Lily Klasner papers
Scope and Contents
Papers of Lillian “Lily” Casey Klasner, writer, author and rancher from New Mexico. Contains various manuscript drafts (handwritten and typescript) of her book, published posthumously as, "My Girlhood Among Outlaws," edited by Eve Ball, and other manuscripts, poetry, and songs by Klasner. Also includes correspondence, legal documents, and other documents gathered for the purpose of historical research by Klasner, and correspondence related to her career in teaching and writing, political issues in New Mexico, legal issues, and other personal letters. Various personal papers of Lily Klasner, such as job applications, notebooks, financial and legal records, and clippings, are also included. Materials are dated 1867 to 1972, which reflects the dates of transcriptions of original materials in the collection.
Dates
- 1867-1972
Creator
- Klasner, Lily, 1862-1946 (creator, Person)
Language of Materials
Materials are mainly in English with some in Spanish.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for public research.
Conditions Governing Use
It is the responsibility of the researcher to obtain any necessary copyright clearances. Permission to use material from this collection must be obtained from Reference Services at specialcollections@byu.edu.
Biographical / Historical
Lillian "Lily" Klasner was born December 18, 1862, in Mason County, Texas, during the American Civil War. Her parents were rancher Robert Adam Casey and Eveline Ellen Shellenbarger. At age five Lillian's family moved from Texas to Rio Hondo, New Mexico. While in her early teens Lily began collecting letters and documents to inform an autobiographical account of her pioneer experiences. She attended the New Mexico Highlands University at Las Vegas and became a teacher, telegrapher, and rancher. Lily married Joseph A. Klasner on December 18, 1893, in Texas, but later divorced him. She died in Roswell, New Mexico, on May 31, 1946. Lily's history, written from her diary, collected letters, photographs, and other documents, was found twenty years after she passed away. It was published posthumously as "My Girlhood Among Outlaws," in 1972, edited by Eve Ball.
Extent
14 boxes (7 linear ft.)
6 oversize folders (about 1.4 linear ft.)
Arrangement
Materials are arranged in eight series: Lily Klasner drafts of My girlhood among outlaws, approximately 1885-1972. 2. Lily Klasner manuscripts, approximately 1885-1972. 3. Lily Klasner poetry and songs, 1900-1946. 4. Lily Klasner historical research material, 1867-1946. 5. Lily Klasner correspondence, 1893-1945. 6. Lily Klasner personal papers, 1885-1969. 7. Lily Klasner legal records, 1885-1944. 8. Lily Klasner collection of newspaper clippings, 1919-1945.
Custodial History
Purchased from Elliot Jones in 1975.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchase; Elliot Jones; 1975.
Appraisal
New Mexico history (Mormon and Western American Manuscripts Collection Development Policy V.B.5.c, 2020)
Processing Information
Processed; Andrea Wyss; April 2011.
Processing Information
Processed; Karen Glenn; July 2024. Inventory added, materials re-processed.
- 4 published items that were determined to be out of our collecting scope: - The Rime of the Ancient Mariner / by Samuey Taylor Coleridge AND The Vision of Sir Launfal / by James Russell Lowell, 1919 - Partial copy of Merchant of Venice (starts at page 5, no cover) - The Writer's 1933 Year Book and Market Guide - Burnt copy of "In the Supreme Court of New Mexico, January Term, 1913, No. 1507"
- Autobiographies
- Billy, the Kid (1859-1881)
- Casey family
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.)
- Drafts (Documents)
- Frontier and pioneer life -- New Mexico
- Immigration and American Expansion
- Klasner, Lily, 1862-1946 -- Archives
- Legal instruments
- Letters
- New Mexico -- History -- 19th century
- Outlaws -- New Mexico -- History
- Pioneers
- Women authors, American
- Title
- Register of Lily Klasner papers
- Status
- Under Revision
- Author
- Karen Glenn
- Date
- 2024 July
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English in Latin script.
Repository Details
Part of the L. Tom Perry Special Collections Repository
1130 HBLL
Brigham Young University
Provo Utah 84602 United States