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G. Malcolm Laws Jr. papers

 Collection
Identifier: UUS_COLL MSS 232

Scope and Contents

The G. Malcolm Laws' collection consists of correspondence, catalogues, English class notes, maps and tourist guides, memoirs, royalties, Voice of America correspondence, John I. White correspondence, White House Library organization, articles and writings, Princeton fifty year class reunion book, diverse writings and articles from Laws, general information forms on Laws' personal and public life, writings and book reviews on Laws' three published books - Native American Balladry, American Balladry from British Broadsides,, and, The British Literary Ballad, book reviews from Laws on other works, manuscripts and typescripts of his three books, an encapsulated broadside, and a ballad bibliography.

This collection primarily revolves around Laws' devoted writing and teaching career in the field of American and British folklore. The core of his folklore interest that focused on mid-eighteenth century British balladry and American balladry from the dawn of the nineteenth century is evident in his collection.

Broken down, his collection consists of nineteen boxes. The first two boxes contain outgoing and incoming correspondence - the former is arranged chronologically and the latter alphabetically. The incoming correspondence can simply be matched with the outgoing by referring to the date. Because of the extensive correspondence from John I. White, his material is located in the topics section in box 4.

A general rule of thumb with the boxes 3 through 7 is that they are arranged alphabetically by the topic name, author's last name, or title's name. If several dated documents are found in a given group, they are arranged chronologically. If several non-dated documents are found in a given group, they are arranged alphabetically.

Boxes 3 and 4 contain a diversified group of alphabetized topics: catalogues, English classes taught, maps/postcards/museum pamphlets, memoirs, programs, royalties, Voice of America (VOA) material, correspondence from John I. White, and White House library. Boxes 5 and 6 consist of articles and writings from Laws' folklore collection that are arranged alphabetically according to the author's name and alphabetically according to the title when no author is given. Box 7 contains the Princeton Fifty Year Class Reunion book and a letter from Tip.

Boxes 8 through 17 consist of Laws' vast collection of writings. Box 8 contains some of his miscellaneous writings, ranging from essays to unpublished articles, and is arranged chronologically. Box 9 consists of general information forms of Laws' personal life, writings/book reviews on his three published books with some related advertisements of the books, reviews from Laws' concerning other works, and finally, articles by Laws. Folders on his three published books are arranged chronologically (the order the books were published), and the several articles pertaining to each book are alphabetized by the name of society/journal/quarterly. Folders on Laws' reviews are arranged alphabetically by the title of the book. Folders on Laws' articles are arranged alphabetically.

Boxes 10 through 17 contain the manuscripts and typescripts of Laws' three published books. They are arranged chronologically (the order they were published). The manuscripts and typescripts of each book are also arranged chronologically.

Box 18 contains an encapsulated broadside. Box 19 consists of Laws' bibliography on American ballad collections and humor.

It is noteworthy to mention that a considerable part of Laws' collection, consisting of a library of folklore books, has been separated from this collection and catalogued as Folk Collection 19: The G. Malcolm Laws Ballad Collection. After spending over fifty years in one of his favorite avocational pastimes - book collecting, Laws' amassed a remarkably valuable collection of rare and out-of-print material. In addition, for further information on one of Laws' prominent correspondents, John I. White, who was an authority on western cowboy songs, refer to USU Collection Mss 201: The John I. White Papers.

Dates

  • Creation: 1943-1978

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Restrictions

Open to public research.

Copyright

It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances.

Permission to publish material from the G. Malcolm Laws Jr. papers must be obtained from the Special Collections and Archives manuscript curator and/or the Special Collections and Archives department head.

Biographical Note

George Malcolm Laws Jr. was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on January 4, 1919. He married Beatrice Elfreth on June 10, 1950. They are the parents of four children: Susan E., Deborah A., George M. III, and Elizabeth A.

From Princeton University and the University of Pennsylvania, Laws received his AB in 1942, and from the University of Pennsylvania, he received his AM in 1946, and his PhD in 1949. Laws' interest in ballads, which developed while in college, led to his dissertation on the balladry of Native American Indians. The English Department at the University of Pennsylvania appointed him assistant instructor in 1942 and instructor in 1944. He was promoted to assistant professor in 1955, associate professor in 1959, and professor in 1966. He taught courses in English and nineteenth-century American literature, as well as courses in British and American balladry.

Correlating to his profession and personal interests, Laws involved himself in associations and societies. He had membership in the American Folklore Society, the Modern Language Association of America, the Merion Cricket Club, and the Union Benevolent Association (vice president).

Laws is highly regarded as one of America's leading scholars on ballads and folk songs. His committed career to the traditional ballad is deeply ingrained in American and British culture. English scholars and those interested in folklore acknowledge Laws especially for his three books: Native American Balladry, American Balladry from British Broadsides, and The British Literary Ballad. In addition to his books, a number of his articles and book reviews were published. Articles included, "The Spirit of Native American Balladry," "Anglo-Irish Balladry in North America," "W. Roy Mackenzie: 1883-1957," "Stories Told in Song," and "Death and Browning's Dying Bishop." Reviews included: review of The Ballads by M.J.C. Hodgart, Review of Shantymen and Shantyboys by W.M. Doerflinger, review of The Burl Ives Song Book, review of Negro Slave Songs in the United States by Miles M. Fisher, review of Irish Songs of Resistance by Patrick Galvin, review of A Folk Song Chapbook by Marion Kingston, and review of American Song Sheets, Slip Ballads, and Poetical Broadsides, 1850-1870 by Edwin Wolf.

Extent

19 boxes (7 linear feet)

Abstract

The G. Malcolm Laws collection consists of correspondence, catalogs, English class notes, maps and tourist guides, memoirs, royalties, Voice of America correspondence, John I. White correspondence, White House Library organization, articles and writings, Princeton fifty-year class reunion book, diverse writings and articles from Laws, general information forms on Laws' personal and public life, writings and book reviews on Laws' three published books: Native American Balladry, American Balladry from British Broadsides and, The British Literary Ballad, book reviews from Laws on other works, manuscripts and typescripts of his three books, an encapsulated broadside, and a ballad bibliography.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged alphabetically and chronologically .

Immediate Source of Acquisition

The materials that comprise this collection were purchased by USU Special Collections and Archives in 1995 from a dealer of rare books and manuscripts.

Related Materials

G. Malcolm Laws Ballad Collection (Folk Coll 19).

John I. White papers (Coll Mss 201).

Processing Information

Guide prepared by: Special Collections and Archives staff.

Title
Guide to the G. Malcolm Laws Jr. papers 1943-1978
Author
Finding aid created by Special Collections and Archives.
Date
2008
Description rules
Finding Aid Based On Dacs (Describing Archives: A Content Standard)
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding guide is in English in Latin script.
Sponsor
Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) grant, 2007-2008

Revision Statements

  • August 8, 2008.: Template information was updated to reflect Utah Manuscript Association best practices.
  • 2009: Template information was updated to reflect Archives West best practice guidelines.

Repository Details

Part of the Utah State University, Merrill-Cazier Library, Special Collections & Archives Repository

Contact:
Merrill-Cazier Library
Utah State University
3000 Old Main Hill
Logan Utah 84322-3000 United States
435 797-8248
435 797-2880 (Fax)