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Evelyn Scott Collection

 Collection
Identifier: MS-2015

  • Staff Only

Series I: Evelyn Scott: Literary Works and Related Materials (Boxes 1-6) contain several manuscript copies, notebooks, drafts, and notes for Escape into Living and Before Cock Crow. The series also contains manuscripts of books of poetry such as The Youngest Smiles, copies of single poems by Scott and Metcalfe, and clippings of their poems published in magazines and compilations. Several of the manuscripts contain pages that are repeated and out of order. Also included are reviews written by Scott of novels by other authors, reviews of Scott’s work by others, including lists of quotes copied from magazines and newspapers, partial manuscripts, précis, and prefaces. The series also includes essays written by Scott, clippings of articles, and biographical information about Evelyn Scott, Creighton Scott, and John Metcalfe. The collection does not appear to be in original order, and is not arranged chronologically or alphabetically.

Series II: Evelyn Scott: Personal Papers (Boxes 6-9) contains Evelyn Scott’s correspondence as well as some correspondence from Robert Welker and John Metcalfe written between 1920 and 1969. The series is arranged chronologically; however, photocopied correspondence has been taken out and arranged separately after original copies of letters. The series also contains biographical materials, papers concerning Scott’s passport and immigration to Great Britain and the United States, personal photographs, scrapbooks (Box 9), birth, marriage, and death certificates, Scott’s will, and obituary. The series also contains a box of Evelyn Scott’s real teeth, false teeth, and a tin of rogue. The series is not arranged chronologically or alphabetically, and it is unlikely it is in original order.

Series III: John Metcalfe: Literary Works and Personal Papers (Box 10) contain drafts of literary works, financial records, copyrights and information about copyright renewals, correspondence about publications with publishing houses the Huntington Hartford Foundation, the Royal Literary Fund, and literary agents. Also included are correspondence about possible teaching positions, information about his position and pension in the Royal Air Force, tax receipts, and receipts and correspondence from the Court of Arrears. Additional materials are comprised of receipts and correspondence from utility companies, contractors, and information about Metcalfe’s property in London and his lessees. These file folders appear to be in original order. The series also contains information about Metcalfe’s RAF pension, several receipts from the post office, utilities, and banks, and ration books from London during World War II. The remaining parts of the series not in file folders do not appear to be in original order, and are not arranged alphabetically or chronologically.

Series IV: Maude Dunn: Manuscripts, Correspondence, and Personal Papers (Boxes 10-11) contain materials from Scott’s mother, Maude Dunn. The bulk of the collection is manuscripts of translations of novels and plays from Portuguese originals. The collection also contains correspondence with friends in Portuguese and French, and correspondence with publishing houses. The collection is not arranged alphabetically or chronologically, and does not appear to be in original order.

Series V: Robert Welker: Articles, Notes, Correspondence, and Personal Papers (Boxes 11-13) contains correspondence between Robert Welker, Evelyn Scott, John Metcalfe, and various people of Scott’s acquaintance, several notebooks, receipts and legal documents willing Scott and Metcalfe’s personal papers to Dr. Welker, several copies of articles, and two boxes of index cards (Boxes 12-13) containing bibliographic material for Evelyn Scott, an index of correspondence with the date, correspondent, and a summary of the letter’s contents. The note cards are no longer in alphabetical or chronological order, and the rest of the series does not appear to be in original, alphabetical, or chronological order.

Dates

  • 1880-1980
  • Majority of material found within 1920-1965

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

21 Linear Feet (13 boxes)

Abstract

This collection houses correspondence, financial documents, legal documents, manuscripts, scrapbooks, photographs, and other papers documenting the lives of authors Evelyn Scott and John Metcalfe, Scott's mother, Maude Dunn, and Scott's friend and biographer, Robert Welker.

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 novelist John Metcalfe in 1930. Between 1921 and 1941, she wrote several books, including critically acclaimed The Wave and Eva Gay. Her final book The Shadow of the Hawk failed in 1941. Scott became paranoid about the intertwining of political events during the Second World War and the productivity of artists. Evelyn Scott died in 1963, and was survived by John Metcalfe until 1968. Robert Welker, who became friends with Scott and Metcalfe in the course of writing a doctoral dissertation on Scott’s work, became Scott’s official biographer and obtained many of her personal papers following the death of her husband.

Arrangement

Collection consists of 14 boxes divided into five series:

  1. Series I: Evelyn Scott: Literary Works and Related Materials
  2. Series II: Evelyn Scott: Personal Papers
  3. Series III: John Metcalfe: Literary Works and Personal Papers
  4. Series IV: Maude Dunn: Manuscripts and Correspondences
  5. Series V: Robert Welker: Articles, Notes, Correspondences, and Personal Papers

Acquisition Note

Professor Robert Welker of Huntsville, Alabama, generously donated these papers.

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