Collection comprises literary manuscripts of young adult fiction by Amelia Elizabeth Walden and her correspondence with McGraw-Hill relating to book production.
Repository:
University of Oregon Libraries
Special Collections & University Archives
Funding for encoding this finding
aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the
Humanities.
Biographical Note
Amelia Elizabeth Walden was born January 15, 1909 in New York City.
After graduating from Columbia University in 1934, she attended the American Academy
of Dramatic Arts, also in New York. From 1935 to 1945 she taught English and Dramatics
at Norwalk High School, Norwalk, Connecticut. In 1946 Miss Walden married John William
Harmon. This was also the year that her first book was published. At the request of her
editor she revised the manuscript, entitled Gateway, to fit a new genre emerging at the
time, called the "young adult" novel which was aimed at a post-adolescent but not yet
adult audience, approximately ages 16 to 18. She is considered a pioneer in this area of
American literature. Miss Walden found success writing for this audience, and commented,
"I respond to young people because I remember my own adolescence so
vividly - and fondly. It was a period of total involvement, of enjoying life to the
hilt."
Miss Walden has written over 40 novels published by McGraw-Hill,
Lippincott, William Morrow, The Westminster Press, and Appleton
Century-Crofts. In 1985 she was residing in Westport, Connecticut.
Content Description
The Amelia E. Walden Papers consist of manuscripts and related material
written between 1954 and 1977. They are arranged alphabetically by title and all
the material relating to each manuscript is grouped under that title. The folders
labeled McGraw-Hill material include inter-office memoranda, cost estimates, check
disbursement forms, and book production information. There is only one book with
the collection, Heartbreak Tennis. It is shelved free-standing at the end of the
boxed material.
Use of the Collection
Restrictions on Access :
Collection is open to the public.
Collection must be used in Special Collections & University Archives Reading Room.
Restrictions on Use :
Property rights reside with Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries.
Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs.
All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to the
Manuscripts Librarian in Special Collections & University Archives. The
reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Preferred Citation :
[Identification of item], Amelia Elizabeth Walden Papers, Coll. 054, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.
Administrative Information
Arrangement :
Collection is organized into the following series:
Manuscripts
Free-standing volumes
Processing Note :
Collection processed by Francis Keating.
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection.
Manuscripts
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Basketball Girl of the Year. New York: McGraw-Hill
1970
Box
Folder
1
1
Correspondence
Box
Folder
1
1
1961
1
1
1967-1970
1
1
1973
1
1
Front matter
1
3
Typed draft with holograph corrections,
pages 1 - 80
1
4
Typed draft with holograph corrections,
pages 81 - 160
1
5
Typed draft with holograph corrections,
pages 161 - 252
1
6
Galley proofs
2
1
Page proofs
Escape on Skis. Philadelphia: Westminster Press
1975
Box
Folder
2
2
Typed draft with holograph corrections, pages 1 - 65
2
3
Typed draft with holograph corrections, pages 66 - 130
2
4
Typed draft with holograph corrections, pages 131-194
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings.
