Guide to Papers of May Williams Ward
Collection Summary
Title: Papers of May Williams Ward Call Number: MS 74-18 Size: 14 linear feet Acquisition: The May Williams Ward Papers were a gift from her through her literary executor, Bruce Cutler, to Wichita State University. Others who have donated materials to the collection are: Bruce Cutler, Lois Pinson, Esther Stuck, Marianne Garland, Mary Lu Roberts, Winifred Gallup, and Darrell Bartee. Processed by: MDH, 7/31/1974; Additional Materials Processed by: LWM, 4/5/1978; Additional Materials Processed by: LWM, 8/15/1979; Reprocessed by: SMC, 3/02/1998
Literary rights were granted to Wichita State University. When permission is granted to examine manuscripts, it is not an authorization to publish them. Manuscripts cannot be used for publication without regard for common law literary rights, copyright laws and the laws of libel. It is the responsibility of the researcher and his/her publisher to obtain permission to publish. Scholars and students who eventually plan to have their work published are urged to make inquiry regarding overall restrictions on publication before initial research.
The May Williams Ward Papers include her diaries, correspondence, literary and art works, memorabilia, photographs, scrapbooks, and financial documents which reflect her personal life and professional career as a writer. Adding further dimension to the collection is a transcript of an interview with May Williams Ward which Samuel Sackett of Fort Hays State College tape recorded in 1959. A copy of a master's thesis written about Mrs. Ward in 1951 is also included in the collection.
Additional information may be found in the Nora B. Cunningham Papers and the Omah Scott Horton Papers.
Not available.
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Box 1-Box 2 FF 3 |
Diaries, 1903-1969. Arranged chronologically. Included in this series are May Williams Ward's personal and literary diaries. |
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Box 2 FF 4-Box 10 FF 8 |
Correspondence, 1901-1974. Letters and cards to and from May Williams Ward which are dated and arranged chronologically. Undated letters and cards are grouped according to type, e.g. correspondence with editors and publishers, or Christmas cards. Also included in this series is a miscellaneous section comprised of correspondence to and from May Williams Ward's relatives and associates. |
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Box 10 FF 9 |
Interview, 1959. Transcript of a tape recorded interview with May Williams Ward conducted by Dr. Samuel Sackett in Hays, Kansas. |
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Box 10 FF 10-Box 23 FF 2 |
Literary Works by May Williams Ward, 1919-1975. Arranged alphabetically according to types of writing materials or related activities. Sub-series include anecdotes, anthologies, awards, book reviews, published and unpublished book manuscripts, choral speaking arrangements, copyrights, creative writing classes, crossword puzzles, greeting cards, The Harp, Kansas Magazine, lyrics, newspaper column, pamphlets, playlets and skits, plays, poems, prayers, programs and speeches, radio broadcasts, reviews of May Williams Ward's writings, and short stories and essays. |
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Box 23 FF 3-10 |
Art Works by May Williams Ward, 1900-1969. This series is concerned mainly with block prints -- original sketches, a block plate, miscellaneous prints, and notes on the art of block printing handwritten by Birger Sandzen. A miscellaneous section follows which includes a pencil sketch and a watercolor believed to be the work of May Williams Ward. |
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Box 23 FF 11-Box 24 FF 5 |
Organizations, 1921-1975. Arranged alphabetically. Included in this series are professional and social organizations in which May Williams Ward was a member. |
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Box 24 FF 6-Box 25 FF 5 |
Memorabilia, 1882-1975. Arranged alphabetically according to subject matter. This series includes certificates of birth and baptism, genealogical records, and various materials concerning May Williams Ward's funeral, Kansas University, MacDowell Colony, Osawatomie High School, her grandfather Reuben Smith, and her husband's grandfather O. J. Ward. A miscellaneous section follows which includes miscellaneous invitations, programs, etc. collected by May Williams Ward throughout her life. |
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Box 25 FF 6-Box 26 FF 5 |
Photographs, 1882-1971. Unarranged. This series contains photographs of May Williams Ward, Merle Ward, associates of May Williams Ward, MacDowell Colony, and miscellaneous locations. A photo album compiled by May Williams Ward is also included. |
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Box 26 FF 6-8 |
Scrapbooks, 1921-1949. Arranged chronologically. There are four scrapbooks compiled by May Williams Ward: one dealing with her poetry, one a collection of newspaper clippings, one reflecting her career 1933-1938, and one about her trip to view the United Nations building's cornerstone laying in 1949. |
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Box 27 |
Clippings, 1921-1975. Unarranged. Included among these newspaper and magazine clippings collected by May Williams Ward are articles by and about her, book reviews by her, publicity articles and reviews of her books, her poems, articles regarding The Harp, and miscellaneous articles. |
