Finding aid for the Edith A. Wray papers

Biography of Edith A. Wray

Edith A. Wray (1891-1970) was professor of English at Ohio University from 1926 to 1962, and served as chairman of the department from 1955 to 1958.

Scope and Content

The Edith A. Wray papers span from 1920 to 1968 and contain the collected papers of this Ohio University faculty member and poet. Folder One contains a bound composition book containing handwritten notes that were apparently taken in conjunction with a class entitled "English Poetry 1850-1914"; a typewritten syllabus for that class; and various inserts and notes, some of which are clipped to the pages of the composition book. Because none of the entries is dated, it is not possible to determine from the item alone whether it was a student notebook of Edith A. Wray's, or her notes for use in teaching. Folder Two contains a badly deteriorated volume from the Yale Series of Younger Poets series, dated 1920. The volume, entitled Where Lilith Dances, has been inscribed to Edith A. Wray by the poet, Darl Macleod Boyle. There are also various inserts in the book. Folder Three contains an approximately six-inch by nine-inch three-ring binder containing mostly typewritten poems by various authors; various inserts of the same type; the hand-written draft of a piece entitled "The Legend of the Glowing Candle." The leather cover is badly deteriorated. Folder Four contains a five-inch by seven-inch notebook containing the autobiographical entries of the various members of the "Tea Club." Each member of the club composed an entry prior to the meeting closest in date to her birthday. Folder Five contains a four-inch by six-and-a-half inch bound journal entitled "My Trip" belonging to Irma E. Voigt and Edith A. Wray. This journal contains hand-written notes about a train trip from Athens to Cincinnati, thence on to Seattle, Washington and Vancouver, British Columbia. From there the pair travelled by boat to Alaska. Folder Six holds a four-inch by six-and-three-quarter inch six ring notebook containing: 1) a printed Ohio University programs of meetings; 2) a handwritten prayer; 3) a typewritten draft of "The Legend of the Glowing Candle" (see Folder Three above); various other handwritten thoughts on religious themes; a handwritten draft for what appears to be the program for an event. Folder Seven contains the cover of the May, 1953 issue of "The Ohio Alumnus" on which Dean Irma E. Voigt is pictured. Also in the folder are the pages from that magazine containing an article about the naming of an Ohio University dormitory building in memory of Dean Voigt. Folder Eight holds miscellaneous University-related pamphlets and other documents, including a 1962 community letter written by George S. Lasher. Among the printed materials are: 1) an "In Memoriam" for Ever Downer Chubb (circa 1945); 2) two copies of the Program for the Voigt Hall Dedication (April 8, 1956); 3) Program for the Galbreath Chapel Dedication (June 7, 1958); an undated brochure of information concerning the Ohio University branch campuses. Folder Nine contains a poetry chapbook: Poems by Charles Allen Smart.

Statement of Arrangement

Subject Terms

The following terms have been used to describe this collection.

Subjects:

Preferred Citation

Researchers are requested to cite collection name, collection number, and Ohio University, Athens, Ohio in all footnotes and bibliographical references.