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Tht fisdoz Room in Lcvs library cuntzzns cssy cf the fcecla, kttss and isaps ccccsubisi by ths Kcbsssha esict. '
Photo by Kavm H&3ay
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... To prsrrvs the her itass f Nebraska authors, two
rooms have teen set asde ia Lincoln libraries. In Bcnnet
Martin library, Iks McKelvie Room contains the work of
Nebraska authors great snd small. Love library's recent
ly opened Mari Sandoz Room hooss ths written records
..of her career. .
When the world-famous Sandoz died in 1966, she -willed
ths boclcs, lsttsrs snd maps she had accumulated
through a lifetime to the UNL libraries. These documents
provide not only a treasure trove for scholars researching
the author liersslf, but also a wealth of material for arry
one interested in the Old
Boy Boyce, UNL special collections librarian, said,
Sandoz wanted her collection to be used." So, research
ers and other interested parties may use ths material lo
cr?fcd on the third floor of Love. Scott Grennwell, a UNL
graduate student, has catalogued the notes and interviews
with Ncbraa historical figures.
The coEection contains 25 JOCK) pages of her personal
.correspondence and 359 nrps, msny of which were hssd
drawn by Sandoz. A dispky traces the development of her
most famous bock CUjtdes, a protrayal of her pioneer
father. Also included Is Sandoz's working library cf ap
proximately 1 JDCO books. It was from these books that
much of the accurate historical body of her works was
drawn.
Even to the casual observer, the collection provides
insight into the author's multi-faceted personality. The
large notebooks which contain the research for CldJtdes
are filled with scrawled notes made from her reading of
panhandle newspapers of the period. The rough drafts of
her works show the care with which she approached the
materials. v
In hsr .collection cf b ccks are many volumes familiar
lo all writers 2?d-efi Quotations, JBuZJlnch i Mylhoh
cgy and a dog-eared copy of Writer's Guide.
In addition to books used for research, the library
shows Sandoz diverse tastes. The Buffalo hunters and
Indians shared hsr attention with ILL. Mencken's The
American Langusge and Phibsophy. The volumes are
filed with marginal notations in Saxidozls handwriting.
Caustic comments are directed at portions with which
Sandoz disagreed. On a somewhat whimsical note a
United Airlines flight map was found among the old hand
drawn maps of the Great Plains. ' -
In contrast to the Sandoz room, the McKelvie room
houses a wide array of Nebraska authors. First editions,
manuscripts and memorabilia are &U included in the
ucUion.
The collection was started by Martha McKeMe, wife of
Gov. Sammuel McKelvie (1919-1 922), who wfched to con
tribute to the new library. Kirs. McKelvie donated her own
collection of book: and a set of rich, ivcry inlaid
fumiluxa. This d cation comprises 90 per cent of the car-'
. Tent cells ction. Ths Library's own Ndbrsika authors col
lection enhances ths city library rele in preservation cf
Nebraska luthors'' works. " ; .:
Apart irorn the antiques and Sam Mc&ervie's boots
(he had very .small feet) the collection's chief attractions
are its books end manuscripts by littls-known authors.
Not only are the books of some interest, but the authors
often provide added color all trjen own. Former curator
Ethel Mower has compiled brief biographies of the famous
and near-famous authors, which may be published in the
Take, for example, Veldon Kees, a poet from Beatrice.
After graduation from UNL he hit the artistic trail writing
poems, producing fUms and dabbling in painting. In July,
1955, the same day that an article by Kees entitled ""How
to be Happy Installment 1 053"appeared in the New
Republic his car was found parked near the Golden Gate
Bridge, fie hssn't been seen sines.
If Bcnnet Martin builds their planned addition a
larsr rare book room will be addsd. This new room,
probably to be called the Nebraska Heritage room, will
encompass the present collection and other items. Among
the rare books is a copy of MachisvsHi's The Prince
printed in London in 1 636. The larger room also will
allow the furniture and glassware donated by McKelvie
to be displayed better.
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