urn:taro:ttu.sw.00041 Elmer Kelton: An Inventory of His Papers, 1948-1985, at the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library Abel Ramirez The Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library
The Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library Texas Tech University MS 41041 Lubbock, Texas 79409 Phone: (806) 742-3749 Fax: (806) 742-0496 Webpage: http://swco.ttu.edu Contact Person: Reference Archivist
August 2000 Text converted and initial EAD tagging provided by Apex Data Services, September 2000. Finding aid written in English. Tue Jul 22 15:21:10 CDT 2003 urn:taro:ttu.sw.00041 converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (20030505). Inventory for the Elmer Kelton Papers, 1948-1985 Abel Ramirez The Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library, August 2000 Descriptive Summary Kelton, Elmer Elmer Kelton Papers, 1948-1985 The papers of Elmer Kelton, a prolific western writer, from 1948-1985. S 524.1 Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library, Texas Tech University 23 boxes and 3 wallets (23.3 linear feet) English. Biographical Sketch

A prolific western writer, Elmer Kelton was born on April 29, 1926 at Horse Camp, east of Andrews, Texas. He wrote numerous western novels including The Good Ole Boys, Honor at Daybreak, and Man Who Rode Midnight. In addition to his western novels, Kelton wrote numerous articles for The Farmer-Stockman since 1964. He has also been a writer for the San Angelo Times and served as editor for the West Texas Livestock and the Sheep and Goat Raisers Association. Since 1955, Kelton has been a member of the Western Writers of America.

 Scope and Content

The collection, donated by Kelton over the past thirty years, is arranged in thirteen series:

Series I: Papers, 1948-1985, consists of literary productions and an inventory of short stories. The items are housed within 2 wallets.

Series II: Papers, 1952-1976 and undated, consists of literary correspondence to literary agencies, abstracts, magazine articles, manuscripts, and six cowboy photographs. The items are housed within 9 boxes.

Series III: Papers, 1964-1997 and undated, consists of manuscripts, magazine articles, printed and scrapbook materials. The items are housed within 6 boxes.

Series IV: Papers, 1968-1981 and undated, consists of correspondence and manuscripts. The items are housed within 1 box.

Series V: Papers, 1971-1987 and undated, consists of manuscripts. The items are housed within 1 box.

Series VI: Papers, 1973-1993, consists of manuscript proofs and correspondence regarding The Art of James Bama, as well as correspondence, convention materials, and financial material on the Western Writers of America association. The items are housed within 1 box.

Series VII: Papers, 1977-1980 and undated, consists of manuscripts and manuscript proofs. The items are housed within 2 boxes.

Series VIII: Papers, 1980-1981 and undated, consists of correspondence and manuscripts. The items are housed within 1 box.

Series IX: Papers, 1984 and undated, consists of manuscripts. The items are housed within 1 box.

Series X: Papers, 1985, consists of correspondence and manuscript proofs. The items are housed within 1 wallet.

Series XI: Papers, 1988, consists of speeches. The items are housed within 1 wallet.

Series XII: Papers, 1989, consists of speeches. The items are housed within 1 wallet.

Series XIII: Papers, 1993, consists of manuscripts proofs, the bulk of which deal with the manuscript of Elmer Kelton Country: The Short Nonfiction of a Texas Novelist. The items are housed within 1 box.

 Index Terms

The subject headings used by the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library are derived from the Library of Congress and/or locally developed.

Subjects (Persons) Kelton, Elmer Kelton, Elmer--Awards Kelton, Elmer--Correspondence Kelton, Elmer--Family Kelton, Elmer--Interviews Kelton, Elmer--Manuscripts Kelton, Elmer--Sources Subjects (Organizations) National Cowboy Hall of Fame and Western Heritage Center--Awards Western Writers of America--Awards Subjects Authors, American--Texas Spur Awards Western stories--Awards Newspapers San Angelo standard-times West Texas livestock weekly Acquisition

Collection accession #(s): 95-0007-B, 90-0289-X, 91-0255-B, 92-0187-B, 92-0254-B, 95-0129-B, 97-0190-B

