THE FRANK O'ROURKE PAPERS (Accn 1201)

Inventory

The Frank O’Rourke Papers (1915-1983) contain correspondence, research notes, pamphlets, brochures, short stories, articles, reviews, news clippings, and manuscripts. Frank O’Rourke (1916-1989) was born in Denver, Colorado. In a career spanning four decades, he published more than sixty works of fiction. The versatility which became a hallmark of O’Rourke’s writing was demonstrated in the more than one hundred short stories which appeared during the 1940s and 1950s in such magazines as The Saturday Evening Post, Colliers, Ladies Home Journal and Esquire. His first book, E Company, introduced in 1945 by Simon and Schuster, was hailed as the work of a “fresh and outstanding talent.” From 1948 to 1956, O’Rourke published seven sports novels, two mysteries (one under the pseudonym Frank O’Malley), an industrial novel, and twenty westerns. The early westerns were published in hardcover by Random House, and since they were continually reprinted, they came to be his most visible work and he was generally categorized over the years as a writer of westerns, the range of his work being overlooked. While O’Rourke continued to write adventure westerns for several mass market publishers through the 1950s, he began a relationship with William Morrow & Company for publication of his more substantial work. The Diamond Hitch (1958) dealt with the realities of western range life and was the first to rank with authentic Americana, followed by The Last Ride (1958), a story of an old, freedom loving cowboy, chasing a proud old stallion who loves his freedom just as much. The Man Who Found His Way (1957) was one of the few works of fiction to make effective literary use of Hispanic witchcraft in New Mexico. In 1959, O’Rourke’s historical novel of New Mexico, The Far Mountains, won the Southwestern Library Association biennial award for a work which “best reflected the culture and heritage of the southwest and for literary excellence.” William Morrow & Company supported O’Rourke’s creative endeavors, and in the years during their association, published novels set in midwest America which drew on his Nebraska background. Contemporary satires on modern society’s worship of money, (1964), and the automobile, The Duchess Says No (1965), were the last to be published by Morrow; Kevin Connor and Patrick O’Malley were two pseudonyms used during this period. O’Rourke moved to J. B. Lippincott for the publication of The Swift Runner (1969) and The Abduction of Virginia Lee (1970). Three novels were produced as motion pictures, including the classic adventure film The Professionals in 1966 from his novel A Mule for the Marquesa (1964). In his final years, Frank O’Rourke devoted himself to the creation of stories for children. The first, "Burton and Stanley," was published posthumously by David R. Godine in 1993 to numerous accolades in the children’s book trade and was also given a Parents Choice Award. In addition to this, Ellen and the Barber, a book of three short stories, set in the 1930s, was published, also posthumously, by St. Martins Press in 1997. In 2002, a collection of early baseball stories, The Heavenly World Series, was published by Carroll and Graf, with an introduction by Darryl Brock. Frank O’Rourke continued writing until the end of his life. Finally, beset by constant pain from a twenty-year struggle with bronchial asthma, and fighting the effects of pretnazone a dangerous steroid, Frank O’Rourke took back his destiny and ended his life on 27 April 1989 in Tucson Arizona. The collection was donated by Edith Carlson O’Rourke in 1992. Photographs were transferred to the Multimedia Division (P0351). Size: 4.25 lin. ft.

Folder 1

Year Book, 1957

Folder 2

Desk Private, 1958

Folder 3

Appointments, 1960

Folder 4

Date Book, 1962

Folder 5

Date Book, 1963

Folder 6

Date Book, 1964

Folder 7

Date Book, 1965

Folder 8

Week at a Glance, 1966

Folder 9

The Far Mountains— Spiral Notebook

Folder 10

Official Souvenir Booklet, Nebraska Centennial

Folder 11

Washington State Ferries

Folder 12

Correspondence Notes Ferry Schedule References Pamphlets Photocopies from Sierra

Folders 1-3

Nadine Shepardson Correspondence Programs Notes News Clippings

Folder 4

Bible Presented to F. O'Rourke Father by Mosaic Lodge #55, 1916

Folder 5

Notebook with Papers and Proverbs, Possibly from Nadine's Grandmother

Folder 1

Nadine Shepardson, correspondence Corman Russel Porter Daniel Frohman Joe Leonard

Folder 2

Nadine Shepardson, Correspondence Etc.

