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Papers, ca. 1911-1984...1990

Manuscript Collection 1272

• Information about Blanche Hanks Elliott
• Information about the Collection
• Contents of the Collection

INFORMATION ABOUT BLANCHE HANKS ELLIOTT

Marion Blanche Hanks Elliott was born November 17, 1901, at Johnson, Arkansas, Washington County, daughter of Maude Mason Hanks and Nathan Hanks.  She attended public school in Johnson and graduated from Fayetteville High School.  In 1924 she received her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Degree from the University of Arkansas.  In 1922 she married Lester Elliott.

In 1926, after a brief period teaching in Camden, Tennessee, Elliott began her professional career in Arkansas with the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service as Pope County Home Demonstration Agent.  In 1927 she became home demonstration agent in Benton County.  She began writing articles about women's crafts, and wrote a regular local newspaper column about home demonstration club and cooperative extension activities.  She organized rural women's rest camps and she was named Most Efficient Extension Agent in 1930.

In the early 1930s, the Elliotts bought a farm near Mt. Comfort in Washington County.  While she was no longer employed by the Extension Service, she worked with rural women and the county agent to establish the Washington County Farm Women's Market.

In 1952 the Elliotts bought the War Eagle Farm and its historic Blackburn house in Benton County.  Elliott continued her interest in rural crafts, particularly weaving, and she became a member of the Northwest Arkansas Handweaver's Guild.  In 1952 the guild held a crafts fair on the War Eagle property.  It was the genesis of the Ozark Arts and Crafts Fair, an enormously successful endeavor that became Elliott's life work.  She was the driving force behind the fair's governing board, the Ozarks Arts and Crafts Fair Association.  Her vision led to the establishment of the annual Back-in-the-Hills Antique Show and Collector's Fair, as well as the Ozarks Arts and Crafts Seminar to teach the skills of local artisans.  All of these events are held at the War Eagle Farm.

For over twenty years, beginning in the 1950s, Elliott wrote a regular arts and crafts column for The Ozarks Mountaineer magazine as well as a weekly War Eagle column in local newspapers.

Blanche Hanks Elliott died on December 21, 1990.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE COLLECTION

The papers document Elliott's association with M. E. Oliver, Edsel Ford, Ernie Deane, Clay M. Anderson, David Pryor, Orval Faubus, and a number of War Eagle artisans (1950s - 1980s) and persons in Cooperative Extension work in Arkansas (1920s - 1930s).

Organizations represented include: Benton County Rug Weavers, Northwest Arkansas Handweavers Guild, Washington County Farm Women's Market, Ozark Council of Artists and Craftsmen, Benton County Republican Committee, Benton County home demonstration clubs, and the Ozarks Arts and Crafts Fair Association.

Subjects discussed in her writings, in her collections of clippings, and in the printed material include: Benton and Washington County history, Northwest Arkansas agriculture and rural life, descriptions of crafts and artisans, particularly involving weaving, sculpture, basket making, doll making, quilting, and wood carving.  The organization of and activities of the War Eagle Fair, the Back-in-the-Hills Antique Show and Collectors Fair, and the Ozarks Arts and Crafts Seminars are also included.

The Blanche Hanks Elliott Papers were donated to the Special Collections Division by Shirley Elliott Sutton on January 11, 1994.

Processed by Ellen Compton Shipley, Special Collections Division, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas, in August, 1999.

CONTENTS OF THE COLLECTION (10 containers; 6 linear feet)

Series 1. Correspondence, personal documents, newspapers and magazine clippings, photographs, columns and articles written by Elliott, 1911-1990.  (Boxes 1-4)

Series 2. Records of Arkansas Cooperative Extension and Home Demonstration work, as well as records of clubs to which Elliott belonged.
                Contains clippings, record books, scrapbooks, and clippings of general interest in local history and agriculture, ca 1920-1985.  (Boxes 5-6)

Series 3. Printed material collected by Elliott, including publications of government agencies and businesses involved with homemaking, ca 1926-1980.  (Boxes 7-9)

Oversize Materials.  Contains oversize items from all series.  (Box 10)

Series 1. Correspondence, personal documents, newspapers and magazine clippings, photographs, columns and articles written by Elliott, 1911-1990  (Boxes 1-4)

Correspondence ranging from childhood notes to letters from various artists and politicians.  Elliott's writings include drafts as well as finished pieces on extension work, arts and crafts, and local history.  Personal documents range from school certificates to awards.  Items related to War Eagle includes clippings, folders, and printed material.

