Sarah Ricketts Collection of Jane Merchant Material
This collection contains materials collected by Sarah Ricketts while researching and writing A Window on Eternity (1989), the biography of poet Jane Merchant. Spanning the years 1937-1992, the papers include Merchant's voluminous correspondence, excerpts from her diary, and scrapbooks of her published and unpublished poetry. Also included are the various drafts of Ricketts' book.
Dates
- 1937-1992
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
17.5 Linear Feet (17 boxes [16 record, 1 flat])
Abstract
This collection contains materials collected by Sarah Ricketts while researching and writing A Window on Eternity (1989), the biography of poet Jane Merchant. Spanning the years 1937-1992, the papers include Merchant's voluminous correspondence, excerpts from her diary, and scrapbooks of her published and unpublished poetry. Also included are the various drafts of Ricketts' book.
Biographical/Historical Note
Jane Hess Merchant was born in 1919 in Inskip (Knoxville), Tennessee. She was confined to her bed at age twelve from the congenital bone disease Osteogenesis Imperfecta, or Brittle Bone Disease, which also caused her to go deaf at age twenty-three. Despite her crippling disease, Merchant was an incredibly active and prolific writer. From her bedroom she penned more than 3,000 poems, 2,000 letters, and dozens of prose pieces. Although writing for several years, her first published work, a poem printed in an issue of “Progressive Farmer,” did not appear until 1946. Soon after, other publications like “Good Housekeeping” and “The Saturday Evening Post” were quick to print her work. She also maintained continual correspondence with friends, fans, and publishers throughout her life. Merchant passed away in 1972.
Sarah Jorunn Oftedal Ricketts was born in Norway in 1933 and is the author or ghostwriter of more than 20 books.
Arrangement
This collection is in 17 boxes. The material is arranged into four series:
- Series I: Correspondence
- Series II: Research Materials
- Series III: Drafts
- Series IV: Publication Materials
Acquisition Note
This collection was a gift from Sarah Jorunn Oftedal Ricketts.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository