Datus C. Proper Papers, 1864-2003

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Proper, Datus C.
Title
Datus C. Proper Papers
Dates
1864-2003 (inclusive)
Quantity
6.4 linear feet
Collection Number
2502, Collection 2502, MtBC, us (collection)
Summary
The Datus C. Proper Papers consist of journals, correspondence, family history documents, literary manuscript drafts, galley proofs, research notes, publisher correspondence, photographs and other memorabilia which document Proper's life as a student, United States Foreign Service officer, and outdoor writer. The subjects of Proper's writings encompass the full spectrum of fly fishing for trout, from stream side entomology to the ethics of catch and release angling. Hunting, particularly pheasant hunting and the training of dogs for the sport, is another subject heavily represented.
Repository
Montana State University Library, Merrill G. Burlingame Special Collections
Montana State University-Bozeman Library
Merrill G Burlingame Special Collections
P.O. Box 173320
Bozeman, MT
59717-3320
Telephone: 4069944242
Fax: 4069942851
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Languages
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Biographical NoteReturn to Top

Datus Carryer Proper was born in Des Moines, Iowa on April 18, 1934, the son of William Glisan Proper and Marjorie Carryer Proper. His extended family ancestors included Ida Sedgwick Proper, an early suffragist and New York artist, and Datus DeWitt Proper, an Iowa Civil War veteran and Baptist preacher. Datus C. Proper grew up in Iowa, Nebraska, Northern Minnesota, and Yellowstone National Park, where his father worked as a personnel officer for the Park from 1946 to 1955. Proper attended secondary school at Phillips Exeter Academy in New Hampshire and earned a BA degree in English from Cornell University in 1956. He began a career with the United States Foreign Service and served in Washington D.C., Angola, Brazil, Ireland and Portugal as a political analyst. He also earned a MA degree from George Washington University in 1978 and completed the course of study at the National War College during the same year. His longtime interest in fly fishing and pheasant hunting were sharpened during his government career, and he experienced success in publishing sporting articles along with his first book, What The Trout Said, prior to his retirement from the State Department in 1987. Proper then moved with his family to the Gallatin Valley near Bozeman, Montana where he began a full time career as a writer, mostly on outdoor subjects. He wrote three more books during his time in Montana and hundreds of articles for outdoor and regional magazines, especially Field and Stream where he became a regular contributor. He married Anna Therese Collins in 1975 and had two sons prior to his death on July 27, 2003.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The Datus C. Proper papers consist of journals, correspondence, family history documents, literary manuscript drafts, galley proofs, research notes, publisher correspondence, photographs and other memorabilia which document Proper's life as a student, United States Foreign Service officer, and outdoor writer. His family history documents feature materials pertaining to Proper's extended family ancestors, including notes and clippings about Ida Sedgwick Proper, and the Civil War diary of Datus DeWitt Proper, corporal, 19th Iowa Volunteer Infantry. Datus Proper's journals document his early interest in fly fishing and hunting, containing both diary-like entries and miscellaneous notes that he later used in his published writings. The manuscript drafts encompass many, but not all, of Proper's articles for magazines like Field and Stream, and his four full length books. A research vertical file of clippings and miscellaneous notes maintained by Proper for reference purposes has also been preserved within this collection, along with a small collection of photographs, some of which were used to illustrate Proper's published articles. The subjects of Proper's writings encompass the full spectrum of fly fishing for trout, from stream side entomology to the ethics of catch and release angling. Hunting, particularly pheasant hunting and the training of dogs for the sport, is another subject heavily represented. Proper also wrote on Portugal, a country in which he had served during his career with the State Department, and in addition to his writings he saved some letters and documents written in Portuguese. Correspondents found in this collection include Vince Marinaro, Nick Lyons, Paul Schullery, and other prominent fly fishing and hunting writers. Oversize materials include topographical maps marked with locations of Proper's hunting and fishing trips, certificates and awards, and tracings of fish that Proper caught and measured.

Use of the CollectionReturn to Top

Restrictions on Use

All copyright to the materials created by Datus C. Proper is the property of Anna Collins-Proper.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Arrangement

Series 1 Journals, 1951-2002

Series 2 Correspondence, 1985-2002

Series 3 Family papers, 1864-2000

Series 4 Magazine articles, 1965-2002

Series 5 Book publication files, 1992-2002

Series 6 Unfinished book manuscript

Series 7 Subject vertical files

Series 8 Memorial service materials, 2002-2003

Series 9 Photographs

Acquisition Information

The Datus C. Proper papers were donated to Montana State University by Anna Collins-Proper of Belgrade, Montana in January 2009. Additional materials were added to the collection April 2019.

