Helen Welshimer Papers, 1918-1973, undated

Collection Title:

Helen Welshimer Papers, 1918-1973, undated

Repository:

The Holloway Archives at Milligan University

P. H. Welshimer Memorial Library

200 Blowers Blvd.

Milligan, TN 37682

Email: archives@milligan.edu

Creator:

Helen Welshimer

Title:

Helen Welshimer Papers, 1918-1973, undated

Collection No.

C0048 (formerly 48)

Extent

2.3 cubic feet (3 boxes, 4 loose scrapbooks)

Language(s):

English

Abstract:

Helen Welshimer (1901-1954) was the daughter of the Rev. P.H. and Clara Welshimer and a nationally known writer of new articles, fictional serials, and poetry. This collection contains her writings, including two small books of poetry and several scrapbooks of her articles.

Biographical Note:

Helen Welshimer was the daughter of the Rev. P.H. and Clara Welshimer. She was born in 1901. Helen’s father, P.H. Welshimer, was minister of First Christian Church of Canton, Ohio, for more than 50 years. Her sister Mildred served as Dean of Women at Milligan College (now Milligan University) and was a benefactress of the school after her marriage to B.D. Phillips. Helen was a prolific writer who became well-known nationally. She was feature writer for the Canton Daily News where she wrote columns and editorials. Later she wrote for the Akron Beacon Journal. She later took a job as a feature writer for the Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA). Much of her work at the NEA was nationally syndicated. She wrote two small books of poetry, copies of which are in this collection. She later left the NEA and became a freelance writer. She wrote articles and poems for well-known magazines such as Good Housekeeping. She also devoted much of her time to writing for Christian publications such as The Lookout and Christian Standard. In 1939 she was in a minor automobile accident in a taxicab. Francis Arant records in his book “P.H”. – The Welshimer Story that the minor injury became debilitating due to a lack of calcium in Helen’s body. She suffered for 15 years before passing away on December 22, 1954.

Arrangement:

In October 2008, Eric Nauman created a basic inventory of the materials and series, and re-boxed the collection to smaller containers. The scrapbooks were removed from boxes and numbered. It was decided to re-shelve them unboxed. The first finding aid was written at this time. In March 2019, Katherine Santa Ana incorporated undescribed scrapbooks into the collection, created folder titles as needed, dated material, and updated the finding aid. The collection is arranged into two series: Writings and Scrapbooks. Writings is arranged alphabetically and Scrapbooks is arranged roughly chronologically.

Scope and Content Note:

The papers of Helen Welshimer are arranged into two series: Writings and Scrapbooks. The Writings Series spans 1918-1973 and includes undated folders. It contains articles and clippings of various writings published and unpublished, including fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. This series also includes published volumes of poetry, one radio interview with Helen Welshimer, and one folder of material after Helen’s death, In Memoriam, 1955, 1973. The Scrapbooks Series spans 1924-1942 and includes twelve scrapbooks of clippings of writings by Helen Welshimer from various magazines, newspapers and other publications. The four largest scrapbooks (Scrapbook 9-12) are not boxed.

Administrative Information

Acquisition Information:

Accession 2008/009; 2020-001

Access Restrictions:

The collection is open for research. Due to the nature and condition of some of the materials, especially the scrapbooks, photocopying may not always be possible.

The archivist reserves the right to determine on a case-by-case basis if certain folders within the collection that have been requested for viewing cannot be made available due to various restriction compliance, including but not limited to student information, private personal information, and organizational information of a restricted nature.

Note: The Holloway Archives at Milligan University does not own the copyright on published materials.

Preferred Citation:

[Item], Helen Welshimer Papers, Collection C0048, The Holloway Archives at Milligan University, Milligan, TN.

Processing Information:

Processed by: Eric Nauman, Katherine Santa Ana

Completed in 2008, 2019.

Folder List

Box 1

I. Series: Writings, 1918-1973, undated

• Fiction 1, undated



• Fiction 2, circa 1930-1940



• Fiction 3, 1926-1941



• Good Housekeeping School for Brides, 1939



• In Memoriam, 1955, 1973



• Nonfiction, 1931-1941, undated



• Poetry 1, undated



• Poetry 2, 1918-1932

Box 2

• Poetry 3, c. 1935-1938



• Poetry, Candlelight and Other Poems, 1934-1935



• Poetry, The Linebook, 1931



• Poetry Not Written by Helen, undated



• Poetry, Shining Rain, 1943



• Poetry, Souvenirs and Other Selected Poems, 1933



• Serials, 1933-1941, undated



• WJZ Radio Interview, 1937

Box 3

II. Series: Scrapbooks, 1924-1942

• Scrapbook 1, 1924-1925



• Scrapbook 2, circa 1928



• Scrapbook 3, 1928-1941



• Scrapbook 4, 1932-1934



• Scrapbook 5, 1932-1936



• Scrapbook 6, 1934-1936



• Scrapbook 7, 1936-1939



• Scrapbook 8, 1936-1942

No Box

• Scrapbook 9, 1925-1926



• Scrapbook 10, 1929-1932



• Scrapbook 11, 1929-1932



• Scrapbook 12, 1932-1933