Rice Collection (MSS 47)

Western Kentucky University TopSCHOLAR® MSS Finding Aids Manuscripts 7-3-2001 Rice Collection (MSS 47) Manuscripts & Folklife Archives Western Kentucky University, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_mss_fin_aid Part of the United States History Commons Recommended Citation Folklife Archives, Manuscripts &, "Rice Collection (MSS 47)" (2001). MSS Finding Aids. Paper 366. https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/dlsc_mss_fin_aid/366 This Finding Aid is brought to you for free and open access by TopSCHOLAR®. It has been accepted for inclusion in MSS Finding Aids by an authorized administrator of TopSCHOLAR®. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Manuscripts & Folklife Archives Department of Library Special Collections Western Kentucky University Bowling Green, KY 42101-1092 Descriptive Inventory MSS 47 RICE Collection 15 boxes. 122 folders. 1,767 items. 1898-1965. Originals, photocopies, photographs. 1943.21.1 BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE Alice Caldwell Hegan (11 January 1870-10 February 1942), was born in Shelbyville, Kentucky, at the home of her grandfather Judge James Caldwell. Her parents, Samuel and Sallie Caldwell Hegan, resided in Louisville. Alice grew up and spent her entire life in the city. At age ten Alice entered Hampton College, a Louisville private school, to begin her formal education as ill health had prevented earlier schooling. Alice began the pursuit of her main interests, writing and drawing, while at Hampton. After leaving school, she engaged in many socioeconomic activities of the era and participated extensively in the field of benevolent work among the underprivileged, who lived in the Louisville Cabbage Patch District. Her first novel, Mrs. Wiggs of the Cabbage Patch, which was published in 1901, evolved from those experiences. The book became a best seller overnight and established Alice as a noted author. On December 18, 1902, Alice married Cale Young Rice, a Louisville poet and author. This union of authors was an exceedingly happy one; and individually and collectively, they produced many literary works during the next forty years. During most of that time, they resided at 1444 St. James Court in Louisville. Alice’s other works included: Lovey Mary, 1903; Sandy, 1905; Mr. Opp, 1909; Romance of Billy Goat Hill, 1912; Quin, 1921; Mr. Pete & Co., 1933; and The Inky Way (autobiography), 1941. Alice and Cale co-authored the following books of short stories: Turnabout Tales, 1920; Winners and Losers, 1925; and Passionate Follies, 1936. Cale Young Rice (7 December 1872-24 January 1943), was born in Dixon, Kentucky, to Laban and Martha Lacy Rice. Although prospering as a tobacco planter and businessman in Dixon, Laban Rice moved his family to Evansville, Indiana, in 1879 where he worked in the tobacco market. Cale was educated in Evansville’s public schools. At the age of seventeen, he entered Cumberland University in Lebanon, Tennessee, where his older brother Laban Lacy, was a student. Following Cale’s graduation from Cumberland, he entered his uncle’s mercantile business in Madisonville, Kentucky. Cale left the world of business, which he found unsatisfying and unprofitable, to further his education. Registering at Harvard in 1894, Cale earned the Bachelor of Arts degree in 1895 and the Master’s degree in 1896. 2 The Rice family had moved to Louisville in 1890, and Cale joined them there in 1897. His marriage to Alice brought together two persons with intense literary interests as well as a common love for travel. During their married life, they spent several summers outside the United States. Their writings were influenced by their travel experiences, and Cale’s works particularly contained Oriental tones. His published works of poetry included: From Dusk to Dusk, 1898; With Omar, 1900 (privately published); Song Surf, 1901; Nirvana Days, 1909; Many Gods, 1910; At the World’s Heart, 1914; and Songs to A.H.R., 1918. His poetic dramas included David, 1904; Yolanda of Cypress, 1906; and The Immortal Lure, 1911. His poetic dramas received more notice that the prose dramas he wrote in the 1930s. But, as a novelist, Cale did not gain as much fame. Cale wrote: Youth’s Way, 1923; Early Reaping, 1929; and Bridging the Years (autobiography), 1939. A New Approach to Philosophy and The Best Poetic Works of Cale Young Rice were published after his death in 1943. His brother, Laban Lacy, prepared the manuscripts. Cale’s despondency, caused by Alice’s death, resulted in his suicide in January 1943. Bibliographical Notes Bere, Jenny Rose. “Cale Young Rice.” Thesis, 1939. Browning, Mary Carmel. Kentucky Authors, 1968. Ellis, Lena Collins. “Alice Hegan Rice.” Thesis, 1934. Rice, Alice Hegan. The Inky Way, 1941. Rice, Cale Young. Bridging the Years, 1939. Townsend, John Wilson. Kentucky in American Letters, 1913. COLLECTION NOTE The collection is basically a literary one with practically all of the materials dealing with the