Dr. Keats Sparrow Collection

1913-2009
Manuscript Collection #854
Portions of this collection are digitized (1 item)
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Creator(s)
Sparrow, W. Keats (Wendall Keats), 1942-2009
Physical description
4 Cubic Feet
Preferred Citation
Dr. Keats Sparrow Collection (#854), East Carolina Manuscript Collection, J. Y. Joyner Library, East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, USA.
Repository
ECU Manuscript Collection
Access
RESTRICTION: Access or use of boxes 11-13 of the collection prior to 1/1/2025 is prohibited except for the donor and the following persons: Elizabeth Harris Sparrow (donor's wife), Elizabeth Nicole Sparrow McDuffy (donor's daughter), Ashley Elizabeth Furr (donor's granddaughter), and John Dalton Sparrow, Jr. (donor's nephew). Original audiovisual media and digital files are unavailable for use. Please contact Special Collections for access copies.

Dr. Keats Sparrow was born in Kinston, North Carolina and spent 35 years as an educator. He was an English professor, department chair, and dean of the College of Arts and Sciences at East Carolina University. The collection ranges from 1913-2009 and includes photographs, newspaper clippings, speeches, periodicals, research, and pamphlets. The strength of the collection are supporting materials related to his doctoral dissertation about A.E. Housman and his employment at East Carolina University.

Scope and arrangement

The Dr. Keats Sparrow Collection consists of photographs, newspaper clippings, speeches, periodicals, research, and pamphlets. The materials within the collection generally relate to Dr. Keats Sparrow's education, work, interests, and events in his early childhood through adulthood. The most notable portion of the collection centers around Dr. Keats Sparrow's employment at East Carolina University. Published works were removed and cataloged for Special Collections Reference. **Please note, access to original audiovisual material is restricted. Contact Special Collections for more information.

Administrative information
Custodial History

April 16, 2002 13 items, 0.004 cubic feet; Camp Leach, Pamlico River, original photographs and documents (1953, 1984, 2001-2002) and a clipping pertaining to Camp Oceanside, Topsail Island, both summer camps operated by the Episcopal Diocese of East Carolina, ca. 1930s-1980s. Donor: Dr. Keats Sparrow.

June 9, 2003 1 item; Clipping (1984) concerning Camp Leach alumna Jane Ferree, entitled "Stylish pieces display this jewelers mettle" by Beverly Mills, staff writer, Raleigh (NC) News & Observer (1/4/1984), People: Lifestyles / Personalities / Activities Section, p. 11A. Donor: Sparrow, Keats (Dr.)

September 16, 2003 16 items; Collection (November 2001) of printed materials relating to membership in the Hakluyt Society, London, England, including special offers and quality facsimilies order form, list of upcoming lectures, membership renewal subscription, The Hakluyt Society Newsletter, and Publications in Print and in Preparation, 2001-2002, and How to apply to join The Hakluyt Society pamphlet. Donor: Sparrow, Keats (Dr.)

September 7, 2005, 51 items, 0.45 cubic feet; Papers (1926, 1937, 1974, 1986-1987, 1992-1993, 1995, 2005, n.d.) including correspondence, manuscripts, clippings, photographic prints, printed forms, published works and a videotape cassette relating to the donor's career and retirement as Dean of the Thomas Harriot School of Arts and Sciences at East Carolina University, family vacations, and his family history. See preliminary inventory. Donor: W. Keats Sparrow.

February 8, 2006, 18 items, 0.04 cubic feet; Collection (1996-1998) of printed materials relating to meetings of the Hakluyt Society, London, England, including annual report, list of members, presidential address, and leaflets, brochures, programs, ephemera, etc., 1996; annual talk, entitled "The Navigation of the Frobisher Voyages," by James McDermott and List of Publications in Print, 1997; and Details of Membership in the Hakluyt Society & List of Publications in Print, 1998. Donor: W. Keats Sparrow.

