Title: Walker D. Wyman Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1920, 1929-1997

Creator:

• Wyman, Walker D. (Walker Demarquis), 1907-1999

Call Number: River Falls Mss P; M68-364; M70-061; M70-244; M70-292; M71-337; M74-422; M81-535; M82-133; M87-404; M90-186; M2016-087; Micro 2116

Quantity: 7.2 cubic feet (18 archives boxes); plus additions of 15.2 cubic feet and 14 reels of microfilm (35 mm)

Repository:

Housed at the University Archives and Area Research Center, Chalmer Davee Library, University of Wisconsin-River Falls, and the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections; owned by the Wisconsin Historical Society, Division of Library, Archives, and Museum Collections

Archival Locations:

UW-River Falls, Chalmer Davee Library / River Falls Area Research Ctr. (Map)

Wisconsin Historical Society (Map)

COLLECTION MAY BE STORED OFF-SITE: see catalog entry to request materials and for additional information.

Abstract:

Personal and professional papers of Walker D. Wyman, an historian, author, professor of social sciences at River Falls State College, and president of Wisconsin State University at Whitewater in the early 1960s. Correspondence includes letters relating to Wyman's writings, to his participation in professional organizations of educators and historians, and to his interest in the Wisconsin system of state colleges. Several series of letters from friends or scholars describe conditions abroad: Japan, 1945-1955; the Near East, 1951-1953; and Burma, 1953-1955. The remainder of the collection is composed of copies or drafts of Wyman's books, articles, addresses, book reviews, materials related to his professional and political activities, and personal diaries.

Note:

Most of the diaries (vols. 1-97, 1931-1992) in this collection are available only on microfilm (Micro 2116). Vols. 98-102 (1993-1997) of the diaries are available in accession M2016-087 (Box 1, Folder 1-5).

Language: English

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-whs-rf000p

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Walker D. Wyman was born in rural Vermillion County, near Danville, Illinois, on December 7, 1907. He received his B.Ed. degree from Illinois State Normal University in 1929. After attending the summer session of the University of Chicago in 1929, he accepted a position as instructor in social science and debate for the school year, 1929-1930, at the Dwight, Illinois, High School.

Wyman continued graduate work at the State University of Iowa, receiving his M.A. degree in 1931, and his Ph.D. in 1935. He was a teaching assistant at Iowa, 1931-1932. In 1932, he accepted a position as assistant professor in the Social Science Department, River Falls State Teachers College, River Falls, Wisconsin.

After he received his Ph.D., Wyman was appointed an associate professor in 1935. A full professorship followed, and, in 1942, he was made chairman of the Department of Social Sciences, with responsibility for the teaching of geography, history, political science, economics, and sociology. When a program of graduate studies was instituted at River Falls in 1959, Wyman became Director.

He also served as visiting professor of history during summer sessions at the universities of Minnesota, Maine, and Wisconsin, in addition to directing summer sessions at River Falls for several years.

In July 1962, Wyman accepted the position of President of Wisconsin State College at Whitewater.

Wyman was a prolific writer. In addition to his own books: The Wild Horse of the West (3rd printing, 1945); California Emigrant Letters (1952); Nothing But Prairie and Sky (1954); and grade and high school history texts, he co-authored A Topical Guide to the Mississippi Valley Historical Review (1934), and co-edited The Frontier in Perspective (1954). He also published more than a score of articles and over a hundred book reviews in various journals of history--national, regional, and state.

Walker Wyman married Helen Bryant of Colorado in 1930. They had two children: Bryant and Mark.

Walker died on March 29, 1999, in Green Valley, Arizona.

This collection was received in multiple parts from the donor(s) and is organized into 12 major parts. These materials have not been physically interfiled and researchers might need to consult more than one part to locate similar materials.

