Olive Ann Burns Sparks papers

Descriptive Summary
Title: Olive Ann Burns Sparks papers
Creator: Burns, Olive Ann
Inclusive Dates: 1945-1990
Language(s): English
Extent: 5.7 Linear Feet 14 document boxes, 1 oversized folder
Collection Number: ms2776
Repository: Hargrett Library

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Collection Description

Historical Note

Olive Ann Burns Sparks (1924-1990) was a journalist and author of Atlanta, Georgia. She was the wife of Andrew Horace Sparks. Her only published novel, Cold Sassy Tree, centers on Cold Sassy, a town loosely-based on Commerce, Ga. where Burns grew up.

Burns was born in Banks County and later moved to Macon where she attended Mercer University. She transferred to the University of North Carolina where she graduated with a journalism degree in 1946. She wrote as a free-lancer and columnist for the Atlanta Constitution and then for the paper's Sunday magazine, Atlanta Weekly. Burns met her husband, Andrew Sparks, while working at the magazine he edited. The Sparks had one son, John A. Sparks, and one daughter, Becky Sparks.

In 1975, Burns was diagnosed with lymphoma, which resulted in her death in 1990. Cold Sassy Tree was written as part of Burns' therapy dealing with cancer, she said, as well as the height of her career as a writer.

For more information, see the article Olive Ann Burns (1924-1990) in the New Georgia Encyclopedia.

Scope and Content

This collection contains correspondence, manuscripts of writings, clippings, and other papers, chiefly relating to Burns's novel, Cold Sassy Tree, but also relating to her career as writer for Atlanta Constitution and Atlanta Weekly.

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Administrative Information

Custodial History

Gift of Mrs. Sparks's estate, 1991.

Preferred Citation

Olive Ann Burns Sparks papers, ms2776, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia libraries.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2009 October 16.

General Notes

In part, photocopies of clippings made for conservation purposes.

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Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

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Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

1. Cold Sassy Tree files
box	folder
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1	1	Appearances/conferences
1	2	Autograph parties
1	3	Bibliography-women writers
1	4	Bulletins/catalogues
1	5	Clippings, 1984
1	6	Clippings, 1985
1	7	Clippings, 1986
1	8	Clippings, 1987-1988
1	9	Clippings - undated
box	folder
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2	1	Correspondence, 1984
2	2	Correspondence, 1985
2	3	Correspondence, 1986-1987
2	4	Correspondence - undated
2	5	Invitations
2	6	Itineraries
2	7	Jacket
2	8	Ms., Ch. 1-2, 1975 September
2	9	Ms., Ch. 1-3, 1976 September 10
2	10	Ms., Ch. 1, 1976 November 17
2	11	Ms., Ch.1, 1977 November 11
2	12	Ms., final copy-Ch. 1-2
2	13	Ms., Ch. 8 edited
2	14	Ms., Ch. 8-10
2	15	Ms., Ch. 1-3
2	16	Ms., Ch. 10-2
2	17	Ms., Ch. 2 & 4
2	18	Ms., Ch. 1
2	19	Ms., Ch. 2-3
2	20	Ms., fragments
2	21	Ms. typescript, pp. 1-28
2	22	Ms. typescript, pp. 1-111, 1977
2	23	Ms. typescript, pp. 1-164, 1977(b)
2	24	Ms. typescript; edited, pp. 1-195
box	folder
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3	1	Ms. typescript; edited, pp. 196-408
3	2	Ms. typescript; edited, pp. 409-648
3	3	Ms. author's extra, pp. 1-135
3	4	Ms. author's extra, pp. 136-280
3	5	Ms. author's extra, pp. 281-author's note
3	6	Marketing material (post-publication)
3	7	Miscellaneous
3	8	Notes - writing (speeches, seminars)
box	folder
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4	1	Programs
4	2	Publicity materials
4	3	The Radio Reader
4	4	Ticknor & Fields, catalogues
4	5	[Empty]
4	6	Audio cassettes

 

2. Subject Files
box	folder
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4	7	Atlanta Historical Society
4	8	"Careers in journalism"
4	9	Certificates
4	10	Children's writing course
4	11	Christmas speeches
4	12	Clippings, early
4	13	Clippings; Sun. magazine, 1945-1949
box	folder
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5	1	Clippings; Sun. magazine, 1950
5	2	Clippings; Sun magazine, 1951-1957
5	3	Clippings; "Ask Amy"-magazine, 1960-1961
5	4	Clippings; "Ask Amy"-magazine, 1965-1966 October
5	5	Clippings; "Ask Amy"-magazine, 1966 November-1977
5	6	Clippings; "Ask Amy"-paper, 1960-1966
5	7	Clippings; "Ask Amy"-paper, 1967-1969
5	8	Correspondence
5	9-10	Correspondence-Larkin, Amy
5	11	Dummy sheets
5	12	Emory writing course
5	13	Girl Scouts
5	14	Graduation program
5	15	Just Before Daybreak, Audrey Couloumbis: review copy
5	16	Mercer Silhouette
5	17	Memorial service-remarks
box	folder
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6	1	Miscellaneous
6	2	Notes
6	3	Photographs
6	3	Plaques
6	4	Resume
6	5	Scrapbook-"Ask Amy"
6	6	Thamara Duren
6	7	Trashy Book Club
6	8	Writings: alaska
6	9	Writings: breast-feeding
6	10	Writings : Comparing White Supremacy...
6	11	Writings : Cry Me Some Tears
6	12	Writings : debs
6	13	Writings : Ellie's First Christmas
6	14	Writings : europe
6	15	Writings : poem, "I Must Tell You..."
6	16	Writings : Lickity Split
6	17	Writings : Mary Pickford
6	18	Writings : Oh Quit That and Come On To Bed
6	19	Writings : We Conquered the Marines
6	20	Writings : untitled
6	21	Writings : untitled
oversized_folder
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1B		Certificates, photos, posters, songbooks, Lone Scout magazine

 

3. Addendum

box

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7

Correspondence, 1983-1985

box

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8

Correspondence, 1986-1988

box

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9

Correspondence, 1989-1992

box

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10

Cold Sassy Tree - original manuscript

box

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11

Cold Sassy Tree - manuscript with revisions

box

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12

Cold Sassy Tree - master proof

12

Cold Sassy Tree - movie script, promotional materials, clippings

box

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13

Leaving Cold Sassy (sequel) - manuscript

Leaving Cold Sassy - manuscript with notes

box

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14

Biographical information, clippings