Overview of the Collection
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Repository Name:
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University of Oregon Libraries
Special Collections & University Archives
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene, OR 97403-1299
URL: http://libweb.uoregon.edu/speccoll/index.html
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Collection Number:
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Ax 871
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Creator:
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Curren, Polly, 1917-
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Title:
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Polly Curren Papers
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Dates:
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1968-1979 (inclusive)
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Quantity:
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1.5 linear feet
1 container
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Languages:
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Collection materials are in English.
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Summary:
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Polly Curren (1917-?) was a writer of children's literature and a teacher. She wrote during the 1950s through the 1970s and her stories span the reading ability level from early readers to young adult fiction. This collection includes manuscripts from books that Curren published in the 1970s and the correspondence with editors and publishers.
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Biographical Note
Polly Curren (1917-?) was born in Boston, Massachusetts. She attended Russell School of Expression and Literature in Boston, and in 1941 she married George E. Fedosiuk, a civil engineer; they had one child, David.
Although Curren conducted a School of Expression in Boston, her major career has not been academic teaching but writing books for children. These books, which span the early 1950s through the late 1970s, do reflect her teaching career. Beginning with picture books and simple stories for preschoolers, they are written not only to entertain but to teach, such as those written for the Golden Press Community Worker series. In the tales of family lives, history, folklore and religion, they move from read-alouds, beginning and easy readers, to junior books for young teens.
Content Description
Within this collection are manuscripts of books published during the 1970s, and related materials. In each instance, included with the manuscript is the correspondence between the publisher's editors and Polly Curren. This correspondence reveals the cooperative process of editorial critique and revisions by which a submitted manuscript is developed, resulting in the final published text.
Additional materials of Polly Curren's may be found in the University of Southern Mississippi Library.
Arrangement
Collection is organized into the following series:
Series: Published Manuscripts
Series: Unpublished Manuscripts
Series: Miscellaneous
Series: Books
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information Gift of Polly Curren in 1979.
Processing Note Collection processed by Adeline F Brunner, manuscripts processor, February 1980.
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], Polly Curren Papers, Ax 871, Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.
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.
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| Curren, Polly, 1917- |
| Children's literature, American--Authorship |
| Women authors, American--20th century |
| Women authors, American--20th century--Correspondence |
| Young adult literature, American--Authorship |
Detailed Description of the Collection
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Published Manuscripts
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Container(s)
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Description
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Dates
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God's Songs. Guild Press; undated; typed ms. 2 pages
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"Here, at Home." My Sunday Reader. Undated tearsheets; David C. Cook Publishing Co
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I Know an Electrician. G. P. Putnam's Sons
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August 19, 1975; September 27, 1975 |
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Three early drafts with holograph corrections
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First draft as sent to Putnam's, 22 pages
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Manuscript as sent to Putnam's, 21 pages
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I Know an Electrician. Related correspondence, 35 pieces
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1973-1977 |
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I Know an Electrician. Related material: notes, working schedules, pieces of text, rough drawings, reference tear sheets
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I Know an Electrician. Page proof, color; Dust jacket proof, black and white/ color
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Mystery in Williamsburg. Written under the pseudonym: Holly Beth Walker
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1969 |
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Ms: undated, typed with holograph corrections. 100 pages. Sent to L. W. Singer Co. and returned
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Related correspondence; 3 pieces
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Mystery in Williamsburg. Ms., unnamed, typed and carbon with holograph corrections; 105 pages
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1970 |
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Related correspondence: Western Publishing Co., 3 pieces
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Mystery in Williamsburg. Ms. Written as Meg mystery series #6. Rough draft in new first chapter and outline for book, typed with holograph corrections and notations; 73 pages; sent to Western Publishing Co
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April 14, 1971; 1970-1971 |
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Related material:. historical brochures; 4 pieces
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Related correspondence; 14 pieces
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Meg Finds a Mystery in Williamsburg. (Working title for Mystery in Williamsburg.) Rough outline, typed with holograph corrections; 17 pages
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1971 |
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Meg mysteries data: Xerox with holograph corrections; sketch of Kenilworth County, interior house plan, character descriptions; 12 pages
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Notebook and pads, holograph
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Related material: historical brochures ; 8 pieces Related correspondence: 1 piece
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The Mystery of the Missing George Washington Doll. (Working title for Mystery in Williamsburg. )Typed carbon; 100 pages. In orange paper package
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Meg and the Mystery in Williamsburg. (Working title for Mystery in Williamsburg. )Working ms., typed carbon with holograph pages and corrections; 118 pages
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1971 |
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Related correspondence: 2 pieces
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Meg and the Mystery in Williamsburg. (Working title for Mystery in Williamsburg. ) Final typed carbon; 143 pages. In orange paper package
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Sent October 17, 1971 |
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The Mystery of the Weathervane. (Working title for The Mystery of the Phantom Grasshopper.) Written under pseudonym Kathryn Kenny. Outline, typed; 3 pages
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June 1976; June 1976 |
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Trixie Belden and the Mystery in Mexico. Written under pseudonym Kathryn Kenny. Outline, typed. (not accepted); 5 pages
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Trixie lore: information on characters and locale; synopses of earlier books #1-#16
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The Mystery of the Phantom Grasshopper
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Early ms. material: handwritten first chapters; miscellaneous portions with holograph corrections. In red folder
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The Mystery of the Phantom Grasshopper
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Chapters 1 and 2 typed; 45 pages
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Final draft, 14 chapters, incomplete, typed with holograph corrections; 176 pages. In beige folder
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The Mystery of the Phantom Grasshopper
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Related materials: sheet music, newspaper clippings, notes. In blue folder
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The Mystery of the Phantom Grasshopper.
