Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Irving Petite papers , 1960s-1970s
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Petite, Irving, 1920-
- Title
- Irving Petite papers
- Dates
- 1960s-1970s (inclusive)19601970
- Quantity
- 1 linear feet, (2 containers) : 2 manuscript boxes
- Collection Number
- Ax 581
- Summary
- Irving Petite (1920-2004) was a free-lance writer for the Seattle Times and an author who wrote stories regarding outdoor life and wildlife encounters from his cabin on Tiger Mountain, Washington, including the popular, "Mr. B," about a bear cub that adopted Petite. The collection contains manuscripts, clippings, and published books.
- 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
Irving Petite (1920-2004) was a free-lance writer for the Seattle Times, and an author who wrote stories regarding outdoor life and wildlife encounters from his cabin on Tiger Mountain, Washington, including the popular, "Mr. B," about a bearcub that adopted Petite.
According to an article in the Spokesman Review, "Petite was 19 when he and a friend, Bill McCauley, bought 165 acres of logged-over Weyerhaeuser Co. land on Tiger Mountain in 1942, which they farmed and used for salvage logging. Petite dropped out of the University of Washington, where he was studying zoology. The United States had just entered World War II, and Petite was a conscientious objector.
Free-lancing feature articles for the Seattle Times and other newspapers didn't pay the bills, so he also delivered a rural mail route for 18 years.
His big break came when another writer introduced him to Carolyn Rogers, a Reader's Digest editor from Spokane. He got $1,500 when the magazine bought a story called "The Deer That Came to Breakfast."
His other books include The Best Time of Year, The Elderberry Tree and Meander to Alaska, which in 1970 was the last to be published."
[Source: http://www.spokesman.com/stories/1996/jan/23/enlightened-exile-reclusive-author-irving-petite/]
[Source: http://community.seattletimes.nwsource.com/archive/?date=20041208&slug=petiteobit080]
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
The collection contains manuscripts, clippings, and published books.
The initial donation of 1968 contains manuscripts and published books.
There are manuscripts for The Best Time of the Year, The Elderberry Tree, Life on Tiger Mountain, and Mr. B. Material may include drafts, page proofs, galleys, and printer's copies. There is also proofs of a newspaper article regarding Mr. B.
Published books consist of a German and a Japanese translation of Mr. B.
An addendum on 1974 contains manuscripts, clippings and a book by other authors.
Manuscript material for Meander to Alaska consists of a final galley proof and a published copy. Manuscript material for Out of the Flesh consists of a typed draft.
There are clippings from a newspaper article about the bear cub, Mr. B.
There is also a book, Birds of Point Lobos, illustrated by Jean W. Petite.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
| Description |
|---|
| Guide to the Irving Petite Papers |
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- Animal behavior
- Authors, American--20th century
- Authors, American--Washington (State)
- Natural history--Washington (State)
- Nature observation--Washington (State)
- Outdoor life--Washington (State)
- Wildlife-related recreation--Washington (State)
Personal Names
- Petite, Irving, 1920-
Geographical Names
- West (U.S.)--In literature
Form or Genre Terms
- Clippings
- Galley proofs
- Manuscripts for publication
