Harold W. Felton, Folklore Papers
Title: Harold W. Felton,
F0lklore Papers
Creator: Felton, Harold W. 1902-1991
Dates: 1881-1988, bulk 1920-1980
Quantity: 33 boxes (18 linear
feet)
Collection Number: MS 0040
Language: English
Restrictions: None
Access and Use: For information on access or copyright, please see our guidelines
or email archives@unl.edu.
Historical Records Statement: Please see our statement on historical records and materials.
Preferred Citation: Harold Felton, Folklore Papers (MS 0040). Archives & Special Collections,
University of Nebraska–Lincoln Libraries.
Biography:
Born in Neola, Iowa, on 1 April 1902, Harold William Felton graduated from Neola High
School in 1919. He attended Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska, for one year
before transferring to the University of Nebraska, where he earned a Bachelor of
Arts degree in 1925 and a law degree in 1928. During college he worked as a stage
manager at the University of Nebraska's Temple Theatre and as an assistant in the
dramatics department. In the summertime, Felton worked as a farmer, mule skinner,
and as an actor on the Chautauqua circuits.
After graduation, Felton practiced law in Omaha for five years before he went to
work for the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) in 1933. He married Hildegard "Helen" Kessler on 23 August 1933. The Felton's moved
to Manhattan in New York, where Harold worked in the chief counsel's office of the
IRS. He remained with the IRS for 37 years before retiring in 1970.
Felton wrote numerous children's books and books dealing with American folklore and
tall tales. His interest in folklore developed from a fascination with Paul Bunyan
and Babe, the Blue Ox. He began collecting books and stories about the legendary
lumberjack at an early age. In the early 1940s, Felton decided to write a book about
Bunyan. His first book, Legends of Paul Bunyan, was
published in 1947. Throughout his life, Felton continued to research and write about
other legendary figures such as Pecos Bill, John Henry, Fire Fightin' Mose, and
Bowleg Bill.
Harold William Felton died on 12 July 1991.
Scope and Content:
The Harold W. Felton papers mainly relate to his career as an author and folklorist.
The papers consist of correspondence, manuscripts of published works, unpublished
manuscripts, research notes, galley proofs, book jackets, and book reviews. Other
items include biographical materials, photographs, and sound recordings.
Felton's writings and research files compose the majority of the collection. This
series of materials illustrates Felton's continuing dedication to the study of
American folklore and his devotion to recording the stories of such heroes of
American myth and legend as Paul Bunyan, Pecos Bill, and John Henry. Felton's
manuscript files, along with his correspondence, also help to show the process he
went through in order to get each of his books published. For more specific
information about each series of materials in the collection, refer to the Series
Description.
Subjects:
Beckwourth, James Pierson, 1798-1866 -- Juvenile
literature
Felton, Harold W., 1902-1991
Fink, Mike, 1770-1823? -- Juvenile literature
Gannett, Deborah Sampson, 1760-1827 -- Juvenile
literature
Johnson, James Weldon, 1871-1938 -- Juvenile
literature
Levy, Uriah Phillips, 1792-1862 -- Juvenile
literature
Love, Nat, 1854-1921 -- Juvenile literature
Morgan, Gib, 1842-1909 -- Juvenile literature
O'Keefe, John Timothy, 1853-1895 -- Juvenile
literature
Parker, Ely Samuel, 1828-1895 -- Juvenile
literature
Phips, William, Sir, 1651-1695 -- Juvenile
literature
Bunyan, Paul (Legendary character)
Cowboys -- Juvenile literature
Cowboys -- Legends
Fire departments -- Juvenile literature
Folklore -- United States
Freeman, Elizabeth, 1744?-1829 -- Juvenile
literature
Henry, John (Legendary character)
Justin Morgan (Horse) -- Juvenile literature
Pecos Bill (Legendary character) -- Juvenile
literature
Rose, Edward -- Juvenile literature
Stormalong, Alfred Bulltop -- Legends
Tall tales
Ward, Nancy -- Juvenile literature
Series Description:
Series 1: CorrespondenceThe correspondence includes letters to and from Felton. Some letters are from
elementary school children reviewing Felton's books, while others are
letters between Felton and his publishers. Other letters relate to requests
for information and permission to publish materials by other authors. The
letters are arranged chronologically.
