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Helen Hooven Santmyer Papers
A Guide and Inventory
SPEC.RARE.CMS.8





INTRODUCTION

First published in 1982 by the Ohio State University Press, Helen Hooven Santmyer called nearby Xenia, OH home. Her works affirmed the engaging and ethereal qualities of life in the small towns of the Midwest. Fame and recognition, however, were latecomers in her life. Her first book, …And Ladies of the Club, received critical acclaim after a nearly 50-year writing process. The novel languished in relative obscurity upon publishing as 88-year-old Santmyer relocated to a local nursing home. But fortune smiled in 1984 when the book landed in the hands of a Hollywood producer who adapted it into a TV miniseries. …And Ladies of the Club subsequently rocketed to the top of the New York Times weekly list of book sales and was selected as a Book of the Month Club read that year. Santmyer died at age 90 after releasing several more novels. In 1996, the Ohio Women’s Hall of Fame honored her for contributions to the literary world.

The Rare Books and Manuscripts Helen Hooven Santmyer Collection includes much of the author’s work toward her first novel, from early notebooks to final page proofs. The manuscripts and typescripts are organized chronologically to highlight Santmyer’s extensive writing process. Also included are drafts of Ohio Town and Farewell, Summer. The former explores pre-World War I Xenia, OH in an autobiographical context while the latter twists the same period into a fictional account of love and loss. Furthermore, the collection includes the exciting unpublished manuscript of The Hall with Eight Doors, fan mail amassed by Santmyer, and several photographs.

Shahmeer Azmat
February 21, 2012


Overview of the Collection:

Repository:Rare Books and Manuscripts Library
Identification:Spec.cms.8
Creator:Mildred Sandoe
Title:Helen Hooven Santmyer Papers
Dates:1908-1982
Quantity:23 boxes containing 163 folders
Description:Early drafts to final page proofs of Santmyer's major works along with notes, fan mail, and photographs





Box and Folder Listing:

Box 1

Folders 1-3:
  1. Early notebooks
  2. …And Ladies of the Club – Manuscript expansion
  3. …And Ladies of the Club – Manuscript expansion (continued)
    Notebooks 1-10: …And Ladies of the Club – working manuscript Ledger book
    (1931): Financial accounts – working manuscript





Box 2

Notebooks 11-21:

…And Ladies of the Club – Working manuscript




Box 3

Notebooks 22-23 & Folders 4-10:

…And Ladies of the Club – Working manuscript
  1. …And Ladies of the Club- Manuscript “From B. XXIII-B. XXIV B-p.91”
  2. …And Ladies of the Club- Manuscript
  3. …And Ladies of the Club- Manuscript
  4. …And Ladies of the Club- Manuscript
  5. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 1, chapters 1-6
  6. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript/manuscript, chapters 1-3
  7. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript/manuscript, chapters 4-7





Box 4

Folders 11-17:

  1. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript, chapters 8-10
  2. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript/manuscript, chapters 11-12
  3. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript/manuscript, chapters 13-14
  4. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript/manuscript, chapters 15-17
  5. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript/manuscript, chapters 18-21
  6. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript/manuscript, chapters 22-25
  7. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript/manuscript, chapters 26-27





Box 5

Folders 18-25:

  1. …And Ladies of the Club- Typescript/manuscript, chapters 28-30
  2. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript/manuscript, chapters 31-35
  3. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript/manuscript, chapter 36
  4. …And Ladies of the Club– Carbon of several drafts, chapters 1-6
  5. …And Ladies of the Club– Carbon of several drafts, chapters 7-10
  6. …And Ladies of the Club– Miscellaneous pages
  7. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 2, Chapters 1-4
  8. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 2, Chapter 5





Box 6

Folders 26-32:

  1. …And Ladies of the Club- Typescript 2, Chapters 6-8
  2. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 2, Chapters 9-10
  3. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 2, Chapters 11-12
  4. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 2, Chapters 13-14
  5. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 2, Chapters 15-16
  6. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 2, Chapters 17-18
  7. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 2, Chapters 19-20





Box 7

Folders 33-39:

  1. …And Ladies of the Club- Typescript 2, Chapter 21
  2. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 2, Chapters 22-23
  3. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 2, Chapters 24-25
  4. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 2, Chapters 26-27
  5. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 2, Chapters 28-29
  6. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 2, Chapters 30-31
  7. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 2, Chapter 32





Box 8

Folders 40-46:

