Manuscript Register

This document describes a collection of materials held by the
Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, Iowa 52242-1420
Phone: 319-335-5921
Fax: 319-335-5900
e-mail: lib-spec@uiowa.edu

Posted to Internet: 1998

Acquisition Note: These papers were given to the University of Iowa Libraries in 1951 by Ms. Roberts; an addition was given to the libraries by Mrs. Frank McClurg in 1969.

Access and Restrictions: This collection is open for research.

Digital Surrogates: Except where indicated, this document describes but does not reproduce the actual text, images and objects which make up this collection. Materials are available only in the Special Collections Department.

Copyright:  Please read The University of Iowa Libraries' statement on "Property Rights, Copyright Law, and Permissions to Use Unpublished Materials"

Use of Collections: The University of Iowa Libraries supports access to the materials, published and unpublished, in its collections. Nonetheless, access to some items may be restricted by their fragile condition or by contractual agreement with donors, and it may not be possible at all times to provide appropriate machinery for reading, viewing or accessing non-paper-based materials. Please read our Use of Manuscripts Statement.

Biographical Note

Katharine Roberts was born in Fort Madison on July 22, 1895, the daughter of Dr. Francis and Ann Cowles Roberts. She grew up in Fort Madison. In World War I she was a foreign correspondent for the Western Newspaper Union. During World War II, she was a free lance writer overseas.

She drew upon her war experience to write two novels about the European underground, Center of the Web and Private Report. After the war, she wrote a non-fiction book about the struggles of the Belgian peoples to rebuild entitled And the Bravest of These. For these books, she was awarded the Cross of the Knight of the Order of the Crown by Prince Charles, Regent of Belgium. She was also given a button by commandants of the underground movement.

Prior to writing her books, Ms. Roberts wrote short stoires and articles for major American magazines. She also had a play produced on Broadway in 1932, called "Divorce Me, Dear." She also engaged in speaking, in person and in radio broadcasts.

She died in New York on March 4, 1968.

Scope and Contents

This collection contains manuscripts for And the Bravest of These, Center of the Web, and Private Report. It also contains the manuscript for an unpublished nover, Wind From the River.

Box List

And the Bravest of These. Original draft, revised. Carbon of unrevised publisher's copy. Galley proof.

Center of the Web. One draft revised with earlier sugested titles, "The House on Harmony Street" or "They Come Again". Carbon of publisher' s copy with title "Center of The Web", which is title of published book.

Private Report. Publisher's copy, revised. Typewritten layout of some of the frort matter (8 pieces). Hand printed layout of title page (in pencil). Dummy proof of fly-title (2 cops.), title-page, copyright, dedication, disclaimer, foreword, and books by author. Galley proof with marginal notes.

Wind From The River. First carbon copy, part I. (box I). Typewritten carbon copy with title-page, books by author, disclairmer, and foreward note. Hand written corrections throughout. Second carbon copy, part Il and III. (box II). Hand written corrections throughout. Separate hand written check list of corrections.

Newspaper clippings, 1943 and 1948.