Ardis M. Walker Papers, 1928-1971

Summary

Creator:
Walker, Ardis Manly, 1901-
Abstract:
Papers of the American engineer, writer. Collection includes correspondence, 1928-63; typescript, holograph, and carbon copy manuscripts of articles; publicity materials including photographs; and published works. Works primarily concern local California history, especially for Kern County, California.
Extent:
1.5 linear feet
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Ardis M. Walker Papers,

Background

Scope and content:

The Ardis M. Walker Papers consist of correspondence, writings, printed material, and a small amount of miscellanea.

Correspondence consists primarily of incoming letters, much of which is related to Walker's writings.

Writings contains typescripts of articles, books, pamphlets, poems, and other writings. Of particular interest is the typescript for his Sierra Nevada Sequence (1968), which includes proofs of the woodcuts by Kirk Martin that accompanied each sonnet.

Printed material includes campaign material and clippings relating to Walker's bid for Congress, clippings relating to his work, newspapers edited by Walker, publicity items for some of his books, and a selection of letterpress printings of some of his poems.

A small amount of Miscellany completes the collection. Here will be found photographs of Walker and his house, along with typed copy for two radio pieces on Walker that apparently ran on the local radio station.

Biographical / historical:

Ardis M. Walker was an American engineer, civil servant, and local historian and poet.

A descendant of a Kern County, California pioneer family, Walker was born in an old mining camp in Kernsville, California. He was educated in the public schools of the Kern County system and later attended Fresno State College, the University of California at Los Angeles and the University of Southern California. After graduation from the School of Engineering of the latter institution, he was employed in New York City as an engineer. Returning to Kern County, he became active in civil affairs, serving as a supervisor and as a justice of the peace. He also became an active sportsman and conservationist, and was well-known for his writings on local history. He published a number of books, both prose and poetry.

Acquisition information:
Gift of Ardis M. Walker , 1971, 1976, 1988, 1989.
Arrangement:

Overall the collection is arranged alphabetically. Clippings are arranged roughly chronologically.

Access and use

Restrictions:

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Terms of access:

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

Preferred citation:

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Ardis M. Walker Papers,

Location of this collection:
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries
Bird Library, Room 600
Syracuse, NY 13244, United States
Link to repository site
Contact:
315.443.2697
scrc@syr.edu