Olive Frank Woolley Burt began her writing career at the age of eight when she sold her first poem to the San Francisco Chronicle for two dollars. Since that time she has published over fifty books and numerous articles. Her first book for children, Choice Recitations for the Grammar Grades, was published in 1928. She followed that with one or more books almost yearly to her most recent, Rescued! America's Endangered Wildlife on the Comeback Trail, published in 1980.
Olive Frank Woolley was born to Agnes Forsyth and Jed F. Woolley on May 26, 1894 in Ann Arbor, Michigan where her father was attending the University of Michigan. In 1897 the family returned to Salt Lake City, Utah which became Mrs. Burt 's permanent home. While growing up in Salt Lake City and attending Utah schools she developed a keen interest in writing. She assisted an older brother, the neighborhood school correspondent for the Salt Lake Tribune (as girls were not hired at that time), by writing articles and conducting interviews with visiting celebrities.
In 1913 Olive Woolley began teaching elementary school in Utah. During the next two years she taught in Garfield and Washington Counties while writing weekly columns for the local newspapers. She spent 1916 and 1917 teaching in Pennsylvania grade schools. She also found time to work on a college degree through correspondence courses with the University of Utah. Olive F. Woolley received her bachelor's degree in 1918, the same year she was awarded the fifty-dollar Maude Adams prize for the best one-act play by a college student. After receiving her degree Mrs. Burt began teaching high school English. She worked in schools in Pleasant Grove and American Fork, Utah, and in Star Valley, Wyoming. While in Wyoming she wrote columns for the Star Valley Record. Taking advantage of the summer break, Olive Woolley attended summer school at Columbia University in New York.
On June 7, 1922, when the school year had ended, Olive F. Woolley and Clinton Ray Burt were married. The couple first met in 1913 when the twenty-nine year old Burt, a native Pennsylvanian, was principal at the Garfield County school where Olive Woolley started work as a nineteen year old beginning teacher. Because most school districts refused to employ married teachers, the couple moved to Tooele County. An acute teacher shortage in this comparatively remote area made the requirements less discriminatory and Mrs. Burt taught in Ibapah between 1922 and 1927.
While teaching in Tooele County, Mrs. Burt continued writing and selling newspaper feature articles as a free-lance author to the Salt Lake City Deseret News. In 1927 she quit teaching to take a full-time position as children's feature editor for the Salt Lake Tribune. During the next fifteen years Mrs. Burt originated and conducted the "School News and Views" junior journalism program, which published articles by and for children. She was also director, between 1928 and 1937, of the Tribune sponsored "Knighthood of Youth" which, at its peak, had over 1,600 members. This group, which encouraged children to develop and display their writing talent, also published a weekly tabloid, The Tribune Junior.
Mrs. Burt acted as the Salt Lake Tribune librarian from 1942 to 1945 when she resigned to establish her own office as a "commercial writer" who performed services similar to those of a commercial artist. As well as conducting her own business from 1945 to 1947, Mrs. Burt was editor of the Utah Magazine.
In 1947 Mrs. Burt became a staff member of the Deseret News, a position she held until her retirement in 1957. She was editor of the newspaper 's magazine section and the junior news section, "The Newsette," for fifteen years. Between 1952 and 1957, Mrs. Burt was the Deseret News librarian. Following her retirement she continued to edit a daily column, "Remember When," until 1965.
During her years with the Deseret News Mrs. Burt taught a freshman level English course (1947) and an upper-division course in magazine writing (1948) at the University of Utah. The year following her retirement she taught adult classes in creative writing at Brigham Young University . She was also involved in community service such as organizing the "Shower of Books for a Town Without Books" for Bluff, Utah in 1950.
This project was so successful similar drives were conducted for Pleasant Valley and Navajo Mountin Indian School. Later, in 1961, Mrs. Burt headed a successful drive to obtain medical books for native Korean hospitals.