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Box 28 FF 1-Box 29 FF 3 |
Financial Documents, 1899-1969. Arranged alphabetically according to types of documents. Subseries include ledgers arranged chronologically, marketing notes, poetry sales records (unarranged), and miscellaneous invoices, vouchers, and cancelled checks. |
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Box 29 FF 4-Box 30 FF 1 |
Address Books, 1908-1975. Unarranged. Addresses of publishers, relatives, friends, and associates of May Williams Ward. Several books contain notes regarding significant events in May Williams Ward's life. |
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Box 30 FF 2-Box 31 |
Miscellaneous, 1882-1975. Arranged alphabetically by subject. Included in the series are art works by others, autographs, biographical information on May Williams Ward, literary works by others (including a master's thesis by Irene Suran entitled "May Williams Ward: Kansas Poet"), music given to May Williams Ward, notes written by May Williams Ward, and copies of periodicals in which her works were published. |
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Box 32 |
Miscellaneous, including issues of The Harp. |
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Box 33 |
Letters of affection written by May Williams and Merle Chester Ward, 1901-1925. |
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Folio section |
Sound recording. |
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Oversized file |
Oversized materials. |
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Box 1 |
FF 1 |
Diaries, 1903-1910 |
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Box 1 |
FF 2 |
Diaries, 1911-1912 |
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Box 1 |
FF 3 |
Diaries, 1921-April 1923 |
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Box 1 |
FF 4 |
Diaries, May 1923 plus overflow from 1925-1928 |
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Box 1 |
FF 5 |
Diaries, 1937-1938 |
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Box 1 |
FF 6 |
Diaries, Literary Diary, 1943-1947 |
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Box 1 |
FF 7 |
Diaries, Literary Report, 1952-1953 |
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Box 1 |
FF 8 |
Diaries, 1954 |
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Box 1 |
FF 9 |
Diaries, 1959-1961 |
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Box 1 |
FF 10 |
Diaries, 1962-1963 |
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Box 2 |
FF 1 |
Diaries, 1964 |
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Box 2 |
FF 2 |
Diaries, 1965-1967 |
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Box 2 |
FF 3 |
Diaries, 1969 |
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Box 2 |
FF 4 |
Correspondence, 1901 |
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Box 2 |
FF 5 |
Correspondence, 1904 |
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Box 2 |
FF 6 |
Correspondence, 1905 |
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Box 2 |
FF 7 |
Correspondence, 1906 |
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Box 2 |
FF 8 |
Correspondence, 1907 |
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Box 2 |
FF 9 |
Correspondence, 1911 |
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Box 2 |
FF 10 |
Correspondence, 1912 |
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Box 2 |
FF 11 |
Correspondence, 1913 |
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Box 2 |
FF 12 |
Correspondence, 1914 |
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Box 2 |
FF 13 |
Correspondence, 1915 |
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Box 2 |
FF 14 |
Correspondence, 1916 |
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Box 2 |
FF 15 |
Correspondence, 1917 |
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Box 2 |
FF 16 |
Correspondence, 1918 |
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Box 2 |
FF 17 |
Correspondence, 1919 |
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Box 2 |
FF 18 |
Correspondence, 1921 |
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Box 2 |
FF 19 |
Correspondence, 1922 |
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Box 2 |
FF 20 |
Correspondence, 1923 |
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Box 3 |
FF 1 |
Correspondence, 1924 |
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Box 3 |
FF 2 |
Correspondence, 1925 |
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Box 3 |
FF 3 |
Correspondence, 1926 |
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Box 3 |
FF 4 |
Correspondence, 1927 |
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Box 3 |
FF 5 |
Correspondence, 1928 |
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Box 3 |
FF 6 |
Correspondence, 1929 |
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Box 3 |
FF 7 |
Correspondence, 1930 |
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Box 3 |
FF 8 |
Correspondence, 1931 |
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Box 3 |
FF 9 |
Correspondence, 1932 |
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Box 4 |
FF 1 |
Correspondence, 1908-1932 |
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Box 4 |
FF 2 |
Correspondence, 1933 |
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Box 4 |
FF 3 |
Correspondence, 1934 |
