Opal Stanley Whiteley was an amateur naturalist and an author. She gave nature lectures around Oregon, while attending the University of Oregon. She wrote a book called The Fairyland Around Us, based upon her nature lectures. While the book was not published, in March 1920, The Atlantic Monthly published a serialized version of Whiteley’s childhood diary and the book version was released in September of the same year. Controversy surrounded the publication, as people believed that Whiteley did not actually write the diary in her youth. After traveling the world for several years, Whiteley placed herself in Napsbury Hospital in England in 1948, where she died in 1992. The Opal Whiteley Papers consist of correspondence, class notes, personal and literary notes and writings, material relating to Whiteley’s writings. Her self-published diary, The Fairyland Around Us, is also part of this collection.
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
Opal Stanley Whiteley was born on December 11, 1897 in Colton, Washington to Mary Elizabeth Scott Whiteley and Charles Edward Whiteley. When Whiteley was about six years old, the family moved to Walden, Oregon, situated near the town of Cottage Grove. It was in Walden that Whiteley wrote a diary, later published in 1920 by the Atlantic Monthly, which was to become both celebrated and controversial.
Whiteley was keenly interested in nature, botany, and collecting a variety of specimens and objects from her outdoor environment. She became an amateur naturalist and utilized her interests in both nature and religion for her work in the Oregon Junior Christian Endeavor. By 1915, Whiteley was appointed state superintendent for all Junior Christian Endeavor work.
Whiteley grew passionate about writing nature books for children and realized that she needed to pursue a college education in order to acquire the resources to actualize this ambition. In 1916, she entered the University of Oregon in Eugene.
Whiteley did not have the financial resources to pay for her second year’s tuition, so she devised a plan that would satisfy her need for income while engaging her intellect and passion concerning the natural environment. She traveled throughout Oregon giving a series of lectures on nature. Unfortunately, this endeavor did not bring in the needed funds to cover her educational expenses and so she had to drop out of the University. However, Whiteley was determined to finance her education and realize her literary goals and so she enacted a second plan. Armed with a portfolio of publicity stills, she traveled to Hollywood to find work as an actress.
When work as an actress did not materialize, Whiteley wrote a book called The Fairyland Around Us, based upon her nature lectures. She managed to raise funds for the book’s publication through private donations, but the revisions she wanted cost more than she had. As a result, the printer scraped the plates. However, Whiteley finally managed to collect enough money to pay for the binding of several hundred copies. She was persuaded to look for a publisher on the East Coast and so she traveled to Boston. There, she approached Ellery Sedgewick, editor of The Atlantic Monthly, with her book. Sedgewick was not interested in the Fairyland manuscript, but inquired as to other writing Whiteley might have done. In March 1920, The Atlantic Monthly published a serialized version of Whiteley’s childhood diary and the book version was released in September of the same year.
The diary was controversial for several reasons. First, Whiteley claimed that she had written the diary when she was six years old. Her use of French and Latin names and phrases seemed beyond the skills of a child at that age, as did her references to aspects of the Catholic religion. Secondly, Whiteley claimed to be adopted and that her natural parents were angels. Amid the controversy, Whiteley left Boston for New York and later, Washington, D.C. In 1923, she sailed to England and then journeyed to France. Her purpose in going to France was to meet the mother of Henri d’Orleans, a man of title whom she claimed as her true father. His mother sponsored a trip to India for Whiteley, a place that had fascinated her son. Whiteley wrote a book about India’s royal family, which was printed in a London publication.
In 1925, Whiteley returned to England and in 1935, she was living as a ward of the city of London. It is not clear what transpired in her life during those ten years, and in 1948, she was deemed unable to care for herself and placed in Napsbury Hospital, a public care facility outside London. Opal Stanley Whiteley died at Napsbury in 1992.
