Montana State University Library, Archives and Special Collections, Manuscript Collections
Sylvester Nemes Papers
2576
15 linear feet
35 boxes
1973-2010
The Sylvester Nemes Papers consists of research, notes, drafts and manuscripts of Nemes' books, both his published works on fly fishing, as well as two unpublished works of historical fiction. Also included in the collection are correspondence, a brief biography, miscellaneous personal records, his obituary, business and professional records, photographs, negatives, memorabilia, and slides.
Collection materials are in English
This collection is open for research.
Research papers, publication documents, correspondence, and photographs created or collected by Sylvester Nemes were purchased by Montana State University from Hazel Nemes, Bozeman, Montana, on October 3, 2011.
Series 1 Biographical material
Series 2 Business and Professional Records
Series 3 Correspondence
Series 4 Book Manuscripts, Drafts, and Book-Specific Research
Series 5 General Research and Notes
Series 6 Photographs, Slides, and Memorabilia
Sylvester Nemes was born on April 2, 1922 in Erie, Pennsylvania. His parents, Dominic Nemes and Pauline Angel, were Romanian. He grew up in Cleveland, Ohio, where he was introduced to fly tying by a friend and mentor, and traveled frequently to Pennsylvania with his homemade flies to fish the rivers and streams there. Nemes enlisted in the Army at age 19 as the U.S. was entering World War II. He was stationed at the Ibsley Air Field in Hampshire, England as a member of the Fighter Control Squadron with the Eighth Air Force. While stationed, he was set up on a blind date with Hazel Mary Barclay, an English nursing student. Nemes landed at Omaha Beach on D-Day, staying there for nine months as part of a team directing fighter aircraft. When he returned to England, he married Hazel on March 17, 1945 in Southampton, Hampshire. After the war, Hazel and Sylvester's first child, Diana, was born in England. The family moved to the U.S. where their second and third children, Eric and Gregory, were born. While the couple raised their family, Nemes earned a bachelor's degree in English from Kent State University. He went on to work as a copy writer and a photographer in Cleveland, Detroit, and Chicago. Nemes, Hazel, and their children moved to Crown Point, Indiana in 1961, where Nemes worked as a photojournalist and continued to cultivate his love of fly fishing.
Nemes published his first book in 1975 through Chatham Press.
The Soft-Hackled Fly championed wet fly fishing and the beauty and utility of flies tied with bird feathers in an era when dry fly fishing was the dominant trend. In the book he details the history of the soft-hackled fly and gives instruction on tying them and using them in fishing. Nemes went on to become a prolific author on the subject of fly fishing, writing Learn How to Fly Fish in One Day (1986), Soft-Hackled Imitations (1991), The Soft-Hackled Fly: A Trout Fisherman's Guide (1993), The Soft-Hackled Fly Addict (1993), Spinners (1995), Six Months in Scotland: an American View of its Salmon Fishing (1998), Two Centuries of Soft-Hackled Flies: a Survey of the Literature With Original Patterns, 1747-Present (2004), and The Soft-Hackled Fly and Tiny Soft Hackles: a Trout Fisherman's Guide (2006). He wrote two unpublished novels: "Goodbye, Crown Point," about John Dillinger, the Depression-era bank robber, and an unnamed manuscript about World War II-era P38 fighter aircraft pilots. Hazel and Sylvester moved to San Francisco in the early eighties before settling in Bozeman, Montana, at the base of the Bridger Mountains, in 1984. Nemes continued to fish, create his own fly patterns, and write books. He had admirers as far-flung as Japan, where fans of his started a fly fishing club devoted to the use of the soft hackle, and a Nemes-branded fly fishing rod was produced and sold. He was honored by Trout Unlimited in Bozeman in 2008 with their Legends of the Headwaters award. Nemes died at home on February 3, 2011 outside of Bozeman.
