Rea Woodman manuscripts and printed items

Biographical sketch: Hannah Rea Woodman was born on 10 February 1870 in Jacksonville, Illinois to Mr. and Mrs. William Clayton (W.C.) Woodman. The family moved to Wichita, Sedgwick County, Kansas soon after that, and at the age of three Rea Woodman was captured by Arapaho Indians. She was returned to her parents, however, with the help of William "Buffalo Bill" Mathewson.

Rea attended Garfield (later Friends) University, finished her BA at Drake University, received her MA at the University of Kansas, and did graduate work at the University of Nebraska and the University of Minnesota. She was a member of Phi Beta Kappa and taught English and English literature at many universities and schools, including where she studied; as well as writing.

In 1927 Woodman returned to Wichita and finished her life writing and teaching private classes. She died in Wichita at the age of 81 in 1951.

Abstract: The collection consists of plays, essays, and other manuscript and printed material written by Rea Woodman, c 1903-1923. Titles include "Victor Murdock: A Study," "A Sunrise Sale," "The Danger Ahead Stories for Mothers," "His First Commission," "The Bobbie Bennett Plays for Children," "The Cinder Maid," "The King of Nolande," "She Organized a Club," "The Master's Birthday," "His Uncle John," and "The Heart and the Crown." The collection also includes written material from Rea's father W.C. Woodman, namely the 1887 pamphlet "National Finances: Its Past, Present and Future."