Box 1

 1. 1911-1917.
 2. 1920-1929.
 3. 1930-1936.
 4. 1943-1949.
 5. 1952-1959.
 6. 1960-1969.
 7. 1970-1978.
 8. 1981-1993.
 9. n.d.
 10.  News releases 1955, 1966, n.d.
 11.  Arkansas History Commission, newsletters, 1961 and 1970.

Box 2

 1. Blanche Elliott's autobiography.
 2. County Extension articles.
 3. Articles Titled: Minerva Ettison, Tom Haxley, Helen Gordon Johnson, Joseph Ellis, The Craft of Hooking Rugs, the Van Moorland Apple Dolls.
 4. Publicity pieces.
 5. Drafts of Arts and Crafts column, n.d. (1 of 3).
 6. Drafts of Arts and Crafts column, n.d. (2 of 3).
 7. Drafts of Arts and Crafts column, n.d. (3 of 3).
 8. Drafts of articles on the Van Winkle house and War Eagle history.
 9. Drafts of articles on rug and hand weaving.
 10.  Fragments of articles and columns.
 11. Newspaper articles.
 12. Handwritten drafts of articles and columns (1 of 3).
 13. Handwritten drafts of articles and columns (2 of 3).
 14. Handwritten drafts of articles and columns (3 of 3).
 15. Articles written by Blanche Elliott (OV; see Box 10).

Box 3

 1. Educational documents and awards.
 2. Report cards and school programs.
 3. School notebooks and written work (1 of 2).
 4. School notebooks and written work (2 of 2).
 5. Published articles about Blanche Elliott (1 of 2).
 6. Published articles about Blanche Elliott (2 of 2).
 7. Family related clippings.
 8. Obituaries.
 9. Awards, tickets, registration forms (some OV material; See Box 10).
 10. Programs and notes from honorary events: Blanche Elliott Day; Golden Wedding Anniversary.
 11. Guest book at War Eagle Farms, 1955-1964.
 12.  Account book belonging to Lester Elliott; article about Lester Elliott.
 13.  Programs from the Women's World Fair, 1927.
 14.  Miscellaneous Personal Documents.
 15.  Personal photographs.
 16.  Miscellaneous photographs related to Blanche Elliott.
 17.  Composite photograph: Fayetteville High School, graduating Class of 1920 (See Box 10).
 18.  Oversize photograph: College of Agriculture students and faculty, 1922 (See map case in Special Collections Reading Room).

Box 4

 1. War Eagle news columns from local newspapers, written by Blanche Elliott (1950s).
 2. War Eagle news columns (1960s).
 3. War Eagle news columns, n.d. (1 of 3).
 4. War Eagle news columns, n.d. (2 of 3).
 5. War Eagle news columns, n.d. (3 of 3).
 6. Miscellaneous clippings about War Eagle Farm, community and Fair and Antique show.
 7. War Eagle Fair booklets (1954-1972).
 8. War Eagle Fair booklets (11973-1992).
 9. War Eagle Fair exhibitors (1950s and n.d.).
 10. Back-in-the-Hills Antique Show and Collector's Fair (1963-1988).
 11. Ozarks Arts and Crafts Seminar (1973-1991).
 12. Printed material about War Eagle Fair and Antique Show.
 13. Newspaper articles about War Eagle, written by Edsel Ford and others (1950s-1960s)(see OV Box 10).
 14. Advertising placards for War Eagle Fair (n.d., 1978, 1981)(see OV Box 10).

Series 2.  Records of Arkansas Cooperative Extension and Home Demonstration work, etc. (Boxes 5 and 6)

Box 5

 1. Clippings describing Cooperative Extension activities (1920s and 1930s) (1 of 2).
 2. Clippings describing Cooperative Extension activities (1920s and 1930s) (2 of 2).
 3. Clippings and printed material related to the production of "Ruby's Apple Delight."
 4. Clippings and records related to the Home Demonstration Clubs rest camps for women (1930s).
 5. Cap and apron pattern cut from newspapers.
 6. Records of the Pine Cone Home Demonstration Club (1931-1935) (1 of 2).
 7. Records of the Pine Cone Home Demonstration Club (1931-1935) (2 of 2).
 8. Records of the Pine Cone Home Demonstration Club (1935-1940).
 9. Records of the Pine Cone Home Demonstration Club (1940-1941).
 10. Scrapbook of the Kilkare Home Demonstration Club (ca 1929).