Even while working on the Tribune and the Deseret News and raising three children, Mrs. Burt continued to write juvenile literature. Her efforts were so well received that, in 1945, she was given the Louis Larsen Award for the outstanding Utah author. Her writing continued to receive recognition from local and national groups. In 1955 she received the Boy 's Clubs of America award for Camel Express and, in 1961, the Utah Fine Arts contest first-place award for a juvenile novel for, I Challenge the Dark Sea. Mrs. Burt has received numerous first place awards in the juvenile category from the National League of AmericanPen Women. In addition her one adult work, American Murder Ballads and Their Stories, the result of years of research and collecting, received the 1959 Edgar Award from the Mystery Writers of America.
Mrs. Burt has been actively involved with a number of professional organizations through her writing career. In 1936 she helped organize the Utah Chapter of the League of Western Writers and became its charter president. In 1940 when the Utah group withdrew to become the independent League of Utah Writers she continued to have an active role in the organization. She was also charter president of the Utah Chapter of the National Federation of Press Women, organized in 1956. Mrs. Burt was given their "Woman of Achievement" award in 1964, having also been nominated in 1962 and 1963.
Because of her keen interest in history through her juvenile historical biographies and novels Mrs. Burt was made a fellow in the Utah State Historical Society in 1964. She has also received recognition and awards from numerous other groups, including a "Service to Journalism" award from the University of Utah and Sigma Delta Chi in 1965, the National League of American Pen Women special award in 1966, and the 1967 Delta Kappa Gamma "Woman of the Year" award.
Burt died in Salt Lake City on 10 September 1981.
The Olive Woolley Burt papers consist of manuscripts, research material, photographs, illustrations and correspondence of several of the books written for children by Burt during the years 1928-1980. The manuscript for her "American Murder Ballads and Their Stories," is included. Also among the papers are scrapbooks and other materials depicting her professional interests as a writer.
This addendum (1947-1970) to the Olive Wooley Burt Papers contains correspondence, manuscript drafts, and research files associated with various books written by Burt. Also included are bound copies of the Deseret News Magazine (1948-1952) and the Newsette (1947-1952), a children's magazine associated with the Deseret News. These volumes contain original newsprint editions of the publications for the time period when Burt was editor.
The papers received at the University of Utah have been divided into four major categories. The first division, book manuscripts, is the largest, consisting of seven boxes. Mrs. Burt 's manuscripts are held in six boxes and arranged in chronological order by publication date. Each manuscript has related correspondence followed by partial or final drafts, portions of drafts, illustrative material, and research notes. Photographs which were related to a particular manuscript have been labeled and noted in the inventory before being removed to the Photograph Collection for proper storage and preservation.
The seventh box in this first division contains miscellaneous research material unrelated to the manuscripts donated by Mrs. Burt. One partially filled reel of microfilm related to the Bunker Hill Monument. Another gives information on camels which she probably used for her book Camel Express, a story about military use of camels in the American Southwest. A number of folders, arranged alphabetically by topic, contain drawings, sketches, maps, and magazine pictures possibly used as ideas or illustrative material for her books . Photographs found in these files were also remove to the Photograph Collection. The last folder in this box contains deeds of gift and inventory lists for the material Mrs. Burt donated to the University of Wyoming.
Materials related to Mrs. Burt's professional interests are contained in one box making up the second division. Included here are letters of inquiry from Mrs. Burt and answers providing information for her books. There are also files of letters from children arranged chronologically. Entries and lists of results of literary contests held by the Deseret News, the Salt Lake Tribune and the Utah State Institute of Fine Arts are also filed here. The remaining folders are taken up with information, bulletins and newspaper clippings about the professional organizations to which Mrs. Burt belongs, including the League of Utah Writers, the Utah Press Women, the National Federation of Press Women, and the National League of American Pen Women.
Four scrapbooks contained in two large boxes which comprise the third division, are also related to the professional writers organizations.
