Verne Bright papers , 1899-1975

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Fuller, Ethel Romig, 1883-1965; Emerson, Charles L. (Charles Leon), 1901-; Oregon Historical Society; Matthews, Courtland W; Hume, Hugh; Bright, Verne, 1893-1977; Wood, Charles Erskine Scott, 1852-1944; Wetjen, Albert Richard, 1900-1948; Vinal, Harold, 1891-1965; Pratt, Laurence, 1888-1985; Pacific University; Matthews, Eleanor H., -1979; Barker, Jim (Oregon poet)
Title
Verne Bright papers
Dates
1899-1975 (inclusive)
Quantity
7 linear feet, (5 containers)  :  4 record storage boxes, 1 oversize flat box containing 2 scrapbooks
Collection Number
Ax 263
Summary
Verne Bright (1893 - ) was an Oregon author of poetry who also worked as a newspaper reporter, and as an English teacher. The collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, memorabilia, genealogy research, sketches, scrapbooks, and publications.
Repository
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions

Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.

Additional Reference Guides

Paper finding aid with additional information is available in Special Collections & University Archives.

See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Verne Bright (1893 - ) was born in Brookfield, Missouri, and came to Oregon in 1911. He was educated at Pacific University, and became an author of poetry. He also worked as a newspaper reporter, and as an English teacher.

His poems have been published in magazines and newspapers, and in books of poetry, including Mountain Man (1948) which "tells the story of how the descendants of Daniel Boone come to Oregon."

[Source: http://www.ochcom.org/pdf/Oregon-Literary-Timeline.pdf]

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection contains correspondence, manuscripts, memorabilia, genealogy research, sketches, scrapbooks, and publications.

The collection is organized by accession/addendum. The initial donation, the 1969 addendum, and the 1972 addendum have been organized together. The 1974 addendum is organized separately.

The initial donation and the two subsequent addenda contain incoming correspondence (1911-1972), is organized alphabetically by last name or title and totals over 600 letters.

Correspondents include publishers, societies, and individuals including Jim Barker, Charles L. Emerson, Ethel Romig Fuller, Stewart Holbrook, Hugh Hume, Mr. and Mrs. Courtland Matthews, Oregon Historical Society, Laurence Pratt, Harold Vinal, Richard Wetjen, and Charles Erskine Scott Wood.

The 1974 addendum consists of correspondence, manuscripts, memorabilia, genealogy research, sketches, and publications.

Outgoing correspondence is organized chronologically, 1910; 1918; 1955-1957 and includes over 200 letters. The outgoing correspondence includes sixty-four letters from Bright, 1918-1919, when he was an infantryman in the A.E.F., written from Vancouver Barracks, Washington, Ft. McDowell, California, Ft. William McKinley, Philippines, and Vladivostok, Siberia. Most of them are to Mrs. C. E. Barker of Beaverton, Oregon. There is also a section of fan letters.

Incoming correspondence (1899-1975) is organized alphabetically by last name or title and includes over ninety letters. Correspondents include publishers, societies, and individuals including Jim Barker, Charles L. Emerson, Eleanor and Courtland Matthews, Oregon Historical Society, Pacific University, and Laurence Pratt.

Article-length manuscripts include drafts and corrections and two are about Jack Dempsey.

Poetry manuscripts often include drafts, different versions, and revisions, and are organized alphabetically by title.

The collection also contains tearsheets of articles and poetry clippings.

Genealogy material including notes, notebooks, charts, and clippings from research into various families including the Brights and early residents of Elizabethtown, New Jersey.

Other material includes notes and research on Oregon topics, photographs, sketches, memorabilia including publicity, advertisements, telegrams, book reviews, and programs, and poetry by other authors.

There are also three scrapbooks. Publications include Northwest based literary serials.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • American poetry--20th century
  • Poetry--Authorship
  • Poets, American--20th century
  • Poets, American--Oregon
  • Poets, American--Oregon--Correspondence
  • World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, American

Personal Names

  • Barker, Jim (Oregon poet)
  • Bright, Verne, 1893-1977
  • Bright, Verne, 1893-1977
  • Dempsey, Jack, 1895-1983
  • Holbrook, Stewart H., 1893-1964
  • Matthews, Courtland W.--Correspondence
  • Matthews, Eleanor H., -1979--Correspondence
  • Pratt, Laurence, 1888-1985
  • Vinal, Harold, 1891-1965
  • Wetjen, Albert Richard, 1900-1948
  • Wood, Charles Erskine Scott, 1852-1944

Corporate Names

  • Oregon Historical Society--Records and correspondence
  • Pacific University

Family Names

  • Bright family

Form or Genre Terms

  • Correspondence
  • Genealogies (histories)
  • Manuscripts for publication
  • Scrapbooks
  • Sketches