Miriam E. Mason collection
Collection
Identifier: L528
Scope and Contents
This collection contains material ranging from 1916 to 1973 compiled by Miriam E. Mason over the course of her literary career. Her personal papers include school compositions, bibliographies of sources consulted, biographical information, documents related to children’s reading interests, clippings on various topics, documents and instructional handouts from conferences and workshops, correspondence from children and publishers, and notes regarding story ideas. The bulk of the collection consists of correspondence, notes, drafts, and proof galleys related to her numerous published articles, short stories, plays, and books. Mason typed her notes and drafts on the backs of letters, envelopes, greeting cards, book jackets, and other miscellaneous paper items. Often she typed a new story on the back of draft pages from of another story. Many of the titles of her stories changed through revisions and when possible, her correspondence, notes and drafts are organized by the published title.
Dates
- 1905-1973
Creator
- Mason, Miriam E., 1900-1973 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
This collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Legal title, copyright, and literary rights reside with Rare Books and Manuscripts, Indiana State Library, Indianapolis, IN. All requests to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted to Rare Books and Manuscripts.
Biographical Note
Children's author Miriam Evangeline Mason was born in Goshen, Indiana to Benjamin F. and Laura (Geesaman) Mason. Though most biographies list her birthdate as January 23, 1900, several official documents, including the 1900 United States Census and the U.S. Social Security Index, list her year of birth as 1897.
She grew up on a hilltop farm in what is now the Morgan-Monroe State Forest. Following her graduation from Martinsville High School, Mason attended Indiana University (1916-1917), taught school (1918-1920), worked as an advertising copywriter for the William H. Block Company in Indianapolis (1920-1921), and attended the school of journalism at the University of Missouri (1922-1923). She married Maurice M. Swain in October 1924 and they had one daughter, Kathleen. They later divorced. Prior to becoming a free-lance writer in 1929, Mason also worked in the circulation and children’s department for the Spencer, Indiana publication Farm Life (1923, 1928-1929) and as an editorial assistant for the Hall McCreary Publishing Company of Chicago (1925-1926). She went on to author 54 children’s books and wrote more than four hundred short stories, articles, and plays for both children and adults. Mason died at her home in Batesville, Indiana on February 20, 1973.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Ancestry.com. "Miriam E. Mason." 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed October 22, 2020. https://www.ancestry.com.
Ancestry.com. “Miriam Evangeline Mason.” Indiana, Select Marriages Index, 1748-1993. October 22, 2020. https://www.ancestry.com.
Covert, Jeannette. “Miriam Mason Swain, Writer in Hoosier Tradition, Is Author of 3 New Books.” Indianapolis Star (IN), August 13, 1944.
“Rites at Batesville for Mrs. Swain, 73.” Greensburg Daily News (IN), February 22, 1973.
Thompson, Donald E., comp. Indiana Authors and Their Books, 1917-1966. Crawfordsville, IN: Wabash College, 1974.
She grew up on a hilltop farm in what is now the Morgan-Monroe State Forest. Following her graduation from Martinsville High School, Mason attended Indiana University (1916-1917), taught school (1918-1920), worked as an advertising copywriter for the William H. Block Company in Indianapolis (1920-1921), and attended the school of journalism at the University of Missouri (1922-1923). She married Maurice M. Swain in October 1924 and they had one daughter, Kathleen. They later divorced. Prior to becoming a free-lance writer in 1929, Mason also worked in the circulation and children’s department for the Spencer, Indiana publication Farm Life (1923, 1928-1929) and as an editorial assistant for the Hall McCreary Publishing Company of Chicago (1925-1926). She went on to author 54 children’s books and wrote more than four hundred short stories, articles, and plays for both children and adults. Mason died at her home in Batesville, Indiana on February 20, 1973.
Sources:
Items in the collection.
Ancestry.com. "Miriam E. Mason." 1900 United States Federal Census. Accessed October 22, 2020. https://www.ancestry.com.
Ancestry.com. “Miriam Evangeline Mason.” Indiana, Select Marriages Index, 1748-1993. October 22, 2020. https://www.ancestry.com.
Covert, Jeannette. “Miriam Mason Swain, Writer in Hoosier Tradition, Is Author of 3 New Books.” Indianapolis Star (IN), August 13, 1944.
“Rites at Batesville for Mrs. Swain, 73.” Greensburg Daily News (IN), February 22, 1973.
Thompson, Donald E., comp. Indiana Authors and Their Books, 1917-1966. Crawfordsville, IN: Wabash College, 1974.
Extent
10.1 Cubic Feet (26 manuscript boxes, 1 large oversize box)
Language of Materials
English
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in the following series and subseries:
Series 1: Personal papers, 1916-1973, undated
Series 2: Literary documents, 1923-1972, undated
Subseries 2.1: Articles and book reviews, 1928-1969, undated Subseries 2.2: Books and stories, 1927-1971, undated Subseries 2.3: Essays, plays and poems, 1923-1972, undated Subseries 2.4: Short stories, 1930-1957, undated Subseries 2.5: Galleys, 1937-1967, undated
Series 1: Personal papers, 1916-1973, undated
Series 2: Literary documents, 1923-1972, undated
Subseries 2.1: Articles and book reviews, 1928-1969, undated Subseries 2.2: Books and stories, 1927-1971, undated Subseries 2.3: Essays, plays and poems, 1923-1972, undated Subseries 2.4: Short stories, 1930-1957, undated Subseries 2.5: Galleys, 1937-1967, undated
Custodial History
This collection was received by Rare Books and Manuscripts as a donation from Mrs. Kitsy Beck on 1980/05/19.
Accruals
No further additions are expected.
Processing Information
Collection processing completed in 2000 by Philip N. Williams. Collection reprocessed in 2020 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid created in 2020/11 by Laura Eliason. EAD finding aid revised 2024/05/02 by Brittany Kropf.
Creator
- Mason, Miriam E., 1900-1973 (Person)
- Title
- Miriam E. Mason collection
- Status
- Completed
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Rare Books and Manuscripts Repository
Contact:
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
140 North Senate Avenue
Indianapolis, Indiana 46204 U.S.A.
317-232-3671