April 24, 2006, 68 items, 9.0 cubic feet; Collection (1700-2002, n.d.) of manuscript and printed materials relating to English pastoral poet A. E. Housman, the Housman Society; English, Chinese and American poetry; and American history, literature and genealogy, including correspondence, notes, periodicals, pamphlets, books, and ephemera, etc. See preliminary inventory. Donor: W. Keats Sparrow.

July 7, 2006, 1 item, 0.001 cubic feet; The Housman Society Newsletter (February 2006) No. 23. Donor: W. Keats Sparrow.

January 3, 2007, 646 items, 2.0 cubic feet; Papers (1958-2005, n.d. [Bulk: 1975-2005) including correspondence, clippings, speeches, printed materials, plaques and certificates, computer diskettes, etc. relating to the East Carolina University English Department and College of Arts and Sciences and his professional and intellectual interests. See preliminary inventory. Donor: W. Keats Sparrow.

March 30, 2009, 492 items, 1.25 cubic feet; Papers (1941-1979, undated) including correspondence, clippings, photographs, speeches, printed materials, certificates, etc. relating his childhood and early education in Kinston, Lenoir County, North Carolina; his undergraduate and graduate education at East Carolina College, Greenville, N.C.; his teaching fellowship and doctoral education at the University of Kentucky, in Louisville, Kentucky; his appointment to the faculty at East Carolina University'?s English Department; & his professional and intellectual interests. See preliminary inventory. Donor: W. Keats Sparrow.

July 14, 2009, 245 items, 1.00 cubic feet; Papers (1979-1984) including correspondence, clippings, photographs, speeches, writings, printed materials, etc. relating to the donor's position as associate professor in the English Department at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, including his professional & intellectual interests. See preliminary inventory. RESTRICTION: Access or use of the collection by researchers prior to 1/1/2025 is prohibited except for the donor & the following persons: Elizabeth Harris Sparrow (donor's wife), Elizabeth Nicole Sparrow McDuffy (donor's daughter), Ashley Elizabeth Furr (donor's granddaughter), & John Dalton Sparrow, Jr. (donor's nephew). Donor: W. Keats Sparrow.

April 21, 2010, 228 items, 0.45 cubic feet; Papers (1927-2009) including correspondence, clippings, photographs, speeches, writings, printed materials, etc. relating to the donor's position as associate professor in the English Department at East Carolina University, Greenville, North Carolina, including his professional & intellectual interests. See preliminary inventory. RESTRICTION: Access or use of the collection by researchers prior to 1/1/2025 is prohibited except for the donor & the following persons: Elizabeth Harris Sparrow (donor's wife), Elizabeth Nicole Sparrow McDuffy (donor's daughter), Ashley Elizabeth Furr (donor's granddaughter), & John Dalton Sparrow, Jr. (donor's nephew). Donor: Elizabeth Harris Sparrow.

Source of acquisition

Gift of W. Keats Sparrow

Gift of Elizabeth Harris Sparrow

Processing information

Encoded by Apex Data Services

Copyright notice

Literary rights to specific documents are retained by the authors or their descendants in accordance with U.S. copyright law.

