Wilda Hamerman papers

The Wilda Hamerman Papers consist of correspondence, writings, clippings, photographs and other papers related to Wilda Hamerman's work as secretary to Norman Holmes Pearson, a professor of English and American Studies at Yale, as well as faculty advisor to the Yale Collection of American Literature and literary executor of both H. D. and Bryher. The papers span the years 1968-1985. The papers are housed in two boxes and are organized into four series: Correspondence, Writings of Others, Other Papers, and Photographs.

Series I, Correspondence , is arranged alphabetically in folders 1-30. The bulk of the correspondence is from Bryher and Norman Holmes Pearson. Wilda Hamerman's correspondence with Bryher largely concerns the completion of the manuscript for Bryher's The Days of Mars, which Hamerman typed, and includes some carbons of letters from Hamerman to Bryher. The bulk of Norman Holmes Pearson's correspondence to Wilda Hamerman dates from a 1970 trip that included Tahiti, New Caledonia, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Taipei, and Japan. Other correspondence includes letters from Helene Brewer as she travelled in Japan in 1974, several thank you notes from Japanese students, and a copy of a letter from Kai Erikson, chair of the American Studies Program, to Norman Holmes Pearson's widow concerning an essay prize established in his name.

Series II, Writings of Others , is arranged alphabetically by author in folders 31-38. Writings include an uncorrected proof of Game of the Foxes by Ladislas Farago, several typescript and printed essays by Norman Holmes Pearson, a copy of a typescript outline for "How I Enjoyed Studying in America" by Tamotsu Nishiyama that mentions and thanks both Hamerman and Norman Holmes Pearson, and a typescript journal of a visit to London, probably kept by Pearson's daughter Elizabeth Tracy.

Series III, Other Papers , is arranged chronologically in folders 39-46. Other papers include an annual report form for the Department of English filled out by Norman Holmes Pearson, a program for an exhibit, "Two Estonian Artists," with an introduction by Pearson, clippings of obituaries of Pearson, a calendar from the State of Connecticut House of Representatives listing a resolution, "Expressing sympathy on the death of Professor Norman H. Pearson," an issue of Yale Library Associates Newsletter noting the presentation of a portrait of Pearson to the Beinecke Library, and a typescript emergency contact list, probably for a housesitter for the Pearsons during their 1970 trip.

Series IV, Photographs , is arranged chronologically in folders 47-52. Photographs include two snapshots of Norman Holmes Pearson, Susan Pearson, Wilda Hamerman, Martin Hamerman and others at a picnic, September 1970, and four photographs of Norman Holmes Pearson, including one of him holding two snakes and another showing him with Susan Pearson and an unidentified man.