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Blanche Hanks Elliott Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MC 1272

Scope and Content Note

The papers document Elliott's association with M. E. Oliver, Edsel Ford, Ernie Deane, Clay M. Anderson, David Pryor, Orval Faubus, and a number of War Eagle artisans (1950s - 1980s) and persons in Cooperative Extension work in Arkansas (1920s - 1930s).

Organizations represented include: Benton County Rug Weavers, Northwest Arkansas Handweavers Guild, Washington County Farm Women's Market, Ozark Council of Artists and Craftsmen, Benton County Republican Committee, Benton County home demonstration clubs, and the Ozarks Arts and Crafts Fair Association.

Subjects discussed in her writings, in her collections of clippings, and in the printed material include: Benton and Washington County history, Northwest Arkansas agriculture and rural life, descriptions of crafts and artisans, particularly involving weaving, sculpture, basket making, doll making, quilting, and wood carving. The organization of and activities of the War Eagle Fair, the Back-in-the-Hills Antique Show and Collectors Fair, and the Ozarks Arts and Crafts Seminars are also included.

Dates

  • ca. 1911-1990
  • Majority of material found within ca. 1911-1984

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials are in English.

Access Information

Please call (479) 575-8444 or email specoll@uark.edu at least two weeks in advance of your arrival to ensure availability of the materials.

Use Information

No Use Restrictions Apply.

No Interlibrary Loan.

Standard Federal Copyright Laws Apply (U.S. Title 17).

Biographical Note

Marion Blanche Hanks Elliott was born November 17, 1901, at Johnson, Arkansas, Washington County, daughter of Maude Mason Hanks and Nathan Hanks. She attended public school in Johnson and graduated from Fayetteville High School. In 1924 she received her Bachelor of Science in Home Economics Degree from the University of Arkansas. In 1922 she married Lester Elliott.

In 1926, after a brief period teaching in Camden, Tennessee, Elliott began her professional career in Arkansas with the Arkansas Cooperative Extension Service as Pope County Home Demonstration Agent. In 1927 she became home demonstration agent in Benton County. She began writing articles about women's crafts, and wrote a regular local newspaper column about home demonstration club and cooperative extension activities. She organized rural women's rest camps and she was named Most Efficient Extension Agent in 1930.

In the early 1930s, the Elliotts bought a farm near Mt. Comfort in Washington County. While she was no longer employed by the Extension Service, she worked with rural women and the county agent to establish the Washington County Farm Women's Market.

In 1952 the Elliotts bought the War Eagle Farm and its historic Blackburn house in Benton County. Elliott continued her interest in rural crafts, particularly weaving, and she became a member of the Northwest Arkansas Handweaver's Guild. In 1952 the guild held a crafts fair on the War Eagle property. It was the genesis of the Ozark Arts and Crafts Fair, an enormously successful endeavor that became Elliott's life work. She was the driving force behind the fair's governing board, the Ozarks Arts and Crafts Fair Association. Her vision led to the establishment of the annual Back-in-the-Hills Antique Show and Collector's Fair, as well as the Ozarks Arts and Crafts Seminar to teach the skills of local artisans. All of these events are held at the War Eagle Farm.

For over twenty years, beginning in the 1950s, Elliott wrote a regular arts and crafts column for The Ozarks Mountaineer magazine as well as a weekly War Eagle column in local newspapers.

Blanche Hanks Elliott died on December 21, 1990.

Extent

6 Linear Feet (10 boxes)

Arrangement of the Papers

Series 1: Correspondence ranging from childhood notes to letters from various artists and politicians. Elliott's writings include drafts as well as finished pieces on extension work, arts and crafts, and local history. Personal documents range from school certificates to awards. Items related to War Eagle includes clippings, folders, and printed material.

Series 2: Records of Arkansas Cooperative Extension and Home Demonstration work, as well as records of clubs to which Elliott belonged. Contains clippings, record books, scrapbooks, and clippings of general interest in local history and agriculture.

Series 3: Printed material collected by Elliott, including publications of government agencies and businesses involved with homemaking.

Oversize items from all series are stored in Box 10.

Acquisition Information

The Blanche Hanks Elliott Papers were donated to the Special Collections Division by Shirley Elliott Sutton on January 11, 1994.

Processing Information

Processed by Ellen Compton Shipley, Special Collections Division, University of Arkansas Libraries, Fayetteville, Arkansas, in August, 1999.

Title
Blanche Hanks Elliott Papers
Status
Completed
Author
Ellen Compton Shipley
Date
1999
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Department Repository

Contact:
University of Arkansas Libraries
365 N. McIlroy Avenue
Fayetteville AR 72701 United States
(479) 575-8444