This collection was processed 2014 March 10
The Sylvester Nemes Papers primarily contain research, notes, drafts and manuscripts of Nemes's books, both his published works on fly fishing, as well as two unpublished works of historical fiction. His research materials include typed pages and handwritten notes in spiral-bound notebooks, as well as galley proofs and artwork. The collection also contains a large amount of correspondence from readers and fans who expressed the admiration for Nemes's work, and submitted orders for his books and hand-tied flies. A small amount of biographical material is also included in the collection, and includes family correspondence, a brief biography, miscellaneous personal records, and his obituary. Nemes's business and professional records mostly consist of correspondence with publishers, book and fly orders and invoices, and other records related to the writing and publishing of his books. In the final series there are photographs, negatives, memorabilia, and several binders of slides taken by Nemes of flies, landscapes in the West and in England and Scotland, fish and rivers, and friends and family.
Nemes, Sylvester--Archives
Scotland--Description and travel
England--Description and travel
West (U.S.)--Description and travel
Bozeman (Mont.)
England
Montana
Montana--Bozeman
Scotland
United States
United States, West
Americans--England
Fishers--Montana
Fly fishing
Fly tyers--Montana
Fly tying
Publishers and publishing--United States
World War, 1939-1945--Aerial operations, American--Fiction
Americans
Fishers
Fly fishing
Fly tyers
Fly tying
Military operations, Aerial--American
Publishers and Publishing
Travel
World War (1939-1945)
Fishing and Canning
Military
Publishers and Publishing
Sports and Recreation
Montana
Bozeman
Photographs
Photographs
Personal papers--Montana--Bozeman
Archives
Fiction
Biographical material
1
1
Nemes's biographical materials include a small assortment of personal items and descriptions of his life. They include a portrait of Nemes, family correspondence, a short biographical sketch written in the mid-1980s, and his obituary from the Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Miscellaneous personal records consist of an international driver's license, receipts, and loan paperwork from the 1990s.
Nemes Portrait
1996
1
1
Biography
1980s-2011
1
2
Correspondence
undated
1995
1997
1
3
Miscellaneous Personal Records
1992-2001
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4
Business and Professional Records
2
2
Nemes's professional records document his publishing career and related business ventures. Records associated with his publications are most prominent and include wholesale book orders, royalty reports, receipts from travels to Europe, publisher correspondence with Stackpole Books and Chatham Press, book publicity materials, and articles written by and about Nemes. His business records also feature legal agreements, including an agreement to produce a Nemes-branded fishing rod in Japan.
Awards/Certificates
1990-2007
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1
Organizations
1981-2009
2
2
Articles by Nemes
1975
undated
2
3
Articles about Nemes
1982-2011
2
4
Book Reviews/Press
1986-1996
2
5
Book Publicity
1988-1989
1995
2
6
Book Publicity Mailings
1990-1991
2
7
Book/Fly Orders
1981-2002
2
8
The Soft Hackled Fly Orders from Magazine Ad
2
9
The Soft Hackled Fly Orders from Magazine Ad
2
10
Fly Fishing Heritage
1987
2
11
Fly Fisherman's Library
1982
undated
2
12
Fly Fisherman Magazine
1975-1983
2
13
Fly Fisherman Japan Edition
1983
undated
3
1
English Correspondence/Research
1974-1982
undated
3
2
Trip to England/Fishing in England
1972-1986
undated
3
3
Trip to Scotland
1996-1997
undated
3
4
Stackpole Books - Correspondence
1984-2006
3
5
Stackpole Books - Correspondence
1984-2006
3
6
Stackpole Books - Royalty Statements, Invoices
1986-2007
3
7
General Publisher Correspondence
1973-2005
3
8
Publishing Agreements
1985-2010
undated
3
9
Title Page Proofs
undated
3
10
Submission to Barnes and Noble
1998
3
11
English Publisher Correspondence
1995-1996
3
12
Chatham Press
1975-1981
3
13
Chatham Press
1975-1980
3
14
Goodbye Crown Point - Publisher Search
1992-2007
3
15
Publisher Price Quotes
1982-1995
3
16
Miscellaneous Invoices/Receipts (Incoming)
1983-1996
4
1
Nemes-Branded Japanese Rod
1997-2000
4
2
Modern Imaging Dispute
1988
4
3
Copyright Registration
1988
4
4
Color World Printers
1988-1998
4
5
Umpqua Feather Merchants
1990-2002
4
6
Transcribed Tapes
1975
1977
4
7
Brochures and Catalogs
1990-2002
4
8
Fly Fishing Dictionary
2005
4
9
Business Correspondence
1980-1989
undated
4
10
General Articles and Newspaper Clippings
1993-2006
undated
4
11
Miscellaneous Business Records
4
12
Spinners - Trademark
4
13
Correspondence
3
Series 3
Nemes's correspondence contains incoming and outgoing letters related to his publications. The bulk of the correspondence consists of letters to Nemes from his readers, including fan mail, book and fly orders, and questions seeking fishing advice. Some letter writers sent Nemes examples of their hand-crafted flies in addition to their letters. The flies are filed separately and can be found among his collected memorabilia. A small amount of outgoing correspondence contains copies of letters written by Nemes between 1973 and 2008 and relates to his publications and fly and book orders.
