PCL MS 210 Virginia Myers Collection

MLA Citation

“PCL MS 210 Virginia Myers Collection.” Finding Aids. BGSU University Libraries, 16 Aug. 2016, lib.bgsu.edu/finding_aids/items/show/2605. Accessed 26 Apr. 2024.

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TitlePCL MS 210 Virginia Myers Collection
Introduction

Virginia Myers is an American writer of contemporary and inspirational romance fiction. Four original typescripts of her works and correspondence with publishers, editors, and literary agents among others compromise the core of this collection.

Virginia Myers transferred her manuscripts to the Popular Culture Library, Bowling Green State University, in September 1998 and November 1999. The collection is open for research, but photocopying or other duplication of manuscripts must comply with applicable copyright laws. This finding aid was compiled by Debbie Chimahusky under the supervision of Jean Geist, Popular Culture Library Associate in April 1999. The finding aid was updated by Steve Ammidown, Manuscripts & Outreach Archivist in August 2016 with help from Loran Ramm, Student Assistant.

Biographical Sketch

Virginia Ann Myers was born August 17, 1918, in Eugene Oregon to G. E. Myers, office manager, and Hazel Hope Myers, office worker. She graduated from San Fernando (California) High School in 1949 and went to work in the county welfare office soon after.

Ms. Myers’ first published work came at the age of twenty-nine and was a short story for Story Magazine entitled “The People Who Find the Bodies.” Three books followed within four years: Angelo’s Wife, This Land I Hold, and Escape from Morales. In between books, Ms. Myers wrote several short stories for various magazines and a fairly successful radio suspense script, “The Trap.” Later, Winds of Love (1979) and Come November (1980) were published under the Candlelight Ecstasy label of Dell Publishing.

Ms. Myers gave up writing several years while working for the textbook publisher Ginn and Company. After retiring, she again took up the pen and published Vessels of Honor (1995) and Helpmate (1998).

In 1985 Ms. Myers received the Romance Writers of America Golden Treasure Award. (Later known as the RWA Lifetime Achievement Award). 

Scope and Content

The Virginia Myers Collection houses the literary manuscripts for four of Myers’ works. Included in this collection is correspondence with editors, publishers, literary agents and others concerned with the publishing business. Personal correspondence and newspaper clippings concerning Ms. Myers work are also included. The strength of this collection lies in the correspondence that contains information pertinent to the business and editorial aspects of publication during the post WWII years.

Researchers interested in the romance genre, as well as in the craft of romance writing and publication across decades, will find this collection useful. 

Series Description

Manuscripts, Literary
1948 – 1998
Arranged chronologically by date of published work.
Typed with handwritten corrections by author, editor, and printer.

Correspondence
1942 – 1979
Arranged alphabetically
Includes personal and professional correspondence.

 

Inventory

Box 1

    
Folder Title Year
Angelo's Wife
1 Portion of orignial typscript 1948
2 Galleys 1948
The Trap (original title: Answer Me)
3 - 7 Short story draft 1949
8 Radio script 16-Jun-49
This Land I Hold
9 Galleys 1950
Escape from Morales
10 Original typescript, chapters 1-9 1953
11 Original typescript, chapters 10-19 1953
12 Original typescript, chapters 20-end 1953
Vessels of Honor (original title: Saint Polycarp Parish)
13 Original typescript, chapters 1-9 Sep. 10, 1994
14 Original typescript, chapters 10-end Sep. 10, 1994
15 Galleys, chaptes 1-9 Sep. 10, 1994

 

