Vera Kelsey Papers
Collection
Identifier: Manuscript 11
Scope and Content
The Vera Kelsey papers consist almost entirely of the manuscripts and research notes for her last four books. The correspondence is very scattered, dealing mainly with research information requests, and are mostly copies taken from the various manuscripts where the reverse side was used for research notes. The newspaper clippings are area articles connected with the publication of her various books. The sheet music is Red River Valley related songs to include, Assiniboine Lullaby and My Prairie Rose by Andrew Mulligan, The Red River Jig, and Zapatoe from The Red River Jig.
The Manuscripts Series, all of which are typed, are for her books, British Columbia Rides a Star, Red River Runs North!, Tomorrow is for You, and Young Men So Daring. For British Columbia Rides a Star it includes her travel notes from four trips around British Columbia, research notes of which some are paginated, and her manuscripts as well as the photograph proof sheets.
The Research Series is Miss Kelsey's research notes on the Red River Valley which are paginated and quite extensive. The notes also include material on Minnesota, western Canada, Manitoba, and even the western United States, but usually as to how they have influenced the Red River Valley area. For Red River Runs North! is included a near final manuscript, reader's proof sheets and galley proofs as well as promotional material and the original maps used in the book.
For Tomorrow is For You is included Miss Kelsey's research notes with many of the reverse sheets containing typed drafts of her manuscript for Young Men So Daring. There are also two different sets of reader's proof sheets. Finally, the manuscripts for Young Men So Daring include research notes, most of which are in the general file covering the general theme of the development of the West, a typed final manuscript, and several manuscript criticisms. On the reverse side of the research notes is a typed draft of Tomorrow is for You.
The Manuscripts Series, all of which are typed, are for her books, British Columbia Rides a Star, Red River Runs North!, Tomorrow is for You, and Young Men So Daring. For British Columbia Rides a Star it includes her travel notes from four trips around British Columbia, research notes of which some are paginated, and her manuscripts as well as the photograph proof sheets.
The Research Series is Miss Kelsey's research notes on the Red River Valley which are paginated and quite extensive. The notes also include material on Minnesota, western Canada, Manitoba, and even the western United States, but usually as to how they have influenced the Red River Valley area. For Red River Runs North! is included a near final manuscript, reader's proof sheets and galley proofs as well as promotional material and the original maps used in the book.
For Tomorrow is For You is included Miss Kelsey's research notes with many of the reverse sheets containing typed drafts of her manuscript for Young Men So Daring. There are also two different sets of reader's proof sheets. Finally, the manuscripts for Young Men So Daring include research notes, most of which are in the general file covering the general theme of the development of the West, a typed final manuscript, and several manuscript criticisms. On the reverse side of the research notes is a typed draft of Tomorrow is for You.
Dates
- 1944-1958.
Creator
- Kelsey, Vera. (Person)
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
The NDSU Archives does not own the copyrights.
Biography
Vera Kelsey was born June 1891 in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the daughter of William H. and Isabel Oliver (Woods) Kelsey. The family moved to Grand Forks, North Dakota before 1900 where Miss Kelsey grew up and graduated in 1914 from the University of North Dakota. She also attended the University of Washington, and Brown University where she received her Master’s Degree in sociology. Miss Kelsey then went to the Orient where she was a feature writer from 1920 to 1922 for the North China Daily News in Shanghai. Returning to this country she worked for a year in the editorial department of the Fargo Forum in Fargo, N. D. She then spent some time in New York and traveled extensively in Europe, Japan, and in South and Central America. While there she wrote several books on the area. After World War II Miss Kelsey returned to the Midwest, living several years in Grand Forks, where she wrote several mystery novels and also began her work on regional history.
Miss Kelsey served as Assistant Editor of the Theater Arts magazine, and was director of public relations for the American Woman's Association and the American Woman's Club. She was a member of the American Woman's Association, the Author's League of America, and the Fargo branch of the National League of American Pen Women. In her later years Miss Kelsey resided in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She died on May 20, 1961 in St. Paul.
Miss Kelsey was a prolific writer beginning in high school. She wrote fiction, non-fiction and mysteries. Among her works are Modern Industry Comes to China, Brazilian Frontier, Four Keyes to Guatemala with L. DeJ. Osborne, (1939), Seven Keyes to Brazil (1940), Brazil in Capitals (1942), Six Great Men of Brazil (1942), Maria Rosa (1942), The Bride Dined Alone (1943), Satan Has Six Fingers (1943), Fear Came First (1945), Whisper Murder (1946), Red River Runs North! (1951), Tomorrow For You (1953), Young Men So Daring (1956), and British Columbia Rides A Star (1958).
Miss Kelsey served as Assistant Editor of the Theater Arts magazine, and was director of public relations for the American Woman's Association and the American Woman's Club. She was a member of the American Woman's Association, the Author's League of America, and the Fargo branch of the National League of American Pen Women. In her later years Miss Kelsey resided in Minneapolis, Minnesota. She died on May 20, 1961 in St. Paul.
Miss Kelsey was a prolific writer beginning in high school. She wrote fiction, non-fiction and mysteries. Among her works are Modern Industry Comes to China, Brazilian Frontier, Four Keyes to Guatemala with L. DeJ. Osborne, (1939), Seven Keyes to Brazil (1940), Brazil in Capitals (1942), Six Great Men of Brazil (1942), Maria Rosa (1942), The Bride Dined Alone (1943), Satan Has Six Fingers (1943), Fear Came First (1945), Whisper Murder (1946), Red River Runs North! (1951), Tomorrow For You (1953), Young Men So Daring (1956), and British Columbia Rides A Star (1958).
Extent
2 Linear Feet (2 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
An accomplished journalist and author, Vera Kelsey's papers document her writing career through the manuscripts and research notes for her last four books, British Columbia Rides a Star, Red River Runs North!, Tomorrow is for You, and Young Men So Daring. For British Columbia Rides a Star it includes her travel notes from four trips around British Columbia.
Provenance
Donated by Vera Kelsey, 1951-1958 (Acc. 11).
Separation record - Maps (Institute map collection)
Voorhies, Shephen J. "Gateways to the Red River Valley"
Rand McNally & Co. "Railroad Commissioners' Map of North Dakota", 1927
Rand McNally & Co. "Railroad Commissioners' Map of North Dakota", 1927
Property rights
The NDSU Archives owns the property rights to this collection
Creator
- Kelsey, Vera. (Person)
- Mulligan, Andrew. (Person)
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Vera Kelsey Papers
- Description rules
- Appm
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu