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Collection Number: 04484

Collection Title: Walter Spearman Papers, 1900-1986

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.


This collection was processed with support from the Randleigh Foundation Trust.

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Size 3.5 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 2400 items)
Abstract Walter Smith Spearman (1908-1987) taught journalism at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, 1937-1978, wrote plays and short stories, wrote for numerous newspapers, and was an amatuer actor for over forty years. The collection is material chiefly documenting the work of Walter S. Spearman as journalist, educator, and writer. Correspondence is largely letters from former journalism students of Spearman's, from writers of works he had reviewed, and from fellow journalists. Correspondents include playwright Paul Green, writer Gail Godwin, and journalists Jonathan Daniels and Charles Kuralt. Writings consist chiefly of stories, plays, speeches, and fragments of stories. Subject files consist chiefly of material collected by Spearman for use in journalism classes and writing workshops.
Creator Spearman, Walter.
Curatorial Unit University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.
Language English
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Restrictions to Access
No restrictions. Open for research.
Copyright Notice
Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], in the Walter Spearman Papers #4484, Southern Historical Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Acquisitions Information
Received from Jean Spearman of Chapel Hill, N.C., in June and August 1987.
Sensitive Materials Statement
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations, the North Carolina Public Records Act (N.C.G.S. § 132 1 et seq.), and Article 7 of the North Carolina State Personnel Act (Privacy of State Employee Personnel Records, N.C.G.S. § 126-22 et seq.). Researchers are advised that the disclosure of certain information pertaining to identifiable living individuals represented in this collection without the consent of those individuals may have legal ramifications (e.g., a cause of action under common law for invasion of privacy may arise if facts concerning an individual's private life are published that would be deemed highly offensive to a reasonable person) for which the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill assumes no responsibility.
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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Processing Information

Processed by: Mark Beasley, David Webber, Michael Van Cott, 1987-1988; Roslyn Holdzkom, 2007, August 2007

Encoded by: Roslyn Holdzkom, August 2007

This collection was processed with support from the Randleigh Foundation Trust.

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The 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.

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Walter Smith Spearman was born in Newberry, S.C., 9 January 1908. He attended school in Silverstreet, S.C., and in Charlotte, N.C., at Central High School. Spearman was married first to Mary Elizabeth Dale Spearman (d. 1966), then to Jean Johnson Spearman. Spearman had two children, Robert W. and Mary Lindsay, and two stepchildren, David Wells Herring and Stephen Herring.

Spearman studied at the University of North Carolina, 1925 1929. During his college career, he was editor of the Daily Tar Heel, associate editor of Yackety Yack, president of the North Carolina Collegiate Press, an actor with the Carolina Playmakers, and winner of the Best College Editor in North Carolina award. After receiving his A.B. in 1929, Spearman attended the University of Lyon as a Franco-American Exchange Scholar. He then worked, 1930-1935, as a reporter, drama critic, and book editor for The Charlotte News. In 1935, he entered graduate school in dramatic arts at the University of North Carolina, where he also began teaching journalism. In 1937, he received a master of arts degree.

Spearman began writing "The Literary Lantern," a book review column, in 1947, and continued writing it for the rest of his life. While teaching at the University of North Carolina, Spearman also served as an editorial writer for the New Orleans (LA) Item (summer 1955) and the Greensboro (N.C.) Observer (summer 1965). Beginning in 1948, he served as moderator of the Town Meeting on Books held annually in Greensboro, N.C. From 1958 to 1961, he directed the Chautauqua Writers' Workshop in Chautauqua, N.Y.

Spearman wrote Racial Crisis and the Press (1960), The Carolina Playmakers: The First Fifty Years (1970); plays including Death of the Swan, Transient, and Dead Man's Bluff; and numerous articles and book reviews.

Spearman first acted with the Carolina Playmakers while an undergraduate and continued to perform with the Playmakers, as well as with such groups as the Raleigh Little Theater and the Purefoy Players, throughout his career at the University of North Carolina. He performed approximately 85 roles, including several on television. While in Charlotte, he directed the Charlotte Little Theater Workshop.

While a journalism professor at the University of North Carolina, Spearman received Tanner and Valkyrie awards for teaching. He taught until 1978, when he retired and was appointed professor emeritus. Spearman died in Chapel Hill, N.C., 24 February 1987.

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Scope and Content

The collection is material chiefly documenting the work of Walter Spearman as journalist, professor at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, and writer. Correspondence is largely letters from former journalism students of Spearman's, from writers of works he had reviewed, and from fellow journalists. Correspondents include playwright Paul Green, writer Gail Godwin, and journalists Jonathan Daniels and Charles Kuralt. Writings consist chiefly of stories, plays, speeches, and fragments of stories. Subject files consist chiefly of material collected by Spearman for use in journalism classes and writing workshops.

