Series 1, Correspondence A - H
- TxAM-CRS 26-1
- Box
- 1943-1988
Series 1, Box 1
- 1/1: Biographical summary of William A. Owens. Papers by students of Owens. From Pin Hook to Manhattan, a continued chronicle by Owens. Northeast Texas Resource Conservation and Development Project Plan Handbook.
- 1/2: Abstracts of Theses and Masters' Degrees, at the Southern Methodist University and the final examination of William A. Owens at the State University of Iowa.
- 1/3: Owens's diploma, Ph.D., from The State University of Iowa.
- 1/4: A biography of William A. Owens by William T. Pilkington.
- 1/5: William A. Owens Symposium: a collection of essays on his life and works.
- 1/6: Experiences with William A. Owens, Author, Folklorist, Teacher: A series of presentations by William A. Owens, Paris Junior College, February 18-22, 1980.
- 1/7: Citation for Legion of Merit.
- 1/8: Personal correspondence from Bob Anderson, 1977.
- 1/9: Personal correspondence, including a decline from Doubleday concerning Not So Long Ago, Not So Far Away, 1980.
- 1/10: Personal correspondence, including Certificates of American Association of Retired Persons Insurance, April-December, 1981.
- 1/11: Personal correspondence, including letters from, general information about, and articles written by Ben Austin. Austin is an author and former student of William A. Owens, 1982.
- 1/12: Correspondence referring to Robert Adams's manuscript entitled Jacob's Gold, a novel set in the post-Civil War Era. Owens reviewed the manuscript, 1983.
- 1/13: Letters concerning Owens' books and the Amistad Research Center, 1984.
- 1/14: Letters concerning a controversial article in The Atlantic and the reading of a play by Gerald Arrington, "People So Full of Dreams," 1985.
- 1/15: Letter to Ms. Judith Antrobus and a copy of her manuscript, A Private Conversation, January 3, 1985.
- 1/16: Correspondence regarding the city of Amarillo. The Texas Committee for the Humanities Project planned a scholarship workshop with the Amarillo Public Library. Enclosed are articles, agendas, and personal letters. William A. Owens was a speaker at the event, March-December, 1985.
- 1/17: Letters concerning a lecture series by Texans at the Smithsonian Institute. All correspondence is between William A. Owens and Raye Virginia Allen, the coordinator of the Smithsonian Institution Texas Series, November 1986 - April 1987.
- 1/18: Included are a letter to the Anderson Candy Company in Blossom, Texas, from William A. Owens, thanking them for still making the peanut candy he enjoyed as a boy, and a letter of complaint to American Airlines, 1986.
- 1/19: Correspondence with the Texas Christian University Press concerning the reprinting of William A. Owens' books, March-November, 1987.
- 1/20: Continued correspondence with the Texas Christian University Press, January-April, 1988.
- 1/21: Personal correspondence, Undated.
- 1/22: A letter from the University of Minnesota, 1966.
- 1/23: A letter from Alvin G. Brown, concerning social security and the William A. Owens grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities, 1974.
- 1/24: Christmas cards, December 1976.
- 1/25: Christmas cards, October-December, 1977.
- 1/26: Christmas cards, 1978.
- 1/27: A letter concerning songs Owens may have used in his book, Tell Me A Story, Sing Me A Song, 1979.
- 1/28: Articles concerning the Rotary 75th Anniversary Dinner in Clarksville. William A. Owens was the principal speaker. He spoke on "From Pin Hook to Manhattan." Also included are recommendations for scholarship recipients, 1980.
- 1/29: Letters concerning the Big Thicket Association, 1981.
- 1/30: Personal correspondence, including an article on a Paris, Texas tornado and letters regarding the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Ben and Beulah Brentley, 1982.
- 1/31: Correspondence concerning Ralphana and George Bushong's Golden Wedding Anniversary Celebration, 1983.
- 1/32: A letter to writer Bill Brett, and a list of books donated by William A. Owens to the Paris Junior College Learning Center, 1984.
- 1/33: Letters to Bill Brett and correspondence regarding plans for the Texas Sesquicentennial celebration. Also included is an evaluation report of the manuscript The Quality of Life in Texas Cities by R. Cole, A. C. Smith, and D. Taebel, 1985.
- 1/34: Correspondence regarding plans for an April 1987 trip to Denton, Texas. Enclosed are two papers about William A. Owens's book, This Stubborn Soil. Also, a proposed schedule of activities for East Texas State University Homecoming 1987 is included, 1987.
- 1/35: Correspondence with Jacques Barzun, a friend of William A. Owens. Articles by Barzun: "The Aesthetics of Criminous," "What Makes Writing Right?," "Where is History Now?," "Roads to the Heart of Texas," "Le Faux Chic," "William James, Author," and two reviews of Barzun's books.
- 1/36: Correspondence to and from Robert Blauvelt, 1943-1948.
