English
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections
and University Archives
1299 University of Oregon Eugene, OR 97403-1299 spcarref@uoregon.edu http://libweb.uoregon.edu/speccoll
Ruth Epperson Kennell papers
Kennell, Ruth Epperson
Ax 872
13.5 linear feet
9 containers
1915-1970
Ruth Epperson Kennell (1889-1977) was an author who has
a long and varied career, which included many years spent in the Soviet Union. The
collection includes book manuscripts, short stories, screenplays, magazine articles,
and general correspondence. Kennell was secretary to Theodore Dreiser.
Ruth Epperson Kennell, author, was born in Oklahoma City, September 21, 1893, to
Julius and Sara Ellen Seeger Epperson. Her Family was relatively poor and her father
died of tuberculosis when Kennell was still quite young. Thereafter, she and her
mother moved to the San Francisco Bay area as young Ruth's own health was poor.
Kennell attended the University of California at Berkeley in 1913, but did not
obtain a degree. She married Frank Risley Kennell, a teacher, in 1917.
Kennell had a long and varied writing career, which included ten years spent in the
Soviet Union. She began as a children's librarian in the Richmond (California)
Public Library (1914-1917). In 1922, she and her husband, Frank, joined the American
Colony Kuzbas in Kemerovo, Siberia. The Kuzbas experiment was designed to provide
American personnel and techniques to post-revolutionary Russians engaged in
rebuilding and industrializing their strife-torn country. Kennel reluctantly left
her baby son, James, in the care of his paternal grandmother, Kate Kennell, in order
to participate in the Kuzbas colony.
After two years as Kuzbas, serving as librarian and secretary to the colony, Kennell
joined the staff of the International Library in Moscow as a reference librarian
(1925-1927). In 1927-1928, she was selected to serve as secretary and guide to
Theodore Dreiser as he toured the Soviet Union. Her final years in Russia were spent
as Russian correspondent for the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA). She also
wrote articles on the Kuzbas colony and facets of the life in Moscow for The Nation
Magazine.
After returning to the U.S., Ms. Kennell concentrated on writing books and short
stories for children, often based in Russia, including Vanya of the streets (1931),
The Boy, Nikolka (1943) and Adventure in Russia: The Ghost of Khirgizia (1947). Her
story, The Secret Farmyard (1956) was based on her second son's (David) real
experience. In 1969, she wrote the well-known account of her experience with
Drieser, Theodore Drieser and the Soviet Union. The writing of a book on the
American Colony Kuzbas in Siberia occupied her last years.
Ruth Epperson Kennell died in 1977.
The first section of the Kennell's collection is comprised of manuscripts for books,
articles and short stories, with related notes and reference material. Researchers
who desire first-hand autobiographical material are advised to read the manuscripts
for Kuzbas: a Romantic Chronicle, in which Kennell recounts her life
experiences.
The correspondence section reveals Kennell's wide range of contacts and
acquaintances. She received letters from conservative Christian friends as well as
the intellectual, politically sophisticated activists one might expect. Of special
interest are Kennel's long, detailed, almost diary- like letters to her relatives at
the Kuzbas colony, the hardships of living in Russia, the condition of life for the
Russian population and to events in her own often turbulent, personal life. The
letters, combined with Kennell's trip diaries are articles written by her as Russian
correspondent, will provide the researcher with a rich source of material on both
the leftist political movement of the period and on post-revolutionary Russia.
The correspondence between Kennel, her husband and various relatives and friends
reveals some of the questions, doubts, and conflicts of individuals trying to
replace Victorian values in their personal lives. Emancipation of woman from
confining sex roles was a prevailing issue among leftists woman in the 1920s.
Other highlights of the correspondence section are original letters from Theodore
Dreiser, Pearl J. Buck and H.L. Mencken (for whom Kennell wrote several articles).
The Dreiser correspondence is of great interest, as he and Kennell maintained
contact for the rest of his life. In one letter, Ms. Kennel criticizes Dreiser
severely for his attitude toward woman, as expressed in a book he had written.
Also included in the collection are photographs of the Kennell family and of Russia,
stories by Frank Kennell and Ruth. Kennell's mother, Ella Epperson Tosh, assorted
essays, clippings and articles on Russia, copies of Ms. Kennell's published books
and some miscellaneous personal material.