Metadata Rights Declaration
Key terms
Personal Names
Housman, A. E. (Alfred Edward), 1859-1936
Sparrow, W. Keats (Wendall Keats), 1942-2009
Sparrow, W. Keats (Wendall Keats), 1942-2009--Family
Family Names
Sparrow family
Corporate Names
East Carolina University--Faculty
East Carolina University. Department of English
Hakluyt Society
Topical
Camps--North Carolina--Beaufort County
Camps--North Carolina--Pender County
Church camps--North Carolina--Beaufort County
Church camps--North Carolina--Pender County
English teachers--North Carolina--Greenville
Container list
Box 1 Folder a Camp Leach & Camp Oceanside Photographs, Etc. 13 items 1953, 1984, 2001-2002, 1953-2002
Box 1 Folder b Clipping (1984) Concerning Camp Leach alumna Jane Ferree … 1 item 0.003 c.f, 1984
Box 1 Folder c Collection (November 2001) of printed material relating to the Hakluyt Society, 6 items 16 p. (0.005 c.f.), 2001-2001
Box 1 Folder d East Carolina University The Chancellor's Synergy Awards (4/12/2005) Certificate of Appreciation Awarded to Keats Sparrow. 1 item. 1 p, 2005
Box 1 Folder f Bermuda Maritime Museum. Columbus Quincentennial Celebrations file (1992-1993) 9 items. 29 p, 1992-1993
Box 1 Folder g Theater Pamphlets, brochures, clippings, etc. London, UK (July 1987) 8 items. 53 p, 1987
Box 1 Folder h Page Proofs. The Practical Craft: Readings for Business and Technical Writers, by W. Keats Sparrow & Donald H. Cunningham, Boston, MA: Houfflin Mifflin Co., c1974. 1 vol. 153 p, 1974
Box 1 Folder i BBB Cruise to Cozumel, Cancun, Key West (4/17 - 4/21/1995) 13 items. 100 p, 1995
Box 1 Folder j Carnival Cruise to Bahamas (3/9 - 3/13/1987) 4 items. 511 p, 1987
Box 1 Folder k WUNC-TV's feature on ECU's North Carolina Studies Program, founded by Harriot College Dean Keats Sparrow (n.d.) VHS Videocassette. 1 item. 1 p, undated
Box 1 Folder os1a F. B. Sparrow & Naomi Rider, of Kinston, NC Marriage Certificate (5/1/1937), Kinston, NC. 1 item 1 p, 1937
Box 1 Folder os1a Tessie Lee Rouse Kinston Public Schools High School Diploma (5/28/1926) 1 item. 1 p, 1926
Box 2 Folder a Collection (1996) of Hakluyt Society Printed Materials 15 items. 79 p., 1996
Box 2 Folder b Collection (1997) of Hakluyt Society Printed Materials 2 items. 22 p., 1997
Box 2 Folder c Collection (1998) of Hakluyt Society Printed Materials 1 item. 9 p., 1998
Box 2 Folder d Ghost Ship of Diamond Shoals: The Mystery of the Carroll A. Deering Publisher: The University of North Carolina Press Uncorrected Page Proof. Date: October 14, 2002 Signature: Bland Simpson Copyright Date, 2002
Box 2 Folder e The Town Clock Burning Publisher: Published through the Generosity of the Fortner Fund Date: 1985 Signature: Charles Fort Copyright Date: Copyright by Charles Fort 1985
Box 2 Folder f From Theory to Achievement in the Poetry of Housman, A. E. Date: 1973 Publisher: Graduate School University of Kentucky, 1973 Signature: None Copyright: 1973 by Wendall Keats Sparrow, 1973
Box 2 Folder g Tuskegee Airmen, 1993-2003
Box 2 Folder h A Comparison of the Poetry of A. E. Housman and His Lecture The Name and Nature of Poetry. Thesis English 1965 Publisher: Faculty of the Department of English, East Carolina College Signature: Meredith N. Posey Copyright: 1965 Keats Sparrow, 1965
Box 2 Folder i Shi chuan daguam Vols. 9 & 10 [Complete commentaries on the book of poetry (Chinese language)] Publisher: Unknown Signature: Keats Sparrow from Library of Ovid Pierce. 18th Century Chinese wood block book, volume 9 of a series of classical Chinese poems, undated
Box 2 Folder j The Parallelogram, The Amphisbaena, The Crocodile Publisher: Los Angeles, California, 1941, 1941-1993
