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Cage 479
Charles Edwin Blackburn
Papers, 1930-1976

The papers of Charles Edwin Blackburn were donated to the Washington State University Libraries in October and December of 1977 (MS 77-61) by Mrs. Alice Blackburn. The papers were arranged and processed by Barbara Kovarik Gahl from July 1982 through March 1983. 25 additional items (MS83-35) were added as folder 43A in April 1986 by Barbara Kovarik Gahl.

BIOGRAPHY

Charles Edwin Blackburn was born to William Brownlow Blackburn and Julia Agnes McDonald Blackburn on August 2, 1915, on a farm near Elberton, Washington. He was the youngest of eleven children. Blackburn attended Tekoa High School and graduated in 1934 in the midst of the Great Depression.

The Depression played a large role in Blackburn's early adult years. His father died in April 1934 and the family moved from Tekoa to Moscow, Idaho, the following June. From 1934 to 1936 he held several different jobs. He worked in an office as a typist, he sold silk hosiery door-to-door, he worked a Comptometer in an office in Olympia, and for a time in 1935, was in the Civilian Conservation Corps. All the while he dreamed of getting to college -the one all-consuming goal in his life. Yet, he lacked the funds and an understanding of college admission procedures. In April 1936 he started work in the office of the West Coast Lumberman's Association in Seattle. In the fall of the year, while still working part-time, he enrolled at the University of Washington. He attended college and continued to work for the WCLA until December 1940, when he decided to devote his full attentions to school. While attending the U of W he met his future wife Alice Kiser. Both received their B.A. degrees in 1941, Magna Cum Laude, Phi Beta Kappa. From 1941-1942, Charles attended graduate school, while Alice finished her fifth year studies to complete a Library Science degree.

America's entry into the Second World War delayed Blackburn's education for several years. He entered the service in the spring of 1942 and was assigned to the U.S. Coast Guard Station at Westport, Washington, as a radioman and yeoman. In 1944 he was transfered to the U.S.S. Casper (PF-12) as a radioman. In addition to his regular duties while on board the Casper he served as the ship's librarian and published the ship's newspaper, The Casper Clarion.

Charles Blackburn was discharged from the Coast Guard in late 1945; like so many young couples of the day, the Blackburns were faced with the task of rebuilding their lives. Blackburn returned to the University of Washington to continue his graduate education. In the fall of 1947, after only a year at the U. of W., he moved on to Yale University to complete his doctorate in American Studies. While at Yale, he taught English at Stone College (1948-1949) and the Junior College of Commerce (1949-1950), both in New Haven, Connecticut. During this time he was awarded a Yale University Fellowship (1949-1950) and a Sterling Predoctoral Fellowship (1950-1951).

Upon completing the Ph.D.in 1951, Blackburn joined the English faculty of Washington State University. He served as Chair of the Department of English from 1956-1957.

By 1959, however, the financial pressures of a growing family (children: Julia, 1947; Taft, 1949; Mary Beth, 1953) led Blackburn to look for a better paying position. In June of that year, he began a relatively short-lived career with the Boeing Company Industrial Products Division in Seattle, Washington. He started as a technical writer and over the next five years held several supervisory and administrative posts. Most of Blackburn's work was in marketing (writing and revising brochures and semi-technical documents) and administration (preparing and reporting the section's budget and coordinating his group with the European office). In addition, he was involved with the Boeing Employees' Good Neighbor Fund, a community service organization, from 1962-1964. Although Blackburn enjoyed his work and was promoted quickly, he found that he was not well suited to the business world. Therefore, from 1960 on he attempted to return to a position in academe.

In 1964, Washington State University again offered Blackburn a position in the English Department. WSU's attractive offer-- both in terms of salary and tenure considerations--in combination with Alice's appointment as Pullman City Librarian, brought the family back to Pullman.

From 1964-1976 Blackburn taught a variety of subjects: freshman/sophomore composition, technical writing, American Drama, 20th century Drama, and assorted literature classes. A talented actor himself, Blackburn had several roles with the New Pullman Summer Palace Theatre.

