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Preliminary Inventory of the Roma Stewart Goodwin Blackburn Papers, 1942-1985 and undated

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Descriptive Summary

Title
Roma Stewart Goodwin Blackburn Papers, 1942-1985 and undated
Creator
Blackburn, Roma Stewart Goodwin
Extent
.8 Linear Feet
264 Items
Repository
Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University
Language
English.
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Administrative Information

Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
However, some of the additions to this collection are not immediately accessible, because they require further processing before use.
In addition, patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.
Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.
Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Use Restrictions
The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Roma Stewart Goodwin Blackburn Papers, Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Roma Steward Goodwin Blackburn Papers were received by the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library as a gift in 1982-1984 and 2001.
Processing Information
Processed by RBMSCL Staff and Katy Wischow
Completed May 4, 2001
Encoded by Ruth E. Bryan
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.
This collection is unprocessed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.
            

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Biographical Note

Lawyer, poet, and writer originally from Prince Edward Island, Canada.

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Collection Overview

Primarily correspondence between Roma Blackburn and literary personages, including former students of her husband, William Maxwell Blackburn, professor at Duke University. Also includes poem by Rose Styron, clippings about the poet Elizabeth Bishop, and a program from Bishop's memorial service. One volume, Heart and Home: A Memoir, was written by Mrs. Blackburn. Correspondence includes: letters and postcards from Elizabeth Bishop discussing travels, intellectual life, and literary interests; letters from William Styron discussing fund-raising in memory of Professor William Blackburn for the Duke University Capital Campaign for the Arts and Sciences; letters from Alice Methfessel, close friend of Elizabeth Bishop; and letters from Professor Blackburn's former students Sean Devereaux, Guy Davenport, and Josephine Humphreys Hutcheson. (1964-1984) (46 items) (.2 linear feet)
This addition (218 items, 1942-1985) includes letters to Blackburn from Reynolds Price and Wallace Fowlie and others regarding invitations, travel plans, news, and condolences; material related to the William Blackburn Fund; correspondence from Blackburn's summers in Magog; a story by Max Steele; 23 manuscript pages of Blackburn's autobiography; copies of tributes to William Blackburn from William Styron and Max Steele as well as statistics on the number of students he taught; and photographs (61 black-and-white prints, 4 color prints, 1 color slide, and 2 black-and-white negatives) of Tennessee Williams, Fred Chappell, William Styron, Sean Devereaux, Wallace Fowlie, and William Blackburn as well as other family members. An unidentified audio tape is included. (.6 linear feet) (acc#01-0036)
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Subject Headings

These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
  • Bishop, Elizabeth, 1911-1979.
  • Blackburn, William (William Maxwell), 1899-1972.
  • Chappell, Fred, 1936-
  • Fowlie, Wallace, 1908-
  • Price, Reynolds, 1933-
  • Steele, Max, 1922-
  • Styron, Rose.
  • Styron, William, 1925-
  • Methfessel, Alice.
  • Devereaux, Sean.
  • Humphreys, Josephine.
  • Blackburn, Roma. Heart and Home: A Memoir.
  • Williams, Tennessee, 1911-1983
  • Duke University. Capital Campaign for the Arts and Sciences.
  • Duke University--Faculty.
  • College teaching--United States.
  • Authors, American--20th century--Correspondence.
  • Women poets--United States--Biography.
  • Women poets--Correspondence.
  • American poetry--Women authors.
  • United States--Intellectual life--20th century.
  • Black-and-white photographs.
  • Color photographs.
  • Color slide.
  • Black-and-white negatives.
  • Audiocassette tape.
List of Series in Collection
Accession March 1, 1982
Accession April 30, 1984
Accession 2001-0036
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Preliminary Description of Unprocessed Collection

Accession March 1, 1982

Box 1
Correspondence, 1978-1984
"Brenley," Magog, Canada, and Durham, NC

Accession April 30, 1984

Box 1
Addresses and writings, ca. 1967
Clippings, 1978-1983
Heart and Home: A Memoir

Accession 2001-0036

Some of the materials in this collection are not immediately accessible, because they require further processing before use. Technical Services staff need to reformat newspaper clippings; make use copy of audio cassette tape; resleeve photographs. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the Rare Book, Manuscript, and Special Collections Library to use this collection.
Box 1
Unidentified audio cassette tape
Photographs   (2 folders)
Includes 61 black and white photos, 5 color photos, 1 color slide, 2 black and white negatives. Photo subjects include Tennessee Williams, Fred Chappell, William Styron, Sean Devereaux, Wallace Fowlie, and William Blackburn (head shots and candid shots), and other unidentified authors and family members.
Letters received, 1973-1981   (1 folder)
Includes regular correspondence and catching up letters, invitations and travel plans, academic news, and condolence letters.
Box 2
Letters received, 1973-1981   (3 folders)
Includes regular correspondence and catching up letters, invitations and travel plans, academic news, and condolence letters.
Letters received, 1973-1985   (2 folders)
Includes correspondence from Roma Blackburn's summers in Magog, a memorial article about William Blackburn, and information about a biography being written. Frequent correspondents include Reynolds Price and Wallace Fowlie.
Materials on the Blackburn Campaign (for scholarships) 1962-1984
Roma Blackburn's autobiography, p. 196-219
Testimonials and teaching - William Blackburn
Letters from Wallace Fowlie to Roma Blackburn, 1973-1981
Story by Max Steele, mailed to Roma Blackburn 1980
Newspaper and magazine articles, 1972, 1983-1985