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Home Overview Oliver H. Statler Finding Aid Digital Collection Research Access
collection organization

The archival principles of provenance and original order were strictly maintained in processing the materials to reflect Statlerfs intellectual order, as well as to show the creative writing process he used to produce his formal writings. As a result, some of the series and subseries are arranged in chronological order and others are alphabetical or by subject. Papers were removed from non-archival file units and refoldered into acid-free alkaline folders and document boxes. The finding aid describes the collection down to folder level.

statlerThe papers are organized in the following series:

I.   Personal
II.  Correspondence
III. Literary works
IV. Art prints
V.  Audiovisual

These are further subdivided into subseries and in some cases sub-subseries.
Below is the scope of each series. For more detailed information about series and subseries, go to Series Description page.


I. Personal

This series is comprised primarily of memorabilia such as family letters, degrees, passports, childhood and adult photographs, etc. The archivist when organizing the material into folders imposed the order in the subseries Family. In the subseries Biography, the files were refoldered and labeled using the same wording Statler provided. In some instances, a topic was provided by the archivist, i.e. gBusiness cardsh, gV-mail to parents during warh, etc. The term gvarioush is used to denote dates too numerous to mention, i.e. 1943, 1955, 1972, 1988.


II. Correspondence

This series was divided into four categories (subseries) by Statler - Art related, General, Individual, and Publishers correspondence. The letters were refoldered and Statler folder titles retained. The correspondence consists of both incoming and outgoing letters. When Statler replied to a letter, he made a carbon copy of his reply and stapled it to the original incoming letter. The paper Statler used to produce the copy of the letter he wrote was very acidic. These need to be photocopied onto acid free paper.

Because so many of Statlerfs business associates were also friends, business and personal letters are intermixed. Sometimes the two categories are virtually indistinguishable and the publishersf letters may be very chatty. The researcher might want to consult all areas of a specific date and not just a specific category of correspondence. The span of the correspondence shows the loyalty Statler maintained over the years with long time friendships in the U.S. and Japan and also to his hometown of Huntley, IL and to the University of Chicago. Correspondence from other literary figures and publishers illustrate the status Statler enjoyed in his life nationally and internationally. Notable correspondents include James A. Michener, Miriam Korn, Harry Hess, Owen Lasiter, Albert Erskine, and Ansei Uchima.

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III. Literary Works

This series comprises the bulk of the collection. It illustrates Statlerfs intense interest and relationship with Japan and Japanese culture. It reflects his attention to factual and historical accuracy in his fiction and non-fiction works. It is divided into subseries by major books and processed in the chronological order in which he wrote them with one exception - Modern Japanese Prints. A small amount of material pertaining to this title was discovered mixed with Shimoda Story papers.

The sub-subseries Research Notes is a veritable wealth of information gathered by Statler. Only a small portion of the background information Statler collected ever appeared in his publications. The term gResearch Notesh was retained because this is what Statler called them. A better term in many cases might be gSource Materialh because a file in this sub-subseries might consist of a few handwritten notes, interviews, photocopies of an articles, postcards or newspaper clippings all pertaining to that folder topic.

The sub-subseries Manuscripts includes all versions Statler retained. These show revisions and the cut-and-paste method he sometimes used to make changes. The term gholographh refers to the original handwritten drafts. Again the paper on these early drafts, especially for Japanese Inn, is extremely acidic and should be photocopied.

The sub-subseries Correspondence refers to letters regarding the book itself. It consists of both incoming originals and outgoing carbon copies. Many of these show Statler gracious replies to all his fan mail.

The sub-subseries Brochures, Clippings & Reviews, Maps, and Photographs all pertain to that particular literary work.

The subseries Other writings consists of journal articles, books, filmscripts, forewords, introductions, miscellaneous commentary, plays, teaching and lecture notes and a short story written by Statler.


IV. Art Prints

This series illustrates the depth of Statler interest in Japanese woodblock print masterpieces and artists. It consists of print description card files which document hundreds of prints, artists greeting cards, photographs of prints and many original works of art. It was a work in progress throughout his life.


V. Audiovisual

The series consists of audio cassettes, audio reels, films, filmstrips, microfilm, negatives, photographs, postcards, posters, scroll, slides transparencies, and various video formats relating to Statler work. Some of it can be classified as research material, some pertain to lectures he gave and others are the results of the work he was commissioned to do.



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