Blackburn died September 7, 1976 at age 61 in a Springfield, Oregon hospital where he had been a patient for two weeks after suffering a heart attack while on vacation.

ARRANGEMENT AND DESCRIPTION

The Charles E. Blackburn Papers have been arranged in two series by the processor: Correspondence Series, 1940-1976, and Subject File Series, 1930-1976.

The first series, Correspondence Series, 1940-1976, comprises approximately one half of the collection and contains letters from many family members and friends. The original group headings have been retained and then arranged in what appeared to be the order of importance, i.e.: Blackburn Family, Kiser Family, General Family, Family and Friends, and Friends. Principal correspondents in this series are Alice Kiser Blackburn, Eva (Blackburn) Newsum, Fanny (Blackburn) Rasmussen and Faye Blackburn. The folders within each group have been arranged chronologically and the original order of the material within each folder has been preserved. All correspondence for the period 1941-1945, however, has been restricted until January 1, 1998.

The Subject File Series, 1930-1976, was assembled as a unit by the processor and brings together loosely ordered materials. The series contains papers from Blackburn's educational, professional, and personal life. These materials have been arranged alphabetically by subject heading.

Blackburn's term as Vice-President and later President of the Boeing Employees' Good Neighbor Fund is represented by agency reports, annual reports, correspondence, elections and membership, materials, minutes and many predating his period of service. The remainder of this group of Boeing materials pertains to Blackburn's job assignment and is made up of a work diary, interdepartmental correspondence, personal materials, sales staff meeting minutes, and Boeing News.

The Business, Medical and Financial records include correspondence and receipts referring to the rental of the Blackburn home in Seattle, auto repairs, medical records, income tax forms, and record books.

The section of educational materials encompasses Blackburn's entire academic career including papers from high school, the University of Washington, Yale University and Washington State University. The four groups have been arranged in chronological order and folders within each group are alphabetically ordered. Class notes, papers and exams make up the bulk of this section. A copy of Blackburn's dissertation (entitled: James Freeman Clarke: An Interpretation of the Western Years, 1838-1840) and a bound volume of his research notes are included. The last box in the series contains approximately 4500 dissertation research note cards In addition, some papers from Mrs. Blackburn's undergraduate years at the University of Washington are part of this group. The WSU material is mostly concerned with departmental activities such as correspondence, salary and rank information, promotion and tenure statements, faculty evaluations, and a small number of items from his 1970-1971 sabbatical in New York City.

Also included in this Subject File Series are the papers of John P. Sebree, an uncle on Alice's side of the family. He lived with the Blackburn family from 1969 until his death in 1975. His materials include correspondence, medical records, a college yearbook, memorials and a copy of his will and trust declaration.