The Kennell Papers are doubly valuable for its fine assortment of manuscripts and
working material from a successful author, and for the personal correspondence and
diaries which express the perspective of an active American socialist from the 1920s
through the McCarthy era and on into the Vietnam war.
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.
Property rights reside with Special Collections and University Archives, University
of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their
heirs. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted
to Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain
permission of the copyright holder.
[Identification of item], Ruth Epperson Kennell Papers, Ax 872, Special Collections
and University Archives, University of Oregon, Eugene, Oregon.
Collection is organized into six series: Series I: Book manuscripts and related
materials Series II: Short stories and screenplays Series III: Magazine-length
articles Series IV: Short articles and newspaper articles Series V: Correspondence
Series VI: Biographical and personal materials
Gift of Ruth Epperson Kennell, 1979.
Collection processed by processing staff, November 1979. Revisions completed by
Alexandra M. Bisio, 2018
Buck, Pearl S. (Pearl Sydenstricker), 1892-1973
Dreiser, Theodore, 1871-1945
Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956
Soviet Union--Description and
travel
Children's literature,
American--Authorship
Socialists--Correspondence
Women authors, American--20th
century
Women socialists--United
States--Biography
Motion picture plays
Manuscripts for publication
Screenplays
Guide to the Ruth Epperson Kennell
papers
Book manuscripts and related
materials
Series I
1928-1975
This series includes materials related to Kennell's full length books for
both children and adults. Other materials filled with manuscripts and drafts
include correspondence, background research material, press clippings,
reviews, notes, editor's changes, and sample illustrations. All additional
material is filled under the manuscript title.
This series is arranged alphabetically by book title.
Adventure in Russia
1947-1948
1
1-5
American Family Robinson
1935,
1938
1
6-8
The Children's Railroad
1939,
1943
1
9-11
Comrade One-Crutch
1932
1
12-14
Factory Train to Soviet Asia
1943-1944, 1975
1
15-19
Home Room 219
1940-1941
1
20-21
The Kuzbas Story
1928-1976
1
22-34
The Kuzbas Story
1928-1976
2
1-12
Kuzbas: A Romantic Chronicle
1930
2
13-16
The Montezuma Story
1948-1961
2
17-22
No Villain
undated
3
1-2
The Secret Farmyard
1953-1973
3
3-6
Seventy-Seven Days that Shook
Dreiser
1967-1969
3
7-12
Stories Zenia Told Me
undated
3
13-16
Theodore Dreiser and the Soviet
Union
1928-1969
3
17-22
Theodore Dreiser and the Soviet
Union
1928-1969
4
1-21, 62
Vanya of the Streets
1929-1931
4
22-25
Short stories and screenplays
Series II
1935-1953
This series includes materials related to Kennell's short stories and
screenplays. In addition to manuscripts and drafts, this series also
includes published copies of her work, correspondence, summaries, and source
material.
This series is arranged in alphabetical order by story title.
Army Women
undated
4
26
"As Clay in the Potter's Hand"
1942
4
27
The Borrowed Perambulator
1939
4
28-29
"The Broken Windows"
1939
4
30
"Carper the Crow"
undated
4
31
"Certain Inalienable Rights"
1936
4
32
"The Christmas Fire"
undated
4
33
"The Christmas Message in the
Snow"
1944
4
34
"The Christmas Spirit"
1935
4
35
"A Clandestine Divorce"
undated
4
36
"Commencement"
1936
4
37
"The Cotton Pickers"