There are two scrapbooks from the League of Utah Writers dating from 1936 to 1979. The other two scrapbooks are composites of material from the National League of American Pen Women, the National Federation of Press Women and the Utah Press Women ranging from 1950 to 1980. There are also a number of clippings from 1929 about the "Knighthood of Youth" an organization sponsored by the Salt Lake Tribune which Mrs. Burt directed.
The addendum (1947-1970) to the Olive Wooley Burt Papers contains correspondence, manuscript drafts, and research files associated with various books written by Burt. Also included are bound copies of the Deseret News Magazine (1948-1952) and the Newsette (1947-1952), a children's magazine associated with the Deseret News. These volumes contain original newsprint editions of the publications for the time period when Burt was editor.
Donated by Olive Woolley Burt in 1979.
Addendum purchased from Sam Weller Bookstore in 1993.
Processed by Marlene Lewis in 1981.
Addendum processed by Karen Carver in 2002.
Photographs and audio-visual materials were transferred to the Multimedia Division of Special Collections.
Twenty-four hour advanced notice encouraged. Materials must be used on-site. Access to parts of this collection may be restricted under provisions of state or federal law.
The library does not claim to control copyright for all materials in the collection. An individual depicted in a reproduction has privacy rights as outlined in Title 45 CFR, part 46 (Protection of Human Subjects). For further information, please review the J. Willard Marriott Library's
Collection Name, Collection Number, Box Number, Folder Number. Special Collections, J. Willard Marriott Library, The University of Utah.
Forms part of the
Published as
Typed original copy with editor's notes and revisions.
Typed carbon copies of ballads and their factual backgrounds, some of which do not appear in the final manuscript.
Chapters on preparations and steps necessary to writing various kinds of children's books from novels to "how-to" books.
An article written by Olive W . Burt in 1940 at the request of the editors of the
Published in 1963 by the Julian Messner Company.
Typed original draft of a biography of Dr. Esther Pohl Lovejoy (1869-1967), written for children. Dr. Pohl Lovejoy saw medical service in both World Wars and organized the American Women's Hospital Service which she headed almost to the time of her death.
Published in 1974 by the Julian Messner Company.
Letters about publication between Mrs. Burt and representatives of the Julian Messner Company. Also included are letters in answer to Mrs. Burt's inquiries for information to use in the book.
Draft of the manuscript as it was sent to the publisher with editor's notes and corrections, a complete carbon copy draft, and a series of lengthy corrections noted by page and paragraph. Included in the completed manuscript are chapters on Juliette Derricotte, Maggie Mitchell Walker, Ida Wells Barnett and Septima Poinsette Clark, as well as a long list of other accomplished Black women.
Drafts of biographical sketches written for possible inclusion in the books, arranged in alphabetical order, include Ida Wells Barnett, Septima Poinsette Clark, Fanny Jackson Coppin, Juliette Derricotte, Mahalia Jackson, Edmoina Lewis, Amanda Smith, and Maggie Mitchell Walker. Also included is a list of illustrious Black women and their professions, and some miscellaneous research notes.
Published as
Letters about corrections in the manuscript between Mrs . Burt and the John Day Company, photograph orders, and library request forms from Boston and New York Public Libraries
Three different drafts of the manuscript including notes on picture captions and bibliography.
Photographs used to illustrate this manuscript have been removed and placed in the Photograph Archives for preservation. They are available for use and have been arranged by chapter with identifying captions included.
Published in 1976 by the Julian Messner Company.
Letters between Mrs. Burt and the publisher about necessary changes in the manuscript and information about publication.
Letters between Mrs. Burt and various western historical societies with information about ghost towns or available photographs for illustration of the book.
Four complete drafts of the manuscript including two carbon copies and two ribbon copies. One of the ribbon copies has editors notes and revisions as well as printing instructions.