CONTAINER LIST

Box	Folder	Description
Series 1: Correspondence, 1940-1976
		Blackburn family;
1	1-11	Blackburn family, 1947-1975	643
	12	Charles and Alice Blackburn, 1947-1948	40
	13	Julia Blackburn, 1960-1966	75
	14	Julia, Taft, and Mary Beth Blackburn, 1968-1976	65
	15	Mary Beth Blackburn, 1971-1976	200
2	16-21	Charles and Alice Blackburn, 1941-1943	455
3	22-27	Charles and Alice Blackburn, 1943-1944	375
4	28-32	Charles and Alice Blackburn, 1944-1945	305
5	33-37	Charles and Alice Blackburn, 1944-1945	210
6	38-42	Charles and Alice Blackburn, 1945	255
7	43-49	Kiser Family, 1947-1976	420
	50-59	Family, 1940-1957	479
8	60-68	Family, 1950-1965	470
	69-72	Family and Friends, 1936-1946	300
9	73-85	Family and Friends, 1944-1961	940
10	86	Family and Friends, 1958-1961	50
	87-98	Friends, 1946-1975	577
Series 2: Subject File, 1930-1976
		Boeing:
11	99-101	Boeing News, 1961-1966	68
	102	Brochure and Newsletter Preparations, 1959	30
	103	Diary, 1959	1
		Good Neighbor Fund:
	104	Agency Reports, 1953-1964	20
	105	Annual Reports, 1961-1966	9
	106	Correspondence, 1963-1964	140
	107	Elections and Membership, 1962-1964	17
	108	Events, 1963-1964	20
	109-113	General, 1963-1965	180
	114	Minutes, 1962-1963	30
	115	Photos, 1963-1964	16
	116-120	Interdepartmental Correspondence, 1959-1964	176
	121	Hage Fund, 1963-1964	40
	122	Personal Materials, 1959-1964	30
	123	Sales Orientation Seminar, 1959-1960	7
	124	Sales Staff Meeting Minutes, 1959-1962	38
		Business, Medical, and Financial Records:
12	125-126	Business Letters and Seattle House, 1962-1968	125
		Cars:
	127	Chrysler, 1967-1970	25
	128	Rambler, 1961-1975	100
	129	Correspondence -- Financial, 1970-1976	60
	130	Diabetic Records, 1963	1
	131-132	Financial and Medical Records, 1951-1972	125
	133	Financial Records, 1966-1975	50
	134-136	Income Tax Reports, 1942-1969	67
	137	Record Books, 1942-1951, 1967-1973	10
	138	Calenders, 1961-1974	11
	139-141	Casper Clarion, 1944-1945	35
	142-143	Community Congregational Church, 1961-1975	150
13	144	Democratic Party, 1962-1969	20
		Education:
	145	Diplomas, 1930-1941	4
	146	High School, 1932-1935	35
	147	Tekoa Blade, 1934	1
		University of Washington:
	148	The Austin Tree, 1936	1
		Literature 58:
	149	Fictional Technique in Cross Section, 1937	1
	150	This Road to Follow, 1937	1
	151	Personal Values in Literature, 1937	1
		Philosophy I:
	152	Berkely in Review, 1937	1
	153	Descartes in Review, 1937	1
	154	Russell in Review, 1937	1
	155	Various Tests, 1937, 1940	4
	156	English Literature; The Bible as Literature, 1938-1939	1
	157	The Hurly Burly, 1938	1
	158	Newspaper Articles, Tempo Articles, 1938, 1941	3
	159	Philosophy 101 Problem Papers, 1938	2
	160	Philosophy 102 Notes, 1939	1
	161	Literature 153, 161, 162, Zoology 16-17, History 140 Notes and Tests, 1939-1940, 1946	8
		Literature, 1940:
	162	164 Two Travelers in America,	1
	163	171 Notes on Some Long Winded Characters in Shakespeare,	1
	164	Philosophy 103 Notes, 1940	1
	165	The Fantasy Worlds of Three British Authors, 1941	1
	166	American Literature Notes, 1946	1
	167	English 221 John Calvin and Paradise Lost, 1946	1
	168	History 175 Notes, American Colonial History, 1946	1
	169	The Emerson Brothers and some dissertation correspondence, 1946-1949	30
	170	English 202 Notes and Tests, 1947	1
		History, 1947:
	171	144 Notes,	1
		165:
	172	Among the Dry Bones,	1
	173	Tests and Book Reviews,	3
	174	The West in American History, Notes,	1
		Undated Material:
	175	Anthropology 60 American Indian Notes,	1
	176	History 144 Reading Notes,	1
		Literature:
	177	57 Notes,	1
	178	106 British Literature Notes,	1
	179	164 American Literature Notes,	1
	180	171 Shakespeare,	1
	181	Lord Byron and his Contemporary Critics,	1
	182	Philosophy Notes, Untitled Paper,	2