1937
4
38
"Dad's Night"
1936
4
39
"The Decoy"
1940
4
40
"The Derelict Ducks"
1936
4
41
"Desert Samaritan"
1938-1939
4
42
"The Dog that Found his
Master"
1936
4
43
"Easter"
1939
4
44
"Elsa's Revenge"
1943
4
45
"Evening Hymn"
1936
4
46
"Fedora's Trouble"
1936-1943
4
47
"Finders Keepers"
1947
4
48
"Flash"
1940
4
49
"The Forbidden Christmas
Trees"
1938
4
50
"Forty Boys and Antonio"
1939
4
51
"Fountain of Youth"
undated
4
52
"The Friendship Coat"
1944
4
53
"Ghosts of the Past"
undated
4
54
"The Girl at Summit Boys
School"
undated
4
55
"Haircut Deferred"
undated
4
56
"The Happy Exiles"
undated
4
57
"Hens in Specs"
1939
4
58
"Her Husband's Portrait"
1940
4
59
"His Brother's Keeper"
1936
4
60
"The Immortal Railroad"
1942
4
61
"Insurance Man"
1937
5
1
"The International Spirit"
1936
5
2
"In the Clouds"
undated
5
3
"Kippie, Kippie, Kippie"
undated
5
4
"The Law Breaker"
1936
5
5
"The Life Guard"
1941
5
6
"Lisa's Song"
1941
5
7
"Little Farm Next Door"
1937
5
8
"The Lost Child"
1937
5
9
"The Lost Indian Spearhead"
1952
5
10
"Lubov"
undated
5
11
"The Magic Box"
1943
5
12
"The Magic Christmas Tree"
1937
5
13
"The Magic Horse"
1936,
1939
5
14
"The Magic Light"
1937
5
15
"The Message in the Snow"
1942-1943
5
16
"Mr. Hammond Solves His Own
Problems"
1936
5
17
"My Pets"
undated
5
18
"The Mystery of Hidden Houses"
1942
5
19
"The Neighbor on the Ground
Floor"
1939
5
20
"New Altars"
1934-1935
5
21
"No Dogs Allowed"
1942
5
22
"Not Strictly Business"
1930
5
23
"On the Way to California"
1940
5
24
"The Perennial Drought
Sufferers"
undated
5
25
"The Perfect Hiding Place"
1944-1946
5
26
"The Phantom Masquerade"
1939
5
27
"The Poison Oak Mystery"
1940
5
28
"Prussian Snowdrop"
1945
5
29
"The Psychologists Wife"
undated
5
30
"A Real Bedtime Story"
undated
5
31
"The Red Geranium"
1938
5
32
"The Rest Home"
1935
5
33
"The Right Boy"
1937
5
34
"Rough Landing"
1937
5
35
"Saucy Pete the Parakeet"
1953
5
36
"The Secret Weapon"
1944
5
37
"The Shipwrecked Baby"
1938
5
38
"Stories My Mother Told Me"
1935
5
39
"Stories by Ella Epperson, b. 1864 - d.
1957"
undated
5
40
"Strange Survival"
1946
5
41
"Strangers and Foreigners"
1941
5
42
"The Strike"
1936
5
43
"Test Tube Triangle"
1955
5
44
"The Thanksgiving Baskets"
1935
5
45
"Thanksgiving in Siberia"
1937
5
46
"They All Come to Moscow"
1933
5
47
"The Time Cheater"
undated
5
48
"Transplanted Village"
1943
5
49
"Unto One of the Least of
These"
undated
5
50
"Vacation on a Russian Farm"
undated
5
51
"Village Girl"
undated
5
52
"The Village Treasure"
1945
5
53
"When the Century Plants
Bloomed"
1936
5
54
"Who Is My Neighbor?"
1937-1938
5
55
Wonder Tales of New Russia
undated
5
56
Magazine-length articles
Series III
1923-1970
This series includes materials related to journalistic articles Kennell wrote
from 1928 to 1975 for publication in magazines. Many of her works were
printed in national publications, such as the Nation, Atlantic Monthly, and
Cosmopolitan. Unpublished works are also included in this series.
This series is arranged alphabetically by article title.
"America Rediscovered"
1929
5
57
"Americans in the Soviet Land"
1929
5
58
"Children of the Streets"
undated
5
59
"Christlike Charity"
undated
5
60
"Cinema Art Escapes from
Hollywood"
1928
5
61
"Cultural Life in the Soviet
Capital"
1927
5
62
"Defending Russia - A Letter"
1939
5
63
"End of Kuzbas"
1929
5
64
"A Famous Russian of Negro
Blood"
1946
5
66
"The Fate of Genius in
America"
undated
5
67
"How an American Realist Looked at
Russia"
undated
5
68
"How America Looks to Me After Six Years
in Russia"
undated
5
69
"Is America Dry?"