Series 2: Writings and ResearchThis series contains manuscripts, proofs, research notes, book jackets, and
reviews as well as some correspondence related to Felton's published works.
Also included in this series are unpublished manuscripts and various
research-related subject files. Boxes 1 through 9 contain materials related
to Felton's published works. The materials are organized chronologically by
publication date. Boxes 10 through 19 contain unpublished manuscripts and
various research files. Included in these boxes are drafts of opinion
articles, such as, "Airport Lies at La
Guardia," and lyrics to songs, such as, "Song of Bunyan" and "The Song of Pecos
Bill." Scripts to plays, such as, "Afternoon Sketch Extravaganza,""The Angel Intrudes," and "The Silken Bully" are also a part of this
series. "Amusing Definitions" and "Chief Counsel's Digest" are files of jokes
and anecdotes collected by Felton. Other research files include information
on individuals, such as, George Simons, James Mars, and Henry Ossian
Flipper. The files in this section are arranged alphabetically.
Series 3: Biographical materialsThe biographical materials contain family histories, applications and
petitions by Felton to become a lawyer, and newspaper clippings. Also
included in this series are two scrapbooks.
Series 4: PhotographsThis series consists of photos used as illustrations in Felton's books as
well as personal photos of Felton and others.
Series 5: Sound RecordingsThis series contains two reel-to-reel audio recordings and four vinyl
records.
Series 6: Oversized materialsThis series consists of oversized items, including: illustrations, galley
proofs, maps, and other research materials mainly related to Felton's
published works.
Container List:
Series 1: Correspondence Box 1. Folder 1. Correspondence, 1937-1970
Box 1. Folder 2. Correspondence, 1971-1988, undated
Series 2: Writings and Research Box 1. Folder 3. Legends of Paul Bunyan (LPB),
correspondence, 1944-1945, Jan.
Box 1. Folder 4. LPB, correspondence, 1945, Feb.-Dec.
Box 1. Folder 5. LPB, correspondence, 1946-1947
Box 1. Folder 6. LPB, research and articles
Box 1. Folder 7. LPB, research and articles
Box 1. Folder 8. LPB, illustrations
Box 1. Folder 9. LPB, book jackets
Box 1. Folder 10. Pecos Bill, Texas Cowpuncher (PBTC),
correspondence, 1949-1959
Box 1. Folder 11. PBTC, draft
Box 2. Folder 1. PBTC, research materials
Box 2. Folder 2. John Henry and His Hammer (JHHH),
correspondence
Box 2. Folder 3. JHHH, draft
Box 2. Folder 4. JHHH, research
Box 2. Folder 5. JHHH, book jackets
Box 2. Folder 6. Cowboy Jamboree: Western Songs and
Lore (CJ), drafts
Box 2. Folder 7. CJ, book jackets
Box 2. Folder 8. CJ, reviews
Box 2. Folder 9. Fire Fightin' Mose (FFM),
correspondence
Box 2. Folder 10. FFM, drafts
Box 2. Folder 11. FFM, drafts
Box 2. Folder 12. FFM, research
Box 2. Folder 13. FFM, book jackets
Box 2. Folder 14. FFM, reviews
Box 2. Folder 15. Bowleg Bill, Sea Going Cowpuncher,
illustrations