Gifts, 1968-1997 and undated

 Access Restrictions

Open for research

 Processed by

Abel Ramirez, August 2000

 Preferred Citation

Elmer Kelton Papers, 1948-1985 , Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library, Texas Tech University, Lubbock, Texas

 Additional Sources Connor, Seymour V., ed. Builders of the Southwest. Lubbock: Southwest Collection, Texas Technological College, 1959. Clayton, Lawrence. Elmer Kelton. Idaho: Boise State University, 1986. Alter, Judy. Elmer Kelton and West Texas: a Literary Relationship. Denton.: University of North Texas Press, 1989, c1988. Blanton, Ira Yates. The Triumph of Tradition in Six Novels of Elmer Kelton, 1971-1998. Thesis (Ph.D.)--Texas Tech University, 1999.

For related materials located in the Southwest Collection/Special Collections Library, see the following collections:

Paul Patterson Papers, 1931-1975 Elmer Kelton oral history interview [sound recording], 1975 Collection Inventory Papers, 1948-1985 List of Literary Productions, 1985 Wallet 1 1 List of Short Stories Literary Productions Wallet 1 2 There's Always Another Chance, 1948 Wallet 1 3 Lonesome Ride, 1949 Wallet 1 4 Sheepman on the Devil's River, 1949 Wallet 1 5 Colt Size, 1949 Wallet 1 6 Sellout, 1950 Wallet 1 7 North of the Big River, 1950 Wallet 1 8 She Wolf of the Brush Country, 1950 Wallet 1 9 The Lord Sent an Outlaw, 1950 Wallet 1 10 Wet Weather, 1951 Wallet 1 11 The Unsilent Partner, 1951 Wallet 1 12 No Music for Fiddle Feet, 1951 Wallet 1 13 A Heck of a Promise, 1951 Wallet 1 14 One Son, 1951 Wallet 1 15 The Bells of San Juan, 1951 Wallet 1 16 The Fleeing Sixty, 1952 Wallet 1 17 Showdown at Horse Well, 1952 Wallet 1 18 Apache Patrol, 1952 Wallet 1 19 When Happy Lost His Laughter, 1952 Wallet 1 20 He Headed Them West, 1952 Wallet 1 21 No Epitaph for Me, 1952 Wallet 1 22 Yellow Devil, 1952 Wallet 1 23 Sheep on the River, 1952 Wallet 1 24 Sidesaddle Sweetheart, 1952 Wallet 1 25 Climb the Big Ram, 1952 Wallet 1 26 Sense of Duty, 1952 Wallet 1 27 Rodeo Clown, 1953 Wallet 1 28 Long Ride, Hard Ride, 1953 Wallet 1 29 Dry Winter, 1953 Wallet 2 1 The Way of the Wolf, 1953 Wallet 2 2 Blind Canyon, 1953 Wallet 2 3 Coward, 1954 Wallet 2 4 Die By the Gun, 1954 Wallet 2 5 The Moocher, 1954 Wallet 2 6 Ride a Straight Road, 1954 Wallet 2 7 My Gun Is the Law, 1955 Wallet 2 8 Jail Break, 1954 Wallet 2 9 Fighting for the Brand, 1956 Wallet 2 10 The Duster, 1956 Wallet 2 11 O'Malley's Wife, 1957 Wallet 2 12 Land With No Law, 1957 Wallet 2 13 The Black Sheep, 1957 Wallet 2 14 Deadly Homecoming, 1957 Wallet 2 15 Tough Reputation, 1959 Wallet 2 16 The Debt of Hardy Buckelew, 1959 Wallet 2 17 The 7X Bull, 1961 Wallet 2 18 Man on the Wagon Tongue, 1962 Wallet 2 19 Uncle Jeff and the Gunfighter, 1963 Wallet 2 20 In the Line of Duty, 1967 Wallet 2 21 Railroad Tragedies in the Old West, 1975 Wallet 2 22 Relics, 1978 Wallet 2 23 Steamboats on Texas Rivers, 1978 Wallet 2 24 The Last Indian Fight in Kerr County, 