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Gift from Graffious, LeJay, 2008/01/25
George Washington Bird Evans and Eve Hunt Evans celebrated the birth of their only child, George Bird Evans, in 1906. Their comfortable Uniontown, Pennsylvania home provided a secure environment for young George to learn and develop his talents in art and literature. George's father also wasted no time pouring into his young son his love for hunting, bird dogs, and the outdoor life. George Bird Evans attended Carnegie Institute to pursue a career in art. He later transferred to the Art Institute of Chicago, staying for two years before moving to New York in 1927 to establish a career as an illustrator, but not alone. He had met and married Kay Harris from Wheeling; their marriage would last for over seventy years. In New York George Evans found success as an illustrator. He also included trips home for the hunt of game on Chestnut Ridge during hunting season. George started keeping a "gun diary" or journal in 1932, recording every outing for hunting, shooting, or bird dog training over the next 65 years. The Evans loved the Chestnut Ridge area, leaving New York in 1939 to buy a farm in Preston County, West Virginia, naming their new homestead "Old Hemlock". George enjoyed working out of his new surroundings, mailing his work to publishers in New York and having time to roam and hunt with Kay and their dogs.
This ideal life was interrupted by World War II when George volunteered his services and was commissioned a Lieutenant J.G. in Navy. He used his talents by illustrating equipment repair manuals, substituting pictures for complicated language. After the war George and Kay chose to venture into writing mystery novels as a team under the pen name "Brandon Bird". It was a success. The Evans were also beginning to breed Belton English Setters in their quest for the best bird dog possible. In 1956 George started using his journal as a source for articles, publishing over a hundred over the next forty two years. In 1971 his first book, "The Upland Shooting Life", was published, achieving status as a classic. Twenty seven more upland shooting books followed. Most of the photographs published with the articles and books were taken by Kay Evans. Always careful with their projects, George and Kay Evans began publishing their own books in 1983 under the name "Old Hemlock". George Bird Evans died in May, 1998 at the age of ninety-one. He had been hunting only a few weeks before with his best friend Kay and their family of bird dogs.
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], George Bird Evans Papers, A&M 3610, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.
Papers of George Bird Evans, including records documenting his career as an author of books and articles regarding bird dog hunting, and as a breeder of his own line of Belton English Setter bird dogs called the "Old Hemlock Line" in partnership with his wife, Kay Evans. There are also records regarding his career as a magazine illustrator, including his original art works (32 oversize drawings) that were published with fiction that appeared in several popular women's magazines before and after World War II (including "Cosmopolitan" and "McCall's" among others). The collaborative writing career of George and Kay Evans under the pen name of "Brandon Bird" is documented in a scrapbook (ca.1950-1962) containing photographs, clippings, and book reviews regarding their five published mystery novels.
The collection includes a journal, which Evans referred to as his "Gun Diary", with entries ranging from 1932 to 1997 where Evans recorded and illustrated his hunting, fishing, and bird dog training excursions for 65 years. There are also several periodicals, such as "Field and Stream", "The Pointing Dog Journal", and "Gun Dog", among others, most issues contain articles by George Bird Evans and a few by Kay Evans. Other materials include extensive correspondence with publishers, friends, outdoor sports writers, hunters and breeders (such as Nash Buckingham, Dr. Charles Norris, and Dr. Gordon Gullion), and patrons of his bird dog breeding business. There are several manuscripts and galleys of published books, including "The Upland Shooting Life" and "The Best of Nash Buckingham", among others. There are also financial records regarding the publication and sales of his books, videos, and cassette tapes. The collection also includes 188 digital scans of illustrations by Evans on DVD discs (3 items), audio recordings (2 cassette tapes) of readings by George and Kay Evans, and oversized framed photographs and art pieces (7 items) of George Bird Evans, his wife Kay, and their dogs.