- 1/37: Letters to and from Mary Lou Burkett. Ms. Burkett is an author, playwright, songwriter, and former teacher. She had asked William A. Owens for reviews and advice about publication and finding an agent. Copies of letters between Ms. Burkett and publishers are included, 1980-1987.
- 1/38: A letter from John Cushman Associates, Inc. explaining that the rights in Look to the River have reverted back to Owens is included, 1974.
- 1/39: A letter from Robert Cluett explaining that he is sending a copy of "Turner", the first section of The Gold of Troy, 1976.
- 1/40: A letter from Tim Conkling who sought the advice of William A. Owens about the merits of continued schooling is included, 1978.
- 1/41: Articles regarding William A. Owens's visit to Paris Junior College in Paris, Texas, July-November, 1979.
- 1/42: Pictures and slides taken during a recent trip to Paris Junior College. Correspondence concerning a trip to Beaumont, Texas to speak to the Beaumont Heritage Society about early Texas folk songs, a request to President Jimmy Carter asking him to withdraw from the 1980 Presidential Race, and the Golden Wedding Anniversary Celebration for J. D. and Bess Cheatham, 1980.
- 1/43: Correspondence with the University of Nebraska regarding Roy Bedichek and letters from the University of Texas Press regarding the format of the Not So Long Ago, Not So Far Away manuscript, 1981.
- 1/44: A series of letters regarding publicity for Tell Me a Story, Sing Me a Song. Letters regarding the format of the Sing Me a Song cassettes. Index of the tape for Sing Me a Song, including alternates, 1982.
- 1/45: Correspondence with Dr. David Chapman, Associate Archivist, Texas A&M University. Letters regarding Deeds of Gift for J. Frank Dobie's I'll Tell You a Tale and Roy Bedichek's Adventures with a Texas Naturalist, and a copy of Bedichek's commentary on a literary critic, 1982.
- 1/46: Correspondence regarding a publicity trip in March 1983 to Southern Methodist University, Dallas, Fort Worth, and San Antonio. Letters concerning Owens's visit to the University of Texas at Austin to give an informal speech on writing. A review by William A. Owens of Seven Keys to Texas by T. R. Fehrenbach. Correspondence regarding entries for the new Handbook of Texas for Roy Bedichek and Pin Hook, Texas by Owens, 1983.
- 1/47: Letters regarding a visit to the Texas Writer's Lecture at the University of Dallas, 1984.
- 1/48: Correspondence regarding a trip to Paris Junior College, a gift of two books, Premier World Atlas and The Rise and Fall of the Confederate Government, to the Jenkins Garrett collection of the University of Texas at Arlington Library, and the confirmation that Letters of Roy Bedichek was to be published on October 28, 1985, by the University of Texas Press, 1985.
- 1/49: Personal correspondence, including a letter discussing Owens's Legion of Merit Award and the Citation for Legion of Merit, 1986.
- 1/50: Personal correspondence, including a packet of published poems by Robert Cowser, 1987.
- 1/51: A letter from the Senior Editor of the Southern Methodist University Press explaining a mix-up in captions and photographs, 1988.
- 1/52: Personal correspondence, including a list of possible reviewers for Tell Me a Story, Sing Me a Song, Undated.
- 1/53: An article about Dr. Imogene Dickey, first woman dean of Paris Junior College and Dean of Women at North Texas State University, 1979.
- 1/54: A copy of chapter one of a Lawrence Dodd manuscript, Democracy in Texas: Homeward Reflections of a Native Son, 1980.
- 1/55: A letter from Jack Delaney concerning a biography he is writing of John Steinbeck, March-December, 1981.
- 1/56: A Dictionary of Texas Terminology compiled by Robert J. Duncan. An inquiry about Roy Bedichek's involvement in the development of wildlife conservation in Texas from Robin Doughty, 1982.
- 1/57: A copy of the plotline of "Abiding Love", a screenplay adapted from a short story by John Davis entitled "A Matter of Love," February-December, 1983.
- 1/58: A letter from and copies of newspaper articles by Robert Jack Duncan about Texas folklore, July 1984.
- 1/59: A letter from a reviewer of Tell Me a Story, Sing Me a Song and a birthday letter, February-November, 1985.
- 1/60: A letter to Senator Alfonse D'Amato asking for help to resolve a claim against the United States Postal Service, February-October, 1986.
- 1/61: Copies of articles by Bill Porterfield and Robert Jack Duncan about Texas folklore. Flyer from the Dearman and Tippit families' Family and Friends Reunion, 1987.
- 1/62: A letter regarding the retirement of Maxine Johnston, the Director of Library Services at Lamar University, April-July, 1988.
- 1/63: Letters regarding William A. Owens's participation in the Writing and the Careers in Writing Program at the University of Texas at Arlington. Pictures of Kay Kobara Edwards, Duval Edwards, and Bill Brett. Correspondence with the Texas State Historical Association concerning sesquicentennial celebrations and Roy Bedichek. A rough draft of a manuscript by Ranko Estreich and a map to the Estreich house. Synopsis of Mornin' Brother Job by Martha Emmons, 1979-1982.
