University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee Archives Department.

Kerr, Elizabeth Margaret, 1905- .

Papers, 1910-1987.

UWM Manuscript Collection 31

4.0 cubic ft. (8 archives boxes, and 2 index card boxes

ABSTRACT: Papers of an English professor at the Wisconsin State College, Milwaukee and the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee which include professional and personal correspondence, photographs, newspapers clippings, applications for research grants, reviews, notes, drafts of published works, and calendars. The calendars were used as a daily diary by Kerr. The majority of the collection concerns Kerr's study of the works of American author William Faulkner.

ACCESS RESTRICTIONS: There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all members of the public in accordance with state law. However, the researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin Statutes 19.21-19.39).

SCOPE AND CONTENT: Papers of a University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee English professor. The majority of the collection focuses on the professional activities of Kerr, and her study of the works of American author William Faulkner.

The collection consists of correspondence, photographs, copies of published papers, drafts of articles, newspaper clippings, and calendars.

The majority of the correspondence is either routine professional correspondence, or personal correspondence concerning vacations, holidays, and family events.

There are numerous photographs in the collection, but not all of them are labeled. In most cases, either the date of the photograph, or the name of the subject is written on the back of the photograph. A large number of photographs are of Oxford, Mississippi. These photographs were taken in 1962, while Kerr was vacationing in the area. There are also photographs of William Faulkner, participants are Faulkner conferences, and Kerr's family members.

Kerr published a number of papers, and when possible, a printed copy of the published work has been included in the collection. When a printed copy was not located, the most recent draft of the work was retained. Drafts of published books were not retained, as the books are available at the Golda Meir Library.

The newspaper clippings that were retained mostly deal with Kerr's study of the writings of William Faulkner.

There are thirteen calendars in the collection. These calendars were essentially a diary for Kerr, in that they chronicle her activities and personal observations on a daily basis. There are a number of gaps in the years covered.

Boxes seven and eight contain 3 X 5 inch note cards. Most of the cards contain bibliographic information, and are filed by the name of the author. The basic arrangement is alphabetical, but there are many deviations from this scheme.

There is a table of contents and an inventory for a William Faulkner Slide Collection, but the slides were not found while processing the collection.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Elizabeth Margaret Kerr was born in Sault Sainte Marie, Michigan on January 25, 1905. She graduated from Duluth Central High School in 1922. She attended the State Teachers College in Superior, Wisconsin from 1922-1924. She transferred to the University of Minnesota in 1924, and received her B.A. in 1926, and her M.A. in 1927. She started as an English instructor at Tabor College in 1929, but she returned to Minnesota to teach English in 1930. She functioned in this capacity during the years 1930-1937 and 1938-1943. In 1941 she received her PhD. from the University of Minnesota, and from 1943-1945 she was an Assistant Professor at Rockford (Illinois) College. In 1945 she started as an instructor at the Wisconsin State College (Milwaukee). In 1956 the Wisconsin State College (Milwaukee) merged with the University of Wisconsin Extension (Milwaukee) to become the University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. At this time she received the rank of Associate Professor. In 1959 she became a full professor. She retired from teaching in 1970. She was listed in The Writers Directory (1988), Who's Who in American Women (1991), Who's Who in the Midwest (1988), and Who's Who in the World (1989).

COLLECTION CITATION: This collection should be cited as:

Kerr, Elizabeth Margaret, 1905- . Papers, 1910-1987. UWM Manuscript Collection 31. University Manuscript Collection. Archives. UWM Libraries. University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

RELATED COLLECTIONS:

Faculty Women's Club of the Wisconsin State College, Milwaukee. Records, 1946-1956. (UWM Archival Collection 158)

University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee. College of Letters & Science. Office of the Dean. Records, 1948-1995. (UWM Archival Collection 1)

ACQUISITION: Ralph Aderman donated the collection to the Golda Meir Library sometime before 1989. Fred Olson donated a second accession on August 17, 1999.

PROCESSING: Vincent Totka processed the collection in July and August 1992 at the Milwaukee Urban Archives. Richard Shrake processed the additions to the collection in 2000.

