Manuscript Register

This document describes a collection of materials held by the
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
Fax: 319-335-5900
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu

Posted to Internet: May 2000

Acquisition Note: Dale Kramer donated his manuscripts to us in the 1950s and 1960s.

Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

Photographs: Box 1

Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department.

Copyright:  Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials"

Use of Collections: The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.

Biographical Note: Dale Kramer was born near Ottumwa, Iowa in 1911 and grew up in Sigourney, Iowa. His father worked as a farmer and butcher and Kramer worked on farms and in his father's butcher shop, later becoming a printer. While attending Parsons College and the State University of Iowa, Kramer worked as a linotype operater, possibly at the Iowa City Press-Citizen and the Cedar Rapids Gazette. Kramer became active in politics at an early age and later reported on national politics. During the late 1930's Kramer published two investigations in Harper's; one concerning Communist activities in the United States and the other and expose of pro-Hitler forces in the United States. During World War II Kramer was an undercover agent for Army Intelligence and later became a war correspondent for Yank magazine. Kramer authored many books covering a variety of topics. Among them are The Wild Jackasses (1956) about the efforts of farmers to better their conditions, Teen-Age Gangs (1953) concerning causes of juvenile delinquency, and several biographies including The Heart of O. Henry (1954) and Ross and the New Yorker (1951).

After living in New York City with his wife and two children, Kramer returned to Sigourney, Iowa with his family. Kramer and his wife were active in the Democratic party in Keokuk county; Kramer was the Democratic chairman of the county and in 1956 ran for the Fourth District Congressional Primary, though lost to Steven Carter. After returning to Sigourney, Kramer also taught magazine writing at the State University of Iowa School of Journalism. He lived and wrote in Sigourney until his death in 1966.

Scope and Contents: The papers of Dale Kramer consist of 1.5 linear feet of manuscript drafts, proofs, and layouts. Manuscripts are included for The Heart of O. Henry (1954), Ross and the New Yorker (1951), Teen-Age Gangs (1953), and The Wild Jackasses (1956). Also included in this collection are a short story draft, newspaper clippings, and negatives.

Related Materials: See also the papers of William and Karlton Kelm for correspondence. http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/spec-coll/MSC/ToMsC650/MsC637/Kelm.htm

The Heart of O. Henry. First draft (with revisions) (3 folders).

Ross and the New Yorker. Dummy proofs of fly-leaf, title-page, copyright, dedication, table of contents, list of illustrations, and books by author.

Negatives

Dale Kramer with his nephew, Donovan M. Kramer, at Milne Bay in New Guinea, 1945

Dale Kramer with his daughter, Nancy, 1942

Newspaper clippings, 1949 -- 1956

Ross and the New Yorker

Hand printed layout of the title-page.

Layout of some front material (typewritten and handwritten).

Galley proofs.

First draft (with revisions) (2 folders).

Publisher's copy and index (3 folders).

Teen-age Gangs, 1953

Draft (2 folders).

Author's proof (2 folders).

["The Whitbey Legend"], 1936. Draft of an untitled short story.

The Wild Jackasses. Draft (with revisions) (3 folders).

 

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