Box 2. Folder 16. Bowleg Bill, Sea Going Cowpuncher,
reviews
Box 2. Folder 17. New Tall Tales of Pecos Bill
(NTTPB), correspondence
Box 2. Folder 18. NTTPB, draft, part 1
Box 3. Folder 1. NTTPB, draft, part 2
Box 3. Folder 2. NTTPB, draft, part 3
Box 3. Folder 3. NTTPB, book jackets
Box 3. Folder 4. NTTPB, reviews
Box 3. Folder 5. Mike Fink, Best of the Keelboatment
(MFBK), drafts
Box 3. Folder 6. MFBK, illustrations
Box 3. Folder 7. MFBK, book jackets
Box 3. Folder 8. MFBK, reviews
Box 3. Folder 9. World's Most Truthful Man (WMTM),
correspondence
Box 3. Folder 10. WMTM, drafts, part 1
Box 3. Folder 11. WMTM, drafts, part 2
Box 3. Folder 12. WMTM, research
Box 3. Folder 13. WMTM, research
Box 3. Folder 14. WMTM, reviews
Box 3. Folder 15. Sergeant O'Keefe and His Mule Balaam
(SOHMB), correspondence
Box 4. Folder 1. SOHMB, drafts
Box 4. Folder 2. SOHMB, research
Box 4. Folder 3. SOHMB, book jackets
Box 4. Folder 4. SOHMB, reviews
Box 4. Folder 5. A Horse Named Justin Morgan (HNJM),
drafts, part 1
Box 4. Folder 6. HNJM, drafts, part 2
Box 4. Folder 7. HNJM, research notes
Box 4. Folder 8. HNJM, book jackets
Box 4. Folder 9. HNJM, reviews
Box 4. Folder 10. William Phips and the Treasure Ship
(WPTS), drafts, part 1
Box 4. Folder 11. WPTS, drafts, part 2
Box 4. Folder 12. WPTS, research
Box 4. Folder 13. WPTS, book jackets
Box 4. Folder 14. WPTS, reviews
Box 4. Folder 15. Jim Beckwourth, Negro Mountain Man
(JBNMM), correspondence
Box 4. Folder 16. JBNMM, article drafts
Box 5. Folder 1. JBNMM, drafts
Box 5. Folder 2. JBNMM, illustrations
Box 5. Folder 3. JBNMM, reviews
Box 5. Folder 4. Edward Rose, Negro Trail Blazer
(ERNTB), drafts
Box 5. Folder 5. ERNTB, article drafts
Box 5. Folder 6. ERNTB, proofs
Box 5. Folder 7. ERNTB, research notes
Box 5. Folder 8. ERNTB, illustrations
Box 5. Folder 9. ERNTB, reviews
Box 5. Folder 10. True Tall Tales of Stormalong: Sailor of
the Seven Seas (TTTS), drafts
Box 5. Folder 11. TTTS, reviews
Box 5. Folder 12. Nat Love, Negro Cowboy (NLNC),
correspondence
Box 5. Folder 13. NLNC, article drafts
Box 5. Folder 14. NLNC, drafts, part 1
Box 6. Folder 1. NLNC, drafts, part 2
Box 6. Folder 2. NLNC, proofs
Box 6. Folder 3. NLNC, research materials
Box 6. Folder 4. NLNC, book jackets
Box 6. Folder 5. NLNC, reviews
Box 6. Folder 6. Mumbet: The Story of Elizabeth
Freeman (MSEF), correspondence
Box 6. Folder 7. MSEF, drafts
Box 6. Folder 8. MSEF, proofs
Box 6. Folder 9. MSEF, research notes
Box 6. Folder 10. MSEF, research materials
Box 6. Folder 11. MSEF, reviews
Box 6. Folder 12. James Weldon Johnson (JWJ),
correspondence
Box 6. Folder 13. JWJ, drafts, part 1
Box 6. Folder 14. JWJ, drafts, part 2
Box 6. Folder 15. JWJ, reviews
Box 6. Folder 16. Gib Morgan, Oil Driller (GMOD),
drafts, part 1
Box 7. Folder 1. GMOD, drafts, part 2
Box 7. Folder 2. GMOD, research notes
Box 7. Folder 3. GMOD, book jackets
Box 7. Folder 4. GMOD, reviews
Box 7. Folder 5. Ely S. Parker, Spokesman for the
Senecas (EPSS), drafts