Series include:
Series 1. Biographical Information, 1936, 1993, 2008 (box 1)
Series 2. Journal of George Bird Evans, 1932–1997 (boxes 1-4)
Series 3. Correspondence, 1942–2005 (boxes 5-9)
Series 4. Manuscripts - Published Books, ca. 1971 (boxes 9-16)
Series 5. Manuscripts - Published Articles, ca. 1961-1995 (box 17)
Series 6. Manuscript, undated (box 17)
Series 7. Manuscripts - Illustrations, ca. 1984-1986 (box 17)
Series 8. Manuscripts - Galleys, 1956, ca. 1991, undated (box 18)
Series 9. Projects - Dr. Charles Norris, 1952-1969, undated (boxes 19-22)
Series 10. Projects - Nash Buckingham, 1960–1984 (boxes 23-25)
Series 11. Financial Records, 1971–1999 (boxes 25-26)
Series 12. Magazine Articles, 1956, 1971-1982 (box 26)
Series 13. Subjects, 1975–1997 (box 26)
Series 14. Audio Tapes, June 1989 and Fall 1993 (box 26)
Series 15. Digital Files, undated (box 26)
Series 16. Scrapbook, ca. 1948-1975 (box 27)
Series 17. Artworks, ca. 1938-1948 (boxes 28-29)
Series 18. Oversized Pictures of George Bird Evans and Others, undated (box 29)
Series 19. Artifacts, undated (box 30)
Series 20. Motion Picture, undated (box 30)
Series 21. Sportsmen Journals, 1959–2013 (boxes 31-38)
Series 22. Motion Pictures -- Unpublished, ca. 1950-1975 (boxes 39-42)
Series 23. Oversized Material, 1986 (unboxed)
Books by George Bird Evans separated to the Rare Book Collection.
Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. For more information, please see the Permissions and Copyright page on the West Virginia and Regional History Center website.
Regards the life and career of George Bird Evans, including feature articles in the Morgantown "Dominion Post" newspaper (1993) and The West Virginia and Regional History Collection Newsletter (Spring 2008). Also contains a 3 in. x 5 in. photograph of George Bird Evans with one of his setters and a "kill" (a grouse); a photograph of Evans with friend, David Hall; and two photos of Evans with his wife Kay on a fishing trip (1936).
Spanning 65 years (1932-1997), the journal documents the hunting, fishing, and dog training excursions of George Evans through text and illustrations. The journals were a primary source for most of the books and articles Evans authored.
Includes a substantial amount of correspondence with the book publishers (Winchester, Amwell, and Alfred Knopf Company), book dealers, and magazines (including: "Field and Stream", "Gun Dog", "American Hunter", and "The American Sportsman") that were publishing material authored by Evans. Also includes research requests, permissions, and releases for material used in publications by Evans. Other correspondents includes friends and fellow hunters. Many letters were from patrons and fans such as David Hall and the Ingrahams. There is a series of letters "written" by the setters at Old Hemlock to their family members that were living with the Ingrahams.
This series contains 16 manuscripts of published books by George Bird Evans, including his first book pertaining to dogs, guns, and hunting, "The Upland Shooting Life" (1971) and his last, "Grouse & Woodcocks in the Blackwater/Canaan" (1997). There is one incomplete manuscript of a published book, "From My Covers" (1995).
This series contains 17 published articles and seven "copies" of published articles authored by George Bird Evans with photographs by Kay Evans. Most were published in "The Pointing Dog Journal," but some appeared in "Pennsylvania Gaming News" and Field and Stream," among other such publications. There are also four forewords by George Bird Evans, including an introduction for the 1989 edition of "Eastern Upland Shooting" authored by Evans's close friend, Dr. Charles Norris.
Includes:
1. "The Ache of Memory," published in the "The Pointing Dog Journal" (July 1993)
2. "A Bird Dog Fancy," published in "The Pointing Dog Journal" (November 1993)
3. "The Solo Dog," published in "The Pointing Dog Journal" (July 1993)
4. "The Quality of Time," published in "The Pointing Dog Journal" (May 1993)
5. "The End of Day," published in "The Pointing Dog Journal" (May 1994)
6. "Bittersweet," appears in the book "A Breed Apart, Vol. I," published by "Countrysport Press" (1993)
Also includes editing notes, layouts and photo captions.