Folders 3-4

Nadine Shepardson, Department Proposals

Folder 5

Nadine Shepardson, Shepardson Theater Fund

Folder 6

Nadine Shepardson, Writings

Folders 7-8

Nadine Shepardson, Newspaper Clippings

Folder 9

Nadine Shepardson, Taylor Cemetery

Folder 10

Warner's History of Dakota County, Nebraska, 1893

Folder 11

The Heikes-Aughey Family History and Register of Descendants

Folders 1-2

Newspaper Clippings

Folder 3

Newspaper Clippings and Related Correspondence

Folder 4

Balance Sheets from Haskins Lumberyard

Folder 5

Notes and Maps of Haskins Nebraska

Folder 6

Correspondence with Mother and Father

Folder 7

Book List

Folder 8

Arnold Bennett, Buried Alive

Folder 1

Research for "Harrigan and Hoeffler" Novel

Folder 2

Collaboration With Jim Konstanty on Pitching Novel

Folder 3

Correspondence with Philadelphia Phillies, Skipper Lofting

Folder 4

Correspondence and beginning of Unfinished novel, "Doubleheader"

Folder 5

Kidnap Book Notes

Folder 6

Correspondence with Random House

Folder 7

Photocopies of Correspondence with Random House

Folder 8

Research and Notes Concerning Minnesota, for New Departure

Folder 9

An Introduction to the Philosophy of Engineering Management and Control, 1960 The Harrigan Idea Book

Folder 10

Miscellaneous

Folder 1

Women's Clothing Catalogue (Photocopy), 1915

Folder 2

Arav (The Shotgun Man) Notes

Folders 3-4

Royalty Reports From the New American Library

Folder 5

Barnes Publishing Contracts

Folder 6

Ballantine Publishing Contracts

Folder 7

Dell Publishing Contracts and Royalty Reports

Folder 8

Random House Publishing Contracts

Folder 9

Television Contracts

Folders 10-17

Reprint Contracts

ADDENDUM, 1992

Box 7	Short Stories by Frank O'Rourke, 1951-1957	4 Folders

Folder 1

"Burton and Stanley" by Frank O'Rourke, F. O' Rourke Passport

Folder 2

"Gunsmoke--The Crooked Nail," 1953 "Alfred Hitchcock's Mystery Magazine: Crime Among Friends," 1957

Folder 3

"Bold Man's Treasure," 1951 "Parade is Ten Minutes Long," 1952 "Flat of the Horn," 1952 "Whippletree," 1953 "The Stronger Medicine," 1953 "Second Hand Dream," 1953 "The New Year's Blues," 1954 "They Never Quit," 1954 "Spotters Choice," 1954 "The Faithful Heart," 1953 "Way of a Trooper," 1953

Folder 4

"Foot of the Cliff," 1957 "Flashing Spikes" "The Future Years"

Folder 1

The Utah, 1937

Folder 2

"New Day," 1945 "The First Rifle," 1945 "Man and Boy," 1945 "The Last Hunt," 1945 "Witness for the Defense," 1945 "Right as Rain," 1945 "Two for Five," 1945 "Secret Attack," 1945 "The Hard Decision," 1946 "Reprieve," 1946 "Not So Different," 1946 "Flash Flood," 1946 "The Hard Way Home," 1946 "The Medallion," 1946 "My Eyes Are Open," 1947 "The Simple Case," 1947 "Peace and Quiet," 1947 "A Matter of Choice," 1951 "Last Time Around," 1952 "Six Greedy Loafers," 1953 "The Lallapalooza," 1953

Folder 3

"Nobody Asked You, Sir, She Said," 1946 "This is For Keeps," 1947 "The Young and Wise," 1948 "The Lallapalooza," 1953 "Everything He Wanted," 1947 "Cold Water and Cherry Pie," 1949 "The Last Shot," 1949 "Point of Justice," 1951 "The Heavenly World Series," 1953 "The Cool One," 1953 "The Woman Across the Hall"

Folder 4

"The Heavenly World Series," 1952

Folder 5

"Chamiso Run," 1954 "Sun Wings," 1957 "The Big Fifty," 1955 "Peace and Quiet," 1955 "The Simple Case," 1955 "The Bride Stealer," 1960 "Man and Boy," 1955 "Two For Five, " 1956 "The Affair of Chief Strongheart," 1965

