Special Collections
Manuscripts and Personal Papers of
Prose Writers
held by the University of Iowa Libraries
Note: The smaller Iowa Author collections were pulled together in an aggregate collection in 2009. Some of these links link to that collection.
ARGOW, WALDEMAR, 1916--. Mss. .5 ft.
Unitarian minister in Cedar Rapids. Holdings consist of the printer's copy of his What Do Religious Liberals Believe? Iowa Authors Mss. MsC557. (Finding Aid).
ARMITAGE, MERLE, 1893-1975. [O/I/P]. Papers of Merle Armitage, 1932-1965. 2.5 ft.
Set designer, impresario, co-founder and manager of the Los Angeles Grand Opera Association, president of the American Institute of Graphic Arts, art director of Look and Quick magazines, and book designer. Correspondence, typescripts of Accent on Life and George Gershwin: Man and Legend, and files on other projects. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC558. (Finding Aid). See also "Merle Armitage: Accent on Taste" by Jay Satterfield.
AURNER, NELLIE SLAYTON, 1874-1961. Manuscripts relating to Aurner's translations of Matteo Bandello's (1485-1561) dedications to his patrons. Notes, printed materials, manuscripts. MsC784. (Finding Aid)
BACH, MARCUS, 1906-1955. Papers of Marcus Bach, [ca. 1949-1962?] 1.5 ft.
Religion professor and writer. Early typescript drafts of six of his books, including The Dream Gate and Report to Protestants. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC560. (Finding Aid)
BAILEY, ALFRED M., 1894-1978. Papers of Alfred M. Bailey, 1949-1955. 2 ft.
Naturalist and writer. Manuscripts of his books and articles, primarily about birds. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC561. (Finding Aid)
BERGMANN, MRS. LEOLA MARJORIE NELSON, 1912- . Americans from Norway. 2 drafts, printer's copy. Music Master of the Middle West: The Story of F. Melius Christiansen and the St. Olaf Choir. Carbon typescript of a dissertation published under this title. (Finding Aid)
BROWN, HAZEL E. Grant Wood and Marvin Cone, Artists of an Era (1972). Source materials, manuscript. 3 boxes. (Finding Aid)
BUXBAUM, KATHERINE, 1885- . Iowa Outpost. Incomplete draft. (Finding Aid)
CALKIN, HOMER L., 1912-1995. Papers of Homer L. Calkin, 1897-1996. 21 linear ft.
Historian, archivist, and author. Correspondence files; diaries; memorabilia; scrapbooks dealing with his early life, education, career in the State Department, and work for the Methodist Church. MsC504. (Finding Aid)
CARHART, ARTHUR HAWTHORNE, 1892-1978. Papers of Arthur H. Carhart, 1916-1959. 4.5 ft.
Author, conservationist, and landscape architect. Manuscripts of some of his books including The National Forests and Timber in Your Life. Typescript drafts, proofs, galleys, outlines, and correspondence are included. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC576. (Finding Aid)
CARVER, THOMAS NIXON, 1865-1961. Recollections of an Unplanned Life. Uncorrected carbon. (Finding Aid)
CHAMBERLIN, J. GORDON, 1914-. [O/I] Papers of J. Gordon Chamberlin, 1930-1996 . 20 ft.
Methodist minister and professor of religion. Course work, sermons, church bulletins, conferences, etc. reflecting his career in the ministry. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC580. (Finding Aid)
CLARK, GLENN, 1882- . Glenn Clark Manuscripts, 1950s. 1 ft.
Theological writer. Typescripts of Come Follow Me and God's Reach. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC583. (Finding Aid)
DRABBLE, MARGARET, 1939-. Margaret Drabble's Research Files for Angus Wilson: A Biography, 1990-1995. 4.8 ft.
Acclaimed British novelist and scholar. Research files, including administrative material, research materials, and corrected typescripts for her 1995 biography of novelist Sir Angus Wilson. MsC 931. (Finding Aid)
EVANS, MARY ELLEN, 1912- . Mss, correspondence and other materials related to her books. 8 boxes. MsC598 (Finding Aid)
FARWELL, BYRON, 1922--. Papers of Byron Farwell, 1955-1989. 15 ft.
Author and military historian. Primarily manuscripts including various drafts, galleys, and proofs for eleven of his books. Also contains drafts of book reviews, short stories, and articles along with some subject files. MsC502. (Finding Aid)
FOSTER, ORA DELMER, 1877-1965. Papers of Ora D. Foster, 1895-1960. 21 ft.
