William C. Plumley papers

Collection

Identifier: AC-456

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The William C. Plumley Papers contain an assortment of photographs and 35mm slides, black and white and color, of legendary celebrities, such as Jack Palance and Jesse Stuart. He also collected several autographs in guest books signed at University of Charleston, West Virginia's Appalachian Gold Medallion Presentations in 1978 and 1979 for presentations made to Loretta Lynn and Jack Palance, respectively. Another guest book for an award presented to Ted Turner by The Mass Communication Association at the University of Charleston, West Virginia is dated May 5, 1984. In this collection also is the personal copy of his book, "The Night of the Hunter," inscribed by and containing several original drawings by author Davis Grubb, given to Bill Plumley. The collection includes lectures on Appalachian culture and literature via copies of television programs, recorded interviews of Robert Penn Warren, Jack Palance, Mary Lee Daugherty from Berea, and Gloria Steinem.

Dates

Creation: 1954-1990, undated

Creator

Plumley, William (Person)

Language

All materials are in English.

Access Restrictions

This collection is open for use in the Dougherty Reading Room without restrictions.

Biographical Note

William "Billy" C. Plumley was born September 19, 1937 in Hamlin, West Virginia. He was the owner of an art gallery and had an impressive collection of signed paintings, documents and letters of important historical people. He retired as professor of Linguistics and Literature at the University of Charleston (formerly Morris Harvey College) in Charleston, West Virginia. An author, Plumley wrote poetry and edited anthologies and articles and folklore, poetry, and fiction, with a focus on Appalachian literature and culture. He died on November 27, 2008 in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Extent

2 Linear Feet (1 manuscript, 1 half-sized in Cold Storage, and 1 large media box, and 1 small CD box)

Additional Description

Abstract

The William "Billy" C. Plumley Papers contains color and black and white photographs and slides of celebrities, several autographed guest books, audiovisual recordings of lectures and presentations, and the personal copy of Davis Grubb's "The Night of the Hunter," given to Plumley by Grubb.

Arrangement

The collection is arranged in three series: Series I: Memorabilia; Series II: Photographs and Slides; and Series III: Audiovisual Materials. The majority of the materials are in alphabetical order within series while the audiovisual materials are arranged as chronologically as possible, with an enclosed inventory.

Acquisitions Information

This collection was purchased from Mr. Billy C. Plumley, St. Petersburg, Florida in 2008 and accessioned as AC.2008.052.

Processing Information

Processed by Anita Elliott, October 2013. This collection was processed as part of a grant from the National Historical Publications and Records Commission. The grant funded extensive processing of the backlog within the W. L. Eury Appalachian Collection between 2012 and 2014.