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Last modified: February 27, 2012
© 2012 University of Delaware Library
Identification: MSS 613
Creator: Perry, Warner.
Title: Warner Perry papers
Inclusive Dates: 1900-1997
Bulk Dates: 1940-1995
Extent: 3 linear feet (3 boxes)
Abstract: The Warner Perry papers include personal records related to Perry’s life and many hobbies. The major subjects of the collection are Perry’s magic documents, his personal papers, financial information, written works, invention designs, and family photographs.
Language: Materials entirely in English.
MSS 613, Warner Perry papers, Special Collections, University of Delaware Library, Newark, Delaware.
Boxes 1-3: Shelved in SPEC MSS record center cartons
Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library / Newark, Delaware 19717-5267 / Phone: 302-831-2229 / Fax: 302-831-6003 / URL: http://www.lib.udel.edu/ud/spec/
Gift of the estate of Warner Perry.
Processed by Matthew Small, November-December 2009. Encoded by Jaime Margalotti, December 2009.
The collection is open for research.
Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, http://www.lib.udel.edu/cgi-bin/askspec.cgi
Clarence Warner Perry, Jr. was born on December 29, 1921, in Wilmington, Delaware. He attended Pierre S. du Pont High School, graduating in 1940. Perry went on to attend the University of Delaware, where he received a B.S. in electrical engineering in 1943. Upon receiving his degree, Perry gained employment with E. I. du Pont de Nemours & Co., Inc. (DuPont) in Wilmington as a design engineer, where he continued to work until his retirement in 1985. Perry lived most of his life in Brookside Park outside Newark, Delaware. He died on August 6, 1997.
During his employment at DuPont, Perry had many hobbies and side endeavors. Perry became an amateur magician and magic enthusiast in his youth, a subject he remained interested in throughout his life. He designed magic tricks, assembled and sold magic catalogs at his magic store, and performed as a magician himself. In fact, Perry performed magic acts on the side to help pay for his college education. In addition to his interests in magic, Perry became heavily involved in the stock market, accruing large amounts of money from his investments. As an engineer, Perry utilized his mechanical knowledge to create and design multiple inventions, although it seems he was unsuccessful in obtaining patents. He wrote copiously in a variety of genres, including journalism, poetry, fiction, and non-fiction works in the realm of science and religion. Perry was also an avid stamp collector, becoming an energetic member of the Newark Senior Center Stamp Group during the early 1990s.
Perry was an active philanthropist, especially during his later years. He provided particularly significant support for the Newark Senior Center. The center used his donations for a variety of projects including the Perry Education Wing and a fitness center.
Sources:
Biographical information derived from the collection.
The Warner Perry papers include personal records related to Perry’s life and many hobbies. They are arranged in six series: magic, personal papers, The Seventh Angel , miscellaneous works, miscellaneous catalogs, and photographs. The papers may be of particular use to those researching the field of magic, both as a hobby and as a business.
Perry’s interest in magic is one of the collection’s highlights; included are trick notes and catalogs designed and sold by Perry, trade catalogs and tricks published by others, magician lecture notes and event information, a small number of magazines and newsletters, as well as Perry’s personal jokes and patter used during his magician performances.
The collection includes much of Perry’s personal information in areas such as insurance, pension, genealogical data, and his stamp collecting hobby. As Perry was an avid investor in the stock market, his stock books, investment portfolio, and compilation of investing tips make up a significant portion of the collection.
Perry’s writing endeavors, including poetry, journalism, and fiction, make up the bulk of the collection. Of particular importance in this section are the drafts, manuscripts, research, and outlines for The Seventh Angel, Perry’s apocalyptic and religious tale of the end of the world which he published in 1979 and again in 1993.
In addition, the collection includes outlines and drawings of the various inventions that Perry designed, as well as information related to his quest to obtain patents. Assorted photographs taken of and by Perry, as well as members of the Perry and Guibeson families, are also present.
Numerous books were donated along with the Warner Perry papers, including many titles about magic and magicians. These works can be found in our online public access catalog, DELCAT, if you search for the phrase, "Warner Perry Collection."
Manuals, trick notes, and catalogs created by Perry. Many of these catalogs were sold by Perry at his magic shop.
