Papers of Omah Scott Horton
Collection Summary
| Title: | Papers of Omah Scott Horton |
| Call Number: | MS 79-04 |
| Size: | 2.5 linear feet |
| Acquisition: | Donated by Omah Scott Horton's son and daughter-in-law, Frank B. and Frances Horton, 1979 |
| Processed By: | LWM, 11-8-1979; SMC, 4-17-1998; MN, 1-2009 |
| Note: | Related collections: MS 74-18, Papers of May Williams Ward; MS 79-03, Nora B. Cunningham Papers |
| Restrictions: | None |
Literary Rights
Literary rights were not granted to Wichita State University. When permission is granted to examine the 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.
Restrictions
None
Content Note
This collection of Omah Scott Horton’s papers include her diaries, correspondence, literary works, art works, photographs, scrapbooks, financial documents, and memorabilia which reflect her personal life as well as her professional career as a poet which spanned over fifty years, from 1918 to 1972.
Biography
Omah Scott was one of three daughters and four sons born to Francis Marion Scott and Sarah Dawson Scott. Born 31 May 1884, Omah grew to adulthood on the family farm in Hickory Hill, Missouri. She finished the eighth grade at a rural school near Hickory Hill, and then worked as a long-distance telephone operator in Jefferson City, Missouri. While working at the telephone company, she met her future husband who was employed as a lineman and electrician.
Omah married Fred D. Horton in 1907 and during the next eleven years she followed her husband to cities in Oklahoma, Missouri, and Nebraska where he was employed by public utility companies. Three sons were born to her during this time: LeRoy (1908), Francis (1914), and Fredric (1918).
In the fall of 1918, Omah joined her husband in Wellington, Kansas, where he had taken the position of City Engineer and Superintendent of Public Utilities. In January of 1919, Fred Horton boarded a train in Wellington to journey to a meeting in Kansas City, Missouri, but he never reached his destination and was never seen nor heard from again. Omah's pride and responsibility to her three small children did not allow her to dwell on the grief and frustration she felt at not knowing the fate of her husband. She concentrated her efforts on earning an income in any way possible, which meant selling baked goods and garden produce, raising and dressing chickens, entering contests, and submitting poems for publication. Thus began her career as a poet under the name of Scott Horton.
When May Williams Ward moved to Wellington in 1933, the two poets began their close friendship which lasted until Omah's death in Wellington on 16 October 1972.
Scott Horton's poetry appeared in magazines such as Collier's and Good Housekeeping, and in newspapers such as the New York Times and the Kansas City Star. A collection of her poetry entitled Even the Leaves was published in 1957. She was a member of the Kansas Authors Club and the Poetry Society of Kansas.
Detailed Description: Series Listing
| Series 1 | Box 1 FF 1-9 | Diaries, 1935-1972 |
| Series 2 | Box 1 FF 10-20 | Correspondence From Omah Scott Horton |
| Series 3 | Box 1 FF 21-Box 2 FF 14 | Correspondence to Omah Scott Horton |
| Series 4 | Box 2 FF 15-18 | Miscellaneous Correspondence |
| Series 5 | Box 2 FF 19-Box 4 FF 12 | Literary Works |
| Series 6 | Box 4 FF 13 | Art Work |
| Series 7 | Box 4 FF 14-15 | Organizations |
| Series 8 | Box 4 FF 16 | Photograph |
| Series 9 | Box 5 FF 1-2 | Scrapbooks |
| Series 10 | Box 5 FF 3 | Clippings |
| Series 11 | Box 5 FF 4-7 | Financial Documents |
| Series 12 | Box 5 FF 8-12 | Miscellaneous |
| Series 13 | Hanging Rack | Oversized Art Work |
Detailed Description: Box and Folder Listing
Series 1 ‒ Diaries
| Box 1 | FF 1 | May-June 1935 |
| Box 1 | FF 2 | Desk Diary, 1940-1944 |
| Box 1 | FF 3 | Loose leaf pages, 1 January 1940-12 January 1946 |
| Box 1 | FF 4 | Loose leaf pages, 24 January 1946-26 December 1949 |
| Box 1 | FF 5 | Loose leaf pages, 1 January 1950-4 December 1958 |
