Harriette Simpson Arnow Papers,1936-1986 (bulk 1949-1986)

Author

Processed by: staff; machine-readable finding aid created by:M. Plarr

Title

Harriette Simpson Arnow Papers

Date

1936-1986 (bulk 1949-1986)

Repository

Berea College Special CollectionsBerea, Kentucky 40404

Conditions Governing Access note

Copyright has not been assigned to Berea College.

Preferred Citation Note

[Identification of item], Harriette Simpson Arnow Papers, KYSX360-A, 1936-1986 (bulk 1949-1986)Special Collections, Berea College, Berea, Ky.

Extent

.2 lin. ft.

Biography/History

Born in Wayne County, Kentucky on July 7, 1908, Arnow lived on a farm near Ann Arbor, Michigan for most of her life. Arnow attended Berea College for two years (1926 - 1928) before completing her degree in sciences at the University of Louisville (1930). She then taught school in both Louisville and in Pulaski County, Kentucky before moving to Cincinnati, Ohio in 1934 in order to concentrate on her writing. Supporting herself at various times as a waitress, a library clerk, and as an assistant for the Federal Writers' Project, Arnow produced several essays and her first novel, MOUNTAIN PATH, which she published as Harriette Simpson in 1936. In 1939, she married Harold Arnow; they purchased a farm in the Daniel Boone Forest where they lived as writers and farmers.

By 1944, the Arnows had moved to Michigan where Harold was a reporter for THE DETROIT NEWS. In 1949 HUNTER'S HORN was published, followed by THE DOLLMAKER (1954), SEEDTIME ON THE CUMBERLAND (1960), FLOWERING OF THE CUMBERLAND (1963), THE WEEDKILLER'S DAUGHTER (1970), THE KENTUCKY TRACE (1974), and OLD BURNSIDE (1977). Arnow also published numerous articles and pamphlets and was an active instructor in the Appalachian Writers Workshop held annually at the Hindman Settlement School. Arnow died on March 21, 1986 and was buried at her farm at Keno in Pulaski County.

Scope and Content

Materials consist of clippings, correspondence, manuscript fragments, photographs, miscellaneous essays, and reviews documenting Arnow's life and work.

Folder list; unpublished guide.

Subjects

• Pulaski County, Kentucky -- Authors
• Teachers -- Pulaski County, Kentucky
• Teachers -- Jefferson County, Kentucky
• Farming -- Pulaski County, Kentucky
• Authors -- Cincinnati, Ohio
• Women -- Authors
• Mountain Path, by Harriette Simpson Arnow (book)
• Hunters Horn, by Harriette Arnow (book)
• Dollmaker, The, by Harriette Arnow (book)
• Seedtime on the Cumberland, by Harriette Arnow (book)
• Flowering of the Cumberland, by Harriette Arnow (book)
• Weedkiller's Daughter, by Harriette Arnow (book)
• Kentucky Trace, by Harriette Arnow (book)
• Old Burnside, by Harriette Arnow (book)
• Authors -- Appalachia
• Literature -- Appalachia