Washington State University Libraries, Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Pullman, WA 99164-5610 USA
(509) 335-6691
http://www.wsulibs.wsu.edu/masc/
mascref@wsu.edu
Cage
629
Saunders, Elizabeth Marion
Elizabeth Marion
Saunders Papers
1933-1989
2 containers.
1 linear feet of shelf
space.
Papers include drafts of writings,
correspondence, journals, two scrapbooks and miscellaneous papers related to
literary and cultural interests.
Collection materials are in
English.
Elizabeth Marion Saunders (born 1916) was raised on a farm near
Spangle, Washington, where she graduated top in her class from Fairfield High
School in 1933. After graduation, she worked for several years in the newsroom
of the Spokesman-Review. During this period, she met Ruby El Hult and Eleanor
Garst, the three of whom formed a literary friendship that lasted throughout
their lives. As Garst was later to reminisce, "I and Ruby were gonna change the
world. . . so, in our fashion, we did. . ."
By 1950, Saunders had authored three books under her maiden name,
Elizabeth Marion:
The Day Will Come (1939),
Ellen Spring (1941), and
The Keys to the House (1944). She also apparently wrote
two subsequent manuscripts, but became discouraged when unable to find a
publisher for them. In the aftermath, she largely abandoned novel writing. Her
two unpublished manuscripts have since disappeared.
She did, however, continue to record her observations and thoughts in
journals and letters that are included in her papers. The collection contains
Betty's Chronicles, (1945-1947),
Mildred's journal (1959 and 1960), and the
Cockalorum Chronicles (c. 1979) which comprised letters
between Saunders and Hult. Since Saunders lived in eastern Washington's rural
farm country, her writings are replete with references to nature and the
changing seasons. Additionally, she shares progressive thoughts with her
friends concerning politics and culture.
She married Eugene D. Saunders of Rockford in 1954, a man whom she met
while working as the managing editor of the town's Standard-Register. Some of
Saunders writing from this period is preserved in the collection and includes
material relating to the region's history and economics, as well as perceptive
social and political commentary. Her columns were titled
Drips from a Leaky Faucet and
Marionettes.
In 1988 she suffered a stroke that left her incapacitated. She died in 1993.
There is some evidence of feminist thought in Saunders writings and in
the literature she collected. Joseph Kinsey Howard's
The Sun Dance, for example, revolves around a strong
Indian woman who exhibits extraordinary courage and strength.
The papers of Elizabeth Marion Saunders consist of drafts of writings,
correspondence, journals, two scrapbooks and miscellaneous paper related to
literary and cultural interests.
The papers are arranged topically and include a variety of materials
collected by Elizabeth Marion Saunders. Her writings are grouped into articles
that she wrote for the newspapers at which she was employed, her journals, an
unpublished manuscript, and a copy of one of her published books,
Ellen Spring. In addition to Saunder's writings, the
papers include her correspondence, two scrapbooks, and miscellaneous papers
relating to her literary and cultural interests.
This collection is open for research use.
[Item Description]. Cage
629, Elizabeth Marion
Saunders Papers . Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.
The Washington State University Libraries acquired the papers of
author Elizabeth Marion Saunders from her sister, Shirley Gardner of Fairfield,
Washington, in 1990 (Accession MS90-22). In 1993, an anonymous donor
contributed the journals which Saunders penned in 1959 and 1960 (MS93-33).
This collection is indexed under the following headings in the online
catalog. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons, or
places should search the catalog using these headings.
Saunders, Elizabeth Marion--Archives
Saunders, Elizabeth Marion -- Correspondence
Hult, Ruby El, 1912- -- Correspondence
Garst, Eleanor -- Correspondence
Marion, Elizabeth, 1916-
Washington (State) -- History -- Archives
American
fiction -- Northwest, Pacific -- Women authors
Literature
Washington (State)
The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in
the collection.
Articles by Elizabeth Marion
Saunders
1
1
Drips From a Leaky Faucet, and
Marionettes,
The Standard-Register (Rockford). (A smattering of
EMS wisdom on the responsibilities of citizens living within a democracy and
the price of progress.)
1952-ca
1955
1
2
Hangman Creek,
The Standard-Register (Rockford) (With wit and
humor Elizabeth Marion Saunders highlights how historical development impacted
the local environs)
1952
1
3
Wheat: Here in Poetic Wording Is the Stirring Saga of
Those Who Raise This Region's Amber Grain,
The Spokesman-Review (Spokane)
1953
1
4
Bibliography of Washington Women
Writers,
She Who Watches,
1989
1
5
Career, Elizabeth Marion
Saunders
ca 1950
Correspondence
1
6
Eleanor Garst to Elizabeth
Marion Saunders (References to Elizabeth Marion Saunders 's writing and her
generosity.)
1945-1981
1
7
Located in other repositories,
Cornell, Princeton
1981
1
8
Miscellaneous
1981
1
9
Naomi and Paul, Experiences
Abroad
1959
1
10
Elizabeth Marion Saunders and
Ruby El Hult,
The Cockalorum Chronicles: New Words Between Old
Friends,
1979
1
11
Ruby's Guide to San
Francisco
1964
1
12
Ruby El Hult to Elizabeth Marion
Saunders (Commentary on nature and Japanese literature.)
1989-1988
1
13
Ruby El Hult to Shirly Gardner
(Includes two letters, one written 27 Nov 1989 and the other 8 Dec 1989
reflecting on Elizabeth Marion Saunders 's life and career as an
author.)
1988-1989
1
14
Shirly Gardner in reference to
Elizabeth Marion Saunders 's manuscripts
1989
1
15
Editing, Elizabeth Marion Saunders,
Pavarotti plans Chicago benefit,
undated
1
16
Ellen Spring, Elizabeth Marion (
The story of one woman that is the story of every
woman.)
1945
1
17
The Growing of Native Species of Plants in the Spokane,
Washington Area,
undated
Mildred's Journal, Elizabeth Marion
Saunders
1
18
1959
1
19
1960
Literary Copy
1
20
Academic; Using Manuscript
Collections to Write History
1965
1
21
The Sun Dance, by Joseph Kinsey Howard, Great
Falls, Montana
1945
1
22
Memorabilia, Glen Adams,
Publisher-Historian, Ye Galleon Press
1989-1990
1
23
Newletters, Dishman Hills Natural
Area Assn., Inc.
1981
1
24
Personal Matters, Elizabeth Marion
Saunders
1933-1954
1
25
Publication Agreements and
Copyright Renewal
1941-1971
Scrapbook
2
26
The Nothing Album, (Elizabeth Marion Saunders'
collection of news articles, photographs, poems, and miscellanea.)
1960-1987
2
27
A Woman's Book, (Elizabeth Marion Saunders'
collection of miscellanea relevant to feminist subjects.)
1977-1986
Unpublished Manuscript
2
28
Elizabeth Marion,
Betty's Chronicles, (A chronicle of farm life in
eastern Washington.)
1945-1947
2
29
Elizabeth Marion Saunders and
Ruby El Hult
Odd Topic: Ruby and Lispet Play the Name
Game,
1981
2
30
Ruby El Hult,
The Spiders and I,
1981