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The University of Iowa Libraries

Guide to the Keith Robertson Papers

Collection Overview
Date Span:1941-1991
Creator:Robertson, Keith (1914-1991)
Extent:4.50 linear feet.
Collection Number:MSC0684
Repository:University of Iowa Special Collections
Summary:Subject files documenting Robertson's literary career, including typescript drafts of Henry Reed's Big Show (1958) and The Crow and the Castle (1967). There are also folders of correspondence, research, royalty statements, etc., all relating to the writing and publishing of his children's books and short stories. Iowa Author Mss.

Keith Carlton Robertson was born in Dows, Iowa, in 1914. He graduated from the United States Naval Academy in 1937 and served in World War II in both Atlantic and Pacific theatres as the captain of a destroyer. He stayed in the Naval Reserve until his retirement at age 62.

He married Elizabeth Woodburn, a rare books dealer, and they had one son and three daughters. His first published book Ticktock and Jim appeared in 1948 but his most recognized book, Henry Reed Inc., was published in 1958. Keith Robertson was primarily a children's book author but he also wrote a number of adult mystery novels under the name Carlton Keith. In 1961 Keith Robertson won the William Allen White Award for Henry Reed Inc. and again in 1969 for Henry Reed's Babysitting Service. His literary agent was Curtis Brown, Ltd. He died in 1991.

The collection consists of four boxes of material including correspondence from 1941-1991, and a number of typescript drafts of his books and stories (1952-1975) including some unpublished material.

Alternate Extent Statement: Photographs: Box 2

Access: This collection is open for research.

Use: Copyright restrictions may apply; please consult Special Collections staff for further information.

Acquisition: The Keith Robertson collection was donated to the University of Iowa Libraries by his children after his death in 1991.

Preferred Citation: Keith Robertson Papers, The University of Iowa Libraries, Iowa City, Iowa.

Repository:University of Iowa Special Collections
Address:Special Collections Department
University of Iowa Libraries
Iowa City, IA 52242
Phone:319-335-5921
Curator:Greg Prickman
Email:lib-spec@uiowa.edu
Website:http://www.lib.uiowa.edu/spec-coll/

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The detailed description has not been entered into the repository.
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This collection is indexed under the following subject terms.


Topics:
Authors, American
Children's literature

Geographic Names:
Iowa

Genre/Form of Materials:
Clippings (Information artifacts)
Drafts (Documents)

Browse:
English & American Literature
Writers Archive at Iowa
Authors of Books for Children