Box 7. Folder 6. EPSS, research notes
Box 7. Folder 7. EPSS, reviews
Box 7. Folder 8. Pecos Bill and the Mustang (PCM),
draft
Box 7. Folder 9. PCM, reviews
Box 7. Folder 10. PCM, condensed version
Box 7. Folder 11. Nancy Ward, Great Cherokee, drafts
Box 7. Folder 12. Nancy Ward, Great Cherokee,
research
Box 7. Folder 13. Nancy Ward, Great Cherokee, reviews
Box 7. Folder 14. Deborah Sampson: Soldier of the
Revolution (DSSR), drafts, part 1
Box 7. Folder 15. DSSR, drafts, part 2
Box 7. Folder 16. DSSR, research
Box 7. Folder 17. DSSR, book jacket
Box 7. Folder 18. DSSR, reviews
Box 8. Folder 1. Uriah Phillips Levy (UPL),
correspondence
Box 8. Folder 2. UPL, drafts, part 1
Box 8. Folder 3. UPL, drafts, part 2
Box 8. Folder 4. UPL, drafts
Box 8. Folder 5. UPL, drafts
Box 8. Folder 6. UPL, master proofs
Box 8. Folder 7. UPL, research
Box 8. Folder 8. UPL, research
Box 8. Folder 9. UPL, illustrations
Box 8. Folder 10. UPL, reviews
Box 8. Folder 11. Canaan: a Small New England Town During the
American Revolutionary War, contacts
Box 9. Folder 1. "Afternoon Sketch
Extravaganza"
Box 9. Folder 2. "Airport Lies at La Guardia,"
drafts
Box 9. Folder 3. American History - the Revolution
Box 9. Folder 4. Amusing definitions (A-K)
Box 9. Folder 5. Amusing definitions (L-Z)
Box 9. Folder 6. "The Angel Intrudes"
Box 9. Folder 7. Bibliographies
Box 9. Folder 8. Book jackets
Box 9. Folder 9. Felton book reviews
Box 9. Folder 10. Books searched for tall tales
Box 9. Folder 11. "Bowleg Bill: a Musical
Fantasy"
Box 9. Folder 12. "Paul Bunyan"
Box 9. Folder 13. Paul Bunyan, research
Box 9. Folder 14. "Song of Bunyan"
Box 9. Folder 15. Chief Counsel's Digest, A-B
Box 10. Folder 1. Chief Counsel's Digest, C-E
Box 10. Folder 2. Chief Counsel's Digest, F-H
Box 10. Folder 3. Chief Counsel's Digest, I-L
Box 10. Folder 4. Chief Counsel's Digest, M-P
Box 10. Folder 5. Chief Counsel's Digest, Q-T
Box 10. Folder 6. Chief Counsel's Digest, U-Z
Box 10. Folder 7. Crandall, Prudence
Box 10. Folder 8. Current, Phrases
Box 10. Folder 9. Eaton, Peggy
Box 10. Folder 10. "The Farmer Boy from
Missouri"
Box 10. Folder 11. Flipper, Henry Ossian
Box 10. Folder 12. Flipper, drafts
Box 10. Folder 13. Folklore articles
Box 10. Folder 14. Folklore articles
Box 11. Folder 1. Folklore lectures
Box 11. Folder 2. Folklore work
Box 11. Folder 3. Grammar
Box 11. Folder 4. "John Henry"
Box 11. Folder 5. "John Henry," opera
Box 11. Folder 6. "I Know Her," part 1
Box 11. Folder 7. "I Know Her," part 2
Box 11. Folder 8. "Income Tax: Facts and
Fancies"
Box 11. Folder 9. "In That Darkest
Hour"
Box 11. Folder 10. "I Stood One Day by a Breezy
Bay"
Box 11. Folder 11. "Joey," drafts
Box 11. Folder 12. "John Stories: Tales from the Folklore
of Black Americana," drafts and notes
Box 11. Folder 13. "John Tales"
Box 12. Folder 1. "Brother Jonathan's Wonderful
Hunt"
Box 12. Folder 2. "Jonathan's Wonderful Hunt,"
drafts and notes
Box 12. Folder 3. Johnson, Cole and Johnson
Box 12. Folder 4. King, Martin Luther, Jr.
