Roy Zell Kemp Papers
Content Description
The Roy Z. Kemp Papers contains materials related to Kemp's personal life and publication of his poetry. The collection contains Kemp's poem and article drafts, published books, unpublished manuscripts, photographs, World War II army memorabilia, newspaper clippings, magazine collections, personal correspondence, and publisher correspondence.
The collection contains Kemp's correspondence with publishers, book manuscripts, typewritten poem manuscripts, and published poems, including copies of spirital magazines such as "Ideals", "Junior Challenge", "Christian Life", "My Delight for Teens", and "The Young Crusader."
Other materials include book reviews and newspaper articles written by Kemp, letters to the editor of the Greensboro Daily News, and material relating to Kemp's involvement with the Wendover Avenue Church of Christ.
The collection also contains personal materials, which include family correspondence, ephemera, financial records, and material relating to Kemp's employment at the Social Security Administration.
In addition, the collection contains bound editions of Kemp's published works.
Dates
- 1915 - 1980
Creator
- Kemp, Roy Zell (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open for research.
Conditions Governing Use
Copyright is retained by the creators of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
Manuscript collections and archival records may contain materials with sensitive or confidential information. Please see our Sensitive Materials Statement.
Extent
22.50 Linear Feet (15 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Roy Zell Kemp was a religious and inspirational poet born in Cornelius, North Carolina in 1910. He served with the U.S. Air Force in Europe during World War II and worked for the Social Security Administration in Baltimore, Maryland until his retirement in 1969. He returned to Greensboro and remained there until his death in 1980. Over the course of his life, Kemp published 5 books of inspirational poems and writings, produced several unpublished manuscripts, and published more than 3,000 poems and articles in over 50 different publications.
The Roy Z. Kemp Papers contains materials related to Kemp's personal life and publication of his writing. The collection contains Kemp's poem and article drafts, published books, unpublished manuscripts, photographs, army memorabilia, newspaper clippings, magazine collections, personal correspondence, and publisher correspondence.
Arrangement Note
The collection is arranged in seven series:
Series 1: Church Materials
Series 2: Correspondence
Subseries: Personal and Family, Publishing
Series 3: Newspaper Clippings
Series 4: Personal Materials
Series 5: Publications
Subseries: Books and Magazines, Christian and Poetry Publications and Magazines
Series 6: Writings
Subseries: Book Manuscripts, Essay Submissions and Article Manuscripts, Poetry Manuscripts
Series 7: Unidentified
Each series is arranged either alphabetically or chronologically.
Method of Acquisition
Gift of Gloria Turlington in June 2009.
Condition Description
15 boxes containing materials relating to Roy Zell Kemp.
Offensive Language Statement
The UNC Greensboro University Libraries collects, preserves, and makes accessible unique and historical materials for learning and research. The nature of historical materials is such that some material may represent positions, norms, and values that are offensive and objectionable. These materials represent the opinions and actions of their creators. By providing access to these records in our reading room and through our digital collections, we recognize that archives and rare books can play a vital role in holding those creators accountable and in helping us learn from the past.
Our finding aids and other collection descriptions may occasionally re-use language provided by creators or former holders of the materials, but we strive to place outdated or offensive terminology in context. That said, we recognize that we may not always make the right decision and welcome feedback from all sources so we can learn and adjust our practices. Please contact us at scua@uncg.edu if you encounter problematic language in our finding aids or other collection description. We will review the language and, as appropriate, update it in a way that balances preservation of the original context with our ongoing commitment to describing materials with respectful and inclusive language.
Family Note
The collection contains material pertaining to Roy Kemp's parents, siblings, and other family members.
Family members include
Father: George Washington Kemp
Mother: Ethel Nicholson Kemp, died 1954.
Sister: Lila Kemp Blum, born ~1897. married to Walter Blum. children Carl Blum, William Blum, May Audry Blum, Unk Blum.
Sister: Vallie Kemp Moore, born ~1900. married to Clarence Moore. children Carlton Moore, Maudine Moore, Mary Moore.
Brother: Lawrence Kemp, born ~1901. married to Gwendolyn Phillips. children Harry Kemp, Jean Kemp, Rex Kemp, Dez Kemp, Joe Kemp, Dorcus Kemp, Dale Kemp, Phyllis Kemp.
Sister: Nellie Kemp Bell, born ~1903. married to Arthur R. Bell. child Mildred Bell Cartledge.
Sister: Edna Kemp Phillips, born ~1906. married James E. Phillips, Sr. children James Phillips, Jr., TKemp Phillips, Bonnie Phillips, MaryAnn Phillips, Frank Phillips, Robert Phillips, Gloria Phillips.
Brother: Russell Kemp, born ~1908. married Louise Shropshire. children Bobby Kemp, Toby Kemp, Laura Kemp.
Sister: Rozelle Kemp Sutphin, born 1916. married Jesse Sutphin. child Carolyn Sutphin Jenkins.
Surviving siblings upon Kemp's death in January 1980: Edna Phillips, Nellie Bell, and Lawrence Kemp.
Of note: Edna K. Phillips served as administrator of Kemp's estate.
Processing Information
Processed by Liz Konopka in April 2021.
- Title
- Roy Z. Kemp Papers
- Status
- In Progress
- Author
- Liz Konopka
- Date
- April 2021
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- eng
Repository Details
Part of the Martha Blakeney Hodges Special Collections and University Archives Repository