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Box 4 |
FF 4 |
Correspondence, 1935 |
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Box 4 |
FF 5 |
Correspondence, 1936 |
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Box 4 |
FF 6 |
Correspondence, 1937 |
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Box 4 |
FF 7 |
Correspondence, 1938 |
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Box 4 |
FF 8 |
Correspondence, 1939 |
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Box 4 |
FF 9 |
Correspondence, 1940 |
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Box 5 |
FF 1 |
Correspondence, 1941 |
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Box 5 |
FF 2 |
Correspondence, 1942 |
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Box 5 |
FF 3 |
Correspondence, 1943 |
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Box 5 |
FF 4 |
Correspondence, 1944 |
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Box 5 |
FF 5 |
Correspondence, 1945 |
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Box 5 |
FF 6 |
Correspondence, 1946 |
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Box 5 |
FF 7 |
Correspondence, 1947 |
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Box 5 |
FF 8 |
Correspondence, 1948 |
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Box 5 |
FF 9 |
Correspondence, 1949 |
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Box 5 |
FF 10 |
Correspondence, 1950 |
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Box 5 |
FF 11 |
Correspondence, 1951 |
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Box 5 |
FF 12 |
Correspondence, 1952 |
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Box 5 |
FF 13 |
Correspondence, 1953 |
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Box 5 |
FF 14 |
Correspondence, 1954 |
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Box 6 |
FF 1 |
Correspondence, 1955 |
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Box 6 |
FF 2 |
Correspondence, 1956 |
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Box 6 |
FF 3 |
Correspondence, 1957 |
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Box 6 |
FF 4 |
Correspondence, 1958 |
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Box 6 |
FF 5 |
Correspondence, 1959 |
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Box 6 |
FF 6 |
Correspondence, 1960 |
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Box 6 |
FF 7 |
Correspondence, 1961 |
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Box 7 |
FF 1 |
Correspondence, 1962 |
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Box 7 |
FF 2 |
Correspondence, 1963 |
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Box 7 |
FF 3 |
Correspondence, 1964 |
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Box 7 |
FF 4 |
Correspondence, 1965 |
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Box 7 |
FF 5 |
Correspondence, 1966 |
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Box 7 |
FF 6 |
Correspondence, 1967 |
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Box 7 |
FF 7 |
Correspondence, 1968 |
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Box 8 |
FF 1 |
Correspondence, 1969 |
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Box 8 |
FF 2 |
Correspondence, 1970 |
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Box 8 |
FF 3 |
Correspondence, 1974 |
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Box 8 |
FF 4 |
Correspondence, 1933-1974 |
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Box 9 |
FF 1 |
Editors and publishers |
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Box 9 |
FF 2 |
Miscellaneous |
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Box 9 |
FF 3 |
Birthday |
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Box 9 |
FF 4 |
Christmas |
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Box 10 |
FF 1 |
Get well |
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Box 10 |
FF 2 |
Miscellaneous |
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Box 10 |
FF 3 |
To Merle Ward |
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Box 10 |
FF 4 |
To and From George Williams and Minnie Williams |
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Box 10 |
FF 5 |
To Lois Williams McConnell Pinson from Bob McConnell from Friend |
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Box 10 |
FF 6 |
To Rose Ward from Rosalind Ward |
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Box 10 |
FF 7 |
To and from Bruce Cutler |
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Box 10 |
FF 8 |
To and from miscellaneous associates |
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Box 10 |
FF 9 |
Transcript of tape tecorded interview with May Williams Ward by Dr. Samuel Sackett, 1959 |
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Box 10 |
FF 10 |
Anecdotes, jingles, and jokes; anthologies |
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Box 10 |
FF 11 |
Kansas Poets proof |
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Box 10 |
FF 12 |
Miscellaneous |
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Box 10 |
FF 13 |
Awards |
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Box 10 |
FF 14 |
Book reviews |
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Box 10 |
FF 15 |
Published book, Seesaw, incomplete draft |
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Box 10 |
FF 16 |
Published book, Seesaw, announcements |
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Box 10 |
