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Will Barker Papers

An inventory of his papers at Syracuse University

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Barker, Will.
Title: Will Barker Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1852-1970
Quantity: 19.0 linear ft.
Abstract: American author, native of Troy, New York, who wrote a number of books about animals, some for young adults. Collection contains correspondence (1852-1970), business, personal, and family; book manscripts and galleys; genealogical material relating to the Barker family; scrapbooks; memorabilia, including calendars and photographs; and published material, including articles and pamphlets.
Language: English
Repository: Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries
222 Waverly Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13244-2010
https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center

Biographical History

Will Barker (1908-?) was an American author from Troy, New York. Following his military service, he enrolled in the Veterans Authors Workshop which started him on a career as a full-time writer. In addition to several natural history books for children and numerous articles, he wrote for the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service (1949-1954) and edited books for the New York Times Book Review. He also lectured, appeared at children's book fairs, did the photography and illustrations for his own books, and taught seminars at writing workshops. He received awards from the National Wildlife Federation for his work in conservation education.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Will Barker Papers consist of corespondence, writings, published material and memorabilia.

Correspondence has both business and personal letters dating from 1852 to 1970.

Writings contains material for five nature books, several articles, and lectures for school and writing workshops. Also included is some of Barker's editing work.

Published material includes mainly books, magazines and newspapers.

Memorabilia contains photographs, scrapbooks, personal papers, material on family history, and a small amount of Masonic papers.

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Arrangement of the Collection

Correspondence is arranged chronologically. All other series are arranged alphabetically.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

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Subject Headings

Persons

Barker family.
Barker, Will.

Subjects

Conservation of natural resources -- Juvenile literature.
Animal behavior.
Authors, American.
Freemasons -- United States.
Zoology -- Juvenile literature.

Genres and Forms

Articles.
Book reviews.
Calendars (documents)
Correspondence.
Galley proofs.
Genealogies (histories)
Manuscripts for publication.
Memorabilia.
Pamphlets.
Photographs.
Scrapbooks.
Speeches (documents)

Occupations

Authors.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Will Barker Papers,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Finding Aid Information

Created by: DMW
Date: 25 Sep 1979
Revision history: 14 Jun 2010 - converted to EAD (MRC)

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Inventory

Correspondence
Box 1 Business 1955-1970, undated (8 folders)
Box 1 Personal 1852-1970, undated (6 folders)
Writings
Books
Familiar Animals of America
Box 2 Typescripts (2 folders)
Box 2 Galleys
Familiar Insects of America
Box 2 Correspondence 1959-1960
Box 2 Typescripts (3 folders)
Box 3 Galley
Familiar Reptiles and Amphibians of America
Box 3 Correspondence 1961-1964
Box 3 Discarded passages from original typescript
Box 3 Revised typescript
Box 3 Typescript (2 folders)
Box 3 Typescript, author's copy
Box 3 Revisions for final typescript
Box 3 Galleys (2 folders)
Box 3 Typescripts
Box 3 Miscellaneous
Wildlife in America's History
Box 4 Paste-ups (4 folders)
Box 4 Advertising
Winter-Sleeping Wildlife
Box 4 Correspondence, typescripts
Box 4 Typescripts
Box 4 Galley
Flight to Granada
Box 4 Proposal
Miscellaneous
Box 4 Reviews and advertising (2 folders)
Articles
Box 5 Revised Book of Knowledge - correspondence and typescripts
Box 5 Birds in Our Lives, "Tales Once Told" - prospectus and advertising
Box 5 Published, miscellaneous (2 folders)
Box 5 Typescripts of published articles
Box 5 Typescripts of other articles
Pamphlets
Box 5 Miscellaneous
Editing of other's work
Box 5 Miscellaneous typescripts
Speeches
Box 5 Miscellaneous tapes
Published material
Books
Box 5 Miscellaneous (7 volumes)
Box 6 Miscellaneous (19 volumes)
Box 7 Miscellaneous (21 volumes)
Box 8 Miscellaneous (24 volumes)
Box 9 Miscellaneous (23 volumes)
Box 10 Miscellaneous (22 volumes)
Box 11 Miscellaneous (24 volumes)
Box 12 Miscellaneous (8 volumes)
Oversize 1 Miscellaneous - 32,000 Hours a Year, and, Roosevelt Campobello International Park (2 volumes)
Magazines
Box 13 Miscellaneous (6 folders)
Oversize 1 Miscellaneous (7 issues)
Oversize 2 Miscellaneous (14 issues)
Pamphlets
Box 13 General (3 folders)
Box 14 General (2 folders)
Box 14 Book lists (3 folders)
Box 14 Historic Preservation 1957-1965 (4 folders)
Box 15 Historic Preservation 1966 (3 folders)
Articles
Box 15 Miscellaneous
Newspapers
Box 15 Miscellaneous (4 folders)
Oversize 2 Miscellaneous
Memorabilia
Box 15 Activities
Box 15 Biographical
Box 17 Books (8 volumes)
Box 16 Books (14 volumes)
Box 15 Calendars 1958-1966
Oversize 2 Calendars (2 items)
Box 15 Conservation pledge (500 cards)
Box 15 Invitations
Box 16 Masonic papers in leather case
Box 17 Newspapers
Box 16 Personal papers (2 folders)
Box 16 Photographs (3 folders)
Oversize 3 Scrapbooks (2 volumes)
Oversize 4 Scrapbooks (2 volumes)

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