	183	The Steptoe Campaign of 1858,	1
		Alice Kiser Blackburn Papers
		Literature, 1941:
	184	162 The Culmination of Individualism in American Democracy,	1
	185	174 Hard Times: An Attack on Utilitarianism	1
		177:
	186	Michael: The Conflict Between Woodsworth's Purpose and Art,	1
	187	Robert Burns: Prophet of an Unborn World,	1
	188	Librarianship 196 The Land Lies South, 1942	1
		Undated Material:
	189	History 182 Reading Reports,	1
		Literature:
	190	104 The Social Significance of Nana,	1
	191	162 Emerson's "Individualism" in his Times	1
	192	164 The Mysterious Stranger,	1
	193	175 The Poet's Diary,	1
	194	Three Modern Poets and the Modern Ego,	1
	195	University of Washington Commencement Program, 1941	1
		Yale University:
	196	American Studies Notes, 1947	1
		History 180, 1947-1948:
	197	Literature of American History,	2
	198	Political and Constitutional History,	20
	199	Literature 160 Twentieth Century, 1947	1
		American Studies, 1948-1949:
	200	102 Repeal: Diminishing of the Theocracy,	1
	201	151 Term Paper Outlines,	1
	202	Art 61a Notes, 1948-1949	1
	203	English 160 Various Papers and Testes, 1948	5
		Government 152, 1948-1949:
	204	Notes,	1
	205	Papers,	8
		History:
	206	31a, b Notes, 1948-1949	1
	207	31b Notes, 1948	1
	208	180 James Ford Rhodes: Man in the Web of Time, 1948	1
	209	Sociology 114a, 1948	1
		American Studies, 1949:
14	210	151 Notes,	1
	211	Notes,	1
	212	Civil War Notes, 1949	1
		History 31, 1949:
	213	American Thought and Civilization,	1
	214	Notes and Tests,	1
		Sociology, 1949:
	215	115b Legal Realism: The Pragmatic Spirit in Law,	1
	216	Notes,	1
		Undated Materials:
	217	All the King's Men,	1
	218	The American Creed in the Fundamental Orders of Connecticut,	1
	219	Literary America 1790-1826,	1
	220	Parrington as an Economic Determinist,	1
	221	Various Papers,	10
		Dissertation:
	222	Copy, 1952	1
	223-224	Research Materials, n.d.	101
	225	European Trip Memorabilia, 1971	50
	226	Family History, n.d.	1
		General Correspondence:
	227	Columbia University (AKB), 1970-1971	50
	228	Correspondence with Publishers, 1938-1946	30
	229	Veterans Administration, 1946-1948	40
	230	Washington State University and Yale, 1951-1957	60
		Yale:
	231	Association of Yale Alumni, 1969-1975	50
	232	Correspondence, 1974-1975	15
	233	Graduate School, 1946-1948	60
		Job Hunting:
	234-236	English Department, Washington State University and Job Applications, 1961-1968	140
	237-238	General Applications, 1959-1964	75
15	239-241	Yale and Job Hunting, 1949-1951, 1959	150
	242	Memorabilia, 1938-1956	50
	243	Newspaper Clippings, 1949	7
	244	Photographs, 1934, 1942, n.d.	3
	245	Programs, 1965-1975	50
		John P. Sebree:
	246	College Yearbook and Church Directory, 1907, 1970	3
	247-249	Correspondence, 1902-1975	120
	250-251	Medical Records, 1971-1975	130
	252	Memorials, 1939-1975	7
	253	Will and Declaration of Trust, 1970	2
	254	Short Stories, n.d.	7
	255	Speeches, 1961-1967	17
	256	Summer Theatre, 1966-1969	50
		Tekoa High School Reunion:
	257	Correspondence, 1953-1954	75
	258	News of Old Friends, 1954	1
		University of Washington:
	259	Clippings on Communist Investigations, 1949	25
	260	Survey of Scholarship at UW, 1946	1
		Washington State University:
	261	American Studies, 1964-1973	35
	262	Correspondence New York City Sabatical, 1970-1971	30
16	263-266	English Department, 1966-1976	237
	267	Faculty Evaluations, 1972-1976	25
	268	Forms, Salary and Rank Information, 1958-1975	40
	269	French 525, 1974	10
	270	Graduate Examination Handbook, 1972	1
	271	Lectures - Civil Religion and Prophetic Faith, 1976	7
	272	Promotion and Tenure Statements, 1965-1969	25
	273	Senate Review, 1974-1975	6
	274	Student Strike and R.I.S., 1969-1970	45
17	275	Notecards for Dissertation, n.d.	4500