© The University of Tennessee Special Collections Library

Linear Feet: 1.5 linear feet

Abstract: The Jane Merchant Manuscript Collection contains the manuscripts of the poet's first six books of inspirational prose and poetry, all published by Abingdon Press.

Administrative Information

Statement of Provenance: Collection was a gift from Jane Merchant

Copyright Statement: Copyright © 2005. The University of Tennessee Libraries. All Rights Reserved. Permission to use, copy, modify, and distribute these materials for educational, research, and not-for-profit purposes, without fee and without a signed licensing agreement, is hereby granted, provided that the above copyright notice and this paragraph appear in all copies, modifications, and distributions. For commercial license to use contact, University of Tennessee Libraries, Office of the Dean, Permissions, 1015 Volunteer Boulevard, Knoxville, TN 37996-1000.

Biographical Note: Jane Hess Merchant was born in 1919 and died in 1972. She was confined to her bed at age twelve form the congenital bone disease Osteogenesis Imperfecta, which also caused her to go deaf at age twenty-three. From her bedroom she was able to write more than 3,000 poems, more than 2,000 letters, dozens of prose pieces, and to publish ten collections of her poetry.

Scope and Content: The Jane Merchant Manuscript Collections contains the typewritten manuscripts of Merchant's first six books published by Abingdon Press. Patrons interested in Merchant's life should also consult MS 2057: The Sarah Rickets Collection of Jane Merchant, 1937-1992. The manuscript texts are arranged in chronological order by publication date.

LCSH
Poets, American -- Tennessee -- Knoxville
Merchant, Jane, 1919-1972
Authors, American -- Tennessee
American literature -- Women authors

Keywords
Jane Merchant
Inspirational poetry
Religious poetry
Appalachian poetry
Tennessee poetry

Box 1
Folder 1: The Greatest of These (September 7, 1954)
Folder 2: Think About These Things (September 10, 1956)
Folder 3: Halfway up the Sky (September 9, 1957)
Folder 4: In Green Pastures (May 11, 1959)
Folder 5: Blessed Are You (October 30, 1961)
Folder 6: The Mercies of God (September 9, 1963)