Box 6

 1. Records of the Farm Women's Market (1932-1947) (1 of 2).
 2. Records of the Farm Women's Market (1932-1947) (2 of 2).
 3. Records of the Northwest Arkansas Handweaver's Guild and Weaving Club of Northwest Arkansas (1953-1955).
 4. Records of the Northwest Arkansas Handweaver's Guild (1953-1955).
 5. Records of the Benton County Rug Weaver's Association, n.d.
 6. Records of the Benton County Republican Committee (1968).
 7. Records of the Council of Ozark Artists and Craftsmen and Northwest Arkansas Branch of the National League of American Pen Women (1959...1982).
 8. Records of the Arkansas Federation of Women's Clubs, various Northwest Arkansas organizations (1929...1959).
 9. Clippings about Northwest Arkansas crafts (1950s).
 10. Miscellaneous written accounts of Benton and Washington County history.
 11. "Aunt Setta's War Stories or Southern Life in the Sixties" [1860s].
 12. Clippings about Northwest Arkansas agriculture (1946 and n.d.).

Series 3.  Printed material collected by Elliott, including publications of government agencies and businesses involved with homemaking, ca 1926-1980  (Boxes 7-9)

Box 7

 1. Printed material about Cooperative Extension work (1 of 2).
 2. Printed material about Cooperative Extension work (2 of 2).
 3. Printed material about homemaking.
 4. Printed material about plantings for home improvement.
 5. Printed material about laundry.
 6. Printed material labeled "school lunch."
 7. Printed material labeled "sewing hints."
 8. Printed material labeled "baking."
 9. Printed material labeled "salads."
 10. Printed material labeled "poetry."

Box 8

 1. Pamphlet collection about home products (1920-1940) (1 of 4).
 2. Pamphlet collection about home products (1920-1940) (2 of 4).
 3. Pamphlet collection about home products (1920-1940) (3 of 4).
 4. Pamphlet collection about home products (1920-1940) (4 of 4).
 5. Henry A. Dreer "Seed, Plant, and Bulb Catalog" (ca 1929-1930).
 6. Bee Brand Cookery News (ca 1929-1930).
 7. Capper's Farmer newsletters (1929).
 8. Clippings from Successful Farming magazine.  Includes articles on gardens.
 9. Clippings from Better Homes and Gardens (1927-1928).
 10. "Out of the Bag."  Newsletter of The Household Science Institute (1929).
 11. Miscellaneous clippings about home products and crafts (1929).
 12. Cooking School Scrapbook (1934).
 13. Clippings from Farm and Fireside (1920s) (See OV Box 10).
 14. Clippings from Ladies Home Journal (1929-1931) (See OV Box 10).
 15. Clippings from The Delineator (ca 1920s) (See OV Box 10).
 16. Clippings from The Household Magazine (1930)(See OV Box 10).
 17. Clippings from miscellaneous home and garden magazines (1920s) (See OV Box 10).
 
Box 9

 1. Shuttle Craft Bulletins (1 of 4).
 2. Shuttle Craft Bulletins (2 of 4).
 3. Shuttle Craft Bulletins (3 of 4).
 4. Shuttle Craft Bulletins (4 of 4).
 5. Shuttle Craft (instruction sheets-1920s) (OV, See Box 10).

Box 10    Oversize Materials.

Materials listed here are too large to store in their logical locations.  Within the boxes they are arranged according to series and subseries numbers.

 1.  Articles written by Blanche Elliott.
 2.  Honorary Citizen of Oklahoma certificate.
 3.  Composite photograph: Fayetteville High School, graduating Class of 1920.
 4.  Newspaper articles about War Eagle, written by Edsel Ford and others (1950s-1960s).
 5.  Advertising placards for War Eagle Fair (n.d., 1978, 1981).
 6.  Clippings from miscellaneous home and garden magazines (1920s).
 7.  Shuttle Craft (instruction sheets-1920s).
 5.  Clippings from Farm and Fireside,(1920s).
 6.  Clippings from Ladies Home Journal (1929-1931).
 7.  Clippings from The Delineator newsletters (ca 1920s).
 8.  Clippings from The Household Magazine (1930).