Includes:
1. "And Don't Go Near the Water," published in "The Pointing Dog Journal" (January 1993)
2. "Point of Pride," published in "The Pointing Dog Journal" (March 1993)
3. "Light Guns, Light Loads, and A Gentle Bird," published in "Game and Gun" (July 1992/07)
4. "Luck of November," published in "Game Journal" (January 1992)
5. "Giants of the Coverts" (Kay Harris Evans's photographs), published in "Shooting Sportsman" (1990)
6. "Sixty-Seven Seasons Gunning Grouse," an article appearing as a chapter in the book, "Bare November Days," published by Countrysport Press (1992)
Includes:
1. "Char," published in "The Pointing Dog Journal" (March 1995)
2. "Anniversary," published in "The Pointing Dog Journal" (January 1995)
3. "When the Blood Is There," published in "The Pointing Dog Journal" (September 1994)
4. "How Many Days," published in "The Pointing Dog Journal" (May 1994)
5. "In the Coverts of Our Minds," appears in the book, "Come October," published by Countrysport Press (1991)
Also includes the manuscript, "Aldo Leopold, 1887-1948," labeled "unused"
Includes:
1. "Tradition in My Hands," published in "Gun Dog" (1982)
2. "Fowling Piece for a Wife" by Kay Harris Evans, publication information unknown
3. "Wild Clays," published in "The Shooting Sportsman" (June 1988)
4. "A Winter's Tale," published in "The Shooting Sportsman" (December 1988)
5. "The Day the Purdey Broke," publication information unknown
6. "Tony's Mayhawk Speck: 17 June 1923 - 9 November 1935," publication information unknown
7. "A Gunner's Tale," publication information unknown
8. "A Family Connection" [photocopy], published in "Civil War Times Illustrated" (November 1961) [regards the song "Dixie's Land" composed by George Bird Evans' great-grandmother's second husband, Daniel Decatur Emmett; see Box 27 for correspondence and clippings regarding this song]
Also includes four "Forewords" by George Bird Evans:
1. "Woodcock Shooting" author, Edmund W. Davis
2. Gordon Gullion's book, title unknown
3. "Upland Game Bird Shooting" author, Eugene Connett
4. "Eastern Upland Shooting" author, Charles Norris
Also includes four pages of Evans's notes, photocopies of articles regarding upland shooting and clippings of obituaries
This series contains the manuscript of "Three Englishmen and A Lady" by George and Kay Evans; it follows the lives of four of the Evans' Belton English Setters, including Ruff, Blue, Feathers, and Wilda. Publication information is unknown; it was apparently never published as an entire work.
This series includes several of George Bird Evans's "Gun Diary" sketches taken from his journal. Many were used in Evans's books (including "Grouse along the Tramroad") and articles. There are also charts comparing 41 seasons (1939-1980) of grouse numbers and grouse per coverts.
This series includes proofs of published works includes two books, "Living with Gun Dogs" (nine rolled and sealed galleys) and "Hawk Watch" authored by George and Kay Evans (unrolled galleys). It also includes three articles and/or chapters: "Charles Hallock, 1834-1917," "V.E. Willouby" and "S.T. Hammond 'Shadow,' 1831-1925."
Dr. Norris was a close friend George and Kay Evans. When writing the book "Eastern Upland Shooting" Norris became too ill to complete it; this series includes three copies of the unfinished manuscript. George Bird Evans used the unfinished work as the basis for "Recollections of a Shooting Guest"; an incomplete copy of the manuscript for "Shooting Guest" is also included in this series. There are also copies of letters Dr. Norris wrote to George and Kay Evans over a period of eight years which were used as a resource for information and quotations included in the book. This series also includes photographs of Dr. Norris and his dogs, ephemera from hunting and shooting establishments, and clippings.
George Bird Evans wrote two books to honor the conservationist and author Nash Buckingham by focusing on Buckingham's own material, including "The Best of Nash Buckingham" and "Dear John . . . Nash Buckingham's Letters to John Bailey". The collection has one copy of the manuscript of "The Best of Nash Buckingham" and two copies of the manuscript for 'Dear John. . . Nash Buckingham's Letters to John Bailey". Evans used, among other sources, the extensive correspondence of Nash Buckingham for both books. The letters are included in the collection. There is also correspondence with Buckingham's family and friends relating facts and anecdotes regarding Nash Buckingham; photographs of Nash Buckingham; and ephemera, including programs from the Hunting Hall of Fame ceremony honoring Nash Buckingham as a 1974 inductee.
Includes stories of shooting, hunting with friends, and samples of Buckingham's 'down home' language. Also includes copies of Nash Buckingham's obituary, reviews of Evans's book, "The Best of Nash Buckingham," published in newspapers and written in private letters to Evans.
Includes anecdotes about Nash Buckingham, a page of "Notes on Scent," written by Buckingham (photocopy), and several lists with subjects including Buckingham's published books and articles, his guns, and "his people."
Includes programs and memorabilia from The Hunting Hall of Fame's Second Awards Dinner (honoring Nash Buckingham as one of the 1974 inductees), the January 1982 issue of "MS Outdoors" featuring an article about John Bailey, a close friend of Nash Buckingham, and advertisements for "The Nash Buckingham Award Gun."