professional lives of Alice Hegan Rice and Cale Young Rice. The collection is cataloged in three series: Series I contains items of Alice; Series II contains joint items of Alice and Cale; and Series III contains items of Cale. Letters are arranged in both a chronological and alphabetical manner. Other materials are arranged strictly in a chronological system when applicable. Series I is composed of incoming letters to Alice, 1904-1940 (41 items), from several notable writers and publishers; business papers, 1901-1951 (60); notes and research materials (60); account book containing record of royalties; holographic manuscripts of Our Ernie, 1939; holographic and typed manuscripts of Happiness Road, 1942; cartoons (5); book reviews and printed items, 1901-1965 (66 pages); photographs (10); and a scrapbook about art and artists. Series II contains letters to Cale and Alice, 1913-1939 (14 items), chiefly from writers; business papers, 1920-1935 (5); clippings to be used for plots for stories, 1905- 1930 (13); biographical clippings and printed programs, 1928, 1934 (4); and photographs (15). Series III revolves around Cale and consists of incoming letters from many famous writers and notable in other realms, 1898-1943 (546 items); correspondence and printed items of critics and Cale, 1915-1942 (61); outgoing letters, 1907, 1912, MSS 47 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Library Special Collections – Western Kentucky University 3 1927 (3); business papers, 1903-1943 (32); outlines of programs for “Reading” sessions, 1920s-1940s (101); typescript of plays: Charles Di Tocca, 1903; David, 1904; Yolanda of Cypress, 1906; A Night in Avignon, 1907; Adruin, 1911; Giorgione, 1911; The Swamp Bird, 1931; Love and Lord Byron, 1936; “Yesterday’s for Sale”, n.d.; and holographic copies of short stories “Hit”, 1936; and “Siberian Finale”, 1936. Also included are manuscripts of Cale’s books: Youth’s Way, 1923; Early Reaping, 1929; The Genii of Poetry, 1937; Bridging the Years, 1939; and A New Approach to Philosophy, 1943. In addition, there are holographic poems (65) and typed copies of poems (364); play programs (8); book jackets and book advertisements, 1912-1943 (20); book reviews, clippings, and printed items, 1903-1964 (88 items -- including one scrapbook, consisting of two volumes, and comprised of 274 pages); and drawings and photograph (31). SHELF LIST SERIES I ALICE Hegan Rice, 1870-1942 1901-1965 702 items BOX 1 Letters, business papers, 1904-1951 504 items manuscripts, notebooks, etc. Folder 1 Alice - Letters to 1904-1940 21 items 1a - From Theodore Roosevelt 1904 1 item 1b - From Ida M. Tarbell (Original 1906 1 items and typed copy) 1c - From John S. Phillips 1907 1 item 1d - From Walter H. Page 1913 1 item 1e - From Cameron Mackenzie 1914 1 item 1f - From Charles P. Howland 1915-1918 5 items 1g - From Annie F. Johnston 1918 1 item 1h - From R. Percy Hodder-Williams 1918; 1920 2 items 1i - From Ellery Sedgwick 1922 1 item 1j - From Alice Meynell pre 1922 or 1922 1 item 1k - Miscellaneous letters 1915-1940 6 items Folder 2 Letters from Brandt & Brandt – Literary 1931-1935 15 items agents Folder 3 Letters – Movie rights to Mrs. Wiggs 1951 4 items of the Cabbage Patch Folder 4 Contracts and agreements 1901-1919 28 items Folder 5 Letters, contracts, and agreements 1915-1940 29 items 5a - Business letters 1915-1933 4 items 5b - Alice Hegan Rice – Will 1931 1 item MSS 47 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Library Special Collections – Western Kentucky University 4 Folder 6 Business papers – Mrs. Wiggs of the 1904 2 items Cabbage Patch Folder 7 List (compiled by Alice Hegan Rice) 1938(?) 1 item of books written, noting those that she sold movie or stage rights to Folder 8 Notes and research n.d. 60 items 8a – About art and artists n.d. 39 items 8b – Notes for short stories, etc. n.d. 21 items Folder 9 Notebook – Lists of books read aloud 1918-1939 1 item Folder 10 Account book – Record of royalties 1901-1940 1 item received for writings Folder 11 Social notebook and social calendar – 1932-1941 2 items Lists those who entertained the Rices and those the Rices entertained Folder 12 Essay – “Criticism” n.d. 1 item; 23p. Folder 13 Short story (typescript) – “The Pickup” n.d. 1 item; 4p. by Alice Hegan Rice(?) BOX 2 OUR ERNIE 1939 1 item Folder 1 Our Ernie – Books 1 & 2 n.d. 1 item; 122p. Folder 2 Our Ernie – Books 3 & 4 n.d. 106p. Folder 3 Our Ernie – Book 5 n.d. 40p. BOX 3 HAPPINESS ROAD – 1942 39 items Holographic and typed manuscript Folder 1 Happiness Road – Holographic n.d. 1 item; 80p. (chapters 1-15) Folder 2 Happiness Road – Holographic n.d. 93p. (chapters 16-30) MSS 47 Manuscripts & Folklife Archives – Library Special Collections – Western Kentucky University 5 Folder 3 Happiness Road - Holographic - n.d. 2 items; 12p. Two chapters omitted from published work Folder 4 Happiness Road - Typescript n.d. 1 item Folder 5 Happiness Road - Holographic notes n.d.

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