1982 Papers, 1952-1976 and undated Correspondence Box 1 1 Literary Agencies, 1952-1963 and undated Box 1 2 Literary Agencies, 1964-1976 and undated Literary Productions Manuscripts Box 1 3 Abstracts, undated Box 1 4 Farm Articles, 1952-1953 Box 1 5 Farm Articles, 1954 Box 1 6 Farm Articles, 1955 Box 1 7 Farm Articles, 1956 Box 1 8 Farm Articles, 1957 Box 1 9 Farm Articles, 1958 Box 1 10 Farm Articles, 1959 Box 1 11 Farm Articles, 1960 Box 1 12 Farm Articles, 1961 Box 1 13 Farm Articles, 1962 Box 1 14 Farm Articles, 1963 Manuscripts: Magazine Article Box 1 15 The Bracero -- Our Good-Will Messenger in Mexico, 1958 Manuscripts: Novels: Dunn, Kelly, pseud. for Kelton Box 1 16 Man with a Shotgun, [1] undated Box 1 17 Man with a Shotgun, [2] undated Manuscripts: Novels Box 2 1 After the Bugles, [1] undated Box 2 2 After the Bugles, [2] undated Box 2 3 Bowie's Mine, [1] undated Box 2 4 Bowie's Mine, [2] undated Box 2 5 Buffalo Wagons, undated Box 2 6 Bugles at Galiad, Notes and Typed Draft, undated Box 3 1 Bugles at Galiad, Typed Draft, undated Box 3 2 Captain's Rangers, Typed Draft, undated Box 3 3 Chacho, Typed Draft, undated Box 3 4 The Day the Cowboys Quit, Typed Draft and Galley Proofs, 1971 and undated Box 4 1 The Day the Cowboys Quit, Typed Drafts, [1] undated Box 4 2 The Day the Cowboys Quit, Typed Drafts, [2] undated Box 4 3 The Day the Cowboys Quit, Typed Drafts, [3] undated Box 4 4 Horsehead Crossing, Typed Draft, 1962 Box 5 1 Hot Iron, Typed Draft, undated Box 5 2 Llano River, Typed Draft, undated Box 5 3 Retreat to Texas, Typed Draft, undated Box 5 4 Shadow of the Star, Typed Drafts, Uncorrected Proof and Galley Proofs, 1959 Box 5 5 The Texas Rifles, Typed Draft, undated Box 6 1 This Bitter Dust, Typed Draft, undated Box 6 2 This Dry and Dusty Land, Notes, Final Copy, Typed Draft, undated Box 6 3 This Dry and Dusty Land, Typed Drafts, [1] undated Box 6 4 This Dry and Dusty Land, Typed Drafts, [2] undated Box 6 5 This Dry and Dusty Land, Typed Drafts, [3] undated Box 7 1 This Dry and Dusty Land, Typed Drafts, [4] undated Box 7 2 The Time It Never Rained, Galley Proofs and Typed Drafts, 1973 and undated Box 7 3 The Time It Never Rained, Typed Drafts, [1] undated Box 7 4 The Time It Never Rained, Typed Drafts, [2] undated Box 8 1 Trail to Matamoros, Typed Draft, undated Box 8 2 The Tumbleweed Wagon, Typed Drafts, [1] undated Box 8 3 The Tumbleweed Wagon, Typed Drafts, [2] undated Box 8 4 Wagontongue, Galley Proof and Typed Drafts, 1972 and undated Box 8 5 Wagontongue, Final Copy and Typed Drafts, 1972 Manuscripts: Novels: McElroy, Lee, pseud. for Kelton Box 8 6 Joe Pepper, Typed Drafts, undated Box 9 1 Joe Pepper, Galley Proof, 1975 Manuscripts: Novels Box 9 2 Long Way to Texas, Galley Proofs, 1976 Box 9 3 Long Way to Texas, Typed Drafts, undated Box 9 4 Sheep and Goat Raiser, Typed Drafts, 1957-1963 Manuscripts: Short Stories Box 9 5 The Black Sheep, Typed Draft, undated Box 9 6 Coward, Typed Draft, undated Box 9 