Owens' birth certificate. 4-18 Personal correspondence, May 1971-November 1972/O. Contract with Michael Frary on Impressions of the Big Thicket. 4-19 Personal correspondence, May-December, 1973/O. From Everett Opie on his drawings; William A. Owens' curriculum vitae. 4-20 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1974/O. Short story by Guner Oztuna; copies of payroll records while teaching at Texas A & M. 4-21 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1975/O. On Owens speaking at Paris Junior College; to Dora Weiner on Owens' article in From Parnassus. 5-1 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1976/O. Announcement of Owens as writer-in-residence at Texas A & M University; on a story by Bill Brett. 5-2 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1977/O. 5-3 Personal correspondence, February-December, 1978/O. Article on Owens as chairman of Citizens Budget Advisory Committee (Nyack, N.Y.); on honorary doctorate from Southern Methodist University. 5-4 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1979/O. With a Review of a book by Lon Tinkle by Owens; on Owens in Citizens Budget Advisory Committee; to University of Texas at Arlington on Owens' course titled Writing and Careers in Writing: Fiction and Non-Fiction. 5-5 Personal correspondence, undated/O. With certificate of the Apollo achievement award from NASA; Who's Who entry; copy of citation for legion of merit. 5-6 Personal correspondence, undated/O. Who's Who entry; two reviews by Owens. 5-7 Personal correspondence, undated/O. publicity for oral history of Texas Oil Pioneers collection at University of Texas archives; review of drafts of Running in Place and Not So Far Away. 5-8 Personal correspondence, October 1970-October 1973/P. Copy of a speech delivered by John F. Prudden to a meeting of the Tappan Church. 5-9 Personal correspondence, January-June, 1974/P. On Owens appearance at the Panhandle Pen Women: Writers Round-up; review of a novel by Richard Price. 5-10 Personal correspondence, June-December, 1974/P. From Philosophical Society of Texas; obituary for Arthur Halliburton. 5-11 Personal correspondence, February-November, 1975/P. From Frank Pierce on Owens speaking at other places while writer-in-residence at Texas A & M; from the Philosophical Society of Texas; copy of a letter sent to President of Columbia University by John F. Prudden concerning medical research controversy. 5-12 Personal correspondence, February 1976-October 1977/P. With the Philosophical Society of Texas; with Alan Pipkin on editing the Bedichek letters. 5-13 Personal correspondence, January-September, 1978/P. Correspondence with the Philosophical Society of Texas. 5-14 Personal correspondence, January-July 1979, undated/P. Correspondence with the Philosophical Society of Texas. 5-15 Personal correspondence, March 1966-December 1971/QR. Correspondence concerning AUSS meeting in Hawaii; article on Gay books. 5-16 Personal correspondence, February 1972-November 1973/QR. Correspondence with Dotson Rader; promotional material and program for the Cherry Rhodes recital; correspondence concerned with Owens appearance at the Panhandle Pen Women's conference; congradulations letters to Owens about publication of A Season of Weathering. 5-17 Personal correspondence, April-December, 1974/QR. 5-18 Personal correspondence, January-August, 1975/QR. Correspondence with Agnes Agatha Robinson concerning her work. 5-19 Personal correspondence, January-November, 1976/QR. Correspondence with University of Texas at Arlington concerning W.A. Owens visit for March 1972 symposium; personal history by Isaac H. Rohrer. 5-20 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1977/QR. Correspondence with University of Texas at Arlington concerning the March symposium; promotion materials and program for Cherry Rohodes concert; letter and article concerning death of Sarah B. Pepkin. 5-21 Personal correspondence, February 1978-September 1979/QR. Correspondence with Jay Mark concerning the use of Lady Mary from Owens' book Texas Folk Songs. 5-22 Personal correspondence, undated/QR. Newspaper clipping for Dotson Rader's book Blood Dues. 6-1 Personal correspondence, 1948, 1956, 1968, February 1972-December 1972/S. Correspondence with Charles Scribner's Sons concerning publication of A Season of Weathering; letter from Elaine Steinbeck concerning the publication of John Steinbeck's personal letters. 6-2 Personal correspondence, January-June 1973/S. Correspondence with Elaine Steinbeck concerning the personal letters of John Steinbeck. 6-3 Personal correspondence, August-November, 1973/S. Correspondence concerning Owens speaking engagement for the University of Minnesota lecture series; program and advertising flyers for Claudette Sorel. 6-4 Personal correspondence, January-November, 1974/S. Correspondence with Charles Scribner's Sons concerning publication of Out West: A Fair and Happy Land; information on the Sun Valley seminar on the western arts and humanities. 6-5 Personal correspondence, March-December, 1975/S. Correspondence with Doubleday concerning copyright laws; letters from friends and fans in regards to the publication of A Fair and Happy Land. 6-6 Personal correspondence, January-June, 1976/S. Correspondence with Charles Scribners and Sons concerning the availability of A Season of Weathering; and royalty report on A Fair and Happy Land; correspondence from Dr. C.R. Schultz of TAMU on the possible purchase of the Owens' personal papers. 6-7 Personal correspondence, August-December, 1977/S. Correspondence dealing with use of A Fair and Happy Land as supplemental reading for college courses. 