|
Page 1 of 3  Introduction
Preparing an index for an organizational newsletter was very different from compiling a book index. In a book index, little information about the listing, other than page numbers and subheadings, is needed. However, I found myself asking what information a researcher might need from this index, knowing that a copy of a particular issue of the Willa Cather Newsletter and Review might not be readily available. Thus, I created my own version of a "scholarly index" that includes bibliographic listings for authors and works cited in the newsletter. I added subheadings to clarify entries that had a direct relationship to Cather studies. I also decided to divide the index into eras since the format and emphasis of the newsletter changed over time. This first division is for the 1950s and 1960s. In subsequent divisions the style choices may vary.
Many names are listed in this index, and many have only one entry in the newsletter. Usually these are names of persons who were visitors or donors to the Willa Cather Pioneer Memorial (WCPM). While these names could be eliminated according to book indexing principles, I decided to retain them given the WCPM Newsletter is a historical document of the organization, and such persons play an important role in sustaining the WCPM.
Note: Scholars may find it useful to refer to "A Table of Contents of the Willa Cather Newsletter and Review: 1957-2004," compiled by Virgil and Dolores Albertini, in conjunction with this index.
Thanks: I am especially appreciative of the help and support I received from Cather scholar and friend, John P. Anders while working on this project. I owe a large debt to Sarah Fairchild, for her proof reading and sound advice. I am ever grateful to my husband, James G. Walla, for his encouragement and patience.
Julie A. Thomson
Understanding and Using this Index
While the WCPM Newsletter uses Roman numerals to designate each volume, and Arabic numbers for the issue, the index uses all Arabic numbers and a period between the volume and issue numbers. For example: Vol. I, No. 1 is listed as 1.1, which is followed by a colon and the appropriate pages for that entry (1.1:2 or 12.2:3, 4 or 9.1:2-3).
Compiled by
Julie A. Thomson
at the request of and in memoriam to Donald E. Connors,
member of the Willa Cather Foundation Board of Governors (1973 - 2008)
|
