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Size | 2.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 700 items) |
Abstract | Mary E. Mebane (1933-1992) was an African American woman writer, born in Durham County, N.C., the daughter of a farmer and a factory worker. She received her B.A. in English and music from North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University) in 1955 and M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She taught English and composition classes at North Carolina College, South Carolina State College, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is best known for two autobiographical volumes: Mary (1981), which discusses growing up in the South during segregation and her struggles with her family and the black community around her, and Mary, Wayfarer: an autobiography (1983), which recounts her years as a high school teacher, college instructor, Ph.D. candidate, and professor. The collection contains correspondence, writings, and other papers of Mary E. Mebane. Correspondence primarily relates to the publication and success of Mebane's books. Among the correspondents is Harrison E. Salisbury, editor of the op-ed page at the New York Times to which Mebane was a frequent contributor. Writings are published and unpublished works by Mebane, including articles that were intended for publication in newspapers, magazines, and scholarly publications; short stories; works on singer Millie Jackson; and several incomplete writings. The collection also contains Mebane's will; two photographs of her; items relating to book tours, readings, and writers' workshops she attended, including Yaddo; awards she received, including the Coretta Scott King award; biographical information; applications for fellowships; class and teaching materials; typescripts of short works by others; and other items. |
Creator | Mebane, Mary E., 1933- |
Curatorial Unit | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection. |
Language | English |
Processed by: Jennifer Thompson, July 2009
Encoded by: Jennifer Thompson, July 2009
Finding aid updated for addition, July 2017
Back to TopThe following terms from Library of Congress Subject Headings suggest topics, persons, geography, etc. interspersed through the entire collection; the terms do not usually represent discrete and easily identifiable portions of the collection--such as folders or items.
Clicking on a subject heading below will take you into the University Library's online catalog.
Mary E. Mebane (1933-1992) was an African American woman writer, born in Durham County, N.C., the daughter of a farmer and a factory worker. She received her B.A. in English and music from North Carolina College (now North Carolina Central University) in 1955 and M.A. and Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. She taught English and composition classes at North Carolina College, South Carolina State College, the University of South Carolina, and the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. She is best known for two autobiographical volumes: Mary (1981), which discusses growing up in the South during segregation and her struggles with her family and the black community around her, and Mary, Wayfarer: an autobiography (1983), which recounts her years as a high school teacher, college instructor, Ph.D. candidate, and professor. In 1982, she was a recipient of the Distinguished Alumnus Award from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Back to TopThe collection contains correspondence, writings, and other papers of Mary E. Mebane. Correspondence primarily relates to the publication and success of Mebane's books. Among the correspondents is Harrison E. Salisbury, editor of the op-ed page at the New York Times to which Mebane was a frequent contributor. Writings are published and unpublished works by Mebane, including articles that were intended for publication in newspapers, magazines, and scholarly publications; short stories; works on singer Millie Jackson; and several incomplete writings. The collection also contains Mebane's will; two photographs of her; items relating to book tours, readings, and writers' workshops she attended, including Yaddo; awards she received, including the Coretta Scott King award; biographical information; applications for fellowships; class and teaching materials; typescripts of short works by others; and other items.
Back to TopArrangement: chronological.
Correspondence primarily relates to the publication and success of Mebane's books. Among the correspondents is Harrison E. Salisbury, editor of the op-ed page at the New York Times to which Mebane was a frequent contributor. There is also a letter to Perry Knowlton of Curtis Brown, Ltd. on 1 July 1983 concerning a proposal for a novel to be called "Lizbeth."
Folder 1 |
Correspondence, 1981 |
Folder 2 |
Correspondence, January 1982-July 1982 |
Folder 3 |
Correspondence, August 1982-December 1982 |
Folder 4 |
Correspondence, 1983 |
Folder 5 |
Correspondence, 1984 |
Folder 6 |
Correspondence, 1988 and undated |
Writings are published and unpublished works by Mary E. Mebane. Included are articles intended for publication in newspapers, magazines, and scholarly publications, and short stories, including "Irene," "Melted Silver," and "Two Sundays," in addition to other titles. Mebane researched extensively on the career of singer Millie Jackson; included are Mebane's article "Millie Jackson in Perspective" and an interview with the singer conducted by Mebane. There are also incomplete works, including "Mosaic: People in Time, Place, and Landscape" and "Phoenix: The Ordeal and Rebirth of Mary Mebane An Autobiography, Vol. III," and notes, notebooks, and unidentified writings of Mebane.
Folder 7 |
"Chicago: Summer, 1978" |
"Fortune's Favorite: Musician-Songwriter Dura Reginald Hale" |
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"Ingrid Bergman" |
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"Irene" |
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Folder 8 |
MaryPhotocopy of the first volume of Mary E. Mebane's autobiography. |
Folder 9 |
Millie Jackson |
Folder 10 |
"Melted Silver" |
"Milwaukee Scenes" |
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"Miriam Makeba in Milwaukee" |
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Folder 11 |
"Missy" |
From "Mosaic: People in Time, Place, and Landscape" |
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"Neighbors" |
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"The Old Lady" |
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"The Other Side of His Face--Walter Mondale in Milwaukee" |
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Folder 12 |
"Phoenix: The Ordeal and Rebirth of Mary Mebane An Autobiography, Vol. III" |
Folder 13 |
"Scenes from Four Lives" |
"The Soul Ladies: Classic Rhythm and Blues Singers" |
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"A Sweet" |
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"Two Sundays" |
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"Vietnam: A Black Woman Remembers" |
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"Yadoo" |
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Folder 14 |
Notes and notebooks kept by Mary E. Mebane |
Folder 15 |
Unidentified writings by Mary E. Mebane |
Folder 16 |
Will of Mary E. Mebane |
Folder 17-19
Folder 17Folder 18Folder 19 |
Professional activitiesIncludes three photographs of Mary E. Mebane; items relating to book tours, readings, and writers' workshops attended, including Yaddo; awards received, including the Coretta Scott King award; biographical information; applications for fellowships; class and teaching materials; and other related items. |
Folder 20 |
Writings by othersContains typescripts of short works by Gerald Duane Coleman, Marlam Karnish, and Elizabeth Wheatley. |
Folder 21-23
Folder 21Folder 22Folder 23 |
Printed materialsMagazines, newspaper clippings, photocopied articles, and other printed items. |
Folder 24 |
Other itemsIncludes receipts, brochures, lists, fragments of notes, envelopes, and other items. |
Image P-4359/1 |
Photograph of Mary Mebane with students, 1985One photographic print of Mary Mebane with ESL students at YMCA in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, 1985. Acc. 103092. |