A Guide to the John Casey Papers
A Collection in the
Special Collections Department
Accession number 10973-a
University of Virginia Library
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections LibraryUniversity of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
USA
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Reference Request Form: https://small.lib.virginia.edu/reference-request/
URL: http://small.library.virginia.edu/
© 1997 By the Rector and Visitors of the University of Virginia. All rights reserved.
Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.
Processed by: Special Collections Department Staff
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
Collection is open to research. However, Photocopying is restricted except by written permission of Mr. Casey.
Use Restrictions
See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.
Preferred Citation
John Casey Papers, Accession 10973-a, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library
Acquisition Information
This collection was loaned to the Library by John Casey of Charlottesville, Virginia, on December 16, 1993.
Funding Note
Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities
Scope and Content
This literary collection consists of ca. 210 items, 1969-1993, pertaining to the writing and teaching career of John Casey . There are correspondence, manuscripts, a photograph, and printed material.
The correspondence contains letters from various contemporary authors or other letters of interest. On October 29, 1980, Janet Lembke writes about the Creative Righters at the Staunton prison, mentioning the interest of Casey and Mary Lee Settle and Breece D'J Pancake (d. 1979) as a former guest. On March 10, 1982, John Barth inquires about a particular phrase re the "sotweed factor." Letters of 1982 include ones from David Huddle (1942-) and Tobias Wolff (1945-) expressing an interest in becoming a writer at the University of Virginia . On October 7, 1982, Mary Ryan writes about the Western Division of the Creative Writing workshop , mentioning future guests Grace Paley , Wallace Earle Stegner (1909-), and [E. L.] Doctorow (1931-). Letters of 1983 from Mary Carter , Jonathan Penner (1940-), and Vance Nye Bourjaily concern the Henry Hoyns Chair of English at the University of Virginia . On August 27, 1984, Scott Donaldson writes concerning his biography on John Cheever . A letter, n.y. April 18, from Amy Cunningham , The Washingtonian , mentions several of Casey's former students, including Claude Williams (or, Mike High ), Lewis Jeffrey Zeldman , Edward P. Jones , and James Alan McPherson (1943-). A letter of October 30 n.y., from Frederick Bradlee concerns his solo performance "The Glory of Language." Three undated letters of Lewis Jeffery Zeldman discuss his current and future novels. A letter, December 11, 1986, from Amanda Vaill of Viking Penquin Inc. , refers to Casey's comment on Rebecca Brown 's The Haunted House . On December 28, 1989, Waller H. Horsley writes concerning the gift to the University of Virginia Board of Visitors members of an autographed copy of Casey's Spartina and his receipt of the National Book Award . On January 3, 1990 Austin E. Quigley (1942-) also writes about the National Book Award .
A letter, November 2, 1992, from Maureen Howard (1930-) mentions Eudora Welty (1909-) and being invited to read at the Williams Corner Bookstore . On November 11, 1992, Hugo Weisgall , of the American Academy of Arts and Letters , informs Casey of being chosen to receive the prestigious Mildred and Harold Strauss Living . A lengthy and social letter, November 29, 1992, from Richard [Jones] , discusses national politics, political figures, writers, and other social matters. Among the persons mentioned in Jones' letter are: William Jefferson Clinton (1946-), George Bush (1924-), Edward Moore Kennedy (1932-), H. Ross Perot (1930-), Constance [Casey Varmus] , Helen and Breece D'J Pancake , [James Alan] McPherson , Betty Howland , Saul Bellow (1915-), Bill [William] and Liz Shannon , Bertha Donahue , and Mark Scowcroft . On February 27, 1993, "Sandro" [ Alexander Stille ] writes about his work on a book on the Mafia in Italy [ Excellent Cadavers: The Mafia and the Death of the First Italian Republic ] and mentions Tod A. Marder .
There is a letter, March 14, 1993, from Casey's uncle, Charles M. Dudley , mentioning the movie rights to Spartina and family news. There is a lengthy letter, April 2, 1993, from "Tom" describing life in Paris , particularly rowing and racing in France . A letter, April 2, 1993, from the William Morris Agency, Inc. concerns the purchase of Spartina . On April 7, 1993, Jonathan Richardson Smith praises Casey's Testimonty and Demeanor and Spartina , and discusses the subject matter in his dissertation [ The Rise of the Novel Trilogy in the U. S., 1890-1940 ] and Pearl Buck 's House of Earth trilogy. There is a letter, April 14, 1993, from Casey's sister, Constance [Casey Varmus] concerning family matters. Letters of the spring of 1993 often refer to Casey's receipt of the Mildred and Harold Strauss Living and the Sewanee Writers' Conference . There are letters from authors Alexander Theroux (April 14, 1993) and Rita Mae Brown (April 20, 1993), and Susan Brownell (April 22, 1993).