Processing Note

This collection was processed 2010 October 26

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

1:  Journals, 1951-2002Return to Top

Proper's journals document his hunting and fishing experiences and feature entries related to his article and book ideas. Proper's earliest fishing journal dates from 1951 and documents trout fishing while a student in New Hampshire. The bulk of his journals date from Proper's active writing career between 1965 and 2003, and detail his experiences fishing and hunting in Brazil, Portugal, Ireland, Montana, and elsewhere in the United States. The inclusive dates for each journal are approximate, and many diaries have laid-in notes placed by Proper in reference to his magazine article compositions.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
1 1 1951
1 2 1967-1978
1 3 1978-1980
1 4 1980-1981
1 5 1981-1983
1 6 1983-1984
1 7 1984-1985
2 1 1985-1988
2 2 1988-1989
2 3 1990-1992
2 4 1992-1994
2 5 1994-1995
2 6 1995-1998
2 7 1998-2002
2 8 2002-2003
2 9 Various Dates

2:  CorrespondenceReturn to Top

This series only represents those letters that Proper kept in a separate file sequence. Other letters specifically related to individual writings by Proper can be found interfiled with his various manuscript drafts in series 5-9. The letters have been arranged alphabetically by correspondent's name, with more substantial groups of letters, or those with enclosures that would be confused in as a group arrangement, assigned to individually named folders.

Proper's correspondence files feature incoming and outgoing letters with publishers, readers, reviewers, family, friends, and other sportsmen. The bulk of the correspondence relates to Proper's writing career and includes feedback from readers and editors, hunting and fishing tips exchanged with friends and colleagues, and information requests from Proper to other writers and sportsmen. Proper maintained these files during his lifetime, and created generic alphabetical groupings based on correspondent name or created individual files for more frequent correspondents.

Container(s) Description
Box Folder
3 1
3 2
3 3
3 4
3 5
3 6
3 7
3 8
3 9
3 10
3 11
3 12
3 13
3 14
3 15
3 16
3 17
3 18
3 19
3 20
3 21
3 22
3 23
3 24
3 25
3 26
3 27
3 28
3 29
3 30
3 31
3 32
3 33
3 34
3 35
3 36
3 37
3 38
3 39
3 40
3 41
3 42
3 43
3 44

3:  Family Papers, 1864-2000Return to Top

Proper's family papers document his personal life and family history. They include several personal items from his childhood including a baby book, school ephemera from Exeter Academy, student essays, and report cards. They also include a small amount of family correspondence and records documenting his career as a Foreign Service officer at the State Department. Records documenting his family history include genealogical records and collected items and biographies of Proper's distant relatives Datus Dewitt Proper (1844-1922), Ida Sedgwick Proper (1876-1957), and Datus Edwin Proper (1896-1965). Among these collected items is a Civil War diary written by Datus Dewitt Proper between 1864 and 1865, documenting his service in Louisiana, Alabama, and Florida.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
4 1
4 2
4 3 1948-1952
4 4 1948-1952
4 5
4 6
4 7 1946-1987
4 8
4 9 1970
4 10
4 11
4 12
4 13
4 14
4 15 1864-1865
4 16 1864-1865
4 17

4:  Magazine articles, 1965-2002Return to Top

Proper's article and manuscript drafts are arranged into three distinct groups. The first grouping was established by Proper and arranges articles by topic. Proper maintained drafts for several different compositions in these topical files. Along with the various drafts Proper placed handwritten notes, letters of submission to publishers, galley proofs, and occasionally tear sheets of printed articles. All of the subject labeled files bear titles Proper originally assigned to them. Other manuscript files were originally unorganized and have been arranged by working title, whether or not that title was chosen for the final published version. Files in this group mostly contain the draft manuscript, but also contain publisher correspondence in a few cases. There is a significant amount of duplication between this group and the first, but the various draft versions often bear handwritten corrections and alterations making the retention of both necessary to demonstrate the author's composition process. Finally, Proper kept a small collection of tear sheets of his various published articles that is far from complete, along with a few clippings that mentioned him as a writer and outdoorsman. A prolific writer, Proper did not maintain a comprehensive list of his publication output, making the task of reconstructing his bibliography difficult at best. The articles have been grouped in alphabetic folders representing the titles. All of the folders in this series have been alphabetically arranged, with the sequence repeated for each of the three groups.

