John Q. Anderson Papers

Identity elements

referentie code

TxAM-CRS 19

Name and location of repository

Beschrijvingsniveau

Collectie

Titel

John Q. Anderson Papers

Datum(s)

  • 1953-1966 (Vervaardig)

Omvang

9 boxes

Naam van de archiefvormer

(1916-1975)

Biografie

Dr. John Q. Anderson was an educator, folklorist and songwriter who earned many honors. Born on May 30, 1916, in Wheeler County, TX, Dr. Anderson attended Oklahoma State University where he received his A.B. degree in 1939. Though his college career was interrupted by a tour of duty during World War II. Anderson completed his M.A. at Louisiana State University in 1948 and subsequently earned his Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in 1952. In 1946, Anderson married Marie Loraine Epps.

During this time, Anderson held several teaching positions, at the University of Texas, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and McNeese State College in Louisiana. In 1953, Dr. Anderson became an instructor at Texas A&M University where he remained until 1966. By the time of his departure from Texas A & M, Dr. Anderson had risen from serving as an instructor to holding the office of Head of the English Department. Dr. Anderson's final position was Professor of American Literature at the University of Houston, which he had to leave in 1974 due to illness.

Not only was Dr. Anderson a renowned and respected teacher, but he was also an author and a songwriter. Among his over 70 articles and books are Brokenburn: The Journal of Kate Stone, edited by Anderson, A Texas Surgeon in the C. S. A., and Louisiana Swamp Doctor: The Life and Writings of Henry Clay Lewis. Dr. Anderson recorded as well as wrote many folk songs, among which was a medley of American folksongs for the ballet "Fiddle Tunes."

Among Dr. Anderson's many interests, folklore was predominant. Dr. Anderson was a member of several folklore societies all over the state of Texas. He sponsored The John A. Lomax Folklore Society and served as president of The Texas Folklore Society. His other professional activity included work with English societies and editorial boards.

Due to Dr. Anderson's many talents and accomplishments as a teacher and scholar, he was awarded several honors, including the Faculty Distinguished Achievement Award for Teaching, Outstanding Professor, and Professor Emeritus of English, all at Texas A&M University.

Content and structure elements

Bereik en inhoud

This collection consists of term papers, course handouts, folklore fieldnotes, news clippings, a report, a document, maps, photographs, materials about folksingers, pamphlets on wildlife, materials about vaudeville and North Carolina, the information given to Dr. Anderson on Texas, correspondence, and information on The Texas Folklore Society and The John A. Lomax Folklore Society.

The majority of the material is from Dr. John Q. Anderson's students at Texas A&M. Dr. Anderson assigned his students to write term papers on folklore from many locales, including Texas. Because Dr. Anderson felt that some of these student papers were so exceptional, he collected, edited, and had them published in a book he titled, Texas Lore: A Collection of Student Papers on Texas Folklore. As additional information on some of the term papers, some of the students gave Dr. Anderson information on North Carolina, and Billy Arlington and Co. Dr. Anderson also requested that his students collect information on folklore by interviewing people and recording this information in fieldnotes. The information was gathered and is represented in the collection on topics including folk medicine, games, children's lore, folk beliefs, folk sayings, proverbs, rhymes, riddles, tree and plant lore, and Aggie lore.

Along with interviews and fieldnotes contributed by the students, many news clippings were collected, mostly relating to Texas and pertaining to people, places, folk medicine, folk singers, folk games, folklore book reviews, anthropology, superstitions, magic, and etymology. Also present is one document on folk medicine, an article on folksinger Joan Baez, a few articles on certain Texas counties, and special editions of some Texas newspapers.

Other materials include correspondence between Dr. John Q. Anderson and the Texas Folklore Society or the John A. Lomax Society, and with people interested in folklore. There is also information about meetings and conferences to be held by the Texas Folklore Society, including a program that Dr. Anderson sponsored at Texas A&M for the John A. Lomax Society.

Ordeningstelsel

This collection is arranged into the following four series:

Series 1. Course materials for English 329
Subseries 1. Term Papers
Subseries 2. Course Handouts

Series 2. Research Materials

Series 3. Clippings

Series 4. Miscellaneous Publications and Memorabilia

Oversize material includes 23 photographs and 4 playbills from Billy Arlington and Co. kept in map cases.

Conditions of access and use elements

Voorwaarden voor raadpleging

Physical access

These materials are stored offsite and require additional time for retrieval.

Technical access

Voorwaarden voor reproductie

Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.

Languages of the material

  • Engels

Scripts of the material

Taal en schrift aantekeningen

Toegangen

Acquisition and appraisal elements

Geschiedenis beheer

Directe bron van verwerving

Gift

Aanvullingen

Related materials elements

Bestaan en verblifplaats van originelen

Bestaan en verblijfplaats van kopieën

Related archival materials

Related descriptions

Notes element

Specialized notes

Alternative identifier(s)

Description control element

Regels of conventies

Sources used

Aantekeningen van de archivaris

Finding Aid Authors: Deborah Duncan, Charles R. Schultz.

Trefwoorden

Onderwerp trefwoord

Geografische trefwoorden

Naam ontsluitingsterm

Genre access points

Voorwaarden voor raadpleging en gebruik

Related people and organizations

Related genres

Related places