Clifford Lindsey Alderman Papers
Scope and Contents
The Clifford Lindsey Alderman Papers contain research notes, manuscripts, typescripts, galleys, proofs, maps, photographs, fan mail, catalogues, and letters created and accumulated by Clifford Lindsey Alderman between 1958 and 1981. The material is organized into five series: books, fan mail, photographs, catalogues, and letters sent.
The material in the book series includes manuscripts, typescripts, galleys, proofs, or blues for thirty-one books written between 1958 and 1981. The papers also contain Alderman's original research notes for four books. For twenty years, Alderman spent an average of one day a week conducting historical research at the New York Public Library. He wrote his notes on letter-sized, lined yellow paper in a type of shorthand based on the Speedwriting technique and transcribed his notes after taking them. The papers in the book series are arranged alphabetically by title and the material for each book is arranged chronologically in order of creation where known.
The series of fan mail contains letters the author received from students between 1968 and 1974. Alderman participated in a Living Literature Program at four elementary schools in or near Seaford, New York, enjoying status as writer-in-residence-for-a-day at each of the schools. The fan mail expresses student's gratitude for the author's visit. The material is arranged chronologically.
The photograph series contains a World War II photograph of Alderman as the commander of an officer training school at Middlebury College in Vermont, two photographs of Alderman's 1968 visit to an elementary school, and a 1968 publicity photo.
The series of catalogues contains ten publisher catalogues printed between 1958 and 1967. The catalogues list books printed by specific publishers for specific calendar years or age groups. Each of the catalogues includes books written by Alderman. The catalogues are arranged chronologically.
The letters sent series contains seventeen letters sent to the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection by Clifford Lindsey Alderman between 1968 and 1979. These letters have been selected and photocopied from the de Grummond Collection correspondence file because they contain information on Alderman's historical research and interests. The letters are arranged chronologically.
Dates
- Creation: 1958-1981
Conditions Governing Access
Noncirculating; available for research.
Conditions Governing Use
The collection is protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). Reproductions can be made only if they are to be used for "private study, scholarship, or research." It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials.
Biographical / Historical
Clifford Lindsey Alderman, born in 1902 in Springfield, Massachusetts, graduated from the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis in 1924. He did graduate work in chemical engineering at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, but spent only a short time in chemistry and engineering fields. He served on the staffs of naval units at Columbia University, Holy Cross College and Millsaps College during World War II, eventually commanding an officer training school at Middlebury College in Vermont. After the war, he worked as an editor and did public relations for shipping and foreign trade industries.
An avid student of American history, Alderman wrote historical novels for adults, and both fiction and nonfiction for young adults. He wrote under his full name, Clifford Lindsey Alderman, as a sentimental tribute to his mother, whose maiden name was Lindsey. Alderman believed that his mother could have become a fine novelist in her own right were it not for her family responsibilities and untimely death at a relatively young age. He also believed that his own interest in the American colonial and Revolutionary periods was a natural occurrence since he was a direct descendant of John and Priscilla Alden and had two ancestors who fought in the American Revolution.
Alderman believed in the importance of visiting the places of which he wrote. He and his wife, Mildred, traveled extensively in their native New England, and took repeated research trips to Canada, England, Ireland, France, and the Caribbean.
The Aldermans lived most of their married life in Seaford, New York, close enough to Manhattan for him to do weekly research at the New York Public Library. The beauty and warmth of Florida appealed to them by their retirement years, however, and they moved to an adult community in Pinellas Park, Florida in the mid-1970s. Cliff Alderman died in 1988 at the age of 86.
Sources:
Compiled from sources within the Clifford Lindsey Alderman Papers
Something About the Author, v. 3, pp. 6 - 7
Extent
8.40 Cubic Feet (27 Boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Clifford Lindsey Alderman, a retired Navy commander and student of American history, wrote historical fiction and nonfiction for adults and adolescents. He wrote most often about New England colonial and Revolutionary history, but also on English and French history. The Clifford Lindsey Alderman Papers contain production materials for thirty-one non-fiction books published between 1958 and 1981.
Arrangement
This collection consists of five series in 27 boxes:
Series I: Books (1958-1981)
Series II: Fan Mail (1968-1974)
Series III: Photographs (1944-1968)
Series IV: Catalogues (1958-1967)
Series V: Letters Sent (1968-1979)
Immediate Source of Acquisition
These papers were donated to the de Grummond Children's Literature Collection of the University of Southern Mississippi Libraries by Clifford Lindsey Alderman between 1968 and 1981.
- Title
- Clifford Lindsey Alderman Papers
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- C. [Cheri] Alder
- Date
- 2002-01
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- English
- Sponsor
- This finding aid is the product of a grant funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities..
Repository Details
Part of the de Grummond Childrens Literature Collection Repository
118 College Drive - 5148
Hattiesburg MS 39406-0001
601.266.4345
