ELWYN B. ROBINSON DEPARTMENT OF SPECIAL COLLECTIONS
CHESTER FRITZ LIBRARY
UNIVERSITY OF NORTH DAKOTA
GRAND FORKS, NORTH DAKOTA 58202

J. J. SOMERS PAPERS

COLLECTION: OGL #432

DATES: 1913

SIZE: 1 item

INTRODUCTION

ACQUISITION: The J. J. Somers Papers was deposited in the Orin G. Libby Manuscript Collection (Acc. #77-451).

ACCESS: Available for inspection under the rules and regulations of the Department of Special Collections.

HISTORICAL SKETCH

James Joseph Somers was born in 1865, the son of Martin Somers. He wrote his first piece of poetry when he was twelve years old. He was a farmer and homesteaded in North Dakota in 1900. By 1913, he was living in Minneapolis. He also appears to have spent some time around the area of Duluth, Minnesota. He composed songs and also published several works of poetry. His first book, The Beauties of the Mouse River Loop, was published in 1904. He published several other titles before his last book, Jim's Western Gems, was released in 1913.

SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE

The J. J. Somers Papers consists of Jim's Western Gems, a book of poetry written by Somers in 1913. The book is 114 pages in length and was published by the author. Much of the poetry has a distinct North Dakota theme, although several poems were written regarding the area near Duluth. The poetry also has a political flavor with several poems on William Jennings Bryan.

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