Summary Information
Milton Society of America Records 1942-2008
- Milton Society of America
UWM Manuscript Collection 104
2.2 cubic ft. (5 boxes)
UW-Milwaukee Libraries, Archives / Milwaukee Area Research Ctr. (Map)
Records of the Milton Society of America, officially organized
in 1948 to promote the advancement of scholarship on John Milton and his works. A nearly
complete sequence of annual dinner and meeting programs, as well as the Milton Evening
booklets which preceded them, document the society's main function, which was to bring
together and honor scholars in the field, The correspondence primarily relates to the
planning of the dinner and the gathering of Milton-related works for the society's library.
The annual James Holly Hanford award for the best book and for the best article related to
Milton is an ongoing function of the society for which it receives submissions. The
collection also includes the Seventeenth Century News, the
official organ of the Milton Society of America, from 1942 to 1988 with only occasional
missing issues. This publication highlights recent Milton scholarship and also includes
The Neo-Latin News beginning in 1954. English
http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-mil-uwmmss0104 ↑ Bookmark this ↑
Biography/History
The idea of forming the Milton Society of America had been discussed among scholars for
several years when, in 1948, Arthur Coon proposed a Milton Dinner as a starting point for a
formal organization. The dinner was held December 27, 1948 in New York. The first president,
James Holly Hanford, and secretary, Don M. Wolfe, along with an executive committee of six
members were elected at the sixth annual dinner in 1953. A constitution and bylaws, adopted
in 1957, defined the purpose of the organization as "to further the Milton scholarship, not
only in this country but also abroad" through annual meetings, awards, and publications. To
honor exceptional Milton scholarship, the society, in 1977, began an annual award for the
best book and for best article in the field. The award was named in honor of James Holly
Hanford, the society's first president.
The Seventeenth Century News was started in May 1943 (i.e.
well before the official formation of the Milton Society of America) by the Seventeenth
Century English Literature Group of the Modern Language Association (MLA).By 1950 it was
edited by the MLA's English Discussion Group IV: The Period of Milton, but continued to
focus on seventeenth century literature in general. J. Max Patrick became the first editor
in December 1950 and still held this position in 1988. Beginning in 1954 the publication
also included The Neo-Latin News which is "devoted to
Neo-Latin Literature 1400-1950" and serves as the organ of the Neo-Latin Society of the
MLA.
Arrangement of the Materials
The files are organized alphabetically by personal name, name of office, or by subject,
then chronologically. Files can contain a variety of materials, including correspondence,
staff memos, and reports.
Preferred Citation
Citation Guide for
Primary Sources
Administrative/Restriction Information
There are no access restrictions on the materials, and the collection is open to all
members of the public in accordance with state law.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for conforming with the laws of libel,
privacy, and copyright which may be involved in the use of this collection (Wisconsin
Statutes 19.21-19.39).
The Milton Society of America archives came to UWM in 1988 as the result of an initiative
by the late Dr. J. Max Patrick, an emeritus faculty member and member of the society. The
records were transferred to the Golda Meir Library by Dr. Roger Sundell (UWM Department of
English) in June 1996 (accession 1996-012). The Society transferred additional materials
in August 1997 (accession 1997-025), January 2001, January 2002, January 2003, January
2005 (accession 2004-044), and January 2007 (accession 2006-029). Albert Labriola,
Secretary of the Society, donated additional materials in January 2009 (accession
2008-045).
Rhonda Frevert and Leslie Heinrichs processed the collection at the Archives in February
1997. Kathy Koch processed an addition in September 1997. Richard Shay processed an
addition in September 2000. Christel Maass added accession 2004-044 to the collection in
January 2005. Diana Giordano added the items sent in January 2001, January 2002, and
January 2003 to the collection in June 2006. Ryan Claringbole added accession 2006-029 in
January 2007. Christel Maass added accession 2008-045 to the collection in February 2015.
Contents List
UWM Manuscript Collection 104
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Records, 1942-2006 2.2 cubic ft. (5 boxes)
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Box
1
Folder
1-3
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Annual Dinner and Meeting Programs, 1955-1999
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Box
5
Folder
1
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Annual Dinner and Meeting Programs, 2000-2008
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Box
5
Folder
2
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Annual Minutes and Meeting Proceedings, 1966-2008
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Box
1
Folder
4
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Correspondence, 1955-1973
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Box
1
Folder
5-6
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Correspondence, 1975-1987
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Box
1
Folder
7
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Hanford Award, Correspondence, 1978-1979
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Box
1
Folder
8
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Hanford Award, Plaque, 1979
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Box
1
Folder
9
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Hanford Award, Submissions, 1983-1984
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Box
1
Folder
10-13
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Hanford Award, Submissions, 1989-1996
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Box
3
Folder
6
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Hanford Award, Submissions, 1997
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Box
1
Folder
14
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"The Hard Season," A Play in Three Acts, undated
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Box
1
Folder
15
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Membership Lists, 1954-1956
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Box
1
Folder
16
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Milton Encyclopedia, Contributes and Correspondence, 1973-1977
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Box
1
Folder
17
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Milton Evening Programs, 1949-1954
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Box
4
Folder
2
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Milton Conference Papers, undated
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Box
4
Folder
1
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Milton Tercentenary Conference, 1974
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Box
4
Folder
3
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Papers on Milton, undated
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Box
1
Folder
18
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Research Notes, James Holly Hanford, 1921
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Box
1
Folder
19-21
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Seventeenth Century News,
1942-1964
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Box
2
Folder
1-5
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Seventeenth Century News,
1965-1979
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Box
3
Folder
1-3
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Seventeenth Century News,
1980-1988
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Box
3
Folder
4
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Speeches, 1954
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Box
3
Folder
5
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"The Tragedy of John Milton," Television Broadcast, 1955-1956
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