Box 3 Folder a Mark Twain Quarterly Publisher: The International Mark Twain Society Signature: Housman, A. E, 1929
Box 3 Folder b Carolina and the Southern Cross v. 1, n. 7 (September 1913) Publisher: Pamlico Chapter, North Carolina United Daughters of the Confederacy, Kinston, NC. Signature: Keats Sparrow Copyright: 1913 by Mrs. L.V. Archbell Note: Photocopy, 1913
Box 3 Folder c Carolina and the Southern Cross v. 2, n. 2 (May 1914) Publisher: North Carolina United Daughters of the Confederacy, Kinston, NC. Signature: Keats Sparrow Copyright: 1914 by Mrs. L.V. Archbell, 1914
Box 3 Folder d Carolina and the Southern Cross v. 2, n. 4 (July 1914) Publisher: North Carolina United Daughters of the Confederacy, Kinston, NC. Signature: Keats Sparrow Copyright: 1914 by Mrs. L.V. Archbell, 1914
Box 3 Folder e Collection of manuscript & printed materials related to A. E. Housman. 1 of 7, 1945-2000
Box 3 Folder f Collection of manuscript & printed materials related to A. E. Housman. 2 of 7, 1979-2004
Box 3 Folder g Collection of manuscript & printed materials related to A. E. Housman. 3 of 7, 1977-1996
Box 3 Folder h Collection of manuscript & printed materials related to A. E. Housman. 4 of 7, 1996-2002
Box 4 Folder a Collection of manuscript & printed materials related to A. E. Housman. 5 of 7, 1974-2004
Box 4 Folder b Collection of manuscript & printed materials related to A. E. Housman. 6 of 7, 1973-1996
Box 4 Folder c Collection of manuscript & printed materials related to A. E. Housman. 7 of 7, 1999
Box 5 Folder a The Housman Society Newsletter (February 2006) No. 23. 1 item 10 p., 2006
Box 5 Folder b East Carolina University print (May 2003) presented to W. Keats Sparrow by ECU provost William Swart, Academic Affairs retreat, Rock Springs Center, Greenville, NC; engraved brass plate. 2 items. 2 p, 2003
Box 5 Folder c Global Transpark certificate (May 2003) presented to Dr. Keats Sparrow for his help to the Global Transpart Development Commission. Broadside & matte. 1 item. 1 p, 2003
Box 5 Folder d Miscellaneous items (1977-2005, n.d.) for the East Carolina Manuscript Collection, including manuscripts, clippings, photographic prints, printed materials, printed forms, etc. 75 items. 250 p, 1977-2005
Box 5 Folder e Plaque (1992) presented to Dr. Keats Sparrow in recognition of his outstanding service as a Sheppard Memorial Library trustee from 1986-1992. Engraved plastic; gold letters; wood base. 1 item. 1 p, 1992-2005
Box 5 Folder f North Carolina Literary and Historical Association correspondence (1987-1991) 50 items. 85 p, 1987-1991
Box 5 Folder g College English Association North Carolina - Virginia Chapter (1977-1982) including correspondence, newsletters, etc. 35 items. 70 p, 1977-1982
Box 6 Folder a College English Association North Carolina - Virginia Chapter (1982-1987) including correspondence, newsletters, etc. 50 items. 75 p, 1982-1987
Box 6 Folder b Sons of the Revolution in the State of North Carolina Project Committee file (1994-1995) including correspondence & printed materials, etc. 25 items. 40 p, 1994-1995
Box 6 Folder c Ovid Pierce file (1958-1992) including biographical information, correspondence, computer diskette, etc. 65 items. 100 p. Note: 5.25" floppy diskette, 1958-1992
Box 7 Folder a Miscellaneous correspondence (1977-2002, n.d.) 1 of 2, 1977-2002
Box 7 Folder b Miscellaneous correspondence (1977-2002, n.d.) 2 of 2, 1977-2002
Box 7 Folder c Miscellaneous correspondence (1975-2005, n.d.) 50 items. 100 p, 1975-2005
Box 7 Folder d First in Flight Symposium closing remarks (October 2001) Typescript. 1 item. 9 p, 2001
Box 7 Folder e Global Transpark: An Overview remarks June 1997 (1995-1997) at Greenville Rotary Club. 2 items. 11 p, 1995-1997