FF 17 |
Published book, In Double Rhythm, copy |
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Box 10 |
FF 18 |
Published book, In Double Rhythm, explanation of block print designs |
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Box 11 |
FF 1 |
Published Book, From Christmas-Time to April, Proof |
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Box 11 |
FF 2 |
Published book, From Christmas-Time to April, announcements |
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Box 11 |
FF 3 |
Published book, Approach to Social Studies Through Choral Speaking, early draft |
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Box 11 |
FF 4 |
Published book, Approach to Social Studies Through Choral Speaking, announcements |
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Box 11 |
FF 5 |
Published book, Wheatlands, incomplete draft |
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Box 11 |
FF 6 |
Published book, Wheatlands, proof |
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Box 11 |
FF 7 |
Published book, Wheatlands, selected poems plus comments by May Williams Ward |
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Box 11 |
FF 8 |
Published book, Wheatlands, announcements |
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Box 11 |
FF 9 |
Published book, No Two Years Alike, notes toward an autobiography |
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Box 11 |
FF 10 |
Published book, No Two Years Alike, early draft |
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Box 11 |
FF 11 |
Published book, No Two Years Alike, final proof of first edition |
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Box 11 |
FF 12 |
Published book, No Two Years Alike, corrected proof of second edition |
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Box 11 |
FF 13 |
Published book, No Two Years Alike, announcements |
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Box 11 |
FF 14 |
Published book, In That Day, early draft |
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Box 12 |
FF 1 |
Published book, In That Day, final draft |
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Box 12 |
FF 2 |
Published book, In That Day, miscellaneous notes |
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Box 12 |
FF 3 |
Published book, In That Day, announcements |
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Box 12 |
FF 4 |
Unpublished book, "Add Yourself to Your Devotions" |
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Box 12 |
FF 5 |
Unpublished book, "Aspects" |
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Box 12 |
FF 6 |
Unpublished book, "The Choral Speaking of Scripture" |
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Box 12 |
FF 7 |
Unpublished book, "Holidays and Special Days" |
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Box 12 |
FF 8 |
Unpublished book, "Mind Goes Manywhere" |
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Box 12 |
FF 9 |
Unpublished book, "Near Pioneer," early draft |
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Box 12 |
FF 10 |
Unpublished book, "Near Pioneer," family reminiscences |
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Box 12 |
FF 11-15 |
Unpublished book, "Near Pioneer," Kansas history notes |
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Box 13 |
FF 1-2 |
Unpublished book, "Poems and Clues" |
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Box 13 |
FF 3-5 |
Unpublished book, "Saturday and Sunday" |
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Box 13 |
FF 6 |
Unpublished book, "The Thirty Years Ward" |
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Box 13 |
FF 7 |
Unpublished book, "Woman in Doorway" |
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Box 13 |
FF 8 |
Miscellaneous notes |
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Box 13 |
FF 9 |
Choral speaking arrangement, religious arrangements for boys and girls |
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Box 14 |
FF 1 |
Choral speaking arrangement, verses from Approach to Social Studies Through Choral Speaking |
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Box 14 |
FF 2 |
Choral speaking arrangement, miscellaneous |
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Box 14 |
FF 3 |
Copyrights |
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Box 14 |
FF 4 |
Creative writing classes in Wichita |
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Box 14 |
FF 5 |
Crossword puzzles |
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Box 14 |
FF 6 |
Greeting cards |
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Box 14 |
FF 7 |
The Harp magazine |
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Box 14 |
FF 8 |
Kansas Magazine |
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Box 14 |
FF 9 |
Kaleidoscope |
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Box 14 |
FF 10 |
Lyrics by May Williams Ward to music by May Williams Ward |
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Box 14 |
FF 11 |
Lyrics by May Williams Ward to music by Edith Archer |
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Box 14 |
FF 12 |
Lyrics by May Williams Ward to music by Mary Carruth Barton |
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Box 14 |
FF 13 |
Lyrics by May Williams Ward to music by Paolo Conte (Also see sound recording, Series 16) |
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Box 14 |
