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Zillah Cross Peel Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MC 781

Scope and Content Note

Most of the materials in this collection are newspaper clippings, manuscript articles, and family photographs. Some correspondence, chiefly between Zillah and her publishers, is also included.

Dates

  • 1898-1980

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Access Information

Please call (479) 575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.

Use Information

No Use Restrictions Apply.

No Interlibrary Loan.

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Biographical Note

Zillah Cross Peel (1874-1941) was an Arkansas newspaper editor and writer. Born to Harvey and Ella Cross of Cameron, Missouri, Zillah attended the public schools there until being admitted to the University of Arkansas in 1891. Also during that year her father established the Benton County Sun, a newspaper in Bentonville, Arkansas. Zillah married Frank W. Peel, a son of United States Representative S.W. Peel of Bentonville, in 1894 and the couple had five children, Maurine, Frank, Jr., Samuel, Mary, and Zillah. In 1915 Zillah became the managing editor of her father's newspaper, eventually becoming the owner of the business during the course of the next seven years. She moved to Fayetteville in 1923 where she accepted a position as Associate editor of the University of Arkansas Alumni Magazine and columnist for both Fayetteville and Fort Smith newspapers. During the course of her career, Zillah also wrote essays for such magazines as Country Gentleman and Scribner's, gaining a reputation as a talented author and popular columnist. She was involved with the Works Progress Administration's Federal Writer's Project during the depression and a member of Pi Kappa and the General Federation of Women's Clubs.

Extent

1.5 Linear Feet (2 Boxes, 1 volume)

Arrangement of the Papers

The collection has been arranged in five series, and fragile originals have been replaced with positive photocopies for research use.

  1. Series 1. Correspondence, 1916-1980 (Box 1, folders 1-3)
  2. Series 2. Literary Productions, 1898-1980 (Box 1, folders 4-11)
  3. Series 3. Newspaper clippings, ca. 1919-1939 ( Box 1, folders 12-15)
  4. Series 4. Photographs (Box 2, folders 1-3)
  5. Series 5. Scrapbook, ca. 1930s (1 volume)

Acquisition Information

Literary manuscripts, correspondence, newspaper clippings, and photographs pertaining to Zillah Cross Peel were donated to Special Collections by Zillah Peel Dunlap of Clarksville, Arkansas, on April 2, 1987.

Processing Information

Prepared by Kim Allen Scott, Special Collections Division, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas, in April 1988.

Creator

Source

Title
Zillah Cross Peel Papers
Status
Completed
Author
Kim Allen Scott
Date
April 1988
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Department Repository

Contact:
University of Arkansas Libraries
365 N. McIlroy Avenue
Fayetteville AR 72701 United States
(479) 575-8444