• Part 1 (River Falls Mss P): Original Collection, 1920, 1929-1962
• Part 2 (M68-364): Additions, 1956
• Part 3 (M70-061): Additions, 1960s
• Part 4 (M70-244): Additions, 1960s
• Part 5 (M70-292): Additions, 1959
• Part 6 (M71-337): Additions, undated
• Part 7 (M74-422): Additions, 1973
• Part 8 (M81-535): Additions, 1954, 1967-1972
• Part 9 (M82-133): Additions, 1952-1979
• Part 10 (M87-404): Additions, 1967-1984
• Part 11 (M90-186): Additions, 1932-1979
• Part 12 (M2016-087, Micro 2116): Additions, 1931-1997

Acquisition Information

Presented by Walker D. Wyman, Whitewater, Wisconsin, August 17, 1962. Accession Number: M65-394, M67-363, M68-364, M70-061, M70-244, M70-292, M71-337, M73-020, M74-422, M74-506, M77-298, M79-456, M81-535, M82-042, M82-133, M87-234, M87-404, M90-186, M93-040, M2016-087

Processing Information

Original collection processed by Janice O'Connell, January 31, 1963. Most (vols. 1-97) of Wyman's diaries have been microfilmed and combined under call number Micro 2116. Microfilm was accessioned as M65-394, M67-363, M73-020, M74-506, M77-298, M79-456, M82-042, M87-234, M90-186, and M93-040. Additional diaries (vols. 98-102) are included in accession M2016-087 (Box 1, Folder 1-5).

