Woody Guthrie Archives
PERSONAL PAPERS

1912-1990 (1940-1961, bulk)
0.83 linear feet (2 boxes)

Scope and Content:  Military records, contracts, royalty statements, scripts, song lists, performance notes and itineraries, family papers, and hospital records relating to: Woody Guthrie's service in the Merchant Marine and United States Army; his activities as a performer and songwriter; home and family life; his stays in hospitals; and writings and drawings created by others.  Also included, as additional related material, are documents pertaining to Woody's family, home and employment activities that appear to have been obtained by the Woody Guthrie Foundation from a variety of sources.

Collection restrictions:  Because of privacy considerations, access to one document in Box 2, Folder 28 ("envelope, with markings by Woody Guthrie") will not be granted until January 1, 2033.

Arrangement Note:  The papers are arranged in six series: Merchant Marine and military; Woody Guthrie, performer and songwriter; home and family; hospital and medical; works by others; and additional related material.

Series 1: Merchant Marine and military

This series contains three subdivisions: Merchant Marine; military service; and military benefits.

The Merchant Marine subseries includes documentation of 1990 proceedings recognizing Guthrie's wartime service.

In addition to providing extensive documentation of Guthrie¹s activities as a serviceman, the military service records contain an assortment of notes, jottings and drawings.  Of particular interest is Guthrie's account of an attack on African-American servicemen by white troops at Scott Field, Illinois (Box 1, Folder 10). Guthrie's correspondence with his local draft board contains much information concerning his Merchant Marine and creative activities (Box 1, Folder 05).

Guthrie's teletype notes and lessons also contain drawings and essays (Box 1, Folder 11).

Series 2: Woody Guthrie, performer and songwriter

This series contains three subdivisions: financial and business; scripts; and notes, schedules and lists.

The financial and business papers contain an assortment of contracts signed by Guthrie, with a variety of entities and individuals, including Huddie Ledbetter, Sonny Terry and Brownie McGhee.  The other major component of this subdivision are royalty statements and related material.

The financial and business papers also include quotations and blurbs compiled by Guthrie; documents pertaining to Guthrie's and Marjorie Mazia's employment in a summer camp; and a 1952 receipt for his Martin guitar.

The series also contains a number of radio and dance scripts, some bearing annotations by Woody Guthrie.

The notes, schedules and lists in the series concern the Almanac Singers, performances for union and political groups, children's songs and parties, and a U.S. Public Health Service radio campaign featuring songs about syphilis.  Also included are Earl Robinson's comments on numerous Guthrie songs, along with Guthrie¹s annotations (Box 1, Folder 53).

Series 3: Home and family

This series contains a small number of items about Guthrie's home and family life, including a memo by Marjorie Mazia with various "reminders" for Woody Guthrie (Box 2, Folder 1.2)

Related material, including writings of Woody's father, C.E. Guthrie, and excerpts of an Okemah, Oklahoma High School Yearbook, may be found in Series 6.

Series 4: Hospital and medical

This series primarily consists of documents from Guthrie's hospitalization at The New Jersey State Hospital at Greystone Park (1956-1961).

As noted in "Collection restrictions", access to one document in Box 2, Folder 28 ("envelope, with markings by Woody Guthrie") will not be granted until January 1, 2033.

Series 5: Works by others

This series consists of poems, songs, essays, stories and drawings by persons other than Woody Guthrie.  Some of the documents contain Guthrie's
annotations or are transcriptions by him.  A number of the documents in this series were created by Anneke Van Kirk, Guthrie's third wife.

The series is arranged alphabetically.

Series 6: Additional related material

The documents in this series appear to have been obtained by the Woody Guthrie Foundation from a variety of sources.  They are included in the
Personal Papers record group for the convenience of researchers.

The series consists of writings of Woody's father, C.E. Guthrie (primarily anti-socialist tracts); portions of the 1929 Okemah, Oklahoma High School
Yearbook; the Bonneville Power Administration's personnel file on Woody Guthrie; portions of the F.B.I.'s extensive files on Guthrie; and an annotated listing of hardcover political books owned by Guthrie.