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John I. White papers, 1860-1994

Overview of the Collection

Title
John I. White papers
Dates
1860-1994 (inclusive)
Quantity
36 boxes, (20.5 linear feet)
Collection Number
UUS_COLL MSS 201
Summary
Contains correspondence, research files, and artifacts. Includes correspondence related to songs and song makers of the American West
Repository
Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections and Archives Division
Special Collections & Archives
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
Logan, UT
84322-3000
Telephone: 4357978248
Fax: 4357972880
scweb@usu.edu
Access Restrictions

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008
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Biographical Note

John I. White (1902-1992) was a writer, singer of cowboy songs, radio personality, and map draftsman. His singing career culminated when he played his guitar and sang as "The Lonesome Cowboy" on the NBC radio drama "Death Valley Days" sponsored by 20-Mule-Team Borax from 1929-1936. He maintained a lifelong interest in cowboy songs and the American West, researching and writing articles and two books on this and other topics.

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Content Description

Contains correspondence, research files, and artifacts. Includes correspondence related to songs and song makers of the American West; significant correspondents such as Will C. Barnes, Badger Clark, Gail Gardner, Romaine Lowdermilk, Dominick J. O'Malley, Powder River Jack Lee, Austin Fife, and many other cowboy songwriters, singers, and scholars. Also includes fan mail written to White, who sang as "The Lonesome Cowboy" for the "Death Valley Days" radio show in the 1930s. Research files contain research notes, ideas for articles and plays, drafts of articles, original scripts, and related correspondence. Artifacts include White's guitar and the cowboy hat given to him by cowboy poet Dominick J. O'Malley.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the John I. White papers must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.

Preferred Citation

Initial Citation:John I. White papers, MSS 201, Box #. Special Collections and Archives. Utah State University Merrill-Cazier Library. Logan, Utah.

Following Citations: USU_COLL MSS 201, USUSC.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Correspondence arranged alphabetically by correspondent; research arranged alphabetically in order that John I. White placed them.

Acquisition Information

Donated in 1992 by his widow, Augusta Postles White, and two children, Jennifer White Fischer and Jonathan Postles White.

RHL copy of roughdraft of "Big Corral" article in the Arizona Republic in box 5, folder 18 was donated to USU Special Collections and Archives by Romy Gerould in 2018.

Correspondence from John I. White to Romaine Lowdermilk dated March 14 and May 23 1965, November 28 1966, April 2 and 26, 1967 in box 5, folder 12, and August 2 1968, May 1 1969 in box 5, folder 13 were donated to USU Special Collections and Archives by Romy Gerould in 2018.

"There is 'Great Grandma' Too" paper in box 5, folder 25 was donated to USU Special Collections and Archives by Romy Gerould in 2018.

"References to Strawberry Roan" in box 31, folder 14 was donated to USU Special Collections and Archives by Romy Gerould in 2018.

Processing Note

Processed by USU Special Collections and Archives.

Related Materials

John I. White photograph collection; Also located at Utah State University, Merrill Library, Special Collections and Archives, P0037

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Finding aid/Register completed by USU Special Collections & Archives
2008

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

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