Box 12. Folder 5. Lyrics
Box 12. Folder 6. Lyrics
Box 12. Folder 7. "The Man Upstairs"
Box 12. Folder 8. Mars, James
Box 12. Folder 9. Massachusetts
Box 12. Folder 10. Mention, Daddy
Box 12. Folder 11. Music, lyrics by Felton
Box 12. Folder 12. "Nine O'Clock
Appointment"
Box 12. Folder 13. "Old Pete"
Box 12. Folder 14. Old phrases
Box 12. Folder 15. "Once Upon a Lovely Day," part
1
Box 13. Folder 1. "Once Upon a Lovely Day," part
2
Box 13. Folder 2. "Song of Pecos Bill," part
2
Box 13. Folder 3. Pecos Bill, research
Box 13. Folder 4. Publications, The American
Mercury
Box 13. Folder 5. Publications, The American
Scholar
Box 13. Folder 6. Publications, children's books, 1954-1968
Box 13. Folder 7. Publications, miscellaneous
Box 13. Folder 8. Publications, stamp books
Box 13. Folder 9. Publications, Time
Magazine
Box 14. Folder 1. Publications, The Tomahawk of Alpha Sigma
Phi
Box 14. Folder 2. Publications, Tudor City
View
Box 14. Folder 3. Research materials
Box 14. Folder 4. Research materials
Box 14. Folder 5. Research materials
Box 15. Folder 1. Research notes, index cards
Box 16. Folder 1. Research notes, index cards
Box 17. Folder 1. Research notes
Box 17. Folder 2. Research notes
Box 17. Folder 3. Research notes
Box 17. Folder 4. Research notes
Box 17. Folder 5. Research notes
Box 17. Folder 6. Research notes, bibliographies
Box 17. Folder 7. Research notes, bibliographies
Box 17. Folder 8. Research notes, lectures
Box 17. Folder 9. Research notes, states A-N
Box 17. Folder 10. Research notes, states N-T
Box 17. Folder 11. "Roommates"
Box 17. Folder 12. "The Silken Bully"
Box 18. Folder 1. Simons, George
Box 18. Folder 2. Songs, by Felton
Box 18. Folder 3. Speeches, by Felton
Box 18. Folder 4. Speech notes
Box 18. Folder 5. "Squanto"
Box 18. Folder 6. "Tall and Small Tales About
Fishing"
Box 18. Folder 7. Tall Tales, proposed book
Box 18. Folder 8. Tall Tales, proposed book
Box 18. Folder 9. Tall Tales, newspaper clippings
Box 18. Folder 10. "Tall Tales of Jim
Bridger"
Box 18. Folder 11. "Tall Tales of Mountain Men,"
drafts
Box 18. Folder 12. "Tall Tales of Oregon
Smith"
Box 18. Folder 13. "The Tame Trout and Other Backwoods
Fairy Tales"
Box 18. Folder 14. Theory
Box 19. Folder 1. "The Thirteenth
Apostle"
Box 19. Folder 2. "Travel by Freighter,"
drafts
Box 19. Folder 3. Travel information, Cape Cod
Box 19. Folder 4. Travel information, Montana
Box 19. Folder 5. Travel information, New England
Box 19. Folder 6. "Uncle Monday," drafts and
notes
Box 19. Folder 7. "We the People, the Little Red, White
and Blue Book"
Box 19. Folder 8. Work in progress
Box 19. Folder 9. "York," drafts
Box 19. Folder 10. "Uncle Monday,"
research
Series 3: Biographical MaterialsBox 20. Folder 1. Applications, petitions
Box 20. Folder 2. Family history
Box 20. Folder 3. Who's Who listings
Box 20. Folder 4. Newspaper clippings
Box 20. Folder 5. Newspaper clippings
Box 21. Folder 1. Scrapbook
Box 22. Folder 1. Scrapbook
Series 4: Photographs Box 23. Folder 1. Jim Beckworth, Negro Moutain Man
