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Davis Dunbar McElroy Papers, 1950-1969

Overview of the Collection

Creator
McElroy, Davis Dunbar
Title
Davis Dunbar McElroy Papers
Dates
1950-1969 (inclusive)
Quantity
2 containers., (2 linear feet of shelf space.), (3850 items.)
Collection Number
Cage 451
Summary
Research notes, typescript drafts and other papers relating to Scotland's literary clubs, published in part as Scotland's Age of Improvement, a Survey of Eighteenth Century Literary Clubs and Societies (1970).
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open for research use.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for encoding this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.
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Biographical Note

Davis Dunbar McElroy was born in San Francisco, California on August 1, 1917. He served in the United States Navy from 1942-1946. After the war, he completed his undergraduate studies at the University of California at Berkeley in 1949, and received his doctoral degree from the University of Edinburgh in 1952. From 1960 to 1962 McElroy was an Assistant Professor at Oregon State University. He served on Washington State University's English Department faculty from 1962 to 1970. Since 1970 McElroy has been Chairman of Humanities at Centralia College. His book Scotland's Age of Improvement, a Survey of Eighteenth Century Literary Clubs and Societies, based on his dissertation, was completed in 1969 and published by the Washington State University Press the following year.

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Use of the Collection

Preferred Citation

[Item Description]. Cage 451, Davis Dunbar McElroy Papers. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in three series: Typescripts, Rough Notes, and Reference Materials. The first series, Typescripts, consists of two sub-series: McElroy's typescript of his book, A Century of Scottish Clubs, 1700-1800, along with an extensive index to that typescript; and earlier typewritten drafts of the chapters (arranged alphabetically by title) which later became chapters of the book. The second series, Rough Notes, consists of research notes, both handwritten and typewritten, which were compiled by the author during the course of his work on the book. This series is arranged alphabetically by subject, and contains references to persons, places, and clubs which appear throughout McElroy's work. The types of materials found in this series include accounts of the various clubs taken from journals and newspapers of the day, club information taken from biographies and writings of famous members, and observations and opinions about the various societies found in the minutes of club meetings. The third series, Reference Materials, is comprised of other published works including Harry A. Cockburn's An Account of the Friday Club, Written by Lord Cockburn, Together with Notes on Certain Other Social Clubs in Edinburgh (1911), and a reel of microfilm containing extracts of biographical sketches and memoirs of the Alexander Monros: Primus, Secondus, Tertius.

The clubs McElroy described were not solely concerned with literature, social improvement, or debate. Many were convivial fraternities which emphasized camaraderie. According to the author, many of these societies were founded for the purpose of teaching Scots men of letters to write and speak proper English. Other clubs promoted improvement in agriculture, fisheries, industries, and conduct.

Acquisition Information

The papers of Davis Dunbar McElroy were donated by him to the Washington State University Libraries in April 1979 (79-11).

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Scottish literature--18th century
  • Scottish literature--Societies, etc.

Personal Names

  • McElroy, Davis Dunbar, 1917- --Archives (creator)

Titles within the Collection

  • Scotland's age of improvement

Finding aid prepared by Andrew J. Gregg
2012

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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