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Bertie H. Clinkscales Papers

An inventory of her papers at Syracuse University


Finding aid created by: MRC
Date: 7 Apr 2010

Biographical History

Bertie Hix Clinkscales (1888-1976), also referred to as Mrs. C. C. Clinkscales, was an American poet and writer.

Clinkscales was born on February 24, 1888 in Georgia to Isaac Rosser Hix and Mattie L. Vandiver Hix, but became a devoted and lifelong resident of Greenville, South Carolina. She graduated from Syracuse University, and became an award-wining writer and poet who was published in several magazines. South Carolina Magazine regularly published her work. Apart from writing, Clinkscales held several chair positions in the South Carolina Federation of Women's Clubs and other notable organizations, including many active and prominent appointments over the course of her life in the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) South Carolina Division.

Clinkscales and her husband, Cleon Curtis Clinkscales Sr. (1881-1961), had one son, Cleon C. Clinkscales Jr. (1910-1948), who died at the age of 38. Bertie Clinkscales died on July 25, 1976.

Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Bertie H. Clinkscales Papers consists of correspondence, memorabilia, and writings.

Though Clinkscales was acquainted with many important people in the literary world, including publishers and other affiliated organizations, very little is found in the Correspondence. The majority of the letters have no more than personal significance, such as exchanges between lifelong friends and peers between 1948-1964. Some adjacent correspondence items, specifically invitations, newspaper clippings, and award notifications, have been filed under Memorabilia.

Memorabilia relates to the driving interests in Clinkscales' life in Greenville, South Carolina. Her frequent publications in local outlets and attendance at both professional and social events are exemplified, as well as her continuing involvement in the United Daughters of the Confederacy (UDC) and numerous women's clubs. These materials encompass award receipts, newspaper clippings, formal event invitations, pamphlets, yearbooks, photographs, programs, women's clubs brochures, and official documents of the UDC. Clippings contains articles that were evidently meaningful to Clinkscales on a personal level, including events, people, and groups she was affiliated with. Clippings pertaining to her writings are filed with the relevant publication in the next series.

Writings is divided into two subseries: Manuscripts and Published Materials. Manuscripts contains typescript materials and those in her own handwriting, subdivided into poems and prose. Manuscripts are almost entirely undated. Published materials include articles, essays, books, etc. A few complete issues of magazines offer established dates for some of her published articles, most articles are in the form of clippings and do not provide information on date or source of publication. Clinkscales' prose focuses on life in the South and Southerners in general, mostly regarding South Carolina. These include several profiles of distinguished southerners, as well as items on the Confederacy, women in the South, Southern churches of note, and appearances or contributive works to several women's councils in South Carolina. Poems often allude to more universal topics such as weather, nature, seasons, holidays, religion, and memory. Little of Clinkscales' work mentions personal or familial relations.

Arrangement of the Collection

Correspondence is arranged alphabetically by correspondent; those with only a first name or no name at all are filed at the end. Memorabilia is arranged alphabetically by folder title (or topic). Writings are divided into subseries: Manuscripts and Published Materials. Each subseries is further divided into poems or prose and then arranged in alphabetical order by title.

Restrictions

Access Restrictions:

The majority of our archival an 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.

Subject Headings

Persons

Clinkscales, Bertie H.

Corporate Bodies

United Daughters of the Confederacy.

Associated Titles

The far horizons -- Clinkscales, Bertie H.

Subjects

Poets, American.
Women -- Societies and clubs.

Places

South Carolina (state)

Genres and Forms

Clippings (information artifacts)
Correspondence.
Manuscripts for publication.
Memorabilia.
Photographs.

Occupations

Poets.

Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Bertie H. Clinkscales Papers,
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Bertie Clinkscales, 1964.

Table of Contents

Correspondence

Memorabilia

Writings

Inventory