Alumnae Publications: Betty Wahl Powers, and Nelson Thesis on Betty Wahl Powers, 1944 1947 1950 1985 1999 2007

Alumnae Publications: Betty Wahl Powers, and Nelson Thesis on Betty Wahl Powers Biographical Note: Betty was a CSB graduate of 1944 and the wife of J.F. Powers. Born in St. Cloud on Jan. 16, 1924, Betty Wahl Powers passed away on May 12, 1988, and is buried, along with her daughter, Mary Farl Powers (1948-1990) and her husband in the St. John's cemetery, Collegeville. J. F. Powers' dates: July 8, 1917-June 14, 1999. Elizabeth (Betty) Wahl Powers, Rafferty and Company: A novel, published in 1964 and 1960 by Farrar, Straus and Giroux as "Rafferty & Co., A Novel" Library call # PS 3573.A39 R3. Original typed copy and a copy of some of the proofs. There are 21 chapters, in separate folders. The published book can be found in the CSB and SJU Libraries. Miscellaneous articles by and about Betty Wahl Powers: -- Email informing that Betty Wahl's Story "The Other House" was accepted by the Southern Review. February 20, 2009 --Betty published several things in the St. Benedict's Quarterly. A copy of one, a book review in the Fall 1944 issue, p. 28, is included here. "It All Goes Together" by Eric Gill is the book she reviewed. --Two of her short stories were published in the New Yorker magazine; photocopies of each are included here: "Martinmas" Nov. 15, 1947, p. 29-33 "Gingerbread" Jan. 28, 1950, p. 23-25 --Betty Wahl Powers, "Writer under the Influence of the Benedictines and the Irish," The Cable (CSB student Newspaper) May 9, 1985, page 14. Original and acid-free photocopy. --"Minnesota Loses Quiet Literary Giant" - 6/15/1999 press release following the death of J. F. Powers. --Betty Wahl Powers - photocopy of her chapter in book, A Sense of Place (available in the CSB/SJU Libraries, BX 2525.C6 S3 S46), p. 131-136. Nelson visit email exchanges, mostly between researcher Cassandra Nelson [see next item] and Archivist Peggy Roske, 2007, and mostly concerning the former's visit to CSB/SJU. "An Edition of Selected Stories of Betty Wahl," by Cassandra Nelson, Boston University, 2007 - submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Arts. This Master's Thesis includes a Chronology of Betty's life, some illustrations (copies of photos of Betty and her family), seven short stories "here collected for the first time, along with three unpublished works of short fiction" by Betty. On October 25, 2007, Ms. Nelson visited the campus and was given a personal tour by CSB/SJU Archivist Peggy Roske of both CSB and SJU sites that were of significance to Betty and/or J.F. The Archivist also introduced her to Jodie O'Connell (widow to Joe O'Connell, former artist in residence and friend of the Powers') and Fr. Chrysostom Kim, another friend of the Powers'. Interviews of both were recorded, and the recording is available in the Archives. (As of Oct. 2009 they had not yet been transcribed.) From Nelson's Abstract: "A biographical and critical afterword gives an account of Wahl's life and draws on unpublished works including fiction, letters, and diaries to shed additional light on her stories. She was born in St. Cloud, Minnesota, and attended the College of saint Benedict in nearby St. Joseph. Within a year of graduating, she married the writer J.F. Powers. Between 1951 and 1975 the couple and their five children moved back and forth between Ireland and the American Midwest. Both locations would provide settings and inspiration for the stories collected here." Those stories are: Martinmas Gingerbread Little Women [never published] Aprille [never published] The Weight of the Wool [never published] Tide Rips in the Tea Cups The Lace Curtain A Shorter History of the Irish People Dandelions Her Father's Daughter Note: Nelson's Afterword (p. 138-217) includes biographical information on S. Mariella Gable, professor and English Department chair, who influenced Betty Wahl and introduced her to J. F. Powers. Nelson email exchange with Archivist Peggy Roske, Nov. 8, 2012, concerning Nelson's article, "The Woman Who Was Mistaken for Flannery O’Connor," in Deep South Magazine [online], Nov. 2, 2012, a printout of which is included here. Letter from Betty Wahl Powers to Father Hilary about Daily Times, 25 November 1986 Betty Wahl's story "Aprille" was published in the summer 2009 issue of The Antioch Review. A copy of this story is located here. "The Other House," Betty Wahl Powers, published in the Southern Review, [nd] See also AC 14.01.F05 Box 01. **************** Here is a (partial?) list of Betty's contributions to St. Benedict's Quarterly (not including book reviews?): “Shades of Peter Pan” March 1942, V. 17, no. 2 (pg 16-17): Short Story “Emily Post to the Contrary Notwithstanding” Fall 1942, V. 17, no 1 (pg 20-21): Short Story “A Star is Born” Fall 1942, V. 17, no. 1 (pg 27): Short Story “Daddy was an Immigrant” Spring 1943, V. 17, no 3 (pg 20-21): Short Story “Devil in the Grease” Fall 1943. V. 18, no 1 (pg 10-11): Short Story “On Me Writing Poetry, Especially After Reading Something Good” Fall 1943, V. 18, no 1 (pg 29): Poem “Le Beau Francais” Winter 1944, V. 18, no 2 (pg 8-10): Short Story “Two Pigs and a Parish” Spring 1944, V. 18, no 3 (pg 7-10): Short Story “A Genuine End” Spring 1944, V. 18 no 3 (pg 25): Poem “I Discover Catholic Education in a Secular University” Fall 1944, V. 19, no 1 (pg 3-6): Short Story “The Cookie Cutter” Fall 1944, V. 19, no 1 (pg 17): Poem “Ever Since Eve Ate the Snake” Winter 1945, V. 19 no 2 (pg 3-5): Short Story “Dante Loves Beatrice” Spring 1945, V. 19 no 3 (pg 3-6): Short Story “A Month of Sundays” Spring 1945, V. 19 no 3 (pg 13): Poem “Doggerel” Spring 1945, V. 19 no 3 (pg 15): Poem