Items include:
1. Nash Buckingham receiving the award as the "1962 Outdoorsman of the Year"
2. Nash Buckingham at age 85 (1965)
3. A 1984 photograph of a photograph portrait of Nash Buckingham
Subjects include hunting, shooting, and fishing in various regions of the country, and breeding bird dogs. Also includes Nash Buckingham's work on a federal task force to investigate illegal trapping during the depression years [ca. 1936-1938] and his strong opinions against Franklin Roosevelt and his "New Deal."
Subjects include the building of John Bailey's Lodge, farm preserves, a copy of a speech given by Buckingham at an awards dinner, habitat destruction, and hunting.
Subjects include federal hunting legislation, habitat destruction, "Sling Shot Charlie" and the world's largest sling shot, hunting, dogs and family.
This series includes ledgers compiled by the Evans to record sales of their books and audio tapes. There are also several royalty statements.
Articles:
1. "Old Hemlock: Bequeath to Nature Conservancy," published in "Journal of the Alleghenies," Volume VII (1971)
2. "A Closer Look at Electronic Collars" (copy), published in "The American Hunter" (December 1973)
3. "The Grandeur and The Glory," published in "Gun Dog" (January 1982)
4. "Design for Setters," unknown publication (1956)
This series includes a variety of material, including a 1988 pedigree chart for the Old Hemlock line of English Setters bred by Stephen Hitsman and George and Kay Evans; research notes compiled by George Bird Evans from his reading of books related to hunting; a greeting card to the Evans labeled by George and/or Kay "idea for opus 12 jacket"; and ephemera (three cards advertising publication of books by George Bird Evans).
This series includes audio tapes of "An Evening at Old Hemlock" (includes George and Kay Harris Evans reading selections from several books authored by George Bird Evans).
This series includes 3 DVDs by the Hemlock Foundation of hunting footage and other videos about George Bird Evans. Also present are 3 DVDs that include additional copies of digital files of scans of illustrations by Evans that appeared in "Cosmopolitan," "McCall's," and other magazines from Series 12. Magazine Articles [box 26].
This scrapbook documents the collaborative writing career of George and Kay Harris Evans under the pen name "Brandon Bird," which produced five mystery novels and a number of fiction pieces for magazines (includes clippings of articles regarding the Evans as a writing team and the awards they had won; book reviews of the Evans' five mystery novels by several publications, including the New York Times Book Review; press releases announcing the publication of a new novel and several 8x10 photographs of the Evans, their home and their dogs; also includes correspondence and clippings regarding the song "Dixie's Land" composed by George Bird Evans' great-grandmother's second husband, Daniel Decatur Emmett [the original manuscript of the song was in the possession of George and Kay Harris Evans at their home Old Hemlock; see Box 17, Folder 4 for manuscript of article by Evans regarding the Evans-Emmett connection]).
This series includes original copies of illustrations by George Bird Evans (includes 30 oversize pieces, most published in popular women's magazines [such as Cosmopolitan and McCall's] before and after World War II; one 8 1/2 x 12 inch watercolor illustration for book "Mission Murder" by Hugh Pentecost; and one 16 x 20 inch drawing of military equipment, drawn by Lieutenant J.G. Evans for the Navy during WWII).
This series includes seven photographs of George Bird Evans, Kay Harris Evans, their dogs, and members of the Evans family; it also includes two artworks by Evans depicting himself and his dogs.
This series includes an easel, two brushes, and hunting gear (hat, backpack, shell box, and shell holster).
This series includes one DVD of an 18-minute motion picture documentary featuring footage of George Bird Evans describing his home, property, and way of life.
This series includes periodicals such as "Field and Stream," "The Pointing Dog Journal," "Game and Gun," "Gun Dog," "Shooting Sportsman," and "Pennsylvania Game News," among others. There are also three editions of "The American Sportsman" book series with photographs from the ABC-TV series, "The American Sportsman." Several of the publications have articles by George Bird Evans and Kay Harris Evans (most are written by George Bird Evans, some are co-authored with his wife, Kay Evans, and a few are by Kay Evans only).
This series includes 8mm motion picture films of dog training and of special events in the lives of George and Kay Harris Evans and their dogs.
This series includes one framed illustration of a hunting dog by G.B. Evans, "Toby's Mayhawk Speck-1931" with text [media unknown, 20 x 25 1/4 inches, signed (68 of 750)].