7 No Music for Fiddle Feet, Typed Draft, 1964 Photographs Box 9 8 Cowboy Pictures, 1958 (6 leaves) Papers, 1964-1997 and undated Correspondence Box 1 1 Bantam Books, 1980-1989 Box 1 2 Doubleday, 1970-1988 Box 1 3 Gordon, A. Rust, 1967 Box 1 4 Jeier, Thomas, 1981-1990 Box 1 5 John R. Payne Literacy Agency, 1986-1990 Box 1 6 Nelson, Barry, 1977 Box 1 7 Lenniger Literary Agency, Inc., 1978-1986 Box 1 8 McKellar, Robert, 1975 Box 1 9 Rowland, Damaris, 1987 Box 1 10 Spray, Norman, 1975 Box 1 11 Taylor, Charles, 1966-1986 Box 1 12 Walker, Glen, 1973 Literary Productions Manuscripts Box 2 1 Caprock (Honor At Daybreak) Final Version, 1990 Box 2 2 The Far Canyon, (Draft), 1994 Box 2 3 Farm Articles, 1964-1970 Box 2 4 Farm Articles, 1971-1975 Box 2 5 Farm Articles, 1975-1986 Box 3 1 Farm Articles, 1987-1991 Box 3 2 The Flag of Mexico, undated Box 3 3 Frank McCarthy's Book (Review Request), 1991 Box 3 4 The Good Old Boys, (Proof), 1994 Box 3 5 Honor At Daybreak, (Caprock) (Final Version?), 1991 Box 4 1 Honor At Daybreak, (Draft Copy I), 1990 Box 4 2 Honor At Daybreak, (Draft Copy II), 1990 Box 4 3 Honor At Daybreak, (Draft Copy III), 1990 Box 4 4 Honor At Daybreak, (Galley Proof), 1990 Box 4 5 Honor At Daybreak, (Ragtown Slim), Early Version, 1991 Box 4 6 Howard Terpning's Book, (Review Request) [1], 1991-1992 Box 5 1 Howard Terpning's Book, (Review Request) [2], 1991-1992 Box 5 2 Man Who Rode Midnight, (Original Text), undated Box 5 3 Slaughter, (Final Version), 1992 Box 5 4 Sons of Texas, First Book, (Carbons), 1987 Box 6 1 Sons of Texas, Third Book, 1987 Box 6 2 Unidentified, undated Printed Materials Box 6 3 Farm Articles, 1965-1975 Box 6 4 Farm Articles, 1975-1985 Box 6 5 Farm Articles, 1987-1991 Scrapbook Material Box 6 6 Fiftieth Wedding Anniversary Cards, 1997 Box 6 7 West Texas Historical Association Membership Brochure, undated Papers, 1968-1981 and undated Lenniger Literary Agency, Inc. Box 1 1 Correspondence, 1968-1977 and undated Literary Productions Manuscripts Box 1 2 Eyes of the Hawk, Galley Proofs, undated Box 1 3 Eyes of the Hawk, Styled Sheet, undated Box 1 4 Eyes of the Hawk, Typed Draft, 1981 Papers, 1971-1987 and undated Literary Productions Manuscripts Box 1 1 The Day the Cowboys Quit, Bound Copy with Corrections, 1971 Box 1 2 The Day the Cowboys Quit, Corrected Copy, undated Box 1 3 The Man Who Rode Midnight, Typed Drafts, undated Box 1 4 The Man Who Rode Midnight, Revised Version, undated Box 1 5 The Time It Never Rained, Sample Book Cover, undated Manuscripts: The Sons of Texas Series Box 1 6 Book I, The Danger, The Daring, Typed Drafts, undated Box 1 7 Book I, The Danger, The Glory, Revision, undated Manuscripts Box 1 8 The Wolf and the Buffalo, Uncorrected Proof, undated Box 1 9 The Day the Cowboys Quit, Galley Proofs, undated Papers, 1973-1993 The Art of James Bama Box 1 1 Correspondence, 1991-1993 Box 1 2 Manuscript Proofs [1], 1992-1993 Box 1 3 Manuscript Proofs [2], 1992-1993 Box 1 4 Manuscript