Box 23. Folder 2. Edward Rose, Negro trail blazer, illustrations
Box 23. Folder 3. Mumbet: The Story of Elizabeth Freeman, Ashley House
Box 23. Folder 4. Uriah Phillips Levy
Box 23. Folder 5. Harold Felton and others
Series 5: Sound Recordings Box 24. Folder 1. Reel-to-reel tape, talk on folklore, by Felton
Box 24. Folder 2. Reel-to-reel tape, unidentified
Box 24. Folder 3. Long-play albums, "The Lion's
Cage," unidentified
Series 6: Oversize Box 25. Folder 1. Bowleg Bill, Sea Going Cowpuncher,
illustrations
Box 25. Folder 2. Pecos Bill, Texas Cowpuncher,
research materials
Box 25. Folder 3. Legends of Paul Bunyan, research
materials
Box 25. Folder 4. Legends of Paul Bunyan,
illustrations
Box 25. Folder 5. Legends of Paul Bunyan, book
jackets
Box 25. Folder 6. Nat Love, Negro Cowboy,
illustrations
Box 25. Folder 7. Nat Love, Negro Cowboy, research
materials
Box 25. Folder 8. Mumbet: The Story of Elizabeth
Freeman, galley proofs
Box 25. Folder 9. Sergeant O'Keefe and His Mule
Balaam, research materials
Box 25. Folder 10. Edward Rose, Negro Trail Blazer,
galley proofs
Box 25. Folder 11. Worlds Most Truthful Man, research
materials
Box 25. Folder 12. Miscellaneous research materials
Box 26. Folder 1. Legends of Paul Bunyan,
illustrations
Box 26. Folder 2. Cowboy Jamboree: Western Songs and
Lore, reviews
Box 26. Folder 3. Uriah Phillips Levy,
proofs
Box 26. Folder 4. Nat Love, Negro Cowboy,
proofs
Box 26. Folder 5. Nat Love, Negro Cowboy, book
jackets
Box 26. Folder 6. Edward Rose, Negro Trail Blazer,
research materials
Box 27. Folder 1. Scrapbook, research materials
Box 28. Folder 1. Paul Bunyan, illustrations 1-43
Box 29. Folder 1. Paul Bunyan, duplicate illustrations
Box 30. Folder 1. Paul Bunyan, miscellaneous illustrations
Box 31. Folder 1. Children's stories
Box 32. Folder 1. Miscellaneous materials
Box 33. Folder 1. Folklore maps
Related Material and Resources: Felton, Harold W. Bowleg Bill; Seagoing Cowpuncher.
Englewood Cliffs, New Jersey, Prentice-Hall, 1957.Felton, Harold W. and Edward S. Breck. Cowboy Jamboree: Western
Songs and Lore. New York, Knopf, 1951.______________. Fire fightin' Mose. New York, Knopf,
1955.______________. John Henry and His Hammer. New York,
Knopf, [c1950].______________ and Richard Bennett. Legends of Paul
Bunyan. New York, A. A. Knopf, 1947.______________. Lemuel Haynes. Falls Village, CT, Falls
Village-Canaan Historical Society, 1989.______________. Mike Fink, best of the keelboatmen. New
York, Dodd, Mead, [1960].______________. New tall tales of Pecos Bill. Englewood
Cliffs, NJ, Prentice-Hall, [1958].______________. Pecos Bill, Texas cowpuncher. New York,
Knopf, [c1949].______________. Uriah Phillips Levy. New York, Dodd,
Mead, c1978.Grant, Ed, and Harold W. Felton. The world's most truthful man;
tales told by Ed Grant in Maine. New York, Dodd, Mead, [1961]. Ney, James W., and Harold W. Felton. The Good English program:
concepts/skills/experiences. River Forest, IL, Laidlaw, [c1979]. |