Guide to the William Downey Papers CEMA 32

UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
University of California, Santa Barbara
Santa Barbara 93106-9010
Phone Number: (805) 893-3062
special@library.ucsb.edu


Contributing Institution: UC Santa Barbara Library, Department of Special Research Collections
Title: William Downey papers
Identifier/Call Number: CEMA 32
Physical Description: 1 Linear Feet 2 document boxes
Date (inclusive): late 19th century-1999
Language of Material: English .
Container: 1
Container: 2

Conditions Governing Access note

none

Biographical Sketch

William Downey, known to most as "Bill" was born June 15, 1922 in Ottumwa, Iowa. His family moved to Chicago, Illinois where Downey attended elementary school and early high school. The family returned to Ottumwa following the death of his father. After graduating from high school he enlisted in the Marine Corps to fight in World War II. In 1945, after leaving the Marine Corps, he returned to Iowa where he eventually owned and operated an auto repair shop in Des Moines, Iowa for over twenty years.
In 1965, Downey and his wife visited Santa Barbara and relocated to the community the following year. During this time his wife encouraged him to begin his writing career. Having only a high school education, Downey set out to start a career in journalism. Although he was in his 40's before he began his writing career, it was obvious that he had a natural talent for writing after he published a three-part story about the African-American Muslims in Santa Barbara. The article caught the attention of the Santa Barbara News Press and Downey became its first African-American reporter. He worked his way up from writing obituaries to a feature-story writer. Downey was famous for his 'Gone Fishin' columns, which often featured a colorful character 'Uncle Russell,' He also published feature articles in Better Homes and Gardens in Des Moines Iowa, Western Outdoor News, American Shootgunnerand Outdoor Life.
Downey's career changed after he wrote an article about a boy who was dying of leukemia. Newspapers from around the world picked up the article. He expanded the article into a story and sold the movie rights. The proceeds afforded Downey the opportunity to end his fourteen-year career at the Santa Barbara News Press. After leaving the News Press Downey invested more time writing novels and teaching.
Downey was well respected in the literary community for his work with the Santa Barbara Writers Conference and his writing classes through adult education and UCSB Extension. He was a member of Outdoor Writers of California, Pillsbury Foundation Writing Committee, Adult Education Instructor's Association, and Santa Barbara Continuing Education Association. Downey was the author of the five novels which include, Tom Bass: Black Horseman, Black Viking, Uncle Sam Must be Losing the War, EDOU, and Right Brain: Write On!
William Downey died on September 1, 1994.
*Please note that the following works are available in the Specials Collections and Black Studies Units: Right Brain: Write On! (PN 171.W74 D68 1984); Tom Bass: Black Horseman (SF 287.D68); Uncle Sam Must be Losing the War (D 811.D663 1982).

Acquisition Information

Donated by Michael Downey, April 21, 1997.

Preferred Citation note

William Downey Papers, CEMA 32, Department of Special Collections, University Library, University of California, Santa Barbara.

Processing Information note

Processed by Carmelita Pickett. Completed May 2001.

Scope Note

This collection is housed in two boxes, containing correspondence files, photographs, and newspaper clippings. The collection is arranged in two series. Series one, Personal/Biographical Information is arranged alphabetically by assigned folder titles. It offers information about Downey's personal life, writing career, and community involvement. Series two, Santa Barbara News Press represents Downey's fourteen-year career as a columnist with the Santa Barbara News Press. This series is arranged chronologically and provides some insight into how Downey's career evolved.
Personal/Biographical Series 1. This series is one box, which consists of six folders that cover Downey's family history, correspondence, books, and awards. Folder three contains correspondence to his editor that spans 1975-1977. Folders four and five contain photographs of Downey's family, which chronicle the life of African-Americans during the late nineteenth century and the Civil War. Folder six contains an article that offers a historical perspective on the life of Tom Bass.
Santa Barbara News Press Series 2. This series is one box, which consists of twelve folders that span from 1969-1979. These articles are from the Gone Fishin' column published in the Santa Barbara News Press. The undated articles are in folder one. Folder two contains his first article published by the Santa Barbara News Press about the Black Muslims in Santa Barbara.

Conditions Governing Use note

Copyright has not been assigned to the Department of Special Collections, UCSB. All requests for permission to publish or quote from manuscripts must be submitted in writing to the Head of Special Collections. Permission for publication is given on behalf of the Department of Special Collections as the owner of the physical items and is not intended to include or imply permission of the copyright holder, which also must be obtained.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

Photographs
African American journalists
African American authors

 

Series I: Personal/Biographical Information late 19th century-1999

box 1, folder 1

Biographical Profile 1986-1994

box 1, folder 2

Community Activities and Awards 1990-1995

box 1, folder 3

Correspondence 1975-1977

box 1, folder 4

Family History ca. late 19th century

box 1, folder 5

Photographs ca. late 19th century

box 1, folder 6

Tom Bass 1999

 

Series II: Santa Barbara News Press 1960's-1979

 

Gone Fishin' Articles

box 2, folder 1

undated

box 2, folder 2

1969

box 2, folder 3

1970

box 2, folder 4

1971

box 2, folder 5

1972

box 2, folder 6

1973

box 2, folder 7

1974

box 2, folder 8

1975

box 2, folder 9

1976

box 2, folder 10

1977

box 2, folder 11

1978

box 2, folder 12

1979