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Manuscript Collection

Collection Title: Willo Davis Roberts Papers

Collection Number: DG0822

Inclusive Dates: circa 1977

Volume: .30 cu. ft. (1 box)

Provenance : Materials received by the de Grummond Collection between 1977 and 1978 from Willo Davis Roberts

Copyright: The collection is protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U. S. Code).  Reproductions can be made only if they are to be used for "private study, scholarship, or research."  It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials, other than that noted above.

Biographical Sketch:

Willo Davis Roberts was born May 28, 1928, in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Her earliest memories are of her great desire to be a writer. Her first story was written down by the time she was nine years old.

Although Roberts worked in the medical field as a paramedic, her first love remained writing. May 20, 1949, Roberts married David W. Roberts (currently a retired building supply manager), a photographer, and a writer. Roberts and her husband have three children, Kathleen, David M., and Larrilyn. The two share the enjoyment of writing and traveling, and both hope to do more of each.

Besides writing, Roberts also lectures at workshops, writer's conferences, and schools. She is a member of the Mystery Writers of America, Science Fiction Writers of America, Authors Guild of Authors League of America, Seattle Freelancers, and the executive board of the Pacific Northwest Writers' Conference, held annually in the Puget Sound area.

Roberts has received numerous awards for her writing. Don't Hurt Laurie! was named a notable Children's Trade Book by the National Council for the Social Studies and the Children's Book Council in 1977; received the Young Hoosier Book Award and the Association for Indiana Media Educators in 1980; the West Australian Young Reader's Award in 1981; and the Georgia Children's Book Award in 1982.

Originally a writer for adults, Roberts is best known for her children's writing. Her writing consists of mystery, historical, gothic, and nurse's novels. Roberts and her husband are now enjoying their full-time devotion to writing, photography, and traveling.

Source:

Major Authors and Illustrators, pp. 1967-1970.
Something About the Author - vol, 21, pp. 125-126.

Scope and Content:

The collection contains correspondence, typescript with corrections, and a galley with corrections for one title. Within this title, the materials are arranged in the probable order in which they were created.

Series and Subseries:

A. Correspondence (1977-1978)

B. Book (1977)

  • DON'T HURT LAURIE! (1977)

 

Box Inventory

Box/Folder

A. Correspondence (1977-1978)

1/1

To and from the de Grummond Collection (8 items)

B. Book (1977)

Don't Hurt Laurie! by Willo Davis Roberts, illustrated by Ruth Sanderson (New York: Atheneum, 1977).

1/2-1/4

Typescript with corrections

1/2

Chapters 1-3, pp. 1-55;

1/3

Chapters 4-7, pp. 56-106;

1/4 Chapters 8-10, pp. 107-143
1/5-1/6 Galleys with corrections (10/6/76)
1/5

Chapters 1-4, pp. 3-81;

1/6 Chapters 5-10, pp. 82-165.

 


Processed: January 1999

This finding aid is a product of a grant funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities.


Created by: Dee Jones
Prepared and maintained by
University of Southern Mississippi Libraries de Grummond Children's Literature Collection
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Revised: April 20, 2016