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Grant Redford papers

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_COLL MSS 245

Scope and Contents

Plays, short stories, books, novels, pageants, poetry, and articles written by Grant Redford from 1930 to 1970. The collection includes his writings and personal papers during his days working at the University of Washington and his time working in Turkey at the University of Ankara from 1958 to 1960.

The first eight boxes include the notes, drafts, correspondence, and publicity involved in the writing of Redford's plays. The material is arranged by the plays written. The next two boxes include the short stories written by Redford. Boxes 11-13 include the drafts, revisions, and notes of the novels, books, and pageants written. Poetry and articles developed by Redford are found in boxes 14-15. Grant Redford's notes and ideas for writing material are found in the next box. All of these boxes are arranged with the same order in which Grant Redford arranged his files.

Box 18 contains Redford's personal papers including correspondence, a bibliography, a letter of recommendation, and a daybook. Also included in the collection are the works of other authors (boxes 19 and 20). Boxes 21-23 contain Redford's lectures, notes, articles, and Turkish publications collected during his days at the University of Ankara in Turkey. Copies of the Intermountain Revie are found in box 24. Redford's scrapbooks and journals can be located in the next box. Finally, reel to reels and tapes are located in box 26.

Dates

  • Creation: 1930-1977

Language of Materials

Material in English

Conditions Governing Access

No restrictions on use, except: not available through interlibrary loan.

Conditions Governing Use

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the Grant Redford papers must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.

Biographical Note

Grant Hubbard Redford was born December 25, 1908 in Seattle, Washington, son of Thomas Lloyd Redford and Sarah Gwennie Hubbard of Logan. Redford grew up in Logan and eventually moved to Cedar City,Utah where he taught English. A few years later, he relocated to Seattle, Washington where he taught creative writing at the University of Washington. In the mid-1950s, he taught in Turkey, then returned to teach and live in Seattle. Redford died in 1965.

Redford attended Logan High School in the late 1920s, winning the Hendrick's Medal for oration at Utah State Agricultural College (USAC) in 1929. His youth was fueled by an ambition to be a known author. In high school and college years, he was active in both literary and dramatic societies. He was a contributor to the Logan Daily Herald, The Scribbler (USAC art/literary journal), and he was also editor for The Scribbler and Student Life. A fellow classmate of May Swensen, both published poetry in an anthology of contemporary Utah poetry Utah Sings, in the mid-1930s. He served a mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints in Vermont from 1930 -1932. As a member of USAC International Relations Club, he led an anti-war demonstration at USAC in the fall of 1936.

Upon graduation from USAC in 1936, Redford taught speech at the Branch Agricultural College in Cedar City, Utah. In the 1940s, he served as associate editor for Rocky Mountain Review, and in 1941 he earned an MS degree in speech from the University of Iowa.

By the late 1940s, Redford taught in the English department at the University of Washington in Seattle. His teaching emphasis was short story and play writing; both genres reflected his own writing interests and pursuits. Redford also taught drama at the University of Ankara, Turkey, from 1958-1959. He helped found the Port Townsend Summer School of the Arts in Washington in 1961 and served on its faculty until his death in 1965.

Redford's short stories were published in national magazines like Cosmopolitan as well as scholarly journals. In the 1960s, he sought performance of his plays by contacting agents on Broadway, Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, and television stations. When Redford died in 1965, he had established a reputation as a well-known writer in the Pacific Northwest.

Extent

27 boxes (12.5 linear feet)

Abstract

This collection includes plays, short stories, books, novels, pageants, poetry, and articles written by Grant Redford between 1930 and 1965.

Arrangement

Arranged by topic.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The materials in this collection were donated to USU Special Collections and Archives in 1996 by Grant's son, Myron, and in 2005 by Grant's brother Ralph.

Processing Information

Processed in June of 1999.

Title
Guide to the Grant Redford papers 1930-1977
Author
Finding aid/Register created by Julia Kenyon and Cynthia Lleyson
Date
©2011
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid encoded in English.

Revision Statements

  • 2009: Template information updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.

Repository Details

Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)