Dorothy H. Stanley and Christine Baker Rowell letters, read by Joyce Butler

Series

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

From the Collection:

The “Wildfire Loose” Collection consists of a series of 37 interviews conducted by Joyce Butler in preparation for her book of the same title about the fires in Maine in October 1947. Donated in 1979.

Dates

Creation: 1976-1980

Creator

Butler, Joyce (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

For digitized items free from access restrictions, we are working to upload this material (pdfs, mp3s, jpgs) for public access, but it is an ongoing project. If you don’t find what you are looking for here, contact Special Collections (um.library.spc@maine.edu).

Extent

From the Collection: 37 items

Language of Materials

From the Collection: English

Additional Description

Abstract

1254 Letters written by Dorothy H. Stanley and Christine Baker Rowell in 1947, read by Joyce Butler, January 1979, Bar Harbor, Maine. Stanley and Rowell wrote about the fire of 1947 in Bar Harbor; progression of the fire; wind shifts; college boys returning to fight fire; description of the fire’s appearance; evacuation; embers spreading fire; the days immediately following the fire; the start of the fire and early attempts to control it; continuation of social life during early stages of the fire; preparing to evacuate; trying to save possessions; and fleeing the fire.