Professional papers, 1901 - 1970
Series
Scope and Content Note
From the Collection:
The Wallace Perry papers span the years 1865 and 1971, with the bulk of the material falling between the years 1904 and 1956. The collection chronicles much of Perrys personal and professional life and contains his correspondence with family, friends, and business associates, in addition to clippings and business records from his lengthy journalism career, and research files and drafts illustrating his prose writing.
The collection is divided into three series: Family Papers, Professional Papers, and Photographs.
The first subseries contains historical and biographical materials. One folder contains family military papers from 1865. "Memoirs of Ingalls, Oklahoma, contains Perrys recollections of the outlaws who lived in and around Ingalls during his childhood.
The largest subseries of the Family Papers is comprised of correspondence between Wallace Perry and his wife Lena Alice Stubblefield Perry. The correspondence spans 1904 to ca. 1950, with the bulk between 1904-1915, and is largely of a romantic nature. While visiting New Mexico in 1912, Alice wrote to Perry of her first impressions of the state and its people. The remaining correspondence is composed of letters to and from family members and friends of Perry and his wife.
Also found in the Family Papers are files concerning Perrys personal interests and civic activities, such as the "Kids Rodeo, which Perrys co-founded as El Paso Herald-Post editor, and the Red Cross of Doa Ana County. The series ends with financial materials from the Perry household.
The Professional Papers series spans the years 1901 to 1971. The Professional Papers are divided into three subseries: Journalism, Poetry and Prose. A small amount of correspondence from the journalism subseries deals with Perrys editorship at the El Paso Herald-Post, and his loss of that position. A substantial part of this subseries relates to the Las Cruces Sun-News, which Perry purchased in 1939. One folder contains extensive clippings from Perrys editorial column, "Chaparral. These materials also include financial and legal documents.
The Prose portion of the collection consists of letters, research notes, clippings, and three of Perrys manuscripts. Research and notes for Each Purple Curtain comprises the most extensive part of this subseries. Published in 1954, the novel is a historic, fictional portrayal of the Rio Grande River Valley through three generations. Correspondence between Perry and Naylor Company, the publishers of Each Purple Curtain, document Perrys disappointment with the sales of the book. Copies of Perrys unpublished novels, "And His Tribe Increased, a story involving the high stakes of the Oklahoman oil wells, and "Rehearsal for Disloyalty, a novel concerning strikebreakers in Oklahoma mines, are included in the Prose subseries.
The Photograph series contains one album of family photographs and 159 loose postcards, prints, and negatives. The loose prints dated, ca. 1900 - ca. 1950, are images of the Perrys, famous American Indians, oil wells, and musicians.
The collection is divided into three series: Family Papers, Professional Papers, and Photographs.
The first subseries contains historical and biographical materials. One folder contains family military papers from 1865. "Memoirs of Ingalls, Oklahoma, contains Perrys recollections of the outlaws who lived in and around Ingalls during his childhood.
The largest subseries of the Family Papers is comprised of correspondence between Wallace Perry and his wife Lena Alice Stubblefield Perry. The correspondence spans 1904 to ca. 1950, with the bulk between 1904-1915, and is largely of a romantic nature. While visiting New Mexico in 1912, Alice wrote to Perry of her first impressions of the state and its people. The remaining correspondence is composed of letters to and from family members and friends of Perry and his wife.
Also found in the Family Papers are files concerning Perrys personal interests and civic activities, such as the "Kids Rodeo, which Perrys co-founded as El Paso Herald-Post editor, and the Red Cross of Doa Ana County. The series ends with financial materials from the Perry household.
The Professional Papers series spans the years 1901 to 1971. The Professional Papers are divided into three subseries: Journalism, Poetry and Prose. A small amount of correspondence from the journalism subseries deals with Perrys editorship at the El Paso Herald-Post, and his loss of that position. A substantial part of this subseries relates to the Las Cruces Sun-News, which Perry purchased in 1939. One folder contains extensive clippings from Perrys editorial column, "Chaparral. These materials also include financial and legal documents.
The Prose portion of the collection consists of letters, research notes, clippings, and three of Perrys manuscripts. Research and notes for Each Purple Curtain comprises the most extensive part of this subseries. Published in 1954, the novel is a historic, fictional portrayal of the Rio Grande River Valley through three generations. Correspondence between Perry and Naylor Company, the publishers of Each Purple Curtain, document Perrys disappointment with the sales of the book. Copies of Perrys unpublished novels, "And His Tribe Increased, a story involving the high stakes of the Oklahoman oil wells, and "Rehearsal for Disloyalty, a novel concerning strikebreakers in Oklahoma mines, are included in the Prose subseries.
The Photograph series contains one album of family photographs and 159 loose postcards, prints, and negatives. The loose prints dated, ca. 1900 - ca. 1950, are images of the Perrys, famous American Indians, oil wells, and musicians.
Dates
- 1901 - 1970
Access and Use Restrictions
This material may be examined by researchers under supervised conditions in the Search Room.
Extent
From the Collection: 13 Linear Feet
Language of Materials
From the Collection: English
Repository Details
Part of the New Mexico State University Library Archives and Special Collections Repository