undated
5
70
"A Kuzbas Chronicle"
1923
5
71
"Kuzbas: A New Pennsylvania"
1923
5
72
"Kuzbas in 1924"
1924
5
73
"Kuzbas Tells Its Own Story"
1923
5
74
"Library Work in Russia"
1928
5
65
"News from Hollywood"
1929
5
75
"On Leaving Russia"
1936
5
76
"Pioneer Life on the Soviet
Frontier"
1931
5
77
Possible Illustrations for
articles
undated
5
92
"Reunion in Finland"
1939
5
78
"Return to America after Six Years in
Soviet Russia"
undated
5
79
"Marrying Around the World:
Russia"
1934
5
80
"The Russian Children's
Theater"
1943-1944
5
81
"Social Consciousness in
Children"
1946
5
82
"Some Striking Differences Between the US
and the Soviet Union"
undated
5
83
"Soviet Family Life in Theory and
Practice"
undated
5
84
"Subway Etiquette"
1936
5
85
"The Theater in the Soviet
Union"
undated
5
86
"Theodore Dreiser and the Soviet
Union"
1970
5
87
"Two Years in Siberia"
1929
5
91
Untitled manuscripts
1929
5
93
"Women are Mammals"
1937
5
88
"Women in Soviet Russia"
1928
5
89
"Women in Present Day"
undated
5
90
Short articles and newspapers
articles
Series IV
1923-1937
This series includes drafts and published copies of short journalistic and
literary articles written by Kennell from 1923-1970. Like her long form
works, most articles in this series focus on her experience living in the
Soviet Union in the interwar period.
This series is arranged alphabetically by article title.
"The Adventures of an American Girl in
Soviet Russia"
1928
6
5
"Actors Under the Soviet
Union"
1931
6
2
Book reviews
1921-1970
6
29
"Caviar"
1936
6
7
"The Good that has Come Out of the Russian
Revolution"
1928
6
4
"In the Heart of Siberia"
1932
6
3
"How Moscow Stages a
Demonstration"
undated
6
6
"Industrializing the Russian
Kitchen"
undated
6
8
"The Mysterious Death of the Soviet Poet
Laureate"
1930
6
9
"A New Wonderland of Travel"
1937
6
10
"Our Russian Correspondent"
1937
6
1
"The Russian Experiment"
undated
6
11
"Russia's Children of the
Streets"
1929
6
12
"Russia's Unique Effort to Get Along
Without Home Cooking Like Mother's"
1930
6
13
"Russia's Woman Andy Mellon"
1930
6
14
"The Servant Problem in
Moscow"
1929
6
15
"Soviet Satisfied with 'Free Love'"
undated
6
16
"Strange Stories of Soviet Stage
Stars"
1931
6
17
"Sunflower Seeds"
1936
6
18
"Ten First Ladies of the Soviet
Land"
undated
6
19
"Train Service in Russia"
1936
6
20
Untitled articles for the NEA
1931
6
28
"Vacationing in Bolshevik
Land"
1929
6
21
"Where Women are Really Equal"
1932
6
22
"A Woman General"
1929
6
23
"Women in Soviet Russia"
1928
6
24
"Women's Battalions on the Soviet
Industrial Front"
undated
6
25
"Women's Style Troubles in
Russia"
1931
6
26
"Young Russia"
1934
6
27
Correspondence
Series V
1916-1975
The correspondence series includes letters to and from Kennell's wide range
of contacts and acquaintances. Of special interest are Kennel's long,
detailed, almost diary- like letters to her relatives at the Kuzbas colony,
the hardships of living in Russia, the condition of life for the Russian
population and to events in her own often turbulent, personal life. Other
highlights of the correspondence section are original letters from Theodore
Dreiser, Pearl J. Buck and H.L. Mencken.
This series is arranged alphabetically by the last name of the correspondent.
A folder of first name only correspondence is included at the end of the
series.
A
1922-1971
6
40
Amlie, Millie
1932-1953
6
41
B
1939-1959
6
42
Bullard, R.W.
1931-1945
6
44
C
1939-1968
6
43
Calvert, Mellie
1922-1976
6
46
Clyman, Rhea
1957-1960
6
45
D
1926-1972
6
47
Dembo, Rosa
1964-1971
6
48
Dinaniov, Sergei
1928-1931
6
49
Dreiser, Theodore
1928-1945
6
50-53
E
1928-1941
6
54
Edson, Peter
1930-1957
6
55
Epperson, Helen and Heber
1917-1973
6
56
Epperson, Robert
1922-1960
6
57
F
1924-1974
6
58
Fritsch, Margaret
1968-1975
6
59
G
1923-1970
6
60
Gorn, Amelia Perlmutter
1941-1975
6
61
Griffiths, David and Linette
1970-1975
6
62
H
1966-1970
6
63
J
1928-1956
6
64
K
1922-1971
6
65
Kennell, Beatrice
1938-1973
6
66
Kennell, David and Wilma
1943-1961
6
67
Kennell, Frank
1916-1952
9
1-3
Kennell, James
1929-1975
6
68
Knudsen, Jack
1967-1973
7
1
L
1929-1974
7
2
Lambkin, Cyril
1928-1968
7
3
M
1928-1970
7
4
Mencken, H.L.
1929-1932
7
5
Mazkewitsch, David and Gita
1947-1970
7
6
Mc
1917-1971
7
7
McFarland, Wilma
1934-1946
7
8
McGrath, Vera Washburn
1934-1975
7
9
N
1939-1969
7
10
National League of American Pen
Women
1947
7
11
O
1926-1975
7
12
O'Callaghan, M.
1924-1970
7
14
O'Neill, Charles
1946-1975
7
13
P
1936-1957
7
15
Pederson, Inga and Al
1966-1971
7
16
Peixotto, George
1935-1937
7
17
Plumb, Mona and Jim
1923-1971
7
18
Podusor, Marta and Sasha
1971-1975
7
19
Preikshas, Anna
1966-1975
7
20-21
R
1924-1967
7
22
Rathborne, Nellie
1941-1973
7
23
Roberts, Holland
1969-1972
7
25
S
1923-1973
7
24
Seckar, Alvena
1949-1975
7
25
Selivanova, Nina
1952-1967
7
26
Shipman, Sam
1924-1926
9
4
Smith, Jessica
1949-1973
7
27
Sullivan, Hattie
1951-1970
7
28
T
1947-1969
7
29
Tanner, Iona B.
1958-1968
7
30
Tosh, Ella Epperson
1922-1945
9
6-8
U
1969-1970
7
31
V
1940-1969
7
32
W
1917-1970
7
33
Ward, Ethel and Walter
1945-1971
7
34
Wood, Junius B.
1928-1969
7
35
Y
1936
7
36
Z
1970-1975
7
37
First name only correspondence
1923-1970
7
38
Biographical and personal
materials
Series VI
1922-1975
This series includes biographical information about Ruth Epperson Kennell, as
well as a collection of personal ephemera primarily related to her travels
and life in Russia. A few examples of Kennell's more political work,
particularly material collected for an exhibit on nuclear disarmament, as
well as unfinished essays are included in this series.
This series is arranged in alphabetical order.
Articles about American
authors
circa
1930
9
9
Articles in Russian
circa
1920
7
44
Bibliography
1947
6
36
Birthday, greeting, and anniversary
cards
1950-1974
8
12
Block, L.A. A Pocket Guide to the Soviet
Union. Moscow: Veneshtorgisdat
1932
8
16
Book jackets
1927-1931
8
13
Clippings and notes related to
Russia
1928-1937
8
3-5
"Contemporary Authors" listing:
Biographical information
1975
6
31
Diaries and personal accounts of
trips
1931-1971
8
1-2
Essays on the U.S.S.R.
1931
7
43
Fragments of adult stories and
plays
undated
6
35
Frank Kennell stories
undated
6
37
Frank Kennell obituaries
1970
8
10
General notes on writing
1929-1940
6
30
"H Stands for Humanity," Nuclear
Disarmament Exhibit materials
1959-1961
7
40
Juvenile writers session material, "In
Defense of Culture," Fourth American Writers Congress, New York
City
1941
6
32
Mooney Case - Records for
Dreiser
1918,
1926-1928
7
39
Nemmy Sparks - Notes and
articles
1973
7
41
Newspaper articles - Rosevelt's
death
1945
8
6
Newspaper clippings
1937-1970
8
7
Passports and travel ephemera
1923-1952
8
9
Photographs
1926-1975
8
11
Political comments and essays
1923-1941
7
42
Postcards
1928-1975
8
14-15
Press clippings scrapbook
1928-1970
9
10
Russian newspapers
circa
1927
7
46
Russian posters
circa
1932
7
45
Selivanova, Nina, "Outcast of the
Desert"
1951-1952
6
38
Simone, Andre, "J'Accuse"
circa
1940
6
39
Story telling records, notes, and
stories
undated
6
34
Typed notes and stories from
Russia
1922
6
33
Unidentified 'confession'
undated
8
8
Guide to the Ruth Epperson Kennell
papers
See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting
options.