My Magic Manual I , 1943 [Box 1 F1]
1 item
My Magic Manual II: Treasuries of Magic , undated [Box 1 F2]
1 item
My Magic Manual III: Effective Card Magic , undated [Box 1 F3]
1 item
The Magician's Art: The New Magic , undated [Box 1 F4]
1 item
Miscellaneous tricks I , undated [Box 1 F5]
1 item
Miscellaneous tricks II , undated [Box 1 F6]
6 items
The Greatest Moves of Magic: The Master Move , 1953 [Box 1 F7]
20 items
The Greatest Moves of Magic: Mind Reading , 1954 [Box 1 F8]
6 items
The Greatest Moves of Magic, misc images , circa 1950s [Box 1 F9]
Moves of Magic, notes and outline , 1952 [Box 1 F10]
1 item
Warner's 500 tricks , undated [Box 1 F11]
1 item
Magic: A Pocket Treasury , undated [Box 1 F12]
4 items
Warner's Catalog of Modern Magic , undated [Box 1 F13]
1 item
Perry's Brand New Magic at Discounts , undated [Box 1 F14]
Emerald Library of Magic Books , 1944, unknown [Box 1 F15]
1 item
Trade catalogs and books from various American magic outlets. Contains trick information and prices related to tricks and magic manuals.
Magic, Inc. I , circa 1980-1989 [Box 1 F16]
6 items
Magic, Inc. II , circa 1980-1989 [Box 1 F17]
8 items
Miscellaneous catalogs I , 1926-circa 1985 [Box 1 F18]
9 items
Includes catalogs from Haines House of Cards, Morissey Magic, Johnson Products, Thayer's Studio of Magic, among others.
Miscellaneous catalogs II , 1979-circa 1993 [Box 1 F19]
11 items
Includes catalogs from Magic World, Cards by Martin, Nick Trost, Magic Limited, TMC Enterprises, Silk King Studios, and John A. Greget.
Wizard's Report vol 3. numbers 4 & 6 , 1997 April-1997 June [Box 1 F20]
2 items
Contains a trick submitted by Perry, as well as biographical information.
Lecture notes from magic events attended by Warner Perry. Also trick, conference, and event information.
Lecture notes and events , 1942-1991 [Box 1 F21]
7 items
Lectures include Jon Racherbaumer and Peter White. Events ranging from 1942-1991, including the Delaware Knights of Magic 1991 annual banquet.
Lecture notes and tricks , undated [Box 1 F22]
4 items
Undated lectures and tricks; Shigeo Takagi, Frank Garcia, Richard Osterland, and Dameon.
Miscellaneous tricks , 1984, undated [Box 1 F23]
12 items
Blackstone magazine and secrets of magic , circa 1940s [Box 1 F24]
1 item
1940s magazine of Harry Blackstone, "the world's master magician."
Perry's collection of jokes and patter used during magic performances.
Warner's jokes and patter , undated [Box 1 F25]
1 item
Contains records related to insurance, pension, genealogy, finances/stocks, health, utilities, and vital statistics; also miscellaneous notes.
Vital records, insurance, notes , undated [Box 1 F26]
15 items
Utilities, pension, notes , circa 1990-1995 [Box 1 F27]
19 items
Finances, stocks , circa 1980-1995 [Box 1 F28]
Genealogy, books, stock info , undated [Box 1 F29]
1 item
Contains Perry's Stock books, investment tips, and stock information.
Stock book I , 1960-1967 [Box 1 F30]
1 item
Stock book II , 1968-1972 [Box 1 F31]
1 item
Stock book III , 1972-1982 [Box 2 F32]
1 item
Stock info and investing tips , 1950-circa 1970 [Box 2 F33]
12 items
Catalogs, price lists, and stamp books related to Perry's stamp collection and study (philately).
Stamp catalogs and price lists , 1950-1960 [Box 2 F34]
24 items
Catalogs from Wholesale Stamp Advertiser, Yale Stamp Company, Martin Band, R. G. Simpson and Company, Wesco, Inc., Ardsley Stamp Co., Walter F. Gray, Douglas P. Ball, United States Stamp Catalogue, and others.
Numismatic accessory catalogs , 1956 [Box 2 F35]
2 items
Smithsonian Magazine U.S. Postal Museum article , 1993 August [Box 2 F36]
1 item
USPS mint set of commemorative stamps , 1975 [Box 2 F37]
1 item
Newark Senior Center stamp group records , circa 1990 [Box 2 F38]
Minutes and information about the Newark Senior Center stamp group during the 1990s. Perry was a member.
Various correspondence, genealogical records, greeting cards, and newspaper clippings accumulated by Perry.
Misc notes, correspondence, genealogy , 1956-circa 1986 [Box 2 F39]
9 items
Greeting cards, Christmas and Mother's Day , undated [Box 2 F40]
9 items
Misc personal newspaper clippings , undated [Box 2 F41]
9 items
Manuscripts and edits of the first edition of Warner's The Seventh Angel, published in 1979 as The Little Book, The Tale of Bengy/Ben G.