Box 7 Folder f Miscellaneous speeches by Keats Sparrow (1986-2000, n.d.) 11 items. 70 p, 1986-2000
Box 8 Folder a Childhood (1941-1960, undated), including baby book, clippings, photographic prints, Kinston, N.C. public school report cards, certificates & diplomas. ca. 75 items. ca. 125 p, 1942-1960
Box 8 Folder b East Carolina College (1960-1964, undated), including book recording his stay at Lenoir Memorial Hospital after an automobile accident, clippings, photographs, ephemera, St, Paul's Episcopal Church Canterbury, Greenville, N.C. membership, his membership in Eta Beta Chapter of Sigma Nu Fraternity, & Barry Goldwater's visit to Kinston, N.C. in 1964. ca. 25 items. ca. 50 p, 1960-1964
Box 8 Folder c East Carolina College (1964) materials relating to his admission to the Masters of Arts program. Printed forms. 2 items. 2 p, 1964-1965
Box 8 Folder d East Carolina College (1965-1966) 9 month appointment as instructor in the English Department, including clippings, correspondence with Walter Blackstock, Leo W. Jenkins, & retired E.C.C. teacher Louise Green. 10 items. ca. 25 p, 1965-1966
Box 8 Folder e PH.D Program, University of Kentucky 1 of 2, 1966-1978
Box 8 Folder f PH.D Program, University of Kentucky 2 of 2, 1970-1971
Box 8 Folder g East Carolina University faculty appointment in English Department (1973-1974) including correspondence, clippings, speeches, etc. ca. 25 items. ca. 50 p, 1973-1974
Box 8 Folder h East Carolina University faculty appointment in English Department (1974-1975) including correspondence, clippings, speeches, etc. ca. 25 items. ca. 50 p, 1974-1975
Box 9 Folder a East Carolina University faculty appointment in English Department (1975-1976) including correspondence, clippings, speeches, etc. ca. 25 items. ca. 50 p, 1975-1976
Box 9 Folder b East Carolina University faculty appointment in English Department (1976-1977) including correspondence, clippings, speeches, etc. ca. 25 items. ca. 50 p, 1976-1977
Box 9 Folder c Miscellaneous correspondence (1976) ca. 150 items. ca. 250 p, 1976
Box 9 Folder d East Carolina University faculty appointment in English Department (1977-1978) including correspondence, committee reports, clippings, programs, New East Magazine editorship, & Tar Heel Magazine, speeches, etc. ca. 25 items. ca. 50 p, 1977-1978
Box 9 Folder e East Carolina University faculty appointment in English Department (1978-1979) including correspondence, clippings, committee reports, speeches, reviews 17 items. 94 p., 1978-1979
Box 10 Folder a Committee to Save History in North Carolina Public Schools (2001) including correspondence, clippings, etc. 50 items. 100 p, 2001
Box 10 Folder b Pitt County Historical Society 75th Anniversary Steering Committee (2000-2002) 45 items. 90 p, 2000-2002
Box 10 Folder c Pitt County Historical Society files (1983-1987, n.d.) 25 items. 50 p, 1983-1987
Box 10 Folder d Wooten, Frank M., Jr. Memorial file (1992) 2 items. 7 p, 1992
Box 10 Folder e The Gazette Containing the Freshest Advices General Society of Colonial Wars v. 33, n. 4(Fall 1997) 1 item. 4 p, 1997
Box 11 Folder a East Carolina University English Department faculty file (1979-1980) including correspondence, committee reports, clippings, photocopies, programs, New East Magazine editorship, & Tar Heel Magazine, speeches, etc. 33 items. 143 p, 1979-1980
Box 11 Folder b East Carolina University English Department faculty file (1980-1981) including correspondence, clippings, committee reports, speeches, & published works: The Victorians Institute Journal, Edited by W. Keats Sparrow, Vol. 9, 1980-81, © 1980 & Duke Football Magazine: Duke vs. East Carolina, 9/6/1980, with article by Jean Hall & Keats Sparrow, 1980-1981