River Falls Mss P	Part 1 (River Falls Mss P): Original Collection, 1920, 1929-1962 Physical Description: 7.2 cubic feet (18 archives boxes)  Scope and Content Note The Walker Wyman Papers consist in the main of the personal and professional papers he accumulated between 1930 and 1962. There are only three items before 1930. In addition to the relatively routine personal and professional correspondence, there are letters which, because of subject or writer, are of particular interest. There is a large group of letters from former students in the military during World War II. From 1915 to 1918, Justin Williams, an adviser on the occupation staff in Japan, wrote Wyman a series of fine letters concerning conditions in Japan. A series of letters, 1951-1953, from his nephew, Earl J. Wyman, on the staff of the Arabian-American Oil Company, give vivid descriptions of conditions in the Near East during that period. From 1953 to 1955, Carleton Ames, another friend, doing research in Burma, wrote Wyman a good series of letters about that country. Individuals of interest who corresponded with Wyman are Edgar G. Doudna, Paul Douglas, F. Ryan Duffy, Merlin Hull, Hubert Humphrey, Warren P. Knowles, Robert M. La Follette Jr., Gaylord Nelson, and William Proxmire. Correspondence in the collection is arranged chronologically by months. There are also materials relating to many of Wyman's writings and publications. These range from a copy of his B.Ed. thesis to manuscripts of his published books. The majority of the manuscript materials deal with Nothing But Prairie and Sky (1954) and follow the development of the book from Bruce Siberts' handwritten reminiscences to a typescript of the book prepared from them by Wyman. Miscellaneous materials include records of the Pierce County Fish and Game Association, 1938-1942; records of the River Falls State Teachers College International Relations Club, 1947-1951; materials relating to the graduate study program for teachers; and clippings and pictures.
	Correspondence
Box   1-10	1920, 1929, 1930 June-1962 January
Box   11	1962 February-October, undated
	Writings
Box   11	B.Ed thesis: “A Redman's Culture”
Box   11	M.A. thesis: “Freighting on the Santa Fe Trail”
	Articles, addresses, and book reviews
Box   11	1931-[193?]
Box   12	[193?]-1962 March 19
Box   12	Book manuscript: The Wild Horse of the West, 1942
Box   12	Book manuscript: My Country, [1940s?]
Box   13	Book manuscript and miscellaneous materials relating to Pioneer Life in America, [1940s?]
Box   13-14	Book manuscript of a history of the West, [1940s?] Physical Description: 4 folders
Box   14	Book manuscript and materials relating to California Emigrant Letters (1952)
	Nothing But Prairie and Sky materials
Box   14-15	Original reminiscences of Bruce Siberts, 1954 Physical Description: 4 folders
Box   15	Typescripts of Bruce Siberts' reminiscences
Box   16	Early draft and typescript
Box   16	Pictures
Box   16	Correspondence, 1944-1952
Box   16	Book manuscript: The Frontier in Perspective, 1954
Box   17	Diaries and reminiscences edited by Walker Wyman
Box   17	Letters concerning the Old West
Box   17	Lectures and class outlines
	Miscellany
Box   17	Pierce County Fish and Game Association Record, 1938-1942
Box   18	River Falls State Teachers College International Relations Club Record, 1947-1951
Box   18	Materials concerning the graduate study program for teachers, 1948, 1951, 1955-1959
Box   18	Miscellaneous clippings and pictures
M68-364	Part 2 (M68-364): Additions, 1956 Physical Description: 0.1 cubic feet (1 folder in archives box)  Scope and Content Note: Correspondence, pamphlets, brochures, and campaign material from the 1956 Democratic National Convention, sent to Wyman as an alternate delegate, 1956.	⇧
M70-061	Part 3 (M70-061): Additions, 1960s Physical Description: 0.1 cubic feet (1 packet added to archives box)  Scope and Content Note: Interview typescript and drafts of his book, The Lumberjack Frontier (University of Nebraska Press, 1969).	⇧
M70-244	Part 4 (M70-244): Additions, 1960s Physical Description: 0.1 cubic feet (1 packet added to archives box)  Scope and Content Note: Working manuscript for The Lumberjack Frontier.	⇧
M70-292	Part 5 (M70-292): Additions, 1959 Physical Description: 0.1 cubic feet (1 envelope added to archives box)  Scope and Content Note: Correspondence and notes concerning candidates for appointment to the State College Board of Regents, 1959.	⇧
M71-337	Part 6 (M71-337): Additions, undated Physical Description: 0.1 cubic feet (1 folder added to archives box)  Scope and Content Note: Transcribed notes from the diary of L.J. Whipple, 1862.	⇧