Box 2

   
Folder Title Year
Vessels of Honor (original title: Saint Polycarp Parish)
1 Galleys, chapters 10-end Sep. 10, 1994
Helpmate
2 Original edited typescript, chapters 1-7 1998
3 Original edited typescript, chaptes 8-end 1998
Moment of Truth and Isn't She Wonderful
4 No title n.d
Correspondence
5 Correspondence with Allen's Press Clipping Bureau Aug-Dec 1948
6 - 8 Correspondence with Ned Brown, literary agent for Famous Artists Corp. Aug 1948 - Nov 1949
9 Correspondence with Richard Carroll, editor for Gold Medal Books Apr-Feb 1954
10 - 14 Correspondence with D. L. Chambers, editor for Bobbs - Merrill Company May 1948 - Dec 1950
15 Correspondence with Dell Publishers Oct-May 1949
16 Telegram to R. Dorse and B. Gerard Oct. 10, 1952
17 Correspondence with Knox Burger, editor with Fawcett Publications Mar-Apr 1969
18 Correspondence with Florence Feiler, Literary Agent Feb-Sep 1979
19 Correspondence with Adrian Gendot, Columbia Broadcasting Company 15-Jul-49
20 Correspondence with Barbara Hardy, editor with Fawcett Publications May 21. 1953
21 Correspondence with Willaim Herndon, Literary Agent Aug-Sep 1948
22 Correspondence with Paul Hirshman, Editor with Bobbs-Merrill Company Jul-Aug 1950
23 Correspondence with Charlotte Jeanes, Bobbs-Merrill Company Jun-Jul 1948
24 Correspondence with William Lengel, Editor-in-Chief with Fawcett Mar 1954 - Mar 1955
25 - 50 Correspondence with Mavis McIntosh, Literary Agent Mar 1945 - Dec 1950

 

Box 3

    
Folder Title Year
1 - 5 Correspondence with Mavis McIntosh, Literary Agent Jan 1951 - Dec 1953
6 Correspondence with Margaret Pawl, Promotion manager Fawcett Publications Oct-54
7 - 16 Correspondence with Harrison Platt, Editor, Bobbs-Merrill Company May 1950 - Jul 1960
17 - 18 Correspondence with the Paul Reynolds Agency, Literary Agent Oct 1969 - Dec 1972
19 Correspondence with Richard E. Roberts, Editor, Fawcett Publications May-Dec 1952
20 - 30 Correspondence with Ralph Rose , Producer - radio writer Apr 1942 - May 1977
31 Correspondence with Sawyer Typing Service Aug-Oct 1947
32 - 47 Correspondence with Constance Smith, Literary Agent Nov 1950 - Jun 1961
48 Correspondence with Joanne Stevens, Bobbs-Merrill Company Jul-49
49 Correspondence with Lois Stewart, Bobbs-Merrill Company Feb 1950 - Apr 1952
50 Correspondence with The Story Press Mar-Nov 1945
51 Correspondence with Berman Swartz, Attorney At Law Feb 1949 - Dec 1952
52 Correspondence with Gail Tardy, Editor, Pinnacle Books, Inc. n.d.
53 Correspondence with Samuel W. Taylor Apr-52
54 - 57 Correspondence with John Williams, Editor, Bobbs-Merrill Company Jan 1948 - Apr 1949
58 Correspondence with John Williams, Longmans, Green & Company Oct-57
59 - 60 Correspondence with Herman Ziegner, Bobbs-Merrill Company Aug-Dec 1948
61 Correspondence with Rosemary York, Editor, Bobbs-Merrill Company Jun 1948 - Sep 1950
62 Newspaper review letters Aug. 24, 1949
63 Speaking engagements Jan 1951 - Feb 1955
64 Rejection slips Oct 1951 - Apri 1969
65 Correspondence concerning employment, Ginn and Company 9-Mar-76

 

Box 4

    
Folder Title Year
Angelo's Wife
1 - 2 Newspaper clippings 1948-1950
This Land I Hold
3 - 4 Newspaper clippings 1948-1951
The Trap
5 Newspaper clippings n.d.
 
6 Biographical information 1948-1981
7 Beatrice Cueni, Personal correspondence Apr-May 1949
8 Mrs. Robert Horne, Personal correspondence Feb-Mar 1949
9 Rose McMahon, Personal correspondence Apr 1949 - Jan 1950
10 Betty Myers, Personal correspondence Mar-Apr 1965
11 Virginia Myers, Personal correspondence Feb-Jun 1949
12 - 15 Miscellaneous, Personal correspondence Apr 1948 - Jan 1966
16 Miscellaneous Personal items Apr 1949 - Oct 1978
The Dad Next Door
17-18 Copy-edited manuscript undated
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