  1. …And Ladies of the Club- Typescript 2, Chapters 33-34
  2. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 2, Chapters 35-36
  3. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 2, Chapter 37
  4. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 3, setting copy, preliminary work
  5. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 3, setting copy, chapters 1-4
  6. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 3, setting copy, chapters 5-8
  7. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 3, setting copy, chapters 9-10





Box 9

Folders 47-53:

  1. …And Ladies of the Club- Typescript 3, setting copy, chapters 11-12
  2. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 3, setting copy, chapters 13-14
  3. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 3, setting copy, chapters 15-17
  4. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 3, setting copy, chapters 18-19
  5. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 3, setting copy, chapters 20-21
  6. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 3, setting copy, chapters 22-23
  7. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 3, setting copy, chapters 24-25





Box 10

Folders 54-58:

  1. …And Ladies of the Club- Typescript 3, setting copy, chapter 26
  2. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 3, setting copy, chapters 27-28
  3. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 3, setting copy, chapters 29-30
  4. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 3, setting copy, chapters 31-33
  5. …And Ladies of the Club– Typescript 3, setting copy, chapters 34-36





Box 11

Folders 59-64:

  1. …And Ladies of the Club- Galley proofs
  2. …And Ladies of the Club– Galley proofs
  3. …And Ladies of the Club– Galley proofs
  4. …And Ladies of the Club– Galley proofs
  5. …And Ladies of the Club– Galley proofs





Box 12

Folders 65-75:

  1. “Farewell, Summer” – Typescript I
  2. “Farewell, Summer” – Typescript II
  3. "Farewell, Summer” – Typescript III pp. 1-135
  4. "Farewell, Summer” – Typescript III pp. 136-246
  5. "Farewell, Summer” – Typescript/manuscript miscellaneous pages
  6. “Farewell, Summer” – Typescript/manuscript miscellaneous pages
  7. “Farewell, Summer” – Manuscript miscellaneous pages
  8. “The First Public Library in Xenia…”
  9. “A Day in the Life of Chaucer"
  10. “Defoe and the Roads of England"
  11. “Farewell, Summer” – Manuscript miscellaneous pages





Box 13

Folders 76-82:

  1. …And Ladies of the Club- Page proofs, pp. i-iv, 2-313
  2. …And Ladies of the Club– Page proofs, pp. 314-599
  3. …And Ladies of the Club– Page proofs, pp.600-905
  4. …And Ladies of the Club– Page proofs, pp. 906-1207
  5. …And Ladies of the Club– Page proofs, pp. 1208-1344
  6. “Anne Morrow Lindbergh”
  7. “Browning’s Conception of the Freedom of Will”
  8. “The Craigie House”
  9. “A Day in the Life of Chaucer"
  10. “Defoe and the Roads of England"
  11. “Farewell, Summer” – Manuscript miscellaneous pages





Box 14

Folders 83-93:

  1. "The Hall with Eight Doors” – Typescript pp. i-iii, 1-199
  2. "The Hall with Eight Doors” – Typescript pp. 200-363
  3. “Items from a Scrapbook” – Typescript
  4. “Journalism in Southwestern Ohio, 1840-1865”
  5. “The Abbey Theater, Lady Gregory and J.M. Synge”
  6. “The Life and Works of Clara Reeve” – Typescript pp. 1-246
  7. “The Life and Works of Clara Reeve” – Typescript pp. 257-513
  8. “Lucretia Mott” – Typescript
  9. “Luigi Pirandelo: A Critique” – Typescript
  10. Notebook – early notes
  11. “The House on Third Street” – Manuscript





Box 15

Folders 94-101:

  1. Ohio Town– Typescript, chapters 1-4
  2. Ohio Town– Typescript, chapters 6-8
  3. Ohio Town– Typescript, chapters 9-13
  4. Ohio Town– Typescript/manuscript, miscellaneous pages
  5. Ohio Town– Typescript, miscellaneous pages
  6. Ohio Town– Typescript, early miscellaneous pages
  7. Ohio Town– Typescript, early miscellaneous pages
  8. Ohio Town– Typescript, early miscellaneous pages





Box 16

Folders 102-112:

  1. Ohio Town– Typescript, early miscellaneous pages
  2. Research notes (?) - Typescript/manuscript
  3. Research notes (?) - Typescript/manuscript
  4. Research notes (?) - Typescript/manuscript
  5. “Primitive Religion South of the Sahara” – Manuscript
  6. “Romanticism Today” – Typescript
  7. “The Significance of the Loire…” – Typescript
  8. “The Sonneteer: A Day in the Life of Shakespeare” – college paper
  9. “The Scottish Border in History, Legend and Ballad” – Typescript
  10. “The Storied Nile” – Typescript
  11. Varia and exams given