A
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Z
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No Last Name
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No Last Name
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Letter Fragments
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Outgoing
1973-1975
13
1
1976
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1977
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3
1980-1989
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1990-1994
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1995-1999
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2000-2008
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undated
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Book Manuscripts, Drafts, and Book-Specific Research
4
Series 4
Nemes's book manuscripts, drafts, and book-specific research features pre-publication copies of his books on fly fishing and his non-fiction writings. This series contains drafts, manuscripts, galleys, artwork, notes, and collected articles for his books. Of greatest significance is an early draft (circa 1973) of his most famous book, The Soft-Hackled Fly.
Soft Hackled Fly Manuscript
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Soft Hackled Fly Manuscript
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Soft Hackled Fly Manuscript
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Soft Hackled Fly Manuscript
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Soft Hackled Fly Manuscript
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Soft Hackled Fly Manuscript
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Soft Hackled Fly Manuscript
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Soft Hackled Fly Manuscript
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Soft Hackled Fly Manuscript
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Soft Hackled Fly - Title Page
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Soft Hackled Fly - Intro to New Edition
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Soft Hackled Fly - Folder Notes
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Learn How to Fly Fish - Drafts
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Learn How to Fly Fish - Drafts
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Learn How to Fly Fish - Artwork
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Learn How to Fly Fish - Artwork
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[see box 32]
Learn How to Fly Fish - Drafts
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Learn How to Fly Fish - Artwork
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Soft Hackled Fly Imitations - Handwritten Notes
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Soft Hackled Fly Imitations - Notes
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Soft Hackled Fly Imitations - Drafts
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Soft Hackled Fly Imitations - Drafts
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Soft Hackled Fly Imitations - Drafts
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Soft Hackled Fly Imitations - Drafts
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Soft Hackled Fly Imitations - Drafts
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Soft Hackled Fly Imitations - Drafts
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Soft Hackled Fly Imitations - Drafts
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Soft Hackled Fly Imitations - Artwork
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Soft Hackled Fly Imitations - Manuscript
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Soft Hackled Fly Imitations - Manuscript
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Soft Hackled Fly Imitations - Manuscript
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D. Hughes Soft Hackled Fly Imitations Introduction
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Soft Hackled Fly Imitations - Artwork
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Soft Hackled Fly Imitations - Galleys
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Soft Hackled Fly Imitations - Galleys
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Soft Hackled Fly Imitations - Galleys
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Spinners - Book Proposal
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Spinners - Notes
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Spinners - Drafts
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Spinners - Drafts
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Spinners - Drafts
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Spinners - Drafts
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Spinners - Drafts
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Spinners - Drafts
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Spinners - Drafts
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Spinners - Drafts
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Spinners - Drafts
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Spinners - Drafts
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Spinners - Drafts
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Spinners - Drafts
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Spinners - Drafts
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Spinners - Drafts
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Spinners - Artwork
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Scotland Travel
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Scotland Travel
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Scotland Travel
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Scotland Articles and Research
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Scotland Articles and Research
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Scotland Articles and Research
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Scotland Articles and Research
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United Kingdom Articles and Newspaper Clippings
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Six Months in Scotland - Chapter Ideas
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Six Months in Scotland - Drafts
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Six Months in Scotland - Drafts
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Six Months in Scotland - Drafts
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Six Months in Scotland - Drafts
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Six Months in Scotland - Drafts
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Six Months in Scotland - Drafts
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Six Months in Scotland - Drafts
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Six Months in Scotland (?) - Drafts
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Six Months in Scotland - Artwork
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Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies - Handwritten Notes
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Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies - Articles
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Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies - Articles
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Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies - Articles
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Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies - Articles
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Two Centuries of Soft hackled Flies - Articles
21
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Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies - Articles
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Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies - Manuscript
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Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies - Manuscript