Included in these drafts are sketches of five western towns as examples of different types of ghost towns. These are: Tuscarora, Nevada as a mining camp; South Pass, Wyoming as an example of a town on a once major travel trail; Winter Quarters, Utah, a coal town; Antelope, Oregon, a cattle drive stop-over; and Allensworth, California as the "ghost of a dream" or the settlement built around an ideal.
Also included are brief notes on numerous other ghost towns in the West.
Drafts of portions of the manuscript and research notes.
Originally contracted under the title
Letters between Mrs. Burt and representatives of the Julian Messner Company about plans for this children's book and about changes in the manuscript.
Letters between Mrs. Burt and various coal information groups.
Included is a file from Kennecott Copper Corporation about reforestation efforts around their Utah refinery used as an example of reclamation projects around mining areas.
Chapter outline and brief notes on the proposed theme of each chapter.
Two complete drafts of the manus cript, including the index.
Partial drafts of the manuscript, miscellaneous pages of manuscript, and a series of possible captions and outlines.
Also included is a file of research notes.
Sketches, drawings, magazine clippings used to illustrate the manuscript. One file is marked according to chapter, the other contains miscellaneous pictures of coal, coal mining, or coal processing.
Photographs intended to illustrate this manuscript have been removed and placed in the Photograph Archives for preservation purposes. They are available for use and have been arranged by chapter where identified.
Background information from coal companies, newspaper clippings and magazine articles.
Published in 1978 by Franklin Watts, Inc.
Letters between Mrs. Burt and representative of Franklin Watts, Inc. about publication plans or manuscript changes.
Manuscript outline which gives a brief summary of the proposed major theme of each chapter.
Galley proofs with revisions and instructions for the printers.
Five different drafts of the manu script including a ribbon copy, edited draft with instructions for printing; a photocopy with numerous corrections, revisions and additions which includes an extensive list of technical and factual corrections necessary in the manuscript; and a ribbon copy and carbon copy of two different revisions of a version of the manuscript which was considered too long. A ribbon copy of this long version, which offers more detail about the Lewis andClark Expedition than the final draft, is included.
Partial drafts of the manuscript, pieces of drafts or working notes, and research notes including chronologies of the Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Materials on the history of Bunker Hill Monument from the Harvard College Library in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Sent to Microforms Dept.
The first part of this film contains information about the pur chase of camels for United States military use in the deserts of the southwest between 1855 and 1857. A second portion has information on the history of military use of camels in Persia from the 1700s. This material was used for Mrs. Burt's book Camel Express. The final part of the film has itinerary and journal entries regarding the wagon road from Fort Defiance to the Colorado River. Sent to Microforms.
Sketches, magazine clippings , press releases and other miscellaneous material used as illustrations, illustration ideas, or to explain illustrations for the numerous books written for children by Mrs. Burt. Arranged alphabetically by topic, the files include ancient civilizations (Egypt, the Near East, and Greece), animals, copper, World War II aircraft, and miscellaneous.
Includes single pages of unidentified manuscripts, information on maps, a rejection notice, and similar items.
Olive Woolley Burt has donated a number of her manuscripts to the University of Wyoming at Laramie, Wyoming. These archives records date from 1963 to 1974 and list the items held in Wyoming.
Miscellaneous letters to Mrs. Burt in response to queries seeking information for her numerous children's books.
Letters from school teachers and children thanking Mrs. Burt for her visits to their classes. Also letters from children written as part of a class assignment to write to an author.
This contest was inaugurated by Charles W. Penrose and Horace G. Whitney in 1899, when the first special edition of the Deseret News called The Christmas News was published. Included are chronological and alphabetical lists of contest winners from the years 1899 to 1955.
Entries, all children, are not dated and have been arranged alphabetically.
Contest winners for 1957 to 1971 and a few evaluations of unidentified manuscripts.
Incomplete lists of Utah authors and their publications compiled by Mrs. Burt.
Brief biographical sketch and list of publications.