Content Description
The Opal Whiteley Papers consist of correspondence, class notes, personal and literary notes and writings, material relating to Whiteley’s Christian Endeavor work, collected pamphlets and booklets, ephemeral and miscellaneous materials, writings and publicity about Whiteley, Edmund Conklin’s research notes and newspaper clippings concerning Whiteley, publications she owned and finally, photographs. Her self-published diary, The Fairyland Around Us, is also part of this collection.
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], Opal Whiteley Papers, Ax 097, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.
Administrative Information
Arrangement :
Collection is organized into the following series: Correspondence; Class notes; Notes by Whiteley on various subjects; Writings and literary notes by Whiteley; Oregon Christian Endeavor Union; Pamphlets and booklets; Ephemeral and miscellaneous materials; Publicity; Writings about Whiteley; Edmund S. Conklin’s Research notes and newspaper clippings; Publications owned by Whiteley; Oversize; and Photographs. Series XIII, Photographs, has been further divided into subseries A through N.
Separated Materials :
Photographs in this collection are stored separately under call number PH204.
Detailed Description of the Collection
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection.
“Mysterious Letters” (from “B.C.M.”/Whiteley?) to Charles Edward Whiteley and Pearl Whiteley
See Series XIII: Photographs, Subseries L: Ph 204, Copy Negatives #111 – 119.
1920
1
10
To Elbert Bede, Publisher, The Cottage Grove Sentinel
March 30, 1920
1
11
To Countess of Iddlesegh, June 13, 1961 and to Mrs. Henry P. McKean, March 3, 1962
1961-1962
1
12
To Dr. Carlisle Moore
July 1962–August 1964
1
13
To Mrs. Chapman
January 17, 1967–April 4, 1967
1
14
To Dr. Carlisle Moore
December 31, 1971–May 25, 1977
1
15
To the Very Reverend Father Bede Jarrett, O.P.
Separation Sheet: Black and white photograph of three crosses in a cemetery. The white cross nearest the viewer has the inscription-“P.F.B. Jarrett–March 17, 1934...R.I.P.” This photograph is in Series IX. Photographs, Subseries K. Miscellaneous, Box 9, Folder 75
undated
1
16
Undated and/or incomplete letters
undated
Incoming/Outgoing
Box
Folder
1
17
From Karl W. Onthank, Administration Build, University of Oregon, July 13, 1921-October 11, 1921 Whiteley’s response to Onthank, July 27-October 1, 1921
July 1921-October 1921
Correspondence in Reference to Whiteley
Box
Folder
1
18
To Elbert Bede, Publisher, The Cottage Grove Sentinel
April 23, 1920–July 10, 1920
1
19
To Elbert Bede from Maude Hardwood Bales
May 1920
1
20
To Elbert Bede
July 23, 1920–September 7, 1921
1
21
To and from Professor Edmund S. Conklin, Department of Psychology, University of Oregon
March 1916–May 1922
1
22
To Dr. Edmund S. Conklin, Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, from Fred Lockley, The Oregon Journal
April 23, 1920–September 28, 1921
1
23
To Edmund S. Conklin, Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, from Ellery Sedgwick, Editor, The Atlantic Monthly
March 15, 1920
1
24
To Edmund S. Conklin, Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, from Elbert Bede, Publisher, The Cottage Grove Sentinel
March 15, 1920–July 20, 1920
1
25
To Edmund S. Conklin, Department of Psychology, University of Oregon, from Elbert Bede, Publisher, The Cottage Grove Sentinel
July 16, 1920–October 16, 1921
1
26
From Edmund S. Conklin, Department of Psychology, University of Oregon
April 30, 1920–April 10, 1922
1
27
To Fred Lockley, The Oregon Journal, from Elbert Bede, Publisher, The Cottage Grove Sentinel
April 26, 1920
1
28
To Fred Lockley, The Oregon Journal, from Ellery Sedgwick, Editor, The Atlantic Monthly
May 3, 1920
1
29
To Prince Lucien Campbell, President, University of Oregon, from Elbert Bede, Publisher, The Cottage Grove Sentinel
November 30, 1920–September 3, 1921
1
30
To Professor Carlisle Moore, University of Oregon
April 24, 1961-September 1963
1
31
Professor Carlisle Moore’s notes and papers concerning Whiteley
1
32
To Ellery Sedgwick, Editor, The Atlantic Monthly, from Elbert Bede, Publisher, The Cottage Grove Sentinel
March 1920–December 1920
1
33
To Ellery Sedgwick, Editor, The Atlantic Monthly, from Edmund S. Conklin, Department of Psychology, University of Oregon
March 24, 1920 and May 26, 1920
1
34
To Ellery Sedgwick from M.H. Douglass
December 1, 1920
1
35
To Enid from Marietta
August 7, 1959
1
36
To Mrs. Douglas Woodruff from Napsbury Hospital, London County Council and Elizabeth P.L. McKean
Whiteley in white dress sitting on ferns holding flowers and a scroll
9
5
Whiteley seated in white dress and ballet slippers
See Subseries L: Copy Negatives, Ph 204, P 21.