FF 14 |
Lyrics by May Williams Ward to music by Rebecca Welty Dunn |
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Box 14 |
FF 15 |
Lyrics by May Williams Ward to music by C. W. Gluck |
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Box 14 |
FF 16 |
Lyrics by May Williams Ward to music by F. J. Habercorn |
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Box 14 |
FF 17 |
Lyrics by May Williams Ward to music by Lucille Andrews Hensley |
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Box 14 |
FF 18 |
Lyrics by May Williams Ward to music by Lucille Andrews Hensley and Lloyd Andrews |
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Box 14 |
FF 19 |
Lyrics by May Williams Ward to music by Raymond Morley |
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Box 14 |
FF 20 |
Lyrics by May Williams Ward to music by L. E. Parker and Katherine B. Potts |
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Box 14 |
FF 21 |
Lyrics by May Williams Ward to music by Grace V. Wilson |
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Box 14 |
FF 22 |
Lyrics by May Williams Ward to music by miscellaneous artists |
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Box 14 |
FF 23 |
Newspaper Column: "Kansas Writers Capitalized" |
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Box 14 |
FF 24 |
Calendar of poems for children, pamphlet |
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Box 14 |
FF 25 |
Comedy and other muses, pamphlet |
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Box 14 |
FF 26 |
Do and Don't, pamphlet |
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Box 14 |
FF 27 |
Leaves, pamphlet |
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Box 14 |
FF 28 |
Ten poems About trees, pamphlet |
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Box 14 |
FF 29-30 |
Playlet and/or Skit "Historic Kansas Hats" |
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Box 15 |
FF 1 |
Playlet and/or Skit "Mrs. Clubwoman's Dressmaker" |
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Box 15 |
FF 2 |
Playlet and/or Skit "Teens Talk" |
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Box 15 |
FF 3 |
Playlet and/or Skit "That Perfect Figure" |
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Box 15 |
FF 5 |
Miscellaneous Playlets and/or Skits |
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Box 15 |
FF 6 |
"Best Houskeeper in Town," Play |
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Box 15 |
FF 7 |
"Family Resemblances," Play |
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Box 15 |
FF 8 |
"Stars in a Green Sky," Play |
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Box 15 |
FF 9 |
"Sugar and Spice," Play |
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Box 15 |
FF 10 |
Autographed copies of poems |
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Box 15 |
FF 11 |
Christmas poems |
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Box 15 |
FF 12 |
Lists of poems |
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Box 15 |
FF 13 |
Technical comment on five poems |
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Box 15 |
FF 14 |
Poetry manuscript, written 1919-1925 |
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Box 15 |
FF 15-19 |
Poetry manuscript, written 1926-1929 |
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Box 16 |
FF 1-11 |
Poetry manuscript, written 1926-1969, in alphabetical order according to title |
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Box 17 |
FF 1-10 |
Poetry manuscript, written 1926-1969, in alphabetical order according to title |
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Box 18 |
FF 1-9 |
Poetry manuscript, written 1926-1969, in alphabetical order according to title |
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Box 19 |
FF 1-9 |
Poetry manuscript, written 1926-1969, in alphabetical order according to title |
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Box 20 |
FF 1 |
Poetry manuscript, written 1970-1975 |
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Box 20 |
FF 2-5 |
Miscellaneous titled poetry manuscripts |
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Box 20 |
FF 6-8 |
Miscellaneous untitled poetry manuscripts |
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Box 21 |
FF 1-2 |
Miscellaneous untitled poetry manuscripts |
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Box 21 |
FF 3 |
Prayers |
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Box 21 |
FF 4 |
Advertisements |
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Box 21 |
FF 5 |
Poetry program sheets |
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Box 21 |
FF 6-7 |
Miscellaneous programs and speeches (Also see Series 17) |
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Box 21 |
FF 8-9 |
Miscellaneous notes |
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Box 22 |
FF 1 |
Miscellaneous notes |
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Box 22 |
FF 2 |
KFKU "Women of Kansas" radio broadcast script |
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Box 22 |
FF 3 |
KFKU "Women of Kansas" radio broadcast publicity |
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Box 22 |
FF 4 |
Miscellaneous radiobnroadcasts |
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Box 22 |
FF 5 |
Review of Seesaw |
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Box 22 |
FF 6 |
Review of In Doubl |