Descriptive Summary
Finley, Patricia, 1919-1994.
Patricia Finley Papers
1941-1993
1986-1993
Materials are in English.
MS 19
1 linear foot (about 775 items)
Archives and Special
Collections Department, The University of
Texas at San Antonio Library
Patricia Finley was born into a military family in 1919 at West Point, New York. She enjoyed writing journals, poems, and short stories and often participated in writing workshops where she wrote about her own experiences and recollections. After attending three different high schools, Finley graduated in 1935 at the age of 16 in Junction City, Kansas. After graduation, she moved with her family to Vermont where she attended college. In 1941, she went to work for the United States government at Camp Beauregard, Louisiana until 1942. She married Glenn Finley, United States Army 2nd Lieutenant, in 1943 and together they had four children. She was a writer in San Antonio during the 1980s and 1990s.
The collection spans the years 1941 through 1993 with the bulk of the material from 1986-1993. It is mostly comprised of writings including autobiographical essays, poetry, handwritten notes, clippings, photographs, letters, souvenirs, a writing aptitude test, various reading material, and assignments from the workshops she attended.
Biographical Note
Patricia Finley was born in 1919 at West Point, New York. She enjoyed writing journals, poems, and short stories and often participated in writing workshops where she wrote about her own experiences and recollections.
Her father was in the military and she and her family moved a lot while she was growing up. Finley attended three different schools during her high school years, Highland Falls, New York; Columbus, Georgia; and Junction City, Kansas. Finley graduated high school in 1935, at the age of sixteen, from Junction City, Kansas.
After graduation her family moved to Vermont and due to Finley's age, her mother insisted she move too, Finley enrolled in Goddard Junior College in Barre, Vermont for her first year of college. Her second year, she attended Stoneleigh Junior College in Rye Beach, New Hampshire, and her last years were spent at the University of Vermont.
After graduating from college, she began working for the United States government in Camp Beauregard, Louisiana where she worked from 1941-1942. In February of 1943 she met her husband, Glenn Finley, United States Army 2nd Lieutenant, while in Louisiana. On March 19, 1943 the two were married. The couple had four children, Glenn III, Radcliffe, Trish, and Mary Lee.
She was a writer in San Antonio during the 1980s and 1990s. She died on September 14, 1994.
Scope and Content Note
The Patricia Finley Papers span the years 1941-1993 with the bulk of the material from 1986-1993. The majority of the material consists of writings from a writers' workshop.
The collection is divided into two series: Writings and Other Material.
The Writings series is divided into three subseries: Writing Workshop Material, Notebooks and Handwritten Notes, and Other Writings. These subseries consist mostly of writing workshop material containing autobiographical essays, poetry, notes, various reading material, and assignments from writing workshops she attended. Also included are various articles and other writings
The Other Material series includes articles by James J. Kirkpatrick entitled Writer's Art, other articles and reading material, letters, souvenirs from a trip, a writing aptitude test booklet, and notes related to her writing.
Organization of Collection
- Series 1. Writings
- 1.1. Writing Workshop Material
- 1.2. Notebooks and Handwritten Notes
- 1.3. Other Writings
- Series 2. Other Material
Access Restrictions
Researchers are required to wear gloves provided by the Archives when reviewing photographic materials. Otherwise, there are no restrictions on these materials.
Usage Restrictions
Permission to publish materials from the collection must be obtained from Archives and Special Collections, University of Texas at San Antonio Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Patricia Finley Papers, 1941-1993, MS 19, Archives
and Special Collections, University of Texas at San Antonio Library.
Acquisition Information
Received as a gift from Col. Glenn Finley, Jr., in June 1996
(Acc. 1996-009).
Processing Information
Processed by Tatina Wulzer, Collections Assistant, April 2008.
Index Terms
Personal Names
Finley, Patricia, 1919-1994.
Subjects
Women writers--Texas--San Antonio.
Writers' workshops.
Locations
San Antonio (Tex.)--History--20th century.
Genres/Formats
Writings.Journals.Poetry.Notes.Articles.Correspondence.Photographs.Souvenirs.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Writings,1941-1993
Includes autobiographical essays, poetry, handwritten notes, photographs, journals, various reading material, and assignments from writing workshops she attended.
Arranged into three subseries: Writing Workshop Material, Notebooks and Handwritten Notes, and Other Writings.
Original folder titles, as well as the original order of materials within folders, were, for the most part, retained.
Writing workshop material,1979-1993
Arranged chronologically.
11Writings,1979-1993 and undated12Writings and other assorted material, 1982-1993 and undated13Poems and jottings,1985-1989 and undated14Writings and poems,198615Writings and other assorted material,1986 and undated16Writings,1988-198917Writings and other assorted material,1988-1989 and undated18Writings and other assorted material,1989 and undated19Copies of journal workshop writings by others,1989-1990110Writings and other assorted material,1990111Writings and other assorted material,1990-1991112Writings and other assorted material,1991113Writings,1991114Assignments and reading material,1991-1992115Short stories,1991-1992 and undated21Comfort workshop material,199222Sally Ann,199223Writings and other assorted material,199224Writings and poems,1992-199325Writing and other assorted material,199326Writings and poems,May 1985
Notebooks and handwritten material,
1941-1942 and 1986-1993
Arranged chronologically.
27Journal writings,1941-194228Creative writing journal,198529Language-figures of speech, idioms, etc.,1993 and undated
Other writings,
1979 and 1985-1993
Arranged chronologically.
210Writings and poetry,1979-1980211Miscellaneous,1985212Smoker,1985 and undated213Writings and other assorted material,1985-1992 and undated214Short stories,1986 and undated215Writings and other assorted material,1987 and undated216Short stories,1987-1990217Short stories,1987-1992 and undated218Writings and other assorted material,1988-1994 and undated21970th birthday-- poems and cards,March 1989220Yard of the month,1992 and undated221Short stories: Kittu Riddle, poem,1992 and undated222Saying Good-Bye,June 15, 1993223Saying Good-Bye,June 22, 1993224Ichabod, undated225Writings, undated
Other material,1977-1993The Other Material series includes articles by James J. Kirkpatrick entitled Writer's Art, other articles and reading material, letters, souvenirs from a trip, a writing aptitude test booklet, and various handwritten notes.
Original folder titles, as well as the original order of materials within folders, were, for the most part, retained.
Arranged chronologically.
31Assorted material,1977, 1991-1992, and undated32Trip souvenirs to Fort Clark, Ramses Exhibit, and El Paso,1986-198933Articles and reprints,1987 and undated34Syvenna Foundation,198935Articles, Writer's Art by James J. Kirkpatrick,1989-1993 and undated36Reprints and articles,1989-1993 and undated37Dusty's story of Aunt Edna and Gladys,January 11, 199238First Novel Surprises, Compels,February 9, 1992