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Cage 629
Elizabeth Marion Saunders
Papers, 1933-1989

The Washington State University Libraries acquired the papers of author Elizabeth Marion Saunders from her sister, Shirley Gardner of Fairfield, Washington, in 1990 (Accession MS90-22). In 1993, an anonymous donor contributed the journals which Saunders penned in 1959 and 1960 (MS93-33). Jean Johnson processed the collection in October 1995.

BIOGRAPHY

Elizabeth Marion Saunders (born 1916) was raised on a farm near Spangle, Washington, where she graduated top in her class from Fairfield High School in 1933. After graduation, she worked for several years in the newsroom of the Spokesman-Review. During this period, she met Ruby El Hult and Eleanor Garst, the three of whom formed a literary friendship that lasted throughout their lives. As Garst was later to reminisce, "I and Ruby were gonna change the world. . . so, in our fashion, we did. . ."

By 1950, Saunders had authored three books under her maiden name, Elizabeth Marion: The Day Will Come (1939), Ellen Spring (1941), and The Keys to the House (1944). She also apparently wrote two subsequent manuscripts, but became discouraged when unable to find a publisher for them. In the aftermath, she largely abandoned novel writing. Her two unpublished manuscripts have since disappeared.

She did, however, continue to record her observations and thoughts in journals and letters that are included in her papers. The collection contains "Betty's Chronicles," (1945-1947), Mildred's journal (1959 and 1960), and the Cockalorum Chronicles (c. 1979) which comprised letters between Saunders and Hult. Since Saunders lived in eastern Washington's rural farm country, her writings are replete with references to nature and the changing seasons. Additionally, she shares progressive thoughts with her friends concerning politics and culture.

She married Eugene D. Saunders of Rockford in 1954, a man whom she met while working as the managing editor of the town's Standard-Register. Some of Saunders writing from this period is preserved in the collection and includes material relating to the region's history and economics, as well as perceptive social and political commentary. Her columns were titled "Drips from a Leaky Faucet" and "Marionettes."

In 1988 she suffered a stroke that left her incapacitated. Her sister, Shirley Gardner who resided in Fairfield, nursed her until the time of her death in 1989.

There is some evidence of feminist thought in Saunders writings and in the literature she collected. Joseph Kinsey Howard's "The Sun Dance," for example, revolves around a strong Indian woman who exhibits extraordinary courage and strength.

ARRANGEMENT AND DESCRIPTION

The papers of Elizabeth Marion Saunders consist of drafts of writings, correspondence, journals, two scrapbooks and miscellaneous paper related to literary and cultural interests.

The papers are arranged topically and include a variety of materials collected by Elizabeth Marion Saunders. Her writings are grouped into articles that she wrote for the newspapers at which she was employed, her journals, an unpublished manuscript, and a copy of one of her published books, Ellen Spring. In addition to Saunder's writings, the papers include her correspondence, two scrapbooks, and miscellaneous papers relating to her literary and cultural interests.

CONTAINER LIST