6-8 Personal correspondence, January-June, 1977/S. Correspondence with Dr. C. R. Schultz as to restrictions on Owens' papers; continued correspondence with Scribners over royalties and copyrights. 6-9 Personal correspondence, August-December, 1977/S. Correspondence dealing with use of A Fair and Happy Land as supplemental reading for college courses. 6-10 Personal correspondence, January-May, 1978/S. Correspondence with John Schaffner concerning possible retainment as a literary agent for Owens. 6-11 Personal correspondence, July 1978-October 1979/S. Correspondence concerned with Owens' continuing education program at Columbia. 6-12 Personal correspondence, undated/S. Letter given to Owens written in 1821. 6-13 Personal correspondence, 1966, July 1972-December 1972/T. Philosophical Society of Texas correspondence concerning 1972 meeting, topic Texas in Transition; correspondence with University of Texas Press concerning publication of Impressions of the Big Thicket; from the Texas Institute of Letters. 6-14 Personal correspondence, January-November, 1973/T. From Texas Institute of Letters; on publication of Impressions of the Big Thicket; on Owens speaking at the 2nd general session of the Texas Library Association; from the Texas Folklore Society; from Don Taylor on his novels. 6-15 Personal correspondence, January-June, 1974/T. From Texas Folklore Society; from University of Texas Press on republication of Three Friends; from Texas Institute of Letters selecting Owens as a judge for Literature. 6-16 Personal correspondence, July-October, 1974/T. To Frank Wardlaw on republication of Three Friends; from Texas Institute of Letters. 6-17 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1975/T. From Texas Institute of Letters on judging of literature award; from Texas Folklore Society; from Gregory Tobin on permission to quote an interview by Owens with Walter P. Webb. 6-18 Personal correspondence, February-July, 1976/T. From the Texas Institute of Letters; from the Texas Folklore Society; from David Tyrone on film rights to Slave Mutiny; to Mrs. Annie Mae Toucha on permission to use songs sung by Rod Drake in a book. 6-19 Personal correspondence, January-June, 1977/T. From the Texas Institute of Letters; from the Texas Folklore Society; from Don Taylor on his novel. 6-20 Personal correspondence, July-November, 1977/T. From the Texas Folklore Society; from Owens on Gilbert Jordan's Yesterday in the Texas Hill Country; from the Texas Institute of Letters. 6-21 Personal correspondence, January-June, 1978/T. From Texas Folklore Society; from Texas Institute of Letters. 6-22 Personal correspondence, July-December, 1978/T. To Texas Monthly Magazine submitting Owens' war years autobiography; on Owens introduction to Blair Pittman's The Natural World of the Big Thicket; from University of Texas Press on publication of Not So Far Away, Not So Long Ago; from Charles Schultz on processing the Owens papers. 6-23 Personal correspondence, January-August, 1979/T. With Texas A & M University Press on Owens' books My Dear Cathartic, and Running in Place; on publication of Not So Far Away...; with Time-Life Books for quotation permission from Tales From the Derrick Floor; from the Texas Folklore Society; with Texas A & M University Press on publication of Not So Far Away, Not So Long Ago. 6-24 Personal correspondence, undated/T. On publication of Running in Place; on Don Taylor's novel. 7-1 Personal correspondence, September 1972-June 1979/U-V. With the United Church Press on Black Mutiny. 7-2 Personal correspondence, March 1947-December 1972/W. From Annie Laurie Williams on permission to use her correspondence; from Frank Wardlaw on publication of Impressions of the Big Thicket; on Annie L. Williams' papers. 7-3 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1973/W. On publication of Impressions of the Big Thicket. 7-4 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1974/W. From University of Texas Press on republishing Three Friends; from James Weikart on his book; from Dora B. Weiner and William R. Keylor on a book to honor Jacques Barzun. 7-5 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1975/W. From Weiner and Keylor on From Parnassus: A Volume of Essays for Jacques Barzun. 7-6 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1976/W. From Loula Grace Erdman to F. Wardlaw on the text for the book of Michael Frary's paintings of the Panhandle; from F. Wardlaw to J.R. Parten on establishing a fund to xerox the Bedichek letters; from Henry Lee Somerville on a book about Texas Aggies, Men With Boots; from Keylor and Weiner on From Parnassus; from Alfred Wupperman on quoting Three Friends in his book; from F. Wardlaw on Bill Brett's book, The Stolen Steers. 7-7 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1977/W. With Frank Wardlaw on Bill Brett's The Stolen Steers; with Walter Rundell on working with Owens on the Bedichek papers; obituary for Annie Laurie Williams; with F. Wardlaw on Gilbert Jordan's book. 7-8 Personal correspondence, January-May, 1978/W. On Owens as Visiting Professor at University of Texas at Austin. 7-9 Personal correspondence, July-August, 1978/W. With Larry J. Wygant on his examining the Bedichek papers; with Frank Wardlaw on Gilbert Jordan's book. 7-10 Personal correspondence, January-December, 1979/W. With Larry J. Wygant on Bedichek letters; with John West and Lucy West on Not So Far Away, Not So Long Ago. 7-11 Personal correspondence, undated/W. 7-12 Personal correspondence, 6 September 1973/XYZ. From Ralph Yarborough on conservation of the Big Thicket. 7-13 Personal correspondence, September 1973-November 1974/XYZ. With Ralph Yarborough on the Big Thicket. Series 2. Personal Correspondence, 1940-1965 and undated.