Proofs [3], 1992-1993 Box 1 5 Picture Proofs, 1992-1993 Box 1 6 Research, 1973-1992 Western Writers of America Box 1 7 Convention Materials, 1989-1991 Box 1 8 Correspondence, 1985-1990 Box 1 9 Financial Material, 1990 Box 1 10 Newsclippings, 1990 Papers, 1977-1980 and undated Literary Productions Manuscripts: Edited Work Box 1 1 Pierce, V. I., "Yesterday in Ozona and Crockett County," Correspondence, 1980 Box 1 2 Pierce, V. I., "Yesterday in Ozona and Crockett County," Notes, undated Box 1 3 Pierce, V. I., "Yesterday in Ozona and Crockett County," Typed Drafts [1], undated Box 1 4 Pierce, V. I., Y"Yesterday in Ozona and Crockett County," Typed Drafts [2], undated Manuscripts: Novels: The Good Old Boys Box 1 5 Correspondence, 1977-1978 Box 1 6 Galleys and Proofs, undated Box 1 7 Styled Sheet, undated Box 1 8 Typed Drafts [1], undated Box 1 9 Typed Drafts [2], undated Box 2 1 Typed Drafts [3], undated Manuscripts: Novels: The Wolf and the Buffalo Box 2 2 Correspondence, 1980 Box 2 3 Typed Drafts [1], undated Box 2 4 Typed Drafts [2], undated Papers, 1980-1981 and undated Correspondence Box 1 1 Professional Letter, 1981 Literary Productions Manuscripts Box 1 2 Eyes of the Hawk, Typed Drafts, undated Box 1 3 The Wolf and the Buffalo, Proofs, 1980 Box 1 4 The Wolf and the Buffalo, Styled Sheets, undated Box 1 5 The Wolf and the Buffalo, Typed Draft, 1980 Papers, 1981-1984 and undated Correspondence Box 1 1 Literary Agencies, 1981-1984 Literary Productions Manuscripts: Non-Fiction Box 1 2 Frank C. McCarthy: The Old West, Galley Prints, undated Box 1 3 Frank C. McCarthy: The Old West, Galley Proofs, undated Box 1 4 Frank C. McCarthy: The Old West, Notes, undated Box 1 5 Frank C. McCarthy: The Old West, Prepublication Brochure, 1981 Box 1 6 Frank C. McCarthy: The Old West, Typed Drafts, undated Manuscripts: Novels Box 1 7 Dark Thicket, Typed Draft, undated Box 1 8 Medicine Hill, Typed Draft, undated Box 1 9 Ride For the Thicket, Typed Draft, undated Box 1 10 Run For the Thicket, Typed Draft, undated Box 1 11 Stand Proud, Galley Proof, 1984 Box 1 12 Stand Proud, Typed Draft, undated Papers, 1984 and undated Literary Productions Manuscripts: Novels Box 1 1 Stand Proud, Typed Drafts, 1984 Box 1 2 Medicine Hill, Typed Drafts, undated Box 1 3 Point of Rocks, Typed Drafts, undated Papers, 1985 Correspondence Wallet 1 1 Doubleday, 1985 Wallet 1 2 Dark Thicket, Galley Proof and Draft Copy, 1985 Papers, 1988 Literary Productions Speech to Texas Folklore Society Wallet 1 1 Fiction Writers are Liars and Theives, April 1, 1988 Papers, 1989 Literary Productions Speech, 1989 Wallet 1 1 To West Texas Historical Association, April 14, 1989 Papers, 1993 Literary Productions Manuscripts Box 1 1 Elmer Kelton Country, Draft Copy, 1993 Box 1 2 Elmer Kelton Country, Galley Proof, 1993 Box 1 3 Elmer Kelton Country, Rough Draft, 1993 Box 1 4 Elmer Kelton Country, Unorganized Rough Draft, 1993 Printed Materials Box 1 5 Newsclipping on Kelton, 1993