Harrison papers

Hi everyone,

Off and on for over the past few weeks I’ve been poking around in the basement, garage, and filing cabinets, gathering manuscripts and correspondence regarding published work to place on loan at Myer Library’s archival collection at Missouri State University.

I’ve done this in the past. On the first occasion I had several boxes of manuscripts and correspondence appraised, took my tax write-off for the donation, and gave them to Ophelia Gilbert for her archival collection at James C. Kirkpatrick Library on the campus of Central Missouri University in Warrensburg, Missouri. By the next time I felt ready, Congress had changed the law about authors donating their papers. My work was worth the cost of the paper it was printed on. Needless to say, I placed that part of my work on loan rather than make an outright gift. Still waiting for Congress to decide that an author’s papers are worth something. What I’ve given or loaned to Kirkpatrick is available to students or other interested parties in 35 boxes plus some folders. They’ve done a very nice job of sorting and arranging for users’ convenience. http://guides.library.ucmo.edu/harrisond1

This time I’ve decided to place my papers on loan to Myer Library. It is here in Springfield and will be easier for me to access if for some reason I might want to look up something in the future. I’m working on an agreement to leave these papers on loan for a long enough period of time to protect the library’s investment of work, time, and knowledge in displaying and protecting the papers, after which my family could reclaim all or part of the work if it should suit them to do so. My opinion is that the papers are much better off in a library than stuffed in boxes in my basement.

7 comments on “Harrison papers

  1. This is very thoughtful, David, and is a treasure trove for writers and children’s lit researchers.

    • I hope at least a few readers will find something of interest there, Jane. It probably won’t happen often but for sure no one will ever find those papers in my basement.

  2. It’s so incredible to have your work available for students to view and be able to learn your process, David. Of course, with your success, your home is a national landmark these days, so your basement itself could become the repository and students can come visit. 😉

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