MARC RECORD SEARCH TERMS: The following terms were used in the online bibliographic MARC record to this collection:

Faulkner, William, 1897-1962--Criticism and interpretation.
University of Wisconsin--Milwaukee--Faculty--Archives.
Wisconsin State College, Milwaukee--Faculty--Archives.
Women authors, American--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.
Women college teachers--Wisconsin--Milwaukee.

UWM MANUSCRIPT COLLECTION 31	BOX	FOLDER
Bibliography of a Sequence Novel, undated	1	1-2
Calendars, 1960, 1962-1965, 1969-1975, 1987	6
Carey, Joyce, Trilogy, 1959-1960	1	3
Chronological Tables, undated	1	4
Civil Rights, 1962	1	5
Composition Committee, Minutes, 1946-1947	1	6
Correspondence, 1923	9	1
Correspondence, 1924	9	2
Correspondence, 1925	9	3
Correspondence, 1926	9	4
Correspondence, 1927	9	5
Correspondence, 1928	9	6
Correspondence, 1929	9	7
Correspondence, 1930	9	8
Correspondence, 1931	9	9
Correspondence, 1932	9	10
Correspondence, 1933	9	11
Correspondence, 1934	9	12
Correspondence, 1935	10	1
Correspondence, 1936	10	2
Correspondence, 1937	10	3
Correspondence, 1938	10	4
Correspondence, 1939	10	5
Correspondence, 1940	10	6
Correspondence, 1941	10	7
Correspondence, 1942	10	8
Correspondence, 1943	10	9
Correspondence, 1944	10	10
Correspondence, 1945	10	11
Correspondence, 1946	10	12
Correspondence, 1947	10	13
Correspondence, 1948	10	14
Correspondence, 1929-1976	1	7
Correspondence, 1977-1987	1	8
Correspondence, Copper Letter, 1936	10	18
Correspondence, Elizabeth Kerr to Her Mother, 1925-1928	10	15
Correspondence, Publication, undated	1	9
Correspondence, Professional, 1960-1970	2	1
Correspondence, Professional, 1971-1980	2	2
Correspondence, undated	2	3
Drafts, Articles, undated	2	4
Fairhaven Retirement Home, 1987	2	5
Faulkner Conferences, 1976-1980	2	6
Faulkner Slide Collection Inventory, undated	2	7
Gothic Novel, undated	2	8
Newspaper Clippings, 1962-1982	2	9
Note Cards, undated	7-8
Notes, undated	3	1-2
Papers, Absalom, Absalom, 1975	3	3
Papers, All the King's Men, undated	3	4
Papers, The American Gothic Novel, undated	3	5
Papers, The Evolution of William Faulkner's Sanctuary, undated	3	6
Papers, Evolution of Yoknapatawpha, undated	3	7
Papers, Introduction to Yoknapatawpha, undated	4	1
Papers, Invisible Man, undated	4	2
Papers, The Reivers: The Golden Book of Yoknapatawpha County, undated	4	3
Papers, Requiem for a Nun, undated	4	4
Papers, The Women of Yoknapatawpha, undated	4	5
Papers, Yoknapatawpha: Fact Versus Fiction, 1976	4	6
Personal, 1915-1987	4	7
Photographs, undated	4	8-9
Photographs, undated	10	16
Photographs of Oxford, Mississippi, 1971	4	10
Play, The Battle of Harrington Creek, 1976	4	11
Poetry, undated	5	1
Publishing Contracts, 1968	5	2
Quarter Grade Report, 1928-1929	10	17
Research Grant, Applications, 1984-1985	5	3
Research Grant, Reviews, 1983-1984	5	4
Reviews, William Faulkner's Gothic Domain, 1978	5	5
Reviews, William Faulkner's Yoknapatawpha "A Kind of Keystone in the Universe," 1983	5	6
Reviews, Yoknapatawpha: Faulkner's Little Postage Stamp of Native Soil, 1976	5	7
Reviews, By Kerr, 1960-1980	5	8