Congregational minister, lecturer, and professor. Subject files, literary manuscripts, diaries, photographs, and books relating to Foster's life and career. MsC211. (Finding Aid)
FOSTER, THOMAS HENRY, 1875-1951. Manuscripts and typescripts of 36 articles and speeches: see MsC 100 (Morrell Papers) for details. "My Venture at Collecting" [an autobiography]. Shakespeare: Man of Mystery. Drafts, galleys, publisher's copy. MsC257. (Finding Aid)
GARWOOD, DARRELL. Artist in Iowa, a Life of Grant Wood; printer's copy. Crossroads of America, the Story of Kansas City; printer's copy. MsC608. (Finding Aid)
HARSHBARGER, GRETCHEN FISCHER, 1906-1989. Papers of Gretchen Fischer Harshbarger, 1928-1987.2 ft.
Landscape designer, illustrator, horticultural photographer, and author of The McCalls Garden Book, The Better Homes and Gardens Garden Book, and The Flower Family Album as well as many articles. Her papers include correspondence as well as materials relating to her designs and writing. Iowa Authors Mss. (Finding Aid).
HEBARD, GRACE RAYMOND. Wyoming historian. Manuscript and photographs for her book Sacajawea: Guide of the Lewis and Clark Expedition. MsC624. (Finding Aid)
HINKLEY, LAURA. Drafts through galleys of Ladies of Literature (Hastings House, 1946). First draft and publisher's copy of The Stevensons: Louis and Fanny. MsC625. (Finding Aid)
HOELTJE, HUBERT E., 1894- . "The Writing of The Scarlett Letter (New England Quarterly, September 1954). Documentation. MsC740. (Finding Aid)
HOFFMAN, MATHIAS MARTIN, 1889-1961. Mathias Martin Hoffman Manuscripts, 1950s.
.5 ft. Historian of regional religion. Collection consists of two manuscripts, Antique Dubuque, 1673-1833 and Young and Fair Is Iowa. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC741. (Finding Aid)
HUNN, L.E. "JACK", 1905- . L.E. Hunt Papers, 1980-1988. .5 ft.
Coach, story writer and poet. Stories for his grand-children published as Adventures with Grandpa (1988); two unpublished typescripts. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC631. (Finding Aid)
KEMP, CHARLES F. Manuscripts and typescripts of A Pastoral Triumph and Physicians of the Soul. MsC638.
KLUCKHOHN, CLYDE, 1905-1960. Papers of Clyde Kluckhohn, 1945-1948. 2.5 ft.
Anthropologist and author. Correspondence, early drafts, galleys, and printer's copies of three of Kluckhohn's early works. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC640. (Finding Aid)
KRAMER, DALE, 1911-1966. [P]. Dale Kramer Manuscripts, 1957-1972.
.5ft. Writer and political activist. Included are drafts of his books The Heart of O. Henry, Ross and the New Yorker, and Teen-Age Gangs. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC644. (Finding Aid).
MARTIN, ROBERT BERNARD, 1918-- . Robert Bernard Martin Manuscript, 1988.
Teacher and biographer. Typescript of With Friends Possessed: A Life of Edward Fitzgerald. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC655. (Finding Aid)
MAY, CHARLES PAUL, 1920--. Mss, 1969-1972. 1 ft.
Notes, source materials, drafts and proofs for two non-fiction books: Bats. (1969) and Stranger in the Storm (Abelard-Schuman, 1972). Original title: Birds Flying High. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC656. (Finding Aid).
McGUIRE, Mrs. FRANCES LYNCH. Wagon to a Star (Caxton Printers, Ltd., 1951. Publisher's copy, galley, page proof, and mock up. MsC652. (Finding Aid)
MARION MEADE. Buster Keaton: Cut to the Chase Archive, 1990-1996. (10 linear feet). MsC 512.
Biographer Marion Meade was commissioned to write a biography for the centenary of Buster Keaton's birth in 1895. She spent four years researching Keaton, interviewing people who knew or worked with him, locating photographs, and writing Buster Keaton: Cut to the Chase (HarperCollins, 1995). This collection consists of Meade's research files and interview tape recordings It is a good example of a contemporary biographer at work. (Finding Aid).
OLSON, HARRY FERDINAND, 1901-1982, Papers of Harry F. Olson, 1938-1966. 0.25 ft.
Acoustical engineer for RCA, author of several books on music, acoustics and engineering. Articles, publicity, and biographical material relating to Olson and his career. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC670. (Finding Aid)
OSTEN, GAR, 1924-1991. Papers of Gar Osten, 1934-1989. 7 ft.
Astrologer. Papers include correspondence, interviews, tape recordings, astrological charts, and materials relating to a number of criminal investigations in which Osten participated as well as his writings. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC672. (Finding Aid)
PETERSON, VIRGIL W. Barbarians in Our Midst: A History of Chicago Crime and Politics (Little Brown, 1952). Typescript, publisher's copy. MsC742.
POWELL, JOHN HARVEY, 1914-1971. Papers of John H. Powell, 1935-1974. 3.5 ft.
