Guide to the Margaret Scherf Papers
1908-1979

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Overview of the Collection

Creator: Scherf, Margaret, 1908-1979
Title: Margaret Scherf Papers
Dates: 1908-1979 ( inclusive )
Quantity: 1.5 linear feet (1 container)
Collection Number: Ax 666
Summary: Margaret Scherf (1908-1979) wrote lighthearted mystery and detective stories. The collection includes literary manuscripts and correspondence with Isabelle Taylor.
Repository: University of Oregon Libraries
Special Collections & University Archives

1299 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1299
URL: http://libweb.uoregon.edu/speccoll/index.html

Languages: Collection materials are in English. 
Sponsor: Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Biographical Note

Margaret Scherf was born April 1, 1908 in Fairmont, West Virginia. Her father was a high school teacher and her family moved several times before settling permanently in Cascade, Montana. She attended Antioch College for three years, preferring to leave school for a job at a book-publishing firm in New York City. She held a series of editorial and publishing related jobs before quitting her job in 1939 to become a full-time writer. Her audience knew her as an author that delivered amusing and lightweight fictional tales. She was a passionate democrat who was later elected to the Montana state legislature. She died on May 12, 1979 when she was struck and killed by a drunk driver south of Kalispell, Montana.

Content Description

The Margaret Scherf collection contains multiple versions of manuscripts, typed, holographs, and final drafts, in addition to letters of correspondence.

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Access :  

Collection is open to the public.

Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room.

Restrictions on Use :  

Property rights reside with Special Collections and 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 Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.

Preferred Citation :  

[Identification of item], Margaret Scherf Papers, Ax 666, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.

Administrative Information

Arrangement :

Collection is organized into the following series:

Series: Book Manuscript

Series: Addenda I

Processing Note :  

Collection processed by processing staff, August 2006.


Detailed Description of the Collection

Book Manuscript, The Banker's Bones
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Box
1 Manuscript. All holographs with extensive revisions, 649 pages 1968
Folder
1 13 Version 1
1 14 Version 2
1 15 Version 3
1 16 Version 4
1 17 Manuscript, typed, printer's copy, editorial corrections and some holographic revisions, 203 pages
1 18 Galley proof with editorial corrections
1 19 Correspondence. One exchange of letters between Margaret Scherf and Isabelle Taylor 1967

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Addenda I, Manuscripts
Container(s)
Description
Dates
Subseries A: The Beautiful Birthday Cake 1971
Box
Folder
2 1 Notes and source including a holograph and typed version, 144 pages
2 2 First draft. Typed and holograph with heavy revisions, 206 pages
2 3-4 Final galleys, including edits by the publisher and light holograph corrections, 56 pages
Subseries B: The Man Who Saw Green
Box
Folder
2 5 Carbon draft and holograph revisions, 190 pages
Subseries C: Mystery of the Shaky Staircase 1965
Box
Folder
2 6 Notes and source as well as a typed version and holograph, 77 pages
2 7 Typed draft with heavy holograph revisions, 143 pages
Subseries D: To Cache a Millionaire 1972
Box
Folder
2 8 Notes and fragments with a holograph and typed version, 205 pages
2 9 First draft. Typed and heavy holograph revisions, 143 pages
2 10 Final draft. Publisher edited including a layout for page iii, a typed version and holograph revisions, 252 pages
2 11 Original Galley fragment
2 11 Final Galleys. Publisher edited and holograph corrections, 50 pages
1 12 Page proofs (incomplete) and holograph corrections, 9 pages
1 12 Page proofs for 56 pages

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Subjects

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.

  • Personal Names :
  • Scherf, Margaret
  • Scherf, Margaret--Correspondence
  • Subject Terms :
  • Detective and mystery stories, American--Authorship
  • Women authors, American--20th century
    • Form or Genre Terms :
    • Manuscripts for publication
    • Other Creators :
    • Taylor, Isabelle--Correspondence  ( contributor)

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