A letter, April 17, 1993, from Jan C. Shapin , discusses the foundation of writing and what a writers conference should be. Marianna Wiggins writes on April 24, 1993, enclosing her short story, "Can You Smell My Sandwich?" A letter, May 27, 1993, from Alexandra [Kuczynski] mentions the American Academy of Arts and Letters ceremony, Dana Groseclose , Michael Carlisle , and Louis Theroux . On June 3, 1993, Jeff Pearson writes about finishing his novel The Luck of Dan Daniel . Letters of August 1993 mention the Sewanee Writers' Conference of that summer. There are two letters, August 5 & 27, from Reid Mitchell concerning his book The Vacant Chair , his novella Things Ruth Taught Me , and Listowel's Writers Week. There are letters from authors Wyatt Prunty (August 5, 1993), Brenda K. Marshall (August 6, 1993), and Lawrence C. Melton (August 6 & September 10, 1993), concerning Sewanee and some of their own writings. A letter, August 16, 1993, from Charles M. Dudley concerning an honorady degree in literature for Casey. Letters of August 1993 from Constance [Casey Varmus] reminisce over the Casey family during a move from one house to another. There is an undated letter from Casey's daughter "Nell" [ Eleanor Dudley Casey ], of the William Morris Agency, Inc. , concerning making the movie of Spartina and offering suggestions for director and/or producer, naming Joel Castleberg , Mike Steinberg , and Roger Hedden . There is also an undated note from Eugene J. McCarthy (1916-).
Other materials include works submitted to the committee for consideration for the Henry Hoyns Fellowship ; interviews with John Casey , one by Nancy Bunge ; and miscellaneous items, including [literary] annual reports, a "schematic plan for a paw-paw patch," and seating arrangement for a photograph (in oversize folder) and guest list for the American Academy of Arts and Letters awards ceremony.
Significant Persons Associated With the Collection
- Alexander Stille
- Alexander Theroux
- Alexandra [Kuczynski]
- Amanda Vaill
- Amy Cunningham
- Austin E. Quigley
- Bertha Donahue
- Betty Howland
- Bill
- Breece D'J Pancake
- Brenda K. Marshall
- Charles M. Dudley
- Claude Williams
- Constance [Casey Varmus]
- Dana Groseclose
- David Huddle
- Edward Moore Kennedy
- Edward P. Jones
- Eleanor Dudley Casey
- Eudora Welty
- Eugene J. McCarthy
- Frederick Bradlee
- George Bush
- Grace Paley
- H. Ross Perot
- Helen
- Hugo Weisgall
- James Alan McPherson
- Jan C. Shapin
- Janet Lembke
- Jeff Pearson
- Joel Castleberg
- John Barth
- John Casey
- John Cheever
- Jonathan Penner
- Jonathan Richardson Smith
- Lawrence C. Melton
- Lewis Jeffery Zeldman
- Lewis Jeffrey Zeldman
- Liz Shannon
- Louis Theroux
- Marianna Wiggins
- Mark Scowcroft
- Mary Carter
- Mary Lee Settle
- Mary Ryan
- Maureen Howard
- Michael Carlisle
- Mike High
- Mike Steinberg
- Nancy Bunge
- Pearl Buck
- Rebecca Brown
- Reid Mitchell
- Richard [Jones]
- Rita Mae Brown
- Roger Hedden
- Saul Bellow
- Scott Donaldson
- Susan Brownell
- Tobias Wolff
- Tod A. Marder
- Vance Nye Bourjaily
- Wallace Earle Stegner
- Waller H. Horsley
- William Jefferson Clinton
- Wyatt Prunty
- [E. L.] Doctorow
- [James Alan] McPherson
Container List
- Box 1
Letters to John Casey1980-198418 items
- Box 1
Letters to John Casey1986-19929 items
- Box 1
Letters to John Casey1993 Jan-Mar13 items
- Box 1
Letters to John Casey1993 Apr-May20 items
- Box 1
Letters to John Casey1993 Jun-Oct, n.d.29 items
- Box 1
Articles and Book Reviews by John Casey1969-1972, n.d.4 items
- Box 1
Course Evaluations199215 items
- Box 1
Henry Hoyns Fellowship (2 folders)197810 items
- Box 1
Interviews with John Casey19832 items
- Box 1
Miscellaneous1974-199415 items
- Box 1
Printed re John Casey1989-199315 items
- Box 1
"Lapses," a long story by John Caseyn.d.TMs
- Box 1
Spartina , a novel by John Casey (2 folders)[1989]TMs
- Box 1
Short Stories by John Caseyn.d.2 items
- Box 1
Short Stories (Printed) by John Casey1969-19722 items
- Box 2
1978 Spring
Printed
- Box 2
n.d.
TMs
- Box 2
Short Stories by Students: Michael Jenningsn.d.5 items
- Box 2
Short Stories by Students: Edward P. Jones19784 items
- Box 2
Short Stories by Students: Walter Briscoe Norris, Jr. (2 folders)1976-1981, n.d.14 items
- Box 3
Short Stories by Students: Dawe -- Portwood1971-1978, n.d.10 items
- Box 3
Short Stories by Students: R[ ] -- Yarbrough1973-1976, n.d.10 items
- Box 3
Short Stories by Students: Unknown author1980, n.d.4 items