Written by Olive Woolley Burt, this history also contains a list of state officers for the years 1937 to 1971.
1942 address of Dr. H. A. Oyerstreet given at the Seventh Annual Roundup entitled "The Writer's Function in These Troubled Times."
1948 interview of Mrs. Burt by Commentator Richins of the "Something for the Ladies" program about the Thirteenth Annual Roundup to be held in Brigham City, Utah.
1979 program and information flyers about the Forty-fourth Annual Roundup.
Copies of the March -April and July issues of the League of Utah Writers newsletter.
Copy of the 1976 issue of the League 's "Album of Prose and Poetry." Also filed here are 1977 lists of writing and poetry contest winners.
Included is a letter of September 1956 from Mrs. Burt to Mrs. Ernest L. Perrine about the revisions in the by-laws.
One copy of the January-April 1965 bulletin, "Press Patter." 1972 Membership Directory
Folder of background and accomplishments for Mrs. Burt's candidacy.
Lists of winners of the federation's journalistic contests for the years 1956 through 1970.
Biennial Convention Programs, 1954, 1978
The Pen Woman, official publication, 1972 with articles concerning the Diamond Jubilee meeting
Utah League of American Pen Women, Annual Birth day Party program, 1973
National League of American Pen Women information pamphlet
Correspondence, programs, bulletins, photographs, newspaper clippings.
Correspondence, programs, bulletins, photographs, newspaper clippings.
Correspondence, bulletins, programs, membership cards, invitations, photographs, and newspaper clippings.
Correspondence, bulletins, programs, membership cards, invitations, photographs, newspaper clippings.
Series of 1929 newspaper clippings from the Knighthood of Youth, a Salt Lake Tribune organization directed by Mrs. Burt.
Personal items including wills, affidavits, etc.
Correspondence and report on the car-pedestrian accident suffered by Clinton, April 28, 1967.
Obituary , death certificate , funeral forms and miscellaneous items regarding the death of Mr . Burt, May 27 , 1967.
Legal documents regard ing the accident and death of Mr. Burt.
Primarily statements for services and an autopsy report.
Congratulatory messages, program items and news clippings.
Warranty deed and contents of home.
Lists of expenditures for household.
Selected medical items on Mrs. Burt.
Correspondents include Barbara (Ben) William, Frank Robertson, Juanita Brooks and many others.
Included are passports, itineraries and correspondence related to Boston, 1940; Europe 1959-1960; Europe 1968; Europe 1973; the Orient 1962; the Mideast 1967 and 1973; Hawaii 1974; around the world 1969-1970 and Long Beach, California, 1965.
Awards presented to Olive W. Burt in the years 1954 through 1974 for various published works.
Presented 1957 through 1970, fiction and non-fiction, for children and adults.
Programs, directories, membership cards, speech, etc. over period of time 1955-1981. Awards presented 1956-1980 for "all phases of writing."
Awards presented 1965-1976 for books, stories, non fiction.
Recognition awards and writing prizes won.
Includes memberships in Pioneer Craft House, Utah State Historical Society, Delta Kappa Gamma.
Including prize winner lists, directories, programs, business cards.
This box contains three folders of general corre spondence covering the years 1930-1981; correspondence with various periodicals; book lists of 0. W. Burt and others; research correspondence; samplings of children's letters.
This folder contains correspondence 1973-1980.
Correspondence regarding proposed and accepted articles.
1974, 1976 1981 correspondence
Correspondence regarding submitted and published material 1947-1949.
Correspondence 1971-1972 regarding articles submitted/published to The Writer.
Folder 19 also contains photocopies of catalogue cards of O. W. Burt books; O. W. Burt book lists of her own works and others.
Correspondence with literary agent, August Lenniger.
Box 17 contains copies of book contracts with Bobbs Merrill; John Day; Henry Holt; Julian Messner (two folders); Oxford University Press; Franklin Watts; and miscellaneous publishing houses; also royalty statements.
