Wilmington (Del.) Public Library, undated

This series begins with correspondence related to Pauline Young’s efforts to select an archival repository for the Paul and Alice Dunbar papers. Ms. Young communicated with several archives, libraries, and appraisers on this matter. She also wrote to a number of publishers to determine their interest in publishing the letters of Paul and Alice Dunbar. In 1984, Ms. Young sold the papers to the University of Delaware. Ohio Historical Society (OHS) also has a collection of Paul Laurence Dunbar papers that was acquired with the purchase of his home in Dayton, Ohio. The home is maintained by OHS as a historic site. In 1972 OHS published a microfilm edition of the Paul Laurence Dunbar papers, compiled from holdings at several institutions and materials held by Pauline Young. The microfilm of the Paul Laurence Dunbar Papers is available for review in the Atlanta University Center Robert W. Woodruff Library Serials Department.

This series also contains information about Paul, Alice, and her second husband, Robert. The information about Paul Dunbar (1872-1906) is primarily programs and writings about him after his death. There is also an autograph written by him in 1903. The Paul Laurence Dunbar commemorative U.S. Postage Stamp is located in Series K, Oversize Items. Materials on Alice Dunbar (1875-1935) include a few letters (see also Series D, Correspondence, for letters with Pauline Young). There are some programs of events she participated in and articles written by and about her. Most of the articles are photocopies or published items. There is one typescript of an article about Paul L. Dunbar (written by Alice Dunbar Nelson). There is a photocopy of a scrapbook about Alice’s activities in 1915, copies of her will dated 1935, and a typescript of her eulogy by J. Saunders Redding. In 1916, Alice married Robert J. Nelson, managing editor of the Washington Eagle. Their marriage certificate is in this series as well as an announcement of his death in 1949.