Inventory of the William A. Owens Papers (Part Two):

1940-1980

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tapes containing the "Oral History of Texas Oil Pioneers" (Series. 4); Research materials, manuscripts and drafts for unpublished books written by Owens (Series. 5-8); Shorter works by Owens (Series. 9); Works written by other authors (Series. 10), and; Miscellaneous materials and drafts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 & 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.

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Restrictions

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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.

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Related Material

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Separated Material

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Administrative Information

Provenance

Purchased from William A. Owens.

Processing Information

Processed Steven M. Jones and Cynthia A. Burdick.

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Detailed Description of the Papers

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