This box contains samplings of plays for children as well as one adult mystery novel written in 1944 and one "as told to" story.
A sampling of four: The Boy Passes; The Magic Eggs; The Enchanted Garden; Our 4th of July Songs. Also some correspondence with publisher regarding above.
A 3-act musical play with parts for 27 individuals plus extras.
An adult story told by a Navajo woman.
A mystery novel set in a newspaper office in the 1940s and describes the mechanics of putting out a daily paper at that time . This folder includes correspondence with literary agent regarding manuscript.
(There are duplications found in folders 4-8)
There is some duplication of material in this box which contains biographical information on Marian Anderson.
Ida Wells Barnett, Mary McLeod Bethune, Septima Poinsette Clark , Fanny Jackso? Coppin, Katehrine Dunham, Juliette Derricotte,' Mary Fields, Althea Givson, Frances E. W. Harper, Mahalia Jackson, Elizabeth Keckley, Edmonia Lewis, Mignon Richmond, Amanda Smith, Susie King Taylor, Sojourner Truth, Harriet Tubman, Madame C. J. Walker and Maggie Mitchell Walker, as well as three book-length manuscripts and research.
O. W. Burt did much of the research on minerals with her brother, Park Woolley.
Boxes 30-37 were donated by the University of Wyoming, Laramie, Wyoming. They contain correspondence and miscellaneous materials. However, the bulk of these papers are manuscripts written by Olive Woolley Burt.
Includes a list of correspondence, periodical clippings, notes, and a couple of manuscripts.
Copies of correspondence with various publishers concerning her published books and in some cases, personal matters.
Copies of correspondence with various publishers concerning her writings. Also included are some miscellaneous letters.
Miscellaneous correspondence.
Xerox copies of newspaper articles primarily about Mullins Alden but also contains articles about Pilgrims and King Henry.
Xerox copies.
This contains pages of the manuscr ipt but it is incomplete. Also included are a few miscellaneous items concerning the book. (In the back of the folder)
Includes newpaper articles (xeroxed) by and about Olive Woolley Burt, correspondence about the book Camel Express and the manuscript of the book.
This folder contains correspondence with various publishers and miscellaneous notes. Outline and chapters 1-3 (2 different versions of each) This contains two different copies of an outline for this manuscript. Also included are two copies of chapters 1-3 (one with handwritten notes, one without). A different writing than that of folder 2. It seems to be the same story, though. Continuation of folder 3. Chapter 5 is missing.
Includes two different versions of the same thing.
A story of Prince Henry the Navigator. A few miscellaneous notes included at the beginning.
Two copies with a few variations from each other. Each contains chapters 1-11. Included in this folder are miscellaneous pages; title pages and biographies, etc.(book headings) and two parts of the manuscript (incomplete). Different versions of the rough draft manuscripts. (incomplete)
Galley Proof. Xerox copy of the printed book.
Miscellaneous, news clippings, correspondence, printers notes and xerox copy of manuscript are included in this folder.
Xerox copy of manuscript.
Includes first and second publication.
Also included are rough sketches of the cover.
Correspondence with publishers also included.
Copy of the published book.
Copy of manuscript with handwritten notes.
Rough drafts, correspondence, research materials and notes.
Includes stories of Clark Stocking, Jim Bridger, Kit Carson, Mary Jane Dilworth, Flora Pearson, William F. Cody (Buffalo Bill), May Humphreys Stacey, Lorenzo Oatman, Sacajawea and Auguste Chouteau. Also includes correspondence with publishers, brief outline of the characters in the manuscript, research materials, newspaper articles, and rough drafts.
Correspondence, rough drafts and newspaper articles.
Includes chapters 1 until end and newspaper articles.
Correspondence, newspaper articles and copies of handwritten notes.
Galley proof, manuscript and copy of published book.
Ms. Hoffman was an editor for Hawthorn Books.