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1976 |
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Related correspondence: 23pieces
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The World Rolls Along. Harvey House, Inc
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November 16, 1972; 1970-1972; March 11, 1971 |
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Rough draft, holograph; 53 pages
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Working ms., typed with holograph corrections
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Final draft, typed with holograph corrections; 27 pages
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Transportation oriented version of ms., typed carbon; 28 pages
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Notebook of early notes
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Related correspondence: 18 pieces
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Signed contract
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Aggie Miller Bakes a Cake. Two early drafts, typed with corrections; 8 pages each
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October 6, 1969; April 18, 1975; 1970; April 6, 1970 |
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Being Good is Nice. Typed; 2 pages, 2 copies
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Betsy -- of Strange Land. Typed with corrections; 9 pages. Related correspondence, 1 piece
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Good King Don. Early draft; 9 pages; later draft; 5 pages. Both typed with corrections
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Good Friends Get Together. Typed with corrections, 8 pages. Related materials: correspondence, 4 pieces; notes, 1 piece
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The Nose Book. Typed. 2 copies; 3 pages each
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Mr. Greenleaf Takes a Walk. Early draft, typed with corrections; 9 pages. Later draft, typed; 5 pages
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Ride With me. Typed; 9 pages
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The Sweeping Book. 2 copies, typed; 4 pages each; 1 page notes
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Thank You God. Typed; 2 pages
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Two Little Spooks. Typed; 5 pages
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Miscellaneous: 1 letter from Western Publishing Co., 1 page notes
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Miscellaneous
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Container(s)
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Description
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Dates
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Materials for The World Builds Bridges. No manuscript. Signed contract to publish; book reviews, royalty reports
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September 1968; 1970, 1973; 1970-1972 |
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Related correspondence
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Miscellaneous: 2unnamed, undated works
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Books
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Container(s)
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Description
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Dates
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The Army of Two. Illustrated by Robert Shore. New York, Scholastic Book Services, 1975. Paperback
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1975 |
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I Know an Electrician. Illustrated by Frank Aloise. New York, G. P. Putnam's Sons; Yoronto, Longman Canada, Ltd., 1977. Hardcover with jacket
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1977 |
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Mystery in Williamsburg. (Pseudonym Holly Beth Walker). Illustrated by Cliff Schule. Cover by Olindo Giacominin. Racine, Wisconsin, Golden Press, Western Publishing Co., 1972. 1st paperback edition
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1972 |
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Mystery of the Phantom Grasshopper. (Pseudonym Kathryn Kenny). Cover by Jack Wacker. Racine, Wisconsin, Golden Press, Western Publishing Co., 1977. Paperback
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1977 |
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Raggedy Ann and Andy Help Santa Claus. A Little Golden Book. Illustrated by June Goldsborough. Racine, Wisconsin, Golden Press, Western Publishing Co., 1977. Hardcover
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1977 |
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Raggedy Ann and Andy The Little Gray Kitten. A Little Golden Book. Illustrated by June Goldsborough. Racine, Wisconsin, Golden Press, Western Publishing Co., 1979. Hardcover
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1979 |
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