Series 6. Comstock Correspondence, 1882-1995, undated (bulk 1950-1995), bulk: Bulk, 1950–1995

This series includes Jim Comstock's personal and professional correspondence. This series contains materials that are diverse in format, including letters, scripts for radio and other media, clippings, postcards, typescripts, articles, financial materials (e.g. bank books and checks), printed material, ephemera, and photographs. Most of the photographic material in this series has been moved to Series 7, Photographs. Some materials were moved to Series 17, Oversize -- see the Series 17 description for details.

Comstock marked much of his correspondence to be filed by the first letter of the correspondent's last name. Some of this organizational scheme has survived; folders containing specific letter and year files are dispersed throughout the series. Other notations that Comstock used include "LR" for letters received, "Sp" for speech-related correspondence, "NL" for News Leader-related correspondence, and "HB" for West Virginia Hillbilly-related correspondence.

Topics and items of interest include:

letters written to Comstock by regional author Jesse Stuart, and by political figures such as Hubert H. Humphrey, Robert C. Byrd, Jennings Randolph, and Barry Goldwater (box 26 and others);

rejection letters from newspapers and magazines to which Comstock submitted material (box 26);

biographical material about Jim Comstock and his family, including a thesis about Comstock by Mary Abel (boxes 26 and 47);

Larry Maynor, journalist for the Charleston Daily Mail (box 29);

the sale and ultimate demise of the West Virginia Hillbilly (boxes 31 and 72);

the University of Hard Knocks, including a mock-up diploma, resumes, and portrait photograph headshots of potential graduates (boxes 31 and 60);

[Delf] Norona Collection payments (boxes 33 and 46);

Pearl S. Buck (box 33 and others);

Billy Edd Wheeler, West Virginia writer and musician (box 36);

Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) reunion in 1979 (box 36);

Otto Whittaker, who worked with Comstock on The Best of the Hillbilly (boxes 37 and 65);

the West Virginia Heritage Encyclopedia (box 40);

Comstock's appearance on John Nebel's WOR radio show in 1960, including postcards and letters regarding the appearance and requests for Comstock's Richwood Kinsey Report as well as News Leader or West Virginia Hillbilly subscriptions (boxes 41-42);

Comstock's appearance on the Today Show in 1966 (box 42);

Comstock's appearance on Patricia/Patsy McCann's WOR radio show in New York in August 1977, including letters and postcards regarding the appearance and requests to receive the free six-week subscription to the West Virginia Hillbilly which Comstock offered on the show (boxes 42-43);

writers, with an emphasis on West Virginia authors, whose work Comstock was interested in collecting (boxes 40, 44, 45, and 62);

writings by Comstock, including short stories, articles, drafts, etc. (boxes 47-49);

Comstock's nomination and campaign for a U.S. House of Representatives seat on the Republican ticket in 1964 (boxes 51 and 56);

the West Virginia Hillbilly and News Leader, including morgue files, old articles, submissions, letters, and other items (boxes 54, 55, 57, 61, 63, and others; for oversize items, see Series 17, Oversize, box 116);

Eck Bozeman (box 57);

Comstock's pocket diaries (box 57);

Comstock's naval service during World War II (box 60);

H.C. Comstock, Jim's father (box 68); and

historical research material, possibly for the Encyclopedia (box 72).

Please note that the above list is not exhaustive.