9
6
Whiteley among the blossoms in the yard
9
7
Portrait of Whiteley
9
8
Whiteley in costume holding fish and fishing pole
1918
9
9
Whiteley in costume holding fish and fishing pole
1918
9
10
Whiteley holding fish and fishing pole (3 copies)
9
11
Whiteley with a dog
9
12
Whiteley with a dog
9
13
“Miss Opal Whiteley”
See Subseries L: Copy Negatives, Ph 204, CN 24.
9
14
Whiteley standing in front of a building
9
15
Opal Whiteley (color slide)
9
16
Princess: Opal Whiteley (color slide)
See Subseries N: Oversize Photographs, Box 12.
August 1963
Subseries B: Whiteley with sister
Box
Folder
9
17
Whiteley and sister
See Subseries L: Copy Negatives Ph 204, CN 80.
9
18
Pearl and Opal Whiteley
9
19
Opal and Pearl Whiteley
1914
9
20
Opal and Pearl Whiteley
1914
Subseries C: Possible Photographs of Whiteley
Box
Folder
9
21
Possible photograph of Whiteley as an infant in christening robe
See Subseries L: Copy Negatives, Ph 204 CN 1.
9
22
Lizzie Whiteley holding a baby
See Subseries L: Copy Negatives, Ph 204 CN 1.
9
23
Whiteley [?] “2 yrs., 7 mos., 18 days, 33lb.”
9
24
Girl and woman among sheep in a field
9
25
U.S.A. flag, a girl in overalls holding a hat standing next to an indistinguishable figure
9
26
Girl aiming rifle
Subseries D: Whiteley with others
Box
Folder
9
27
Whiteley at her desk in the classroom
9
28
Whiteley with women in shawls
See Subseries L: Copy Negatives, Ph 204, CN 15.
9
29
Foreground - five women in shawls
9
30
Portrait of Whiteley with a girl and boy
9
31
Whiteley with three other young women
See Subseries L: Copy Negatives Ph 204, CN 14.
9
32
Group portrait – Whiteley with peers
9
33
Group portrait – Whiteley with peers
9
34
Group portrait – Whiteley with peers
9
35
Whiteley with a group of men and women standing on a porch
9
36
Whiteley with a group of women and men
Subseries E: Whiteley’s parents
Box
Folder
9
37
Portrait of Elizabeth Scott and Charles Edward Whiteley
9
38
Elizabeth Scott Whiteley in wedding dress
Subseries F: Possible photographs of family members/relatives
Box
Folder
9
39
Family at the San Francisco Exposition
1915
9
40
Man on crutches and girl [Pearl Whiteley?]