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Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies - Manuscript
21
10
Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies - Manuscript
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Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies - Manuscript
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Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies - Manuscript
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Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies - Manuscript
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Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies - Manuscript
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Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies - Galleys
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Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies - Galleys
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Two Centuries of Soft Hackled Flies - Galleys
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Tiny Soft Hackles - Notebooks
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Tiny Soft Hackles - Research
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Tiny Soft Hackles - Manuscript
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Tiny Soft Hackles - Manuscript
23
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P38 Novel - Notes
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P38 Novel - Notes
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P38 Novel - Articles and Research
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P38 Novel - Articles and Research
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P38 Novel - Articles and Research
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P38 Novel - Articles and Research
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[see box 32]
P38 Novel - Drafts
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P38 Novel - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Dillinger Articles
24
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Dillinger Articles
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Dillinger Articles
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Dillinger Articles
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Dillinger Articles
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Dillinger Articles
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Dillinger Articles
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Dillinger Articles
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Dillinger Articles
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Dillinger Articles
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Dillinger Articles
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Notes
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Notes
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript
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Goodbye, Crown Point - Manuscript Sample
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Unidentified Manuscript - Soft Hackled Fly Origins/Tarpon Story
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Unidentified Manuscript - Fishing the Soft Hackled Fly
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Unidentified Manuscript - Fishing the Soft Hackled Fly in Big Rivers
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Unidentified Manuscript - Fishing Soft Hackles
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Unidentified Manuscript - Soft Hackled Fly Writing
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Unidentified Manuscript - Fiction Manuscript
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General Research and Notes
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Nemes's general research and notes consist of handwritten notes and collected articles related to his writings. Notes include research, drafts, and edits of Nemes's books and articles. They also include handwritten book order information, remarks on fly tying, reminders, and stray thoughts. Notes are contained on loose papers, in spiral notebooks, and on legal pads. Several small memo pads also contain dated entries regarding fishing trips and document Nemes's fishing location, weather, and insect hatch descriptions. A small collection of articles on entomology and the history of elementary schools is also included among these materials.
Entomological Society of London Articles
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Entomology Articles
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
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Handwritten Notes
32
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Handwritten Notes
32
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Handwritten Notes
32
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History of Elementary Schools - Articles
32
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Photographs, Slides, and Memorabilia
6
Series 6
Nemes's photographs, slides and memorabilia features visual materials related to his life and career. Photographs include color prints of Nemes with family and friends, readers' photos sent to Nemes, and 3x5 negatives of fly tying. The series also includes binders of slides featuring images of flies, rivers, the English and Scottish countryside, and western landscapes. Nemes used slides as visual aids at speaking engagements and the slides likely relate to publicity events for his books and other public appearances. There is a small collection of flies (mostly sent to Nemes by readers), his Legend of the Headwaters award, and a framed photo with mounted flies from a Japanese fishing club.
Photos: S. Nemes, #1-7
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Photos: S. Nemes and Others, #8-13
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Photos: Unidentified people, #14-17
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Photos: Miscellaneous fishing-related, #18-20
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Photos: Normandy map, #21-24
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Photos: Fly tying (Tying leader to fly, #25-27, Blood knot, #28-37), #25-37
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Negatives: Flies, #38-46
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Negatives: Fly tying, #47-69
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Negatives: Fishing/casting, #70-83
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Negatives: Horses, #84-85
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Photo: Federation of Fly Fishers Conclave, #86
August 1988
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Flies
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Legend of the Headwaters plaque
2008
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Framed photograph of Soft Hackles, a Japanese fishing club, along with flies
2006
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Slide binders
Spinners
1990-1995
34
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Spinners
1993-1994
34
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Spinners
1991-1995
34
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Spinners
1987-1999
34
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Two Centuries
1998-2000
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Scotland
undated
34
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Scotland
1990-1998
undated
34
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[Various]
1984-1995
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[Various]
1987-1996
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[Various]
1982-1998
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[Various]
1989-1995
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[Various]
1982-2000
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[Various]
1986-1995
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Mixed
1987-2000
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[Various]
1976-2005
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