Proper's magazine articles include manuscript drafts, galley proofs, notes, publisher correspondence, research letters, and a partial physical bibliography of Proper's magazine publications. Proper's drafts touch on a wide range of topics including fishing, fly tying, dogs, hunting, game birds, cooking wild game, wilderness, and life in the outdoors.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
5 1
5 2
5 3
5 4
5 5
5 6
5 7
5 8
5 9
5 10
5 11
5 12
5 13
5 14
5 15
5 16
5 17
5 18
5 19
5 20
5 21
5 22
5 23
6 1
6 2
6 3
6 4
6 5
6 6
6 7
6 8
6 9
6 10
6 11
6 12
6 13
6 14
6 15
6 16
6 17
6 18
6 19
6 20
6 21
6 22
6 23
6 24
6 25
6 26
6 27
6 28
6 29
6 30
7 1
7 2
7 3
7 4
7 5
7 6
7 7
7 8
7 9
7 10
7 11
7 12
7 13
7 14
7 15
7 16
7 17
7 18
7 19
7 20
7 21
7 22
7 23
7 24
7 25
7 26
7 27
7 28
7 29
7 30
7 31
7 32
7 33
7 34
7 35
7 36
7 37
7 38
7 39
7 40
8 1
8 2
8 3
8 4
8 5
8 6
8 7
8 8
8 9
8 10
8 11
8 12

5:  Book Publication FilesReturn to Top

The folders are arranged in the order in which Proper published his books.

Proper's book publication files document the production of his four published books: What the Trout Said (1982; rev. ed. 1989); Pheasants of the Mind (1990; rev. ed. 1994); The Last Old Place: A Search Through Portugal (1992); and Running Waters (2001). Each draft combined portions of previously published essays with new original compositions. These files contain manuscript drafts, publisher correspondence, published book reviews, reader's letters, and notes pertaining to each book.

Container(s) Description
Box Folder
9 1
9 2
9 3
9 4
9 5
9 6
9 7
9 8
9 9
9 10
9 11
10 1
10 2
10 3
10 4
10 5
10 6

6:  Unfinished book manuscriptReturn to Top

The arrangement of these folders begins with Proper's initial inquiries on the project and introduction, and then a month by month listing of the work he did on the individual chapters. The folders bear the original labels assigned by Proper, and no attempt was made to consolidate materials that were kept in duplicate titles in order to preserve evidential value.

Proper's unfinished book manuscript features chapter drafts from a book he began working on during the end of his life titled variously as "The Home Place" or simply "Home." The book draws from Proper's previously published articles and attempts to examine his personal relationship with nature and how his chosen lifestyle had been affected by the land and the elements. The manuscript is organized into twelve chapters named after the months of the year and address broader themes such as home building in an environmentally sensitive area, hunting, fishing, and mankind's ever-changing relationship with nature. Proper intended to use many of his earlier magazine articles as a basis for each chapter and named the chapter title drafts the months of the year. He annotated the composition with comments about where to cut certain passages, add other passages, and consider other chapters where the composition might be better placed. Throughout his writing and editing process, Proper solicited feedback from his agent, Knox Burger, and other readers, and included their suggestions in with his drafts. As a result, there is a great deal of repetition between the contents of this incomplete manuscript and Proper's published articles.

Container(s) Description
Box Folder
10 7
10 8
10 9
10 10
10 11
10 12
10 13
10 14
10 15
10 16
11 1
11 2
11 3
11 4
11 5
11 6
11 7
11 8
11 9
11 10
11 11
11 12
11 13
11 14
11 15
11 16
11 17

7:  Subject Vertical FilesReturn to Top

The files were organized alphabetically under broad subject headings. In addition to the original folders A small set of notes contained in the Outdoor and Miscellaneous section were loose or laid in books from Proper's personal library and have been grouped in categories by the archivist. Processors have identified the volumes from which these various scraps were taken in order to assist researchers in placing the material in context. The present arrangement preserves the original order of these files, arranged alphabetically under the major subject divisions.

Proper's subject vertical files feature topical files maintained by Proper in support of research for his publications. The files relate to topics of interest to Proper including fly fishing, hunting, streams and rivers, dogs, guns, and wild game. Although most files contain little more than printed materials, occasionally Proper would place letters or notes he felt relevant to the folder's title.

