Lillie Chaffin papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Lillie Chaffin papers
- Date
- 1947-1995, undated (inclusive)
- Extent
- 17.1 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- Appalachian authors
- American poetry -- Women authors.
- Manuscripts, American -- Kentucky.
- Poets, American -- Kentucky.
- Bert T. Combs Appalachian Collection
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged by format.
- Preferred Citation
- 87m11: [identification of item], Lillie Chaffin papers, 1947-1995, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Lillie D. Chaffin was born February 1, 1925, at Varney, Kentucky, to Kenis and Fairybelle Dorton. Lillie began school at age four and graduated eighth grade at twelve. Her family could not afford to send her to high school, but with the school administration's assistance she was able to attend Johns Creek High School in Pikeville. Lillie dropped out of high school to marry Thomas Chaffin in 1942 but resumed her education three years later. After graduating as valedictorian of her class in 1947, Lillie completed her bachelor's degree at Pikeville College. She then began a career in the public school system and devoted 28 years as a teacher and librarian in Kentucky public schools. Lillie moved to Florida in 1981 following the death of her husband, Thomas. There, she met and married Vernon O. Kash, who died in 1985. After being diagnosed with cancer, Lillie joined her son, Thomas, in West Virginia, and died there in October 1993.
- Early in her teaching career, Lillie began writing poetry and children's stories. Her poetry was featured in journals and anthologies nationwide and in 1963, she published her first children's book, titled A Garden is Good. In 1967, her poetry anthology A Stone for Sisyphus earned an award from the International Poetry Society. In 1969, her book Bear Wheather was named one of the best juvenile books of the year by the New York Times. In 1971, John Henry McCoy was awarded the annual Best Book for Young Readers Award from the Child Study Association of America. In 1974, her book Eighth Day Thirteenth Moon was nominated for the Pulitzer Prize. In 1991, she co-edited God's Plenty: Modern Kentucky Writers, a collection of short fiction, poetry and essays by Kentucky authors.
- Throughout her writing career, Lillie authored seventeen books of poetry, fiction, and non-fiction for children and adults. She went on to earn a master's degree from Eastern Kentucky University and was named Teacher of the Year and Distinguished alumnus by the university. She was also awarded honorary Doctorate of Letters degrees from both EKU and Pikeville College. In 1996, Morehead State University began the Thomas and Lille D. Chaffin Award, which recognizes outstanding Appalachian authors. Notable recipients of the award include George Ella Lyon, Michael McFee, Michael Chitwood, and James R. Riley.
- Sources:
- https://pikecountykyhistoricalsociety.com/lillie-d-chaffin/
- https://kentuckyoralhistory.org/ark:/16417/xt74qr4nnt8p
- Scope and Content
- The Lillie Chaffin papers (dated 1947-1995, undated; 17.1 cubic feet; 19 boxes) comprise drafts, research materials, correspondence, scrapbooks, and photos related to the life and work of the Kentucky writer. The collection contains drafts of Chaffin's works, reference materials related to workshops and publication, professional correspondence with publishers and agents, personal correspondence with friends and family, Chaffin's journals and notes, and scrapbooks of clippings and pamphlets that review and celebrate Chaffin's life and work. The manuscript series, comprising the bulk of the collection, contains drafts of Chaffin's works. The series is divided into sub-series according to the type of work, following Chaffin's original organization when possible. The professional series contains materials related to Chaffin's teaching and writing career, including workshop notes and handouts, writing and publication reference materials, publicity materials and clippings, and correspondence with publishers and agents. The personal series contains Chaffin's journals, spanning from 1971 to her death in 1993, as well as scrapbook pages, personal correspondence with friends and family, and materials related to family members and Chaffin's personal life. The photograph series contains photos of Chaffin, professional conferences and presentations, and friends and family.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
Manuscripts, 1960-1988, undated
Drafts, 1973-1987, undated
Books, 1973-1987, undated
The Art of Dying, undated
The Backhomers, undated
The Big Squeeze, undated
Beajay, undated
Bear Winter, undated
Broken Pavement, undated
The Campaign, undated
Centerville, undated
The Cleft, undated
Coal, 1973, undated
Coming Up Rosy, undated
Coralee, undated
Dregs, undated
Emma Sue, undated
Experimental Living, Individual Dying, undated
God's Unchanging Hand, undated
High Lonesome, undated
The Holy Family, undated
In the Darkness, undated
Maywood: Mystery on Hatfield Hill, undated
Mountain Mystery, undated
Mystery in the Mountains, undated
Notes from a Journal, undated
Ridgerunners, 1987, undated
Rosewood, undated
Seedlings, undated
The Slide, undated
The Sound of Silence, undated
Twice Dead, undated
View from a Mountain, undated
We Be Warm til Springtime Comes, 1979-1980, undated
Who Are You?, undated
Untitled, undated
Cookbooks, undated
Poetry, 1987-1988, undated
Adult, undated
Juvenile, undated
Children's, 1961-1972, undated
Subjects, undated
Compilations, undated
Unsorted, 1987-1988, undated
Short stories, 1960-1980, undated
Adult, 1968-1980, undated
Juvenile, 1960-1963, undated
Children's, undated
Unsorted, 1960-1980, undated
Non-fiction, undated
Performance, undated
Unsorted, undated
Professional, 1957-1993, undated
Workshop materials, 1973-1989, undated
Writing/publication reference materials, 1963-1993, undated
Notes, 1968-1988, undated
Publicity/clippings, 1957-1988, undated
Certification and employment, 1975-1978
Student paper about Chaffin, 1970
Postcards featuring Chaffin's work, 1978, undated
Unsorted, 1957-1988, undated
Personal, 1953-1995, undated
Journals, 1971-1993, undated
Scrapbooks, 1953-1993, undated
Correspondence, 1972-1992, undated
Family papers, 1962-1995, undated
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Table of Contents
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