- 1/64: Information on a CIC Reunion and a request from Duval (Val) Edwards for information about the National CIC Association's AB Team. Flyer from the celebration for the Golden Wedding Anniversary of Fred and Linda Ekfelt, 1983-1985.
- 1/65: A thank you from the Sterling C. Evans Library for Owens's participation in the Brazos County sesquicentennial celebration, 1986-1987.
- 1/66: Christmas cards and an article by Walter Edwards entitled "Something Borrowed: Wedding Cakes as Symbols in Modern Japan," Undated.
- 1/67: Flyers and schedules for the country music group, Asleep at the Wheel. Correspondence with Julie Fallowfield of McIntosh and Otis, Inc., the agent of William A. Owens. An interview with John Henry Faulk, 1978-1983.
- 1/68: Correspondence with Fort Worth Films concerning their interest in developing a screenplay based on Bill Brett's The Stolen Steers, for which William A. Owens wrote the introduction. Owens has agreed to review the screenplay. Continued correspondence with Julie Fallowfield of Mcintosh and Otis, Inc. regarding Owens' books Eye-Deep in Hell, This Stubborn Soil, Walking on Borrowed Land, Look to the River, and the film "Wildcatter," 1984-1987.
- 1/69: Correspondence with Lyman Grant regarding Roy Bedichek. Grant is the co-editor of Letters of Roy Bedichek, 1977-1980.
- 1/70: A copy of the picture of the home of Robert Alexander that shows Robert Owens, who Robbye Grove thought might be an ancestor of William A. Owens. Also enclosed is a list of ancestors of Robbye Grove. Continued correspondence with Lyman Grant about Letters of Roy Bedichek. Letters regarding a lecture given by William A. Owens entitled "Folklore in the Field: Recording the Songs of Texas" at the Eastman School of Music, University of Rochester, 1981.
- 1/71: Pictures of Owens's trip to Texas sent by Paul Gunter, a member of the Big Thicket Association and author of River in the Dry Grass. A letter discussing the Writer-in-Residence for the Older Adult Program at Henry Kaufmann Campgrounds, Lyman Grant. A list of donors to the Bedichek Letters Project compiled by the University of Texas Press. An essay by Lyman Grant entitled, "Winning". A copy of The Texas Observer, editor: Joe Holley, a friend of William A. Owens. Roster for the Headquarters Officers Candidate Course G-2 Training School, June 1942.
- 1/72: Book of new titles from David R. Godine Publishers, Inc. Acknowledgment of gift of Fever in the Earth to the Nyack Library. An article by A. C. Greene entitled "The Texas Literate: Whose Home is the Range, Anyhow?" Correspondence regarding Ann and Bill Owens' trip to Texas for the Sesquicentennial Week. Correspondence regarding the television premiere of "Wildcatter: A Story of Texas Oil." William A. Owens narrated this film and wrote the script, which is both based on Tales From the Derrick Floor and Fever in the Earth. "The Life of Old Man Tufftimes," by A. C. Garnes is enclosed. A letter to Pamela Glick who illustrated This Stubborn Soil. A letter from Congressman Benjamin Gilman regarding foreign ownership of United States banks and trade with Japan, 1984-1988.
- 1/73: A flyer for a lecture by William A. Owens on "Folklore in the Field: Recording the songs of Texas." An article regarding diamonds, sent by John Geddes, Undated.
- 1/74: Copies of pages from Contemporary Authors and American Authors and Books including information on William Owens. Letters from Ken Harrison, an independent filmmaker, regarding a possible series of films for public television. The series is to be about short stories on Texas and its people. A copy of a paper by Thomas Meade Hardwell entitled "The South Has Risen Again - A Little." Screenplay by Ken Harrison "The Last of the Caddoes", May 1968 - June 1980.
- 1/75: A statement by William A. Owens for the introduction to "The Last of the Caddoes", July-December, 1980.
- 1/76: "Take Nirvana If You Choose, But Give Me Heaven", by William A. Owens with notes. Joe Holley's entry for the Texas Institute of Letters Writers contest. Issues of The Texas Observer, co-editor: Joe Holley, 1981.
- 1/77: Articles on J. Frank Dobie, including his last interview. Letters from Irene B. Hoadley, Director of the Sterling C. Evans Library, Texas A&M University, concerning the purchase of the second group of Owens' papers. South of the Mountain, a book of essays, the Hopper family history, the history of '76 House, and Indian legends, 1982.
- 1/78: Letters and articles regarding U. S. English, a non-profit organization that wants to keep English as the only official language of the United States. Correspondence and articles about the death of Margaret Lohlker Hartley, editor of The Southwest Review and Southern Methodist University Press for 35 years. Correspondence regarding the National Counter Intelligence Corps Association. Notes for Ken Harrison concerning the screenplay of This Stubborn Soil, 1983.
- 1/79: Issues of Imprimis sent by M. B. Hodges, Jr. Letters from Bill Humphrey regarding the Cherokee Indians and his book Hostage to Fortune, 1984.