Container(s) Description
Box Folder
12 1
12 2
12 3
12 4
12 5
12 6
12 7
12 8
12 9
12 10
12 11
12 12
12 13
12 14
12 15
12 16
12 17
12 18
12 19
12 20
12 21
12 22
12 23
12 24
12 25
12 26
13 1
13 2
13 3
13 4
13 5
13 6
13 7
13 8
13 9
13 10
13 11
13 12
13 13
13 14
13 15
13 16
13 17
13 18
13 19
13 20
13 21
14 1
14 2
14 3
14 4
14 5
14 6
14 7
14 8
14 9
14 10
14 11
14 12
14 13
14 14
14 15
14 16
14 17
14 18
14 19
14 20
14 21
14 22
14 23
14 24
15 1
15 2
15 3
15 4
15 5
15 6
15 7
15 8
15 9
15 10
15 11
15 12
15 13
15 14
15 15
15 16
15 17
15 18
15 19
15 20
15 21
15 22
15 23
15 24
15 25
15 26
15 27
15 28
15 29
16 1
16 2
16 3
16 4
16 5

8:  Memorial Service Materials, 2002-2003Return to Top

Proper's memorial service materials include a small set of documents from his funeral and letters of condolence to his widow. They feature obituaries, testimonials, and a recording of his funeral service.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
16 6
16 7
vhs
16 1
Funeral Service

9:  PhotographsReturn to Top

Proper's photographs feature sets of 35mm slides and prints he selected for use in his publications. Although most were never featured in his published works, the images relate to topics addressed in Proper's books and articles including fly tying, trout stream fishing, and hunting dogs. Several sets of prints also document his travels in Portugal, which he detailed in his 1993 book, The Last Old Place: A Search Through Portugal. A very small set of photos include photos of Proper during his childhood and portraits of him as an adult.

Container(s) Description Dates
Box Folder
16 8
Box Folder
16 8
Adriano
16 8
The Best of It
16 8
Black
16 8
Book-Home-#4
16 8
British Mayfly
16 8
Dogwood Run
16 8
Hellroaring Creek
16 8
Huck
16 8
Humility Creek
16 9
Box Folder
16 9
Humility Creek
16 9
Fishing for Shadows
16 9
Jack Heddon, letter of August 3, 1988
1988 August 3
16 9
A Perfect Stream
16 9
A Place of Our Own
16 9
Portugal, Trout
16 9
Vince Marinaro
16 9
What The Trout Said
16 10
16 11
16 12
Box Folder
Datus C. Proper (DCP)
1934-1935
DCP
1934-1935
DCP
1936
DCP
1936
DCP
1936
DCP
1935 November
DCP
DCP and friend
1940
DCP and siblings
1942 December 2
DCP
1944
DCP
1945
16 13
Box Folder
DCP
1977
DCP
circa 1990s
DCP
circa 1990s
DCP and colleagues
1998
DCP and colleagues
1998
Portugal photographs
16 14
Box Folder
Home place photographs
Vince Marinaro
16 15
16 16
16 17
17
Maps, Tracings, Certificates and Awards (oversize)

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Authors and publishers
  • Fishers
  • Fishers--Diaries
  • Fly fishing
  • Hunters
  • Hunters--Diaries
  • Hunting
  • Hunting dogs--Training
  • Outdoor writers--Montana
  • Pheasant shooting
  • Soldiers--United States--Diaries

Personal Names

  • Lyons, Nick--Correspondence
  • Marinaro, Vincent
  • Proper, Datus C., Last old place
  • Proper, Datus C., Pheasants of the mind
  • Proper, Datus C., Running waters
  • Proper, Datus C., What the trout said
  • Proper, Datus C.--Archives
  • Proper, Datus C.--Family
  • Proper, Datus DeWitt, 1844-1922
  • Proper, Datus DeWitt, 1844-1922--Diaries
  • Proper, Ida Sedgwick, 1873-1957
  • Schullery, Paul--Correspondence

Corporate Names

  • Phillips Exeter Academy-Students
  • United States-Army-Iowa Infantry Regiment, 19th (1862-1865)
  • United States-Foreign Service-Officials and employees

Geographical Names

  • Iowa-History-Civil War, 1861-1865
  • Portugal
  • United States--History--Civil War, 1861-1865--Personal narratives

Form or Genre Terms

  • Diaries
  • Family papers
  • Manuscripts for publication
  • Photographs
  • Photographs