Folder 6

"Thin Ice," 1945 "Fire in the Night," 1946 "The Greatest Victory," 1946 "Confusion on Lower Four," 1946 "The Dimpled Saboteur," 1947 "Three Months to Remember," 1947 "The Wide River," 1947 "Nothing to do Till Next Fall," 1947 "The Race," 1947 "The Last Out," 1948 "The Lying Heart," 1948 "One More Inning," 1948 "Tomorrow Never Comes," 1949 "The Last Pitch," 1949 "Violence at Sundown," 1949 "The Impossible Play," 1949 "The Argument With Death," 1949 "Bonus Rookie," 1950 "The Man Who Sold Himself," 1951 "One More Pennant," 1952 "Mountain Massacre," 1952 "Battle Royal," 1952 "The Castoff," 1953 "The Terrible-Tempered Rube," 1954 "Close Play at Home," 1955 "Flashing Spikes," 1948

Folder 1

Notes for Brown's Valley, 1981-1983

Folder 2

Notes for Brown's Valley, 1981-1983

Folder 3

Notes for "A Star in the Orange Trees"

Folder 4

Reviews, 1948-1950 Treason, 1977 Salt Lake City, 1978-1980 Notes for "High Vengeance"

Folder 5

Research and Notes for "Walls of Seneca"

Folder 6

Notes for "Emigration Canyon" and Various Research Notes

Folder 7

Notes

Folder 8

Notes for "Dreamers"

Folder 9

Jim Constanty, Obituary

Folder 10

Research

Folder 11

Passports, Correspondence, Vaccinations Decree of Name Change

Folder 12

Correspondence

Folder 13

Notes

Folder 14

Correspondence

Folder 1

Advertisement

Folders 2-5

Correspondence

Folder 6

Telegram in German Correspondence Advertisements

Folder 7

Mt. Holyoke Correspondence

Folder 8

Correspondence Burial at Sea

Folder 9

First Impression of New England

Folder 10

Financial

Folder 11

Real Estate

Folder 12

Lease

Folder 13

Mobile Home

Folder 14

James A. Steel

Folder 15

Mortgage

Folder 16

"Ourselves Alone; Irish Exiles in Brooklyn"

Folder 17

Allergies and Bronchitis

Folder 18

Pottery

Folder 19

Acceptance and Rejections

Books 1-2

Notes, 1959-1979

Book 3

Appointment Book, 1967

Book 4

Week at a Glance, 1968

Book 5

Week at a Glance, 1969

Book 6

Week at a Glance, 1970

Book 7

Week at a Glance, 1971

Book 8

Week at a Glance, 1972

Book 9

Week at a Glance, 1973

Book 10

Week at a Glance, 1974

Folders 1-6

Unpublished Stories, 1944-1956

Folder 7

"The Lallapalooza"

Folder 8

"Burton and Stanley"

Folder 9

Transcription of Untitled Story

Folder 10

College Book Notes

Folder 11

College Book Notes

Folder 12

Possible Book Subjects

Folder 13

News Articles, Map

Folder 14

Tony Mirabal

Folder 15

Town and Neighborhood

Folder 16

Research for "The Far Mountains"

Folder 17

Big Bend

Folder 18

Old Slang, Notes

Folder 19

"Up River"

Folder 20

US Dept of Agriculture Report and Map; Sheet Music, "La Cucaracha"

Folder 21

Empyrean Canyon

ADDENDUM, DECEMBER 2000

This addendum was processed by Kate Kimball in April 2001.

This addendum (1952) to the Frank O'Rourke Papers consists of an essay entitled "The Heavenly World Series." An audio tape of "Ellen and the Barber" by Frank O'Rourke was transferred to the Multimedia Division (A0629). This addendum was donated by Edith Carlson O'Rourke in December 2000. Size: .1 lin. ft. Revised collection size: 7.25 lin. ft.

Folder 22

"The Heavenly World Series," 1952

ADDENDUM, DECEMBER 2001

This addendum was processed by Elizabeth Rogers in December 2001

This addendum contains drafts of two of Frank O' Rourke's Western genre novels. Badger, published in 1977 is the story of Badger, a young man who sets out to avenge the murder of his Native American mother. Arau: Into Yesterday, published in 1976 as The Shotgun Man, is an adventure story about a man with a gun, gold and a girl. The addendum was donated by Edith Carlson O'Rourke in July 2001. Size: .5 lin. ft. Revised collection size: 7.75 lin. ft.

Box 12	Badger and Arau: Into Yesterday, Drafts	6 Folders

Folder 1

Badger, Typescript

Folders 2-3

Badger, Photocopy

Folders 4-6

Arau: Into Yesterday, Final Draft