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Ruth Polk Patterson Papers Addendum

 Collection
Identifier: MC 903A

Scope and Content Note

Materials in this collection are various draft manuscripts of Ruth Polk Patterson’s books about her grandfather’s life and work as a slave in Arkansas. Spencer Polk, Patterson’s grandfather, was born to an enslaved woman, Sally, and her enslaver Taylor Polk. Unusually, Spencer and his siblings by Sally were raised along with Taylor Polk's white children.

Dates

  • 1971-1986

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

Ruth Polk Patterson attended the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff and graduated in 1958 with a bachelors degree in English. She then received her masters degree in English at the University of Arkansas, Fayetteville in 1967. In 1977 she obtained her doctorate in American Studies from Emory University in Atlanta. Her book The Seed of Sally Good’n, originally titled “Spencer Polk: The Man, His Home, His Family, The Story of a Black Homesteader in Arkansas,” was published in 1985. Polk died in 1988.

Extent

1 Linear Feet (1 box)

Acquisition Information

The Ruth Polk Patterson Papers Addendum was donated to the University of Arkansas Special Collections Department by Tracey Patterson of Little Rock, Arkansas on December 13, 1988.

Related Materials

Records relating to the Ruth Polk Patterson Addendum include:

Ruth Polk Patterson Papers MC 903

Processing Information

Processed by Avalon Gurel, October 2008 Finding aid language was updated by Catherine Wallack in November 2023 as part of a project to update outdated or harmful description related to slavery or to enslaved persons.

Creator

Source

Title
Ruth Polk Patterson Papers Addendum
Status
Completed
Author
Avalon Gurel
Date
October 2008
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Revision Statements

  • November 2023: Finding Aid Revised by Catherine Wallack in November 2023 as a part of project to update outdated or harmful descriptions related to slavery or to enslaved persons.

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