9
41
Woman, man, two children with dogs on grass
9
42
Girl in white dress holding a scroll
9
43
“The ‘Mysterious Pictures’ of the Opal Case” marked “Uncle of Opal”, “Opal’s Grandfather”, and “Opal’s real father”
9
44
Booklet of four children
9
45
Portrait of a woman
9
46
Drawing of “Grandpa”
Subseries G: Portraits of women
Box
Folder
9
47
Woman seated at a round table
9
48
Portrait of a woman by Bushnell, Portland, Oregon
9
49
Woman standing with right hand in her long skirt pocket
9
50
Portrait of a woman in a large white hat and flowers at the v-neckline of her flowing, floor-length dress. Inscribed on the reverse, “With best wishes to my dear friend Opal, lovingly ___.” [Name obscured]Portrait of a woman in a large white hat and flowers at the v-neckline of her flowing, floor-length dress. Inscribed on the reverse, “With best wishes to my dear friend Opal, lovingly ___.” [Name obscured]
9
51
Woman seated in a chair with arms crossed in front of a wooden structure
Subseries H: Portraits of children
Box
Folder
9
52
Child in sailor suit with left hand on some blocks
9
53
Child pushing a wooden cart with a cat on it
9
54
Child standing on a rocky crag leaning against an evergreen tree
9
55
Child in overalls standing beside a strung-up sturgeon
9
56
Boy climbing a wooden fence
Subseries I: Portraits of sporting teams
Box
Folder
9
57
Young men’s baseball team
9
58
Young men’s baseball team
9
59
Young men’s baseball team
Subseries J: People in Whiteley’s community
Box
Folder
9
60
Women with rifle and man seated in the crook of a tree-trunk
9
61
A group of people in a “line-dance” at a train station
9
62
Six people at Taylor and Son Loading Deck, Star, Oregon
9
63
Junior class of Cottage Grove High School
9
64
A group of waving children and adults outdoors
See Subseries L: Copy Negatives, Ph 204, CN 17.
Subseries K: Portraits of sporting teams
Box
Folder
9
65
Tents and people in a field
9
66
Two people at an “oxen-cart”
9
67
Close-up of bushes
9
68
Ship at sea
9
69
Raccoon caught
9
70
Raccoon skins, rifles and a revolver
9
71
Mountain
9
72
Brick buildings
9
73
White house
9
74
Napsbury Hospital, St. Albans (color slide)
July 1963
9
75
Cemetery: “P.F. B. Jarrett, March 17, 1934 . . . R.I.P.”
Located originally with Whiteley’s letter to Father Bede Jarrett in Series I: Correspondence – Outgoing, Box 1, Folder 15..
Subseries L: Copy negatives
Box
Folder
10
1
Ph 204, CN 1: Lizzie Whiteley holding a baby
10
2
Ph 204, CN 2: Possible photograph of Whiteley as an infant
10
3
Ph 204, CN 14: Whiteley with three other young women
10
4
Ph 204, CN 15: Whiteley with women in shawls
10
5
Ph 204, CN 17: A group of waving children and adults outdoors
10
6
Ph 204, P 21: Whiteley seated in white dress and ballet slippers
10
7
Ph 204, P 21: Whiteley seated in white dress and ballet slippers
10
8
Ph 204, CN 24: Portrait of "Miss Opal Whiteley”
10
9
Ph 204, CN 76: From the "Mysterious Pictures" of the Whiteley case marked, "Uncle of Opal"
10
10
Ph 204, CN 77: From the “Mysterious Pictures” of the Whiteley case marked on the back, “Whiteley’s grandfather”
10
11
Ph 204, CN 78: From the “Mysterious Pictures” of the Whiteley case marked “Whiteley’s real father”
10
12
Ph 204, CN 80: Whiteley’s sister (Note: The negative is very fragile)
10
13
Ph 204, CN 80: Whiteley’s sister (Note: The negative is very fragile)
10
14
Ph 204, CN 93: A diary-like account
July 18
10
15
Ph 204, CN 94: A diary-like account
July 26, August 14, 1912
10
16
Ph 204, CN 95: About grandfather Scott
10
17
Ph 204, CN 96: About grandfather Scott
10
18
Ph 204, CN 97: Notes on Christian Endeavor and Geology
10
19
Ph 204, CN 98: “ Memories of my childhood” and a list of subject headings
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.