Box 17

Folders 113-127:

  1. Notes
  2. Juvenilia
  3. Scrapbook (1908-1912)
    • 1909 tickets from the Pullman Company railway
    • A prospectus of the annual entertainment of the Dramatic Club of Xenia High School
    • The Xenia, OH 1910-11 high school course of study with Santmyer's selections
    • Promotional materials frmo the Greene County Young Woman's Christian Association
    • The March 29, 1912 program of the Denison University Glee Club
    • The text of a speech performed by Santmyer at her junior reception in high school
    • Program for "The Vicar of Wakefield" by Oliver Goldsmith, performed by the Xenia High School class of 1912
    • Commencement program for the Central High School Class of 1912
    • A list of upcoming special features at the Bijou Theatre of Xenia, OH during the week of Sept. 5, 1912
    • The Xenia High School 1910-11 Course of Study
    • A list of the annual entertainment of the dramatic club, 1910
    • Introductory material to the Greene County Young Women's Christian Association, 1912
    • A Denison University Glee Club program, 1912
    • A speech written by Santmyer as she finished her junior year of high school
    • Commencement materials from the Central High School Class of 1912
    • A list of special features at Bijou Theatre, 1912
    • An "Education and Physcial Training" pamphlet of the YWCA, 1912
    • Santmyer's high school schedule, 1912
  4. Household Inventory (?)
  5. Miscellaneous pp. and notes (some …And Ladies of the Club) – Typescript/manuscript
  6. Notebook – Poetry and …And Ladies of the Club notes
  7. Poetry – Typescript/Manuscript
  8. Memorbilia
  9. Miscellaneous correspondence
  10. BOMC Correspondence
  11. Jane Jordan Brown Correspondence
  12. Contemporary Authors Correspondence
  13. Harper and Row Correspondence
  14. OSU Press Correspondence
  15. G.P. Putnam’s Sons Correspondence





Box 18

Folders 128-136:

  1. Ohio Town fan mail and general correspondence A-D
  2. Ohio Town fan mail and general correspondence E-R
  3. Ohio Town fan mail and general correspondence S-Z
  4. Jacob Sandoe diploma from University of Pennsylvania
  5. General Correspondence A-F
  6. General Correspondence G-R
  7. General Correspondence S-Z
  8. Miscellaneous
  9. Clippings





Box 19

Folders 137-143:

  1. …And Ladies of the Club fan mail A
  2. …And Ladies of the Club fan mail B-Bo
  3. …And Ladies of the Club fan mail Br-Ch
  4. …And Ladies of the Club fan mail Ci-Cz
  5. …And Ladies of the Club fan mail D
  6. …And Ladies of the Club fan mail E-F
  7. …And Ladies of the Club fan mail G





Box 20

Folders 144-149:

  1. …And Ladies of the Clubfan mail H
  2. …And Ladies of the Club fan mail I-K
  3. …And Ladies of the Club fan mail L
  4. …And Ladies of the Club fan mail M-Ma
  5. …And Ladies of the Club fan mail Mb-Mz
  6. …And Ladies of the Club fan mail N-O





Box 21

Folders 150-155:

  1. …And Ladies of the Clubfan mail P-Q
  2. …And Ladies of the Club fan mail R
  3. …And Ladies of the Club fan mail S-Sh
  4. …And Ladies of the Club fan mail Si-Sz
  5. …And Ladies of the Club fan mail T-V
  6. …And Ladies of the Club fan mail W-Z





Box 22

Folders 156-162:

  1. Photographs of Santmyer's childhood
  2. Photographs of Santmyer and Mildred Sandoe interspersed among others older photographs of unidentified friends and family
  3. 2 small boxes of photographs from a press photography session
  4. Miscellaneous clippings and pamphlets including those from the Greene County Historical Society, items from Wellesley College, and recognition of Santmyer by the Ohio Commission on Aging.
  5. Clippings on happenings in Xenia, Wellesley College, and recognition of Helen Hooven Santmyer
  6. General correspondence from family, including a large amount from Phil Santmyer
  7. Copies of historic maps of Xenia, OH, nomination forms from the National Register of Historic Places, and copies of photographs of the nominated homes in Xenia.





Box 23

Folder 163:

  1. Miscellaneous items including recognition and publishing materials for Santmyer's various novels
    • A pedigree chart dating Helen Hooven Santmyer's ancestry to 1485.
    • Wellesley Folder

Other items

  • 3 scrapbooks of clippings
  • Helen Santmyer’s High School and College Diplomas
  • Varia – Press plates, et cetera







Page last revised: July 13, 2012

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