TABLE OF CONTENTS

Overview of the Collection

Biography

Scope and Content Note

Arrangement

Restrictions

Index Terms

Related Material

Administrative Information

Detailed Description

Series III: Correspondence, undated, 1907-1991

Edwin Way Teale Papers

Series III: Correspondence

Biography

Edwin “Way” Teale (christened Edwin Albert Teale) was born on 2 June 1899 in Joliet, Illinois. His father, Oliver Cromwell Teale, was British and had emigrated from England in 1884. After working in New York and then Illinois as a railroad mechanic, he met his future wife, Clara Louise Way at a party hosted by her parents. The future Mrs. Oliver Teale had grown up on “Lone Oak” farm, which Edwin fondly wrote about in his book Dune Boy. Edwin's early years were kept busy with church, school, and more “school” at home, his mother having been a teacher. Although he always felt connected with nature, it was only during the summers, visiting his grandparents at Lone Oak farm, that he was able to roam free. Edwin kept a journal from very early on, documenting the natural world and things he found interesting.

In 1918, Edwin Way Teale enlisted in the Student Army Training Corps, but was discharged only two months later. He then transferred to Earlham College, where his uncle, David Edwards, was President. It was at Earlham where he met Nellie Imogene Donovan. She was instrumental in his life as a wife, friend, assistant and editor. Edwin's major in college was English, and he was active in many clubs and sports teams including the Football Team, Oratory Club and Debating Team.

After graduating from Earlham in 1922, Edwin took a job as head of the department of public speaking and debate at Friend's University in Wichita, Kansas. Nellie graduated in the spring of 1923 and they were married on 1 August. The Teales stayed for one more year at Friend's, Edwin continued teaching while Nellie became the athletic director.

The Teales then journeyed to New York, where Edwin entered Columbia University. While obtaining his Masters degree and working on his thesis paper entitled Jeffries Criticism of Wordsworth and Scott he submitted his editorials to Dr. Crane, a noted editorial writer. During this time the Teales had their only child, David. After graduating, Teale had hopes of getting a job on the editorial staff of Columbia Dispatch, but after several months of waiting for the official offer and a dwindling bank account, Edwin was forced to try his luck in New York. It was here where he began his decade long career at Popular Science. Edwin wrote on average, four articles an issue, some ghost-written, anonymous or written using pen names. In 1942, after having success with freelance articles, and his first few books (A Book About Gliders, The Golden Throng), he resigned to work full time for himself.

The following years were filled with happiness and great sadness. Although Edwin's career as a writer, photographer and public speaker prospered, David joined the army at 18. While on a reconnaissance mission in Germany, David was killed when a bomb sunk the small boat he was on. David and several others drowned. For almost a year, David's status was Missing in Action. After months of inquiries they finally discovered most of what happened and were given the official letter by the government. As Edwin stated, the only thing that kept them from despair was their love of nature.

In 1959, Edwin and Nellie decided to move from their home in Baldwin, New York, to a more rural area. After touring the area in a hot-air balloon they decided to purchase a seventy-nine acre property in Hampton, Connecticut they named “Trail Wood”. He documented their quest for the perfect home in his book entitled A Naturalist Buys an Old Farm. Frequently the Teales welcomed visitors: fans, hikers and naturalists wishing a tour, or just to explore the property.

Edwin and Nellie were members of such organizations and societies as the Thoreau Society, the Explorer's Club, the John Burroughs Memorial Association and the New York Entomological Society. They were good friends with many other naturalists and kept extensive correspondence, with relatives, friends, fans, and other influential people including Rachel Carson, Roger Tory Peterson, William T. Davis, and Julian Burroughs. His 32 books have been published in many languages, as well as in Braille. He won the Pulitzer prize in 1966, and received the Burroughs Medal in 1943 for his book, Near Horizons, among other awards and honors. His fans continued to send Edwin and Nellie letters even after his death in October 1980. Edwin and Nellie chose to donate their materials to the University of Connecticut Libraries and preserved Trail Wood by donating it to the Connecticut Audubon Society. It is now known as the Edwin Way Teale Memorial Sanctuary and is seasonally open for tours.

