John R. Milton papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-104

Staff Only

Content Description

The John R. Milton papers contain material from his time at the University of South Dakota as a professor of English and editor of South Dakota Review.

The papers are organized into four series, Correspondence, Photographs, Printed Materials, and Miscellaneous Materials. The Correspondence series comprises professional correspondence related to Milton as a professor and editor. General correspondence is contained in folders entitled, “A,” “B,” “C,” etc. Incoming and outgoing correspondence for a person or organization with more than 2 letters are contained in one folder; these are listed directly after “General” files. The Photographs series consist of 2 folders, one that includes black and white images and one that include an image in color. The Printed Materials series consist of the following folders: 1) Newspaper Clippings and Articles; 2) Statement of Goals/Instructional Improvement Program; 3) John Milton Creative Writing Endowment; and 4) Vita. The Miscellaneous Materials series consists of one folder containing memos and notes.

Dates

1963 - 1995

Creator

Milton, John R., 1924-1995 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research without restrictions. Researchers are advised to contact the Archives and Special Collections prior to visiting. Advance notice may be needed to retrieve items for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Researchers must obtain a signed Permission to Publish Form if they wish to reproduce, broadcast, or otherwise disseminate information from published and unpublished works held by ASC. Permission to reproduce, broadcast, or otherwise disseminate information materials from ASC does not constitute permission from the holder of copyright or literary rights. The researcher is responsible for securing permission from the copyright holder to publish or reproduce content from materials found in the collections.

Biographical / Historical

John Ronald Milton was born on May 24, 1924, in Anoka, Minnesota. He grew up around the St. Paul area and served in the Army Signal Corps from 1943-1946. Milton received his BA (1948) and MA (1951) from the University of Minnesota and received his doctorate in American literature and creative writing (1961) from the University of Denver. He taught at Augsburg College in Minneapolis from 1949-1956 and was chair of the English Department at Jamestown College in North Dakota for the next six years. In 1963 he became a professor of English at the University of South Dakota. Milton then began editing a literary magazine that eventually earned national recognition, South Dakota Review. His publications included “This Lonely House,” “The Novel of the American West,” “The Literature of South Dakota,” and “South Dakota.” Milton would write over 200 publications and scholarly/editorial reviews. One of his short stories, “The Inheritance of Emmy One Horse” won the “Best American Short Story” honor in 1969. Milton’s reading of “The Legacy” at the dedication ceremony of the Fighting Stallions memorial in Pierre to honor South Dakota Governor George Mickelson after his 1993 death in a plane crash earned Milton additional accolades. He married Lynn Hinderlie on August 3, 1946 and the couple had one daughter, Nanci. He died on January 28, 1995, after suffering a heart attack.

Extent

0.5 Linear Feet (1 document box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The John R. Milton papers contain material from his time at the University of South Dakota as a professor of English and editor of South Dakota Review.

Arrangement

The John R. Milton papers are organized into four series, Correspondence, Photographs, Printed Materials, and Miscellaneous Materials.

Related Materials

Additional material related to Milton's work with the literary magazine South Dakota Review can be found in Richardson Collection: South Dakota Review (MS 148).