M74-422	Part 7 (M74-422): Additions, 1973 Physical Description: 0.1 cubic feet (1 envelope added to archives box)  Scope and Content Note: Letter, 1973, from William C. Hansen who served as president of Wisconsin State College, Stevens Point, 1940-1962, commenting on River Falls presidents J.H. Ames and Eugene H. Kleinpell and on relations between presidents and regents, 1973.	⇧
M81-535	Part 8 (M81-535): Additions, 1954, 1967-1972 Physical Description: 1.0 cubic foot (1 record center carton)  Scope and Content Note: Miscellaneous correspondence concerning university, personal, professional and political matters, 1967-1972 (1 folder); manuscript and photos from Wyman's book "Charles Round Low Cloud;" correspondence and other material concerning a 1970 alumni tour; and political correspondence, 1954, 1969-1972, including material on Kenneth Goff and the McCarthy era and the Wisconsin Democratic Party Development Commission, 1972.	⇧
M82-133	Part 9 (M82-133): Additions, 1952-1979 Physical Description: 2.0 cubic feet (2 record center cartons)  Scope and Content Note: Letters received from Wyman's sons, speeches and correspondence concerning conferences and programs at which they were presented, and published articles, 1952-1979.	⇧
M87-404	Part 10 (M87-404): Additions, 1967-1984 Physical Description: 0.4 cubic feet (1 archives box)  Scope and Content Note: Additions, 1967-1984, including correspondence, memoranda, collected clippings and articles, newsletters, and campaign literature concerning Students for a Democratic Society (SDS, Whitewater chapter), the Pierce County Democratic Party, and the Wisconsin Folklore & Folklife Society. Also included is one folder of correspondence with William H. Hunt and a reminiscence written by Morris Buske about his student days in the early 1930s at UW-River Falls and his association with Wyman.	⇧
M90-186	Part 11 (M90-186): Additions, 1932-1979 Physical Description: 1.8 cubic feet (1 record center carton and 2 archives boxes)  Scope and Content Note: Additions, 1932-1979, consisting of manuscripts of books published by Wyman on Wisconsin and the West; correspondence and reports on the creation of regional research centers; and syllabi from some of his classses.	⇧
	Manuscripts
Box   1	"The Missouri River Towns in the Westward Movement"
Box   1	"Earl Chapin's Tales of Wisconsin"
Box   1	"California Emigrant Letters"
Box   1	"The Wild Horse of the West" (1945, publisher's original copy)
Box   1	"The River Town and the Pilgrim" Note: Wyman's PhD thesis.
Box   1	Journal by John H. Benson of Iowa: "Life on the California Trail" Note: Regarding a trip to California in 1849, with introduction and notes by Wyman.
Box   1	Miscellaneous publications including articles by Wyman, 1932-1957
Box   2	Federal Project Regional Planning Centers, 1967-1969: final report Note: Written by Wyman, concerning graduate programs and the establishment of regional research centers.
Box   2	Correspondence regarding area research center project
Box   2	News clippings of Wyman articles on Wisconsin and northwoods folklore, 1953-1979
Box   2	Correspondence: "Bry & Barbie," 1965 March-1968 January
	Manuscripts
Box   3	"Histories of State Universities," 1966-1967 Note: Also notes and correspondence.
Box   3	"Charles Round Low Cloud--Voice of the Winnebago"
Box   3	"The Lumberjack Frontier"
Box   3	"Frontier Woman"
Box   3	"Earl Chapin's Tales of Wisconsin" Note: Edited by Wayne Wolfe, illustrated by Helen Wyman (Walker Wyman's wife).
	Syllabi
Box   3	Wyman's "Great Issues" class, 1966-1968
Box   3	Wyman's introductory Social Science classes, 1958-1962
M2016-087	Part 12 (M2016-087, Micro 2116): Additions, 1931-1997 Physical Description: 9.4 cubic feet (9 record center cartons and 1 archives box) and 14 reels of microfilm (35 mm)  Scope and Content Note: Additions, 1931-1997, consisting of diaries (vols. 1-102,) correspondence, writings and research notes, coursework materials, and university and state projects while a history professor at UW-River Falls and president of UW-Whitewater.	⇧
	Diaries and Correspondence
Micro 2116	Diaries (vols. 1-97), 1931-1992 Scope and Content Note: Diaries (vols. 1-97) kept by Wyman, including occasional clippings, programs, and other items, 1931-1992. Volume 1 on Reel 14 contains a list of wedding gifts, and with this volume is a "baby book" kept by Wyman's mother, with data about his early life.
M2016-087 Box   1 Folder   1-5	Diaries (vols. 98-102), 1993-1997
Box   1 Folder   6	Wyman biographical and professional information, 1959-1990
	Correspondence
Box   1 Folder   7-12	General correspondence, 1959-1991
