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Evelyn Scott Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-3667

  • Staff Only

The bulk of the collection contains correspondence between Evelyn Scott, her family, friends, and business associates written between 1948 and 1956. Also available are drafts of unpublished works including The Gravestones Wept and Evelyn Scott’s autobiography, Scott’s scrapbook, and a small collection of other personal papers.

SERIES I: Works and Drafts, 1937- 1960 This series contains unpublished works and drafts arranged alphabetically. The series contains plays written by Scott and her first husband, Cyril Kay Scott, as well as several drafts of The Gravestones Wept.

SERIES II: Correspondence, 1946-1963 This series contains correspondence between Scott and her friends, family, and business associates. Many of the letters are written to publishers and grant institutions and represent Scott’s attempts to publish or obtain funding for literary projects. Several other letters are written to friends and discuss her daily life and personal developments. Other topics include Scott’s reentry into the United States after residing in England, Scott’s relationship with her son, and Scott’s views on the state of the arts in Europe and the United States. The series is arranged alphabetically by correspondent.

SERIES III: Memorabilia and Personal Papers, 1937-1984 This series contains Scott’s personal effects, including a large scrapbook of reviews, photographs, and a draft of her autobiography. Also included is a reel-to-reel tape of Peggy Bach’s Evelyn Scott, A Rediscovery recorded by LSU’s Television-Radio Service in 1984. The series is arranged according to importance.

Dates

  • 1766, 1928-1984, undated
  • Majority of material found within 1948-1956

Conditions Governing Access

Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Conditions Governing Use

The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.

Extent

4.5 Linear Feet

Abstract

The bulk of the collection contains correspondence between Evelyn Scott, her family, friends, and business associates written between 1948 and 1956. Also available are drafts of unpublished works including The Gravestones Wept and Evelyn Scott’s autobiography, Scott’s scrapbook, and a small collection of other personal papers.

Biographical/Historical Note

Evelyn Scott (1893-1963) was born Elsie Dunn in Clarksville, Tennessee. In 1913, Elsie married Frederick Creighton Wellman, and they changed their names to Evelyn Scott and Cyril Kay Scott. The couple moved to Brazil, where they had one son in 1914, Creighton “Jigg” Scott. After her divorce from Cyril in 1928, Evelyn married British novelist John Metcalfe in 1930. At the outbreak of World War II, the couple moved to London where Metcalfe served in the Royal Air Force. Scott and Metcalfe returned to the United States in 1953, and she remained there until her death in 1963.

Between 1921 and 1941, Scott wrote several books, including the critically acclaimed The Wave and Eva Gay. Her final published work, The Shadow of the Hawk, failed in 1941. Following the failure of her novel, Scott continued to write novels and books of poetry, all of which remained unpublished.

Arrangement

This collection is divided into the following three series:

Arrangement

  1. Series I: Works and Drafts, 1937- 1960
  2. Series II: Correspondence, 1946-1963
  3. Series III: Memorabilia and Personal Papers, 1937-1984

Previous Citation

Parts of this collection were previously listed as MS.1991, MS.2064, MS.2500, and MS.2523.

Acquisition Note

This collection was donated from various sources. Additional items were donated by Henry E. Turlington in 2001 and Joseph B. Trahern, Jr. in 2005.

Repository Details

Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository

Contact:
University of Tennessee, Knoxville
Knoxville TN 37996 USA
865-974-4480