Some overlap will be found within these series. For instance, a play filed in Series 2 may have a small amount of correspondence with a potential publisher attached to it.

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Contents list

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 1. Correspondence, 1921-1986.

About 500 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Letters chiefly from former journalism students of Spearman's, writers whose works Spearman had reviewed, and fellow journalists and writers. Such notable North Carolina writers and journalists as Jonathan Daniels, Paul Green, and Charles Kuralt appear. Letters relate to writers' and journalists' professional work, personal matters, and reviews by Spearman. Letters from publishers document Spearman's activities as a book reviewer. There are very few letters from Spearman.

Folder 1

1921-1949

Folder 2

1950-1959

Folder 3

1960-1964

Folder 4

1965-1966

Folder 5

1967

Folder 6

1968-1969

Folder 7

1970

Folder 8

1971

Folder 9

1972-1973

Folder 10

1974

Folder 11

1975

Folder 12

1976

Folder 13

1977

Folder 14a-14c

1978

Folder 15

1979-1980

Folder 16

1981

Folder 17

1982-1985

Folder 18a

1986

Folder 18b-18c

1987

Folder 19

Undated

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 2. Writings by Walter Spearman, circa 1930-1986.

About 750 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Chiefly plays, short stories, speeches, notes for stories, and fragments of plays and short stories.

Folder 20a

Abide With Me

Folder 20b

American History Illustrated articles

Folder 20c-20e

Articles, speeches, and reviews

Folder 21a

"The Beckoning Candle"

Folder 21b

"The Best Novel I Ever Read"

Folder 22

"Blind Tiger"

Folder 23

Chautauqua, N.Y., addresss

Folder 24

Come Into My Parlor

Folder 25

Country Sunday

Folder 26

"Cupid at the Wedding"

Folder 27

Day of Rest

Folder 28a

Dead Man's Bluff

Folder 28b

Death of the Swan

Folder 29

Drought

Folder 30a

Eden Library speech

Folder 30b-30f

Editorials: Lists and samples

Folder 31

Free Indeed

Folder 32

"Friends of the Widow"

Folder 33

"Gail Godwin"

Folder 34

"A Good Deed Is Hard to Find"

Folder 35

"Green, Paul, A Remembrance of"

Folder 36a

Happy Birthday!

Folder 36b

"A Heart's a Terrible Thing to Waste": 1978 Phi Beta Kappa speech

Folder 37

Katherine Carmichael eulogy

Folder 38

Keep Your Shirts On

Folder 39-40

Folder 39

Folder 40

Let's Save a Place for People: Film script

Folder 41a

Literary biographies for the North Carolina Awards

Folder 41b

"The Literary Lantern": samples of column

Folder 41c

"The Little Hordes"

Folder 42

The Manuals

Folder 43

"Old Lady Simpson"

Folder 44a

Overshoes

Folder 44b

"Peter and the Milk Bottles"

Folder 44c

"The Professor's Garden": Unfinished novel

Folder 44d

"Reduced to Tears"

Folder 45

"A Review of a Review"

Folder 46

Road house play

Folder 47

Scent of Plums

Folder 48

Speeches: Miscellaneous

Folder 49

"The Story of Walter Spearman"

Folder 50

"To Be or Not To Be"

Folder 51

Transient

Folder 52a

"A University Examines Itself"

Folder 52b

Untitled novel manuscript

Folder 53

Wartime writings

Folder 54

Wings of the Eagle

Folder 55

Work Measurement

Folder 56

"Yaupon Island--Summer 1956"

Folder 57-74

Folder 57

Folder 58

Folder 59

Folder 60

Folder 61

Folder 62

Folder 63

Folder 64

Folder 65

Folder 66

Folder 67

Folder 68

Folder 69

Folder 70

Folder 71

Folder 72

Folder 73

Folder 74

Fragments and notes

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 3. Subject Files, circa 1930-1986.

About 1000 items.

Arrangement: chronological.

Subject files produced by Spearman to be used chiefly for journalism classes and writing workshops. Many files reflect Spearman's activities within the North Carolina literary community. Original folder titles have, for the most part, been retained.

