“Making order out of disorder any time, anywhere, can be regarded as a sacrament,” wrote author May Sarton.
These words might have come to Julia Badder’s mind when she was organizing a collection of papers related to Sarton in the college archives.
Badders, a senior English writing major, is among the many interns hosted yearly at the archives. Students learn about organizing, preserving, curating and digitizing archival material. “I didn’t have any targeted career goals,” said Badders. “I wanted a career in writing and editing. My professor, Dr. Emily Sharpe, introduced me to this opportunity.
Badders assisted with processing and creating finding guides to the Sarton collections, which consisted of letters, miscellaneous papers and books.
Sarton (1912-1955) was a noted Belgian-American poet, novelist and memoirist. She was also a long-time resident of Nelson, N.H.
Sarton authored 53 books, including 19 novels and 17 books of poetry. Her works, often thoughtprovoking and inspiring, were about love, creativity, conflicts of body and mind, and trials of aging. The Sarton collections are part of Mason Library’s Modern Poetry Collection that includes the Frank Shuffleton library of 2000+ first and rare editions, and the papers of the New Hampshire Poet Laureates and the Monadnock Pastoral Poets.
“I spent many hours researching May’s life and writing career in order to write a biography for the finding guides,” said Badders. “By the end of my research, I almost felt as if I knew her.”
“May Sarton was a sensitive and passionate woman with an iron will,” said Badders. “She sees beyond the surface level to create meditative works of literature. It is very clear, especially through her poetry, how in tune she is with the world around her, as any great writer should be.”
Badders continued, “My admiration for May Sarton derives from her devotion to her passion. As an immigrant and lesbian, she faced many hardships. She rued the fact that literary critics dismissed her work—but she persisted.”
In 1990, Sarton suffered a stroke that left her unable to write, noted Badders. Her passion to write was still present through the use of tape recordings, which enabled her to publish a series of journals and poetry.
“We have to dare to be ourselves, however frightening or strange that self may prove to be,” wrote Sarton.
Badders responded to that challenge and dared herself to try something new. “My internship inspired me into pursuing a career in book and manuscript editing. I gained experience that will be applicable to any future career,” she said.
Badders, through the archives, worked on other projects. She helped organize an online poetry reading of Chinese and American poets and designed a booklet of the poems read.
She also worked with author and Keene State alumnus Ernest Hebert as an editorial assistant. Hebert’s papers are also part of the college archives.
The May Sarton collections and Modern Poetry Collection are accessible at Mason Library by appointment.
Rodney Obien can be contacted at
robien@keene.edu
