Biographical Note
Walter Evans Kidd was a noted writer of poems and short stories and held numerous academic positions during his career. He was born in Long Creek, Oregon on May 2, 1901 and was raised in the Portland area. Kidd attended the University of Oregon, earning a B.A. in 1926 and an M.A. in 1935, both in English. As a university student Kidd participated in the Oregon Daily Emerald and was a member of Delta Upsilon Fraternity and Phi Beta Kappa Honor Society. He also earned an M.F.A. from the University of Iowa. During the 1930s he taught at Washington High School in Portland. Kidd earned the Ph.D. from the University of Denver in 1943.
During his career Kidd held teaching posts at the University of Nebraska, Stephen F. Austin State College (Texas), Fresno State College and the University of Michigan (visiting professor). He published four books of poetry, two scholarly books and numerous articles. Many of his works were published under the pseudonym Conrad Pendleton. Kidd was also director of the Pineywood Writers conference.
In 1926 Kidd was married to Nancy Olivia Pendleton, who had also attended the University of Oregon. In their later years the two established the Walter and Nancy Kidd Fund to award prizes and awards to undergraduate writing students at the university. After Walter's retirement they had resided mainly in Portland. Mrs. Kidd died during the early 1980s. Walter lived his last years in Milwakie, Oregon and died on December 14, 1990 from complications resulting from a fall he had suffered previously.
Content Description
The Walter Evans Kidd Papers contain correspondence from colleagues and friends, professional materials and some biographical material. Also included are a small number of journals containing work by Kidd. The collection does not contain material representing Kidd's early years or the period after his retirement, nor is there extensive personal material included in the collection. There are no manuscripts of literary works. Materials relating to the Pineywoods Writers' Conference are found in the folder titled Literary Programs.
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], Walter Evans Kidd Papers, Ax 203, Special Collections & University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries, Eugene, Oregon.