| Box 1 | FF 6 | Loose leaf pages, 5 December 1958-29 July 1972 |
| Box 1 | FF 7 | Vacation to Ozarks, October 1952 |
| Box 1 | FF 8 | Christmases, 1937-1972 |
| Box 1 | FF 9 | Loose leaf pages, undated |
Series 2 ‒ Correspondence from Omah Scott Horton
| Box 1 | FF 10 | To husband, Fred D. Horton, 1916-1918 |
| Box 1 | FF 11 | Unsent letters to husband after his disappearance (January 1919) |
| Box 1 | FF 12 | To son, Roy Horton, 1926-1936 |
| Box 1 | FF 13 | To son, Francis (Frank) Horton, 1935-1944 |
| Box 1 | FF 14-15 | To son, Fredric Horton, 1939-1947 |
| Box 1 | FF 16 | To future daughter-in-law, Kay Wooldridge, 1945 |
| Box 1 | FF 17 | To sister, Ellen Scott Clay, 1959-1972 and undated |
| Box 1 | FF 18 | To niece, Ruth Clay Olinger, 1932 |
| Box 1 | FF 19 | To editors and publishers, 1945-1972 |
| Box 1 | FF 20 | Miscellaneous, 1971 and undated |
Series 3 ‒ Correspondence to Omah Scott Horton
| Box 1 | FF 21 | From husband, Fred D. Horton, 1911-1918 |
| Box 1 | FF 22 | From son, Roy Horton, 1926-1930 |
| Box 1 | FF 23-24 | From son, Francis (Frank) Horton, 1933-1966 |
| Box 1 | FF 25 | From son, Fredric Horton, 1937-1971 |
| Box 2 | FF 1 | From son, Fredric Horton, 1937-1971 |
| Box 2 | FF 2 | From daughter-in-law, Margaret Horton, 1943 |
| Box 2 | FF 3 | From daughter-in-law, Frances Wible Horton, 1939-1952 |
| Box 2 | FF 4 | From grandchildren, 1951-1965 and undated |
| Box 2 | FF 5 | From mother, Sarah Dawson Scott, 1922 |
| Box 2 | FF 6 | From father, Francis Marion Scott, 1918 |
| Box 2 | FF 7 | From sister, Ellen Scott Clay, 1920 |
| Box 2 | FF 8 | From brother, Alfred Scott, 1940-1943 |
| Box 2 | FF 9 | From brother, Arthur Scott, 1917 |
| Box 2 | FF 10 | From brother, Edgar Scott, 1918 |
| Box 2 | FF 11 | From niece, Ruth Clay Olinger, 1942-1966 |
| Box 2 | FF 12 | From May Williams Ward, undated |
| Box 2 | FF 13 | From editors and publishers, 1939-1969 |
| Box 2 | FF 14 | Miscellaneous, 1935-1971 |
Series 4 ‒ Miscellaneous Correspondence
| Box 2 | FF 15 | From Fred Horton to son, Roy Horton, 1911 |
| Box 2 | FF 16 | From Roy Horton to father, Fred Horton, 1918 |
| Box 2 | FF 17 | From Frank Horton to brother, Fredric Horton, 1939; to May Williams Ward, 1944 |
| Box 2 | FF 18 | To Fred Horton from business associate, J. F. Schaefer, 1918 |
Series 5 ‒ Literary Works by Omah Scott Horton
| Box 2 | FF 19 | Biographical Writings |
| Box 2 | FF 20 | Published book, Even the Leaves, copy of book |
| Box 2 | FF 21 | Published book, Even the Leaves, notes |
| Box 2 | FF 22 | Unpublished book, "ABC Rhymes" |
| Box 2 | FF 23 | Unpublished book of poetry compiled for son, Francis Horton, Christmas 1944 |
| Box 2 | FF 24 | Unpublished book, "A Ladder of Rhymes" |
| Box 2 | FF 25 | Unpublished book, "Out of Control" |
| Box 2 | FF 26 | Periodicals in which works were published |
| Box 2 | FF 27 | Contest entries (this notebook also includes household accounts, June 1941-April 1943) |
| Box 2 | FF 28 | Greeting Cards |
| Box 2 | FF 29-30 | Miscellaneous manuscripts of titled poems, A-Z |
| Box 3 | FF 1-22 | Miscellaneous manuscripts of titled poems, A-Z |
| Box 3 | FF 23 | Miscellaneous manuscripts of untitled poems |
| Box 4 | FF 1 | Notebook of typed poems with occasional notes by Omah Scott Horton |
| Box 4 | FF 2 | Program including poem by Omah Scott Horton |
| Box 4 | FF 3 | Proverbs |
| Box 4 | FF 4 | Reviews of Omah Scott Horton's poetry |
| Box 4 | FF 5-6 | Short stories, essays, and articles |
| Box 4 | FF 7 | Speeches |
| Box 4 | FF 8-12 | Miscellaneous notes |
Series 9 ‒ Scrapbooks
| Box 5 | FF 1 | Scrapbook of literary career, 1950s and 1960s |
| Box 5 | FF 2 | Scrapbook of World War II Clippings, 1941-1943 |
Series 11 ‒ Financial Documents
| Box 5 | FF 4 | Ledger of poetry sold, 1934-1969 |
| Box 5 | FF 5 | Ledger of household accounts, 1943-1945 |
| Box 5 | FF 6 | Ledger of household accounts, 1964-1972 (see also Box 2, FF 27) |
| Box 5 | FF 7 | Ledger of baking, gardening, and hunting sales, undated |