Angie Debo Collection: Processing Notes

Biography Chronology Processing Notes Copyright Notice Debo Interviews Subject Guide Related Collections Eulogy National Literary Landmark Dedication
Finding Aids: Collection Description & Arrangement Papers Photo Collection Description & Arrangement Photographs Microfilmed Photographs

Organization Preservation Measures Access Points Preservation Microfilming Staff

Staff from the Oklahoma State University Library packed and transported the Angie Debo Papers from her home in Marshall in March 1988. Debo kept most of her papers tightly packed into four metal filing cabinets, each of which had four drawers. In addition, some were on closet shelves or in drawers. Her books were neatly arranged in bookcases in her study, the dining room and the living room, as well as on the back porch. For Debo these papers and books were a working collection, and she kept those she used more often in places that were easier to reach.

Organization

While packing, Special Collections staff made a special effort to maintain Debo's papers in the order in which she had kept them. During subsequent reviews, staff determined that Debo had placed some folders and papers where they were in the files rather than elsewhere because of lack of space or for convenience. While some reorganization was necessary to improve researchers' access to the material, staff made an effort to maintain Debo's file folder headings, adding clarifying notes as needed, as well as the order in which she placed material in the folders.

Debo kept distinct files of material related to each book she wrote or edited. Library staff separated these and files concerning her other publications and public presentations as sub-units. The remaining files were in more than one alphabet and there were several groups of material, since not all had been in file drawers. Staff then sorted out those files which were "Personal" and contained information about Debo's family or herself, including correspondence which she had kept separate from that to which she had assigned headings and placed in the filing cabinets. After this step was completed, the remaining files dealt with subjects and were basically in two alphabets; one contained more general topics and the other more material related to Native Americans. The decision was made to separate out as much of the material on Native Americans as possible and make it a subseries separate from the general subjects.

Correspondence is throughout the files. Most general personal correspondence is in the "Personal" files, while that which is more topical is in the subject files or those related to her publications.

Preservation Measures

Newspaper articles have been replaced with photocopies that are on acid-free paper. Entire issues or pages of newspapers have, for the most part, been retained in the original newsprint.

Oversized maps in the files have been relocated, with references to and from the original location.

Folded sheets of acid-free paper are used to replace the paper clips and staples with which Debo kept related material together.

Photographs among Debo's papers have been replaced with a photocopy on acid-free paper and the originals have been relocated to the "Photographs" series which is in boxes 63-65 and is described on p. xvi. Each photocopy and original has a note of the original location (beginning with a 'b') and an indication of the final location (beginning with a 'B'). The letters 'b' and 'B' indicate the box, and 'f' the folder.

Oversized items and realia have been separated from the other material. Notes of the presence of such items are incorporated into the inventory with other file folders in the same series. Separation sheets indicate the final location of oversized pieces that Debo kept in folders with related material.

Many of Debo's research notes for her books are on newsprint that is very brittle. These and most of her other papers have been microfilmed in order to preserve them as well as to make the information on the fragile paper available to researchers. The original files on embrittled newsprint are not available for research except when researchers need to clarify points that might arise during their use of the preservation microfilm.

Access Points

This collection has been cataloged in OCLC, with the author "Debo, Angie" and the title "Papers."

Copies of this finding aid are available from the repository. Inquire regarding format and reproduction.

Searchable databases developed by the repository provide access by topical keywords, names of correspondents, and names of interviewees, as well as descriptions of photographs. In addition there are citations for material about Debo, articles which she marked in the Chronicles of Oklahoma, and clippings she saved when conducting research for Oklahoma: Foot-loose and Fancy-free. Inquire about accessing them from sites outside of the library.

"See Also" notes have been inserted in the files to refer researchers to the location of related material located elsewhere in the collection that might be of interest.

Preservation Microfilming

Funds to microfilm of the Angie Debo Papers for preservation purposes were provided by a generous gift from Mrs. Edith Gaylord Harper. Filming was done in 1996 by Preservation Resources in Bethlehem, PA.

Some items in the collection are not on the microfilm. Material not filmed is indicated on the finding aid and the folder targets or in a descriptive note in the folder itself. After filming, all material from the folders that was not filmed was returned to its original location in the collection. The decision not to film was based on several factors, including the availability of the material in paper or on microfilm as well as the potential use items might have for researchers studying Angie Debo and the topics which occupied her attention.

Inquiries regarding material not filmed or information which it was not possible to film clearly should be directed to:

Angie Debo Curator
Special Collections and University Archives
Oklahoma State University Library
Stillwater, OK 74078-1071
Telephone: (405) 744-6311

Staff

Personnel involved in processing the collection include: Heather Lloyd, department head and director; David Moore, graduate assistant and processor; Eric Leuschner, staff assistant and database manager; Susan Walker, assistant librarian and photographs processor; and Milan Vajda, graduate assistant and microfilm monitor. Several students also assisted in the project.

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