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Scope and Content Note

Teale's papers include field notes and drafts for each of his books, early childhood writings, professional writings for magazines, newspapers and book reviews, correspondence- both personal and professional, personal and family documents, scrapbooks, and memorabilia, as well as his photographs (prints, negatives, and transparencies) and his personal library. There is also one box of original John Burroughs material Teale collected over the years.

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Arrangement

There are thirteen Series within the Edwin Way Teale Papers.

Series I: Writings (undated, 1799-1991) contains EWT's writings and includes his book related material, early writings, published and unpublished articles or essays, and the manuscripts for his speeches.

Series I: Writings.

Series II: Journals and Diaries (undated, ca. 1920-1986) contains Edwin's journals and diaries ranging from the his early childhood to his death in 1980. Nellie's journals and diaries are also included in this series.

Series II: Journals and Diaries.

Series III: Correspondence (undated, 1907-1991) is comprised of both Nellie's and Edwin's correspondence up to his death in October of 1980, and is separated into appropriate sub-series.

Series III: Correspondence.

Series IV: Print Material (undated, 1885-1995) includes printed material; magazines and newspapers that EWT published articles in and those he collected for his personal library.

Series IV: Print Material.

Series V: Clubs and Societies (undated, 1930-1991) relates solely to Clubs and Societies of which he was involved in and includes related correspondence and publications.

Series V: Clubs and Societies.

Series VI: Family Papers (undated, 1850-1991) contains family material from his mother, son and grandparents, and also includes Nellie's material (such as birding notes) after October of 1980.

Series VI: Family Papers.

Series VII: Scrapbooks (undated, 1914-1979) is devoted to scrapbooks.

Series VII: Scrapbooks.

Series VIII: Artifacts and Samples (undated, 1950-1978) contains associated artifacts.

Series VIII: Artifacts and Samples.

Series IX: Camera Equipment and Media (undated, 1958-1989) contains cameras, camera accessories, LP record albums, cassette tapes, and films. The cameras and accessories were used by Teale to take the negatives and transparencies contained in Series XIII: Photographs. The LP record albums and cassettes contain interviews with Teale as well as a reading from his book Dune Boy. The LP record albums are separated from the Teale Papers but can be located with a separate LP call number. The films are primarily 16mm color and are mostly documenting insects as well as Teale working in his Insect Garden. Some of the films are warped and will require careful handling to view. The films are separated from the Teale Papers but can be located with a separate mp number.

Series IX: Camera Equipment and Media.

Series X: Memorabilia (undated, 1801-1990s) includes associated memorabilia.

Series X: Memorabilia.

Series XI: Other Author's Manuscript Material Given to EWT & NDT (undated, 1951-1991) contains other author's manuscript material that was given to Nellie or Edwin.

Series XI: Other Author's Manuscripts.

Series XII: John Burroughs Material (undated, 1901-1946) collected by Edwin Way Teale and includes letters, original writings and manuscripts.

Series XII: John Burroughs Material.

Series XIII: Photographs (undated, 1860s-1990s) includes black-and-white negatives on glass and film, color transparencies, and black-and-white prints. Each subseries is uniquely arranged to best house the materials and assist researchers. >Subseries A: Negatives are arranged by size (3" x 4", 120mm) and chronology. Subseries B: Transparencies are arranged by format (transparency, lantern slides, slides), chronology, and subject. Subseries C: Prints are arranged by subject. Subseries D: Publication Related Materials are arranged by format (negatives, prints), size (3" x 4", 120mm, 8" x 10"), and publication title. Subseries E: Personal Photographs are arranged by subject and chronology. Subseries F: John Burroughs Related Material is arranged by format (negative, prints).

Series XIII: Photographs.

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Restrictions

Restrictions on Access

There are no access restrictions on this collection.

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish from these Papers must be obtained in writing from both the University of Connecticut Libraries and the owner(s) of the copyright.

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Related Material

Archives & Special Collections has a substantial collection of natural history collections. For detailed information on these collections please contact the curator or ask at the reference desk.

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Index Terms

This record series is indexed under the following controlled access subject terms.

Subjects:

Document Types:

Occupations:

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

[Item description, #:#], Edwin Way Teale Papers. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Research Center, University of Connecticut Libraries.

Acquisition Information

Two large donations were made by the author, Edwin Way Teale, and then by Nellie Teale after her husband's death.

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Detailed Description