Manuscript, I , undated [Box 2 F42]
1 item
Manuscript, II , undated [Box 2 F43]
1 item
Manuscripts, outline, advertising, publication data, and research for the second edition of The Seventh Angel, published in 1993. The book weaves science and religion together to foretell that the Second Coming of Christ will occur in 2002.
Manuscript chapters , undated [Box 2 F44]
1 item
Manuscript and outline , 1980s-1993 [Box 2 F45]
Reprint manuscript , 1992-1993 [Box 2 F46]
1 item
Advertising and publication , 1992-1993 [Box 2 F47]
Design and layout binder , 1992-1993 [Box 2 F48]
1 item
Research and newspaper clippings , circa 1975-1980s [Box 2 F49]
1 item
Newspaper clippings related to the science and religion behind The Seventh Angel. Also personal newspaper clippings and stock information.
Original poetry written by Perry.
Book of poems , circa 1940 [Box 2 F50]
1 item
"Poems" by Clarence Warner Perry , undated [Box 2 F51]
1 item
"The Cauldron" , undated [Box 2 F52]
1 item
Steam from "The Cauldron" , undated [Box 2 F53]
1 item
Two journalistic endeavors by Perry; a weekly educational editorial about science (especially space) and a rejected local sports cartoon.
With Science , circa 1950-1955 [Box 2 F54]
Wilmington local sports cartoon prototype , 1971 [Box 2 F55]
1 item
Proposed inventions and designs by Perry. Correspondence from interested parties and patent information included. Also included are science books, safety manuals, and information related to inventions not designed by Perry.
Vari-scale design, letters, and patent info , 1952 [Box 3 F56]
Designed to efficiently determine graphical solutions. Includes designs, drawings, notes, letters, and patent info.
Vari-scale pictures , 1952 [Box 3 F57]
5 items
Tumble-bug teaching machine , undated [Box 3 F58]
1 item
Various invention designs and electronics , 1946 [Box 3 F59]
1 item
Science books and safety manuals , 1938-1960 [Box 3 F60]
5 items
Harmon home construction manual/designs , 1947 [Box 3 F61]
2 items
Wrist radio clippings and design , 1947 [Box 3 F62]
1 item
A piece of religious art possibly painted by Perry. Also included are Perry's various notes about words and scientific laws.
Religious painting, artist unknown , undated [Box 3 F63]
1 item
Notes on words, laws, and formulas , undated [Box 3 F64]
2 items
Various self-help books, magazines, and catalogs collected by Perry.
Self-help books, "Books of Power" , 1915-1951 [Box 3 F65]
6 items
Various magazines , 1944-1975 [Box 3 F66]
6 items
Reader's Digest, Coronet, and others
Bookbinding, lettering, and mailing catalogs , circa 1940-1955 [Box 3 F67]
7 items
Harmonica catalog and tips , 1936-1940 [Box 3 F68]
3 items
U.S. Department of Agriculture leaflets , 1939-1953 [Box 3 F69]
14 items
U.S. Constitution travel account , 1942 [Box 3 F70]
1 item
"How to See America Now" guidebook , 1957 [Box 3 F71]
1 item
The Illustrated Story of Space, 1959 [Box 3 F72]
1 item
Delaware driver's manual and maps , circa 1970-1979 [Box 3 F73]
2 items
Time Magazine, Gulf War Map , circa 1990-1995 [Box 3 F74]
1 item
Smithsonian Magazine, Norman Rockwell article , 1994 July [Box 3 F75]
1 item
Photographs of Warner Perry as well as pictures taken by him.
Portraits with magic tricks , circa 1944 [Box 3 F76]
Portraits , undated [Box 3 F77]
Snapshots , circa 1940-1948 [Box 3 F78]
Framed baby photo , 1921-1922 [Box 3 F79]
DuPont office-related photos , 1947-1955 [Box 3 F80]
Warner's photo album , 1938-1944 [Box 3 F81]
Photographs of the Perry and Guibeson families.
Warner/Perry family photo albums , 1939-circa 1945 [Box 3 F82]
Perry family photo album , undated [Box 3 F83]
Perry family photos , circa 1970-circa 1988 [Box 3 F84]
Perry family portraits , undated [Box 3 F85]
Unidentified Perry family photos , 1920s-1970s [Box 3 F86]
Guibeson family photos , undated [Box 3 F87]
