Ida Sedgwick Proper Papers
Scope and Contents
The papers of a Maine author. Included are correspondence with her publishers about her books about Monhegan Island and about William Shakespeare, reviews of the books, photographs, photostat negatives, lithographs, picture postcards, correspondence about a course she took at Columbia University in 1915, a signed oath when she became a registrar for the town of Monhegan, a list of passengers on a voyage to Puerto Rico in 1922, and a vita. Included also is a short biography of Ida Proper by Hilda M. Fife and literary works by Ida Proper (an autobiography, a paper on lobstering in Maine, and a paper titled I go vacationing). Included also is a typescript draft of her book Our elusive Willy (p. 239-265 missing)
Dates
- 1915-1955
Creator
- Proper, Ida Sedgwick, 1873-1957 (Person)
Access Restrictions
No restrictions on access.
Use Restrictions
Information on literary rights available in the repository.
Biographical Note
Ida Sedgwick Proper was born around 1874 on a farm near Bonaparte, Iowa, the third child in the family of a Baptist minister. She attended Bethany College, an Episcopal school for girls in Kansas. She studied art and taught art at schools in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. From 1919 to 1922 she was on the faculty of the University of Puerto Rico. She worked in libraries in Seattle and New York City. In 1925 or 1926 she first came to Monhegan Island in Maine on a vacation and bought a house which became her home for thirty years. As a permanent resident of Monhegan she continued to sketch and paint. In 1930 she conducted an art school on the island. She served as librarian and became registrar or town clerk. Her first book was about the island titled Monhegan, the cradle of New England and was published by Southworth Press in 1930. Her study of background of early settlers led to an interest in 16th century travel, politics, intrigues, and literature. Her second book, Our elusive Willy, was published by Falmouth Press in 1954. In it she develops and supports the idea that Shakespeare wrote both music and literature under nine pseudonyms, including Marlowe, Campion, and Dowland. Her third literary venture - a book on the Popham colony, entitled Mawooshen - was interrupted by her death in the late 1950's.
Extent
4 Folders
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The papers of a Maine author. Included are correspondence with her publishers about her books about Monhegan Island and about William Shakespeare, reviews of the books, photographs, photostat negatives, lithographs, picture postcards, correspondence about a course she took at Columbia University in 1915, a signed oath when she became a registrar for the town of Monhegan, a list of passengers on a voyage to Puerto Rico in 1922, and a vita. Included also is a short biography of Ida Proper by Hilda M. Fife and literary works by Ida Proper (an autobiography, a paper on lobstering in Maine, and a paper titled I go vacationing). Included also is a typescript draft of her book Our elusive Willy (p. 239-265 missing)
General
No finding aid - see Special Collections librarian for assistance.
- Authors, American -- Maine Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Autobiographies Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Clippings Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Correspondence Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Drafts (Documents) Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Lobster industry -- Maine -- Monhegan Island Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Monhegan Island (Me.) Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Photographic prints Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Picture postcards Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Shakespeare, William, 1564-1616
- Typescipts Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Title
- Guide to the Ida Sedgwick Proper Papers
- Status
- No Additional Box Or Folder List For This Small Collection
- Date
- 2012
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English.
Repository Details
Part of the Raymond H. Fogler Library Special Collections Repository
5729 Raymond H. Fogler Library
University of Maine
Orono ME 04469-5729 United States
207-581-1686
