Anna Olswanger papers
Collection Overview
The collection consists of publications, short stories, and other papers of Anna Olswanger, a children's story author and freelance editor. Included are published copies of Olswanger's short stories "Big Mistreatin' Bittersweet'n Blues" and "Chicken Bone Man," as well as materials relating to Olswanger's father, Berl Olswanger, a blues musician and composer. Also present is a published transcript of Anna Olswanger's 1993 interview with Gene Olswanger (Berl Olswanger's sister) describing her family.
Dates
- Creation: 1985-2004
Creator
- Olswanger, Anna, 1953- (Person)
Language of Material
Materials in English
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Copyright Notice
The nature of the College of Charleston's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. Special Collections claims only physical ownership of most archival materials.
The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.
Biographical Note
Anna Olswanger, a literary agent, children's book author, and miniature book publisher, was born in Memphis, Tennessee, in 1953. She has written several short stories, many of which revolve around the themes of blues music and Jewish life, including "Schlemiel Crooks, "Greenhorn," "Big Mistreatin' Bittersweet'n Blues," "Berl's Blues," and "Chicken Bone Man." In 2001, Olswanger moved to New Jersey, where she began publishing limited edition miniature books for collectors of Judaica.
Berl Olswanger (1917-1981), Anna Olswanger's father, also a native of Memphis, was a noted blues musician and composer. He toured in the 1930s with George Olsen's big band orchestra, served in World War II as Admiral Halsey's entertainment officer for the South Pacific, wrote commercial jingles, hosted his own television show, and owned a music store. Several of Berl Olswanger's compositions are the basis of Anna Olswanger's writings.
Extent
1 folder
Abstract
Publications, short stories, and other papers of Anna Olswanger, children's story author and freelance editor. Included are published copies of Olswanger's short stories "Big Mistreatin' Bittersweet'n Blues" and "Chicken Bone Man," as well as materials relating to Olswanger's father, Berl Olswanger, a blues musician and composer from Nashville (Tennessee), and his sister Gene Olswanger.
Collection Arrangement
Materials are described at the item level.
Acquisitions Information
Materials were donated in 1997 and 2004 by Anna Olswanger.
Processing Information
Processed by Sarah Dorpinghaus, March 2011.
Subject
- Olswanger, Berl, -1981 (Person)
- Olschwanger family (Family)
- Olswanger, Gene (Person)
- Title
- Inventory of the Anna Olswanger Papers, 1985-2004
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Processed by: Sarah Dorpinghaus; machine-readable finding aid created by: Sarah Dorpinghaus
- Date
- 2011
- Description rules
- Dacs
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Sponsor
- Funding from the Council on Library and Information Resources supported the processing of this collection and encoding of the finding aid.
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections Repository
Special Collections
College of Charleston Libraries
66 George Street
Charleston South Carolina 29424
(843) 953-8016
(843) 953-6319 (Fax)