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Carl Lamson Carmer letter

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-0277

Scope and Contents

The collection contains one letter written to Mrs. Raymond McClain of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, discussing Mrs. McLain's association with Ruby Pickens Tartt. Carmer praises Tartt for her value to the state of Alabama and her work to raise awareness of the folk traditions of Alabama.

Dates

  • 1972 August 9

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research. Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection. Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information that is protected under federal or state right to privacy laws and regulations. Due to the nature of certain archival formats, including digital and audio-visual materials, access to certain materials may require additional advance notice.

Biographical / Historical

Carl Lamson Carmer, son of Willis Griswold and Mary Lamson Turner, was born in Cortland, New York, on 16 October 1893. He earned an undergraduate degree from Hamilton College, and a masters degree from Harvard.

He taught briefly at Syracuse University before accepting a position teaching English at the University of Alabama from 1921-1927. While at the University he became interested in the history and culture of the state. In 1934 he wrote Stars Fell on Alabama, an autobiographical work relating his experiences in the state. The successful work led to his popularity as a writer in the 1940s and 1950s, known for his interest in folklore. Alabama native Ruby Pickens Tartt, assisted him with this 1934 work.

Carmer wrote or edited several more books including: Listen for a Lonesome Drum (1936); The Hudson (1939); Genesee Fever (1941); The Susquehanna (1955); and The Tavern Lamps Are Burning (1964). He worked as a folklore consultant for Walt Disney Productions and produced a folklore radio series called "Your Neck o' the Woods."

Carmer died on 11 September 1976, in Bronxville, New York.

Extent

0.05 Linear Feet (1 item)

Language of Materials

English

Overview

Letter written by this acclaimed author of Stars Fell on Alabama to Mrs. Raymond McClain, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, discussing Mrs. McLain's association with Ruby Pickens Tartt, who Carmer praises for her value to the state of Alabama and her work to raise awareness of the folk traditions of Alabama.

Provenance

unknown

General

To provide faster access to our materials, this finding aid was published without formal and final review. Email us at archives@ua.edu if you find mistakes or have suggestions to make this finding aid more useful for your research.

Processed by

unknown, 2008; updated by Martha Bace, 2012

Creator

Title
Guide to the Carl Lamson Carmer letter
Status
Completed
Date
February 2008
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English

Repository Details

Part of the The University of Alabama Libraries Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Box 870266
Tuscaloosa AL 35487-0266
205.348.0513