	Personal correspondence
Box   1 Folder   13-24	1955-1988
Box   2 Folder   1-16	1968-1991
Box   3 Folder   1-3	1991-1995
Box   3 Folder   4-6	Professional correspondence, 1968-1987
	Wisconsin State University correspondence
Box   3 Folder   7-9	1967-1980
Box   3 Folder   10-12	1968-1975, 1993
Box   3 Folder   13-14	1989-1993
Box   3 Folder   15-16	UW-Whitewater, 1962-1965
Box   3 Folder   17-23	Publisher's correspondence, 1954-1979
	Writings and Research
Box   4 Folder   1	American Adventure, 1969-1970
Box   4 Folder   2	Biography as an Approach to State and Local History, 1962
Box   4 Folder   3-6	Charles Round Low Cloud, undated
	Chippewa: A History of the Great Lakes Woodland Tribe of 3 Centuries
Box   4 Folder   7-8	Draft
Box   4 Folder   9-25	Research notes and reviewed writings
Box   5 Folder   1	Dedication in the Memory of Frederic Remington, 1976-1977
Box   5 Folder   2	Distinguished Alumni of the University of Wisconsin-River Falls History, 1977, 1991-1992
Box   5 Folder   3-6	Domestic Animal Lore, undated
Box   5 Folder   7	Folklore speeches, 1992-1993
Box   5 Folder   8-9	Frontier women, 1971-1972
Box   5 Folder   10-20	Great Legends and Stories of Fifty States, circa 1990
Box   5 Folder   21	Great Legends and Stories of Mid-America, 1988
Box   5 Folder   22	How a Veterinarian Cured a Farmer's Cow, 1971-1976
Box   5 Folder   23-24	Legend of Charlie Glass: a Negro Cowboy on the Colorado-Utah Range, 1971
Box   5 Folder   25	Merritts' Great Mesabi Adventure
Box   5 Folder   26-29	Mythical Creatures of the USA and Canada
Box   6 Folder   1-4	Mythical Creatures of the USA and Canada (continued)
Box   6 Folder   6	The Old Northwest Bicentennial Series, 1979
Box   6 Folder   7	Reminiscences of E.H. Kleinpell, emeriti president, 1972
Box   6 Folder   8	Snakes, Pets, and Rattlers, 1978-1979
Box   6 Folder   9	Snakes, Sayings, Superstitions, and other Lore
Box   6 Folder   10-16	Wisconsin Folklore speeches, research and correspondence, 1957-1979
Box   6 Folder   17-19	Wisconsin and North Country Stories about Fish and Fisherman, 1969-1986
Box   6 Folder   20-24	Wisconsin and North Country Wolf and Bear Stories, 1981-1984
Box   7 Folder   1-3	Wisconsin: What is Unique about the State, 1968-1990
Box   7 Folder   4-10	Witching for Water, Oil Pipes, and Precious Minerals, 1977
Box   7 Folder   11	Women ranchers research, 1973-1974
Box   7 Folder   12-13	Magazine and newspaper articles
Box   7 Folder   14-17	Wyman book reviews, 1966-1983, 1972-1973
Box   7 Folder   18	Unpublished Wyman papers, undated
Box   7 Folder   19-20	Research notes, 1988-1992
Box   7 Folder   21	Newspaper clippings and flyers, 1968-1984
Box   7 Folder   22	Other authors' writings, 1987-1990
	UW-River Falls Press
Box   7 Folder   23-25	1972-1977
Box   8 Folder   1	1974-1990
Box   8 Folder   2-4	Sales of Wyman's books, 1977-1987
	Coursework
Box   8 Folder   5	Elementary school notes, 1973-1988
Box   8 Folder   6-8	General seminar research notes, circa 1940s-1950s
Box   8 Folder   9	General history syllabi and notes, circa 1950s-1970s
Box   8 Folder   10-11	American folklore class, undated
Box   8 Folder   12-14	American frontier seminar writings, undated
Box   8 Folder   15-16	Wisconsin and American frontier seminar research, 1952-1971
Box   9 Folder   1	Wisconsin and American frontier seminar research, 1952-1971 (continued)
Box   9 Folder   2	History of American Civilization seminar 51 background research, 1947
Box   9 Folder   3-4	History of American Civilization seminars 51-53, 1958-1961
Box   9 Folder   5	Topics used in history seminars, 1942-1962
Box   9 Folder   6	American History 1865 to Present, 1954 Summer seminar, 1953-1955
Box   9 Folder   7	Economic History of the United States, seminars 150-3, 1961
Box   9 Folder   8	Syllabi and outlines for American frontier seminars, 1956-1962
Box   9 Folder   9	History of the American Frontier, 1960-1962
Box   9 Folder   10	American Frontier to 1850, seminar 365, 1973-1974
Box   9 Folder   11-13	History of American Conflict, seminar 152, 1973
Box   9 Folder   14	Forty-Two Biographies of Great Leaders, undated
Box   9 Folder   15	Social Science seminar 13, 1958
	State and University Projects
Box   9 Folder   16	AACTE tour of Israel report, 1964
Box   9 Folder   17-19	State University Centennial History project, 1961-1965
Box   10 Folder   1-4	State University Centennial History project, 1967-1976, 1984
Box   10 Folder   5	History of Wisconsin Advisory Committee, 1979-1982
Box   10 Folder   6	ISU Class of 1929 Continuing Impact Committee, 1989
Box   10 Folder   7	Western Writers of America Annual Spur Awards competition, 1966