Box 12 Folder a East Carolina University English Department faculty file (1981-1982) including correspondence, clippings, committee reports, speeches, & published works: The Victorians Institute Journal, Edited by W. Keats Sparrow, Vol. 10, 1980-81 (2 copies © 1980). ca 53 items. ca 250 p, 1981-1982
Box 12 Folder b East Carolina University English Department faculty file (1982-1983) including correspondence, clippings, committee reports, speeches, & published works: Technical and Business Communication in Two-Year Programs, Editors: W. Keats Sparrow and Nell Ann Pickett ©1983, National Council of Teachers of English. ISBN 0 8141-5298-8. ca 53 items. ca 295 p, 1982-1983
Box 12 Folder c East Carolina University English Department faculty file (1983-1984) including correspondence, clippings, committee reports, speeches, & published works: Technical and Business Communication in Two-Year Programs, Editors: W. Keats Sparrow and Nell Ann Pickett ©1983, National Council of Teachers of English. ISBN 0 8141-5298-8 & The Journal of Cooperative Education, Winter 1983, Vol. 19, No. 2, including article by W. Keats Sparrow & Elizabeth H. Sparrow, "Beating Burnout: An Antidote for Students and Faculty, p. 90. ca 53 items. ca 395 p, 1983-1984
Box 13 Folder a The Society of the Cincinnati brochures, programs, invitations, postcards, e-mails, letters including schedule of Public Programs, Planned Giving Publication 225th Anniversary invitation, Annual Giving Honor Roll, brochure for Mount Vernon's 276th Birthday Celebration for George Washington; Joel Lane Historical Society The Parchment Press newsletter. (2007-2009) 18 items 55 p, 2007-2009
Box 13 Folder b North Carolina Society of the Cincinnati Correspondence ALS, TLS email, fax, invitations include general letters to society members, letters to Wendall Keats Sparrow, photocopy of pages from book on Hardy Murfree by Fanny Noailles Dickinson Murfree (1988,1990, 2006, 2008-2009) 18 items 45 p., 1988-2009
Box 13 Folder c More North Carolina Society of Cincinnati Correspondence including TLS, invitations, brochures, publications, reports, ephemera, emails, postcards, memorandums, photographs, newspaper clippings (1927, 1967, 1998-1999, 2005-2007) 52 items 121 p., 1927-2005
Box 13 Folder d North Carolina Society of the Cincinnati Grants, Memorandums, emails, correspondence including Hillsborough Historical Society journal Fall 2003, paperwork for contributions to the General Greene Monument at Guilford Courthouse and the U.S.S North Carolina (2003, 2006-2007) 25 itms, 135 p, 2003-2007
Box 13 Folder e Qualifications Committee of the North Carolina Society of the Cincinnati materials including membership requirements, propsed amendments, emails, resumes, reports (1988, 2003, 2005-2007) 32 itms, 78 p, 1988-2007
Box 13 Folder f Necrology for members of the North Carolina Society of the Cincinnati including newspaper clippings, obituaries, photocopies, TLS, funeral programs (2002-2009) 24 items. 26 p, 2002-2009
Box 13 Folder g 2009 roster of the North Carolina Society of the Cincinnati with letter from the secretary Frederick pope Parker III (2009) 2 items. 88 p, 2009
Box 13 Folder h North Carolina Society of the Cincinnati 2003 Roster and Handbook (September 1, 2003) 1 item 48 p. Note: signed by Kets Sparrow, 2003
Box 13 Folder i North Carolina Society of the Cincinnati 2003 Roster and Handbook (April 1, 2007) 1 item 50 p., 2007
Box 13 Folder j 2006 Annual Report of the Society of the Cincinnati 1 item 34 p Note: signed by Keats Sparrow Greenville, NC, 2006
Box 13 Folder k Biennial Report of the Society of the Cincinnati (2007-2008) 1 item 50 p Note: Signed by Keats Sparrow, 2007