Correspondence concerning Owens' books, with published reviews of Owens' books; the Annie Laurie Williams letters; the Bedichek letters; Ralph Yarborough and the Big Thicket; photographs of Owens and family; and transcripts from Owens' college years. Also contains personal correspondence from 1940-1946, including those from Owens' years on active duty in World War II, as well as correspondence concerning the film rights to Slave Mutiny; plagiarism of Slave Mutiny; clippings and articles on Grant Wood; newsletters.

 7-14 Reviews of Texas Folk Songs, Black Mutiny, Three Friends and Walking on Borrowed Land. 7-15 Reviews of Look to the River and Fever in the Earth. 7-16 Reviews of Impressions of the Big Thicket. 7-17 Reviews of This Stubborn Soil, July-November, 1966. 7-18 Reviews of This Stubborn Soil, December 1966-July 1972. 7-19 Reviews of A Season of Weathering, March 1972-February 1973. 7-20 Reviews of A Season of Weathering, March 1973. 7-21 Reviews of A Season of Weathering, April 1973-December 1975. 7-22 Reviews of A Fair and Happy Land, January-December, 1975. 8-1 Reviews of A Fair and Happy Land, January-December, 1976. 8-2 Reviews of Texas Folk Songs (2nd edition). 8-3 Photographs of Mr. and Mrs. W.A. Owens (circa 1959); Christmas photos of Jessie Ann and David Owens (undated); photo of the Association of University Summer Sessions (1972); Owens and Charles Owens (Saw Player); Owens, Charles Owens and Mrs. Davis (January 18-19, 1973), photos of Owens used in newspaper articles (January 3, 1973, undated); photos from Panhandle Pen Women Writers Roundup (March 14-16, 1974); studio portraits of Owens (circa 1974); photos of Jessie Ann Owens, and the Rogers family. 8-4 Transcripts of W.A. Owens work at Southern Methodist University (June 1930-June 1933), University of Texas at Austin (June 1935-June 1936), the State University of Iowa (1937); Apollo Achievement Award (1969); commission as Admiral in the Texas Navy. 8-5 Personal correspondence, March 1940-June 1942. Correspondence written by and to William Owens, while in boot camp and intelligence training. 8-6 Personal correspondence, July 1942. 8-7 Personal correspondence, August 1942. 8-8 Personal correspondence, September 1942. 8-9 Personal correspondence, October-December, 1942. 8-10 Personal correspondence, January-March, 1943. 8-11 Personal correspondence, April-July, 1943. 8-12 Personal correspondence, August-September, 1943. 8-13 Personal correspondence, October-November, 1943. 8-14 Personal correspondence, December 1943. 8-15 Personal correspondence, January-June, 1944. 8-16 Personal correspondence, July-December, 1944. 8-17 Personal correspondence, January-June, 1945. 8-18 Personal correspondence, July-October, 1945. 8-19 Personal correspondence, 1946. 9-1 Personal correspondence, circa 1940-1946, undated. 9-2 Personal correspondence, circa 1940-1946, undated. 9-3 Personal correspondence, circa 1940-1946, undated. 9-4 Personal correspondence, circa 1940-1946, undated. 9-5 Personal correspondence, circa 1940-1946, undated. 9-6 Correspondence of Miss Annie Laurie Williams concerning film rights to Slave Mutiny. Document of plagiarism by David Holland. 9-7 Newspaper clippings concerning the death of Carson McCuller. 9-8 Newspaper clippings concerning the death of Roland O. Baughman, Mary Kennedy McCord. 9-9 Magazine and newspaper clippings on Grant Wood concerning his work and death. 9-10 Color magazine prints of Grant Wood published after his death in Life. 9-11 Newspaper clippings and cards designed by Grant Wood. 9-12 Book covers for Fever in the Earth, Walking on Borrowed Land, This Stubborn Soil, and Look to the River. 9-13 Big Thicket Bulletin, May-June 1975, November-December 1976.