Accession Number: 83
Sylvia Trent Auxier Papers: 1900-1968
3.3 linear ft.
Online Catalog Record (BANC)

Overview & Series Description
History
Series I - Personal/Biographical Materials
Series II - Diaries
Series III - Poems
Series IV - Short Stories and Articles
Series V - Instructional Courses and Criticism
Series VI - Books

Overview of the Collection

These are papers relating to the life and writings of poet Sylvia Trent Auxier (1900-1967).

History

Poet Sylvia Trent Auxier was born on December 29, 1900, in Pike County, Kentucky, the daughter of Thomas J. and Dolly May Trent. She graduated from Pikeville College with a Bachelor's degree in Education in 1959. She married Jean Auxier, who served as U.S. Attorney for Eastern Kentucky and Pike County Circuit Judge. At various times she worked as a public health nurse and high school English teacher in Pike County.

Auxier's poetry appeared in such publications as The Saturday Evening Post and the Louisville Courier-Journal. She authored several volumes of poetry, the best known of which is Meadow-Rue. Other of her titles include, Love Vine, No Stranger to Earth, and The Green of a Hundred Springs. Her short stories and articles appeared in both local newspapers and the Courier Journal. She was a member of the Pikeville Women's Club, Pen Women, and Order of Eastern Star. She died as the result of an automobile accident on December 19, 1967.

Series Description
8 Manuscript Boxes

This series consists of several personal and legal documents relating to Auxier’s family life, her work as a writer, and her death. In addition to birth and death documentation, there are souvenirs of cruise vacations to Great Britain and numerous photographs, including images of Ms. Auxier and her family and photos used with published writings.

This series consists of personal diaries Auxier kept from 1929 to 1967. They include accounts of daily activities, conversations, and observations about a wide variety of people and events.

This series consists of numerous rough drafts and completed manuscripts of Auxier’s poetry.

This series consists of several short stories that incorporate elements of Appalachian life and culture, ranging from huckleberry harvesting to employment issues. There are also rough drafts of a series of articles on herbs written for the Courier-Journal.

This series consists of materials relating to the critique of her work Auxier sought from individual writers and through a correspondence course conducted by Clement Woods.

This series consists mainly of books of poetry, all with handwritten notes to Auxier from the authors. Also included are a Regular Baptist pamphlet and a copy of a 1952 English poetry journal, The Countryman.

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