Folder 75a

Bicentennial Committee of the University of North Carolina: Report

Folder 75b

Biographical material: Miscellaneous

Folder 76a

Book reviewing

Folder 76b

Byrd, Clara Booth

Folder 77a

Carolina Playmakers

Folder 77b

Carolina Regional Theatre

Folder 77c

CBS affair

Folder 78

Charlotte (N.C.) Books and Authors

Folder 79

Charlotte (N.C.) Writers' Workshop

Folder 80

Chautauqua (N.Y.) Writers' Workshop

Folder 81-82

Folder 81

Folder 82

Chi Psi Fraternity

Folder 83a

Cooper, William Arthur

Folder 83b

Chowder Club, 1960s

Folder 84

Davis, Burke

Folder 85

Democratic Party

Folder 86-88

Folder 86

Folder 87

Folder 88

Elderhostel

Folder 89

Film critics

Folder 90

Godwin, Gail: Three piece by Godwin and a letter from her to Spearman

Folder 91

Golden Fleece

Folder 92

Grail speech

Folder 93-95

Folder 93

Folder 94

Folder 95

Greensboro (N.C.) town meetings on books

Folder 96

Guests

Folder 97

Hickory (N.C.) Books and Authors

Folder 98a

High Point (N.C.) Books and Authors

Folder 98b

High school report cards

Folder 99

Humor

Folder 100a

IBM writing class

Folder 100b

Jefferson Award

Folder 101

Johnston County (N.C.) forum

Folder 102a

Journalism 58 (editorial writing) syllabus

Folder 102b

Journalism School of the University of North Carolina alumni

Folder 103

Meet the Professor: Television program

Folder 104

North Carolina Writers

Folder 105-106

Folder 105

Folder 106

North Carolina Writers' conferences

Folder 107

Presbyterian Church

Folder 108

Prince, Lillian and William

Folder 109-110

Folder 109

Folder 110

Retirement

Folder 111

Road house material

Folder 112a

Russell, Charles

Folder 112b

Spearman's play, productions

Folder 112c

Spearman's obituaries

Folder 112d

Tributes

Folder 113a

University of North Carolina memorial service

Folder 113b

University of North Carolina reunion

Folder 114

Wolfe, Thomas: Writings about Wolfe by Spearman and related material

Folder 115

Writing style

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expand/collapse Expand/collapse Series 4. Pictures, circa 1900-1985.

About 60 items.

Pictures chiefly of Spearman in groups or theatrical productions.

Image P-4484/1-6

P-4484/1

P-4484/2

P-4484/3

P-4484/4

P-4484/5

P-4484/6

Unidentified people, chiefly children, 1991 and circa 1910

Image P-4484/7

Psi Fraternity House, Chapel Hill, N.C., circa 1910

Image P-4484/8

Unidentified family picture, circa 1950

Image P-4484/9

"John," a child, circa 1950

Image P-4484/10a-10c

Walter Spearman

Image P-4484/11

Walter Spearman with unidentified person, circa 1985

Image P-4484/12-17

P-4484/12

P-4484/13

P-4484/14

P-4484/15

P-4484/16

P-4484/17

Walter Spearman with various groups, chiefly at the University of North Carolina School of Journalism, circa 1960

Image P-4484/18-21

P-4484/18

P-4484/19

P-4484/20

P-4484/21

Walter Spearman in various theatrical productions, circa 1970-1985

Image P-4484/22-23

P-4484/22

P-4484/23

Jean Spearman, circa 1970

Image P-4484/24-28

P-4484/24

P-4484/25

P-4484/26

P-4484/27

P-4484/28

Childhood pictures of Walter Spearman

Image P-4484/29-31

P-4484/29

P-4484/30

P-4484/31

Walter Spearman with his children

Image P-4484/32-37

P-4484/32

P-4484/33

P-4484/34

P-4484/35

P-4484/36

P-4484/37

Walter Spearman with others, circa 1986

Image P-4484/38

Drawing of Walter Spearman's office

Image P-4484/39

Unidentified house

Image P-4484/40-56

P-4484/40

P-4484/41

P-4484/42

P-4484/43

P-4484/44

P-4484/45

P-4484/46

P-4484/47

P-4484/48

P-4484/49

P-4484/50

P-4484/51

P-4484/52

P-4484/53

P-4484/54

P-4484/55

P-4484/56

Series of pictures spanning Walter Spearman's life

Oversize Image OP-P-4484/1

"Mother's little girl picture," unidentified child, circa 1900

Oversize Image OP-P-4484/2

"Residence of James S. Spearman and Elizabeth Spearman, Silverstreet, S.C., birthplace of Walter Spearman," circa 1990

Photograph Album PA-4484/1

Album containing about 25 pictures, chiefly of children, circa 1910

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