Historian. Correspondence and preliminary drafts of his writings. Iowa Author Mss. MsC678. (Finding Aid)
ROHLF, WILLIAM AMOS, 1867-1941. Papers of William Amos Rohlf, 1937-1939. 1 ft.
Manuscript of Dr. Rohlf's Good Morning, Doctor! and related materials. Iowa Authors Mss.
ROSHEIM, DAVID L., 1944-- . Papers of David L. Rosheim, 1961-1989. .5 ft.
Essayist, poet and historian whose work appeared regularly in the Des Moines Register. Includes typescripts of miscellaneous writings and poetry and the typescript of an unpublished science fiction novel. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC686. (Finding Aid)
RYAN, J. CLYDE. A Skeptic Dude in Arizona (San Antonio: Naylor Co., 1952). First draft. MsC687. (Finding Aid)
SHEETS, GEORGE MARSH, 1887-1974. "Aunt Mary" (essay). Cousin Helen (novel). George J. Schaller, Big Country Banker. "Little Arthur" (essay). "Uncle Merlin" (essay). Photocopies circa 1968). MsC694. (Finding Aid)
SPENCE, HARTZELL, 1908--. Mss. 3 ft.
Born in Clarion, Iowa, Spence graduated from the University of Iowa in 1930. From 1930 to 1941 he was the United Press bureau manager in Des Moines, and saw service during WW II in the Army Air Forces where he was the founder and first editor of Yank, the Army weekly newspaper. After the war, he worked as a free-lance writer, particularly noted for his reporting on religion. He also published several novels, wrote a comic strip (David Crane) and wrote the scripts for the weekly radio program, "One Foot in Heaven", broadcast on the ABC network, 1944-1945. This collection consists of drafts for numerous articles and stories, including those for The Story of Religion in America, published in Look, 1957-1960. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC701. (Finding Aid).
STIMPSON, GEORGE WILLIAM. A Book About a Thousand Things; A Book About American History; A Book About American Politics (Harper, 1952); Information Roundup. Printer's copies, etc. MsC704. (Finding Aid)
TAYLOR, JAMES C. Ottumwa -- One Hundred Years a City. Manuscript. MsC708. (Finding Aid)
TRUEBLOOD, ELTON D. The Common Ventures of Life. Printer's copy. Declaration of Freedom. Typescript. MsC710. (Finding Aid)
VAN VECHTEN, CARL, 1880-1964. Van Vechten Collection, 1944-1950. 1 ft.
23 photographs of Doris Julian, Stephen Van Ophuigsen, Coleman Dowell, Jose Quintero and others; 16 photograph postcards including Gertrude Stein and Alice B. Toklas; 75 photographs of celebrities (lacking no. 18); several drafts and related correspondence for "Gertrude Stein: An Epilogue". Iowa Authors Mss. MsC715. (Finding Aid)
WELTY, SUSAN FULTON, 1905--. Mss. 2 ft.
Born in Fairfield, Iowa, Welty took degrees at Parsons College and the University of Utah. A teacher most of her life, this collection contains drafts of numerous stories and articles, most on religious subjects. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC723. (Finding Aid).
WHITE, ROLAND A., 1908 - . Milo Reno: Farmers Union Pioneer. Typescript, proofs, correspondence, notes. MsC725. (Finding Aid)
WILCOX, FRANCIS ORLANDO, 1908-. Papers of Francis O. Wilcox, 1929-1985. 3.5 ft.
Educator, United States government official (Senate Foreign Relations Committee chief of staff, 1947-1955; Assistant Secretary of State, 1955-1961). Correspondence, subject files, lecture notes, speeches, and preliminary drafts of articles. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC727. (Finding Aid)
WINCHELL, MARY E. Home by the Bering Sea (Caxton Printers, 1951). Publisher's copy, correspondence. MsC729. (Finding Aid)
WORMHOUDT, ARTHUR, 1917--. Mss. .5 ft.
A professor of English, the manuscripts of The Demon Lover and The Muse at Length. (Christopher Publishing House, 1953) represent two of Wormhoudt's books of literary criticism. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC730. (Finding Aid).
YAMBURA, BARBARA SCHNEIDER, 1917-- . Barbara Schneider Yambura Manuscript, 1962. 1 ft.
Drafts of A Change and a Parting, a memoir of growing up in Amana in the 1930s. Iowa Authors Mss. MsC733. (Finding Aid)
ZAFFIRAS, GEORGE J. The Doctor from Iowa. Drafts, galley, and dummy. MsC736. (Finding Aid)
A bracketed "O" following the name indicates that a MARC-AMC record has been entered in InfoHawk, the Libraries' online catalog; an bracketed "I" indicates an inventory available online (and is linked when the name is highlighted); and a bracketed "P" indicates that the author was among the 60 included in Frank Paluka's Iowa Authors (1967).
