A Guide to the Papers of Peter Hillsman Taylor, 1948-1977
A Collection in
Special Collections
The University of Virginia Library
Accession Number 10265,-b
Special Collections, University of Virginia Library
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections LibraryUniversity of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
USA
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Administrative Information
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Preferred Citation
Papers of Peter Hillsman Taylor, Accession #10265, -b, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
Acquisition Information
The collection was given to the Library by Peter Hillsman Taylor of Charlottesville, Virginia, on December 19, 1977, and October 21, 1980.
Biographical/Historical Information
Peter Hillsman Taylor (1917-1994) was born in Trenton, Tennessee, on January 8, 1917. He attended Vanderbilt University (1936-1937), Southwestern at Memphis (1937-1938) and received an A.B. degree from Kenyon College in 1940. Taylor served in the United States Army from 1941 until 1945 and reached the rank of sergeant. He married Eleanor Lilly Ross on June 4, 1943 and they had two children: Katherine Baird Taylor and Peter Ross Taylor.
Taylor was a professor of English at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro (1946-1967); in 1967, he moved to the University of Virginia, where he remained for the rest of his life. Taylor was a visiting lecturer and teach of creative writing at Indiana University (1949), University of Chicago (1951), Kenyon College (1952-1957), Oxford University (1955), Ohio State University (1957-1963), Harvard University (1964 and 1972-1973), and University of Georgia (1985).
In 1956, Taylor was offered a position in The New Yorker 's editorial offices which he declined in order to continue teaching. He received a Guggenheim fellowship in fiction in 1950; a National Institute of Arts and Letters grant in literature, 1952; a Fulbright fellowship to France, 1955; first prize, O. Henry Memorial Awards, 1959, for short story "Venus, Cupid, Folly and Time "; the Ohioana Book Award, 1960, for Happy Families Are All Alike ; Ford Foundation fellowship, to England, 1961; Rockefeller Foundation grant, 1964; second prize, Partisan Review-Dial for short story "The Scoutmaster "; National Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters gold medal for literature, 1979; Ritz Paris Hemingway Award and PEN/Faulkner Award for fiction, both 1986, and Pulitzer Prize for fiction, 1987, all for A Summons to Memphis. He was a member of the National Institute of Arts and Letters and the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.
Taylor's publications include the novels A Woman of Means (1950), A Summons to Memphis (1986) and In the Tennessee Country (1994). His collections of short stories include A Long Fourth and Other Stories (1948), The Widows of Thornton (1954), Happy Families Are All Alike (1959), Miss Leonora When Last Seen and Fifteen Other Stories (1963), The Collected Stories of Peter Taylor (1969), In the Miro District and Other Stories (1977), The Old Forest and Other Stories (1985), and The Oracle at Stoneleigh Court (1993). He was a contributor of stories to numerous anthologies, including The Best American Short Stories , (1945-1946, 1950, 1959-1961, 1965); Prize Stories of 1950: The O. Henry Awards (1950); The Literature of the South (1952); Stories from the Southern Review (1953); Prize Stories 1959: The O. Henry Awards (1959); Prize Stories 1961: The O. Henry Awards (1961); Prize Stories 1965: The O. Henry Awards (1965); and The Sense of Fiction (1966).
Peter Hillsman Taylor died of pneumonia, November 2, 1994, in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Scope and Content
This collection consists of ca. 900 items (9 Hollinger boxes, ca. 3 linear shelf feet), 1948-1977, papers of author Peter Hillsman Taylor. Included in the collection are manuscripts and typescripts of Taylor's books (collections of short stories and plays), short stories, plays, and poetry; galley and page proofs; notbooks containing manuscripts for plays and poetry; correspondence; magazine articles about Taylor and others; and photographs. Many of the manuscripts are for short stories which were first published in The New Yorker . The typed manuscript for Randall Jarrell's "A Sad Heart in the Supermarket" and proofs of his children's story "The Animal Family" are also present.
Taylor's correspondence is primarily of a personal nature but does contain some professional correspondence with Katherine S. White and Robert Angell of The New Yorker ; Robert Giroux of Harcourt, Brace, Inc.; and David McDowell of Random House, Inc. and McDowell, Obolensky. Other correspondents include Allen Tate, John Casey, Allen Williamson, John Malcolm Brinnan, Paul Engle, and Ralph Ellison (form letter only). Electrostatic copies of Burt Britton's collection of artists' self portraits, inlucding Eudora Welty, Lillian Hellman, Saul Bellow, and Tennessee Williams, are located at the end of the correspondence.
Also present are magazine articles on Katherine Anne Porter and Peter Taylor from Potomac , the weekly magazine of the Washington Post , and copies of the Kenyon College literary magazine, Hika , from 1939 to 1940, when Taylor was on the staff. An autographed snapshot of Katherine Anne Porter completes the colletion.
Arrangement
The collection is divided into five series: I. Manuscripts, II. Corrrespondence, III. Printed Material, IV. Photographs, and V. Miscellaneous Material. The manuscripts are sub-divided into short stories, plays, poetry, notebooks, and miscellaneous. Within each of these divisions, items are arranged alphabetically by title. Manuscripts for books that are collections of short stories or plays are placed at the ends of their respective sections. The correspondence section is divided into personal correspondence, business correspondence, and correspondence and papers from a year spent in Europe. Taylor's correspondence with The New Yorker , as well as his correspondence with publishing houses, has been separated from his miscellaneous business letters. Printed material, photographs, and miscellaneous material are filed at the end of the collection. All of the material within these latter sections is arranged chronologically.
Contents List
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Subseries A. Short Stories
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"After the Theatre" n.d.Box 1AMs. 5 pp.
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"After the Theatre" n.d.Box 1TMs (w/autograph corrections). 36 pp.
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"Annie Sue" n.d.Box 1AMs (incomplete). 3 pp.
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["Annie Sue"] n.d.Box 1TMs (incomplete). 21 p.
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"Annie Sue" n.d.Box 1TMss (w/autograph corrections). 31 p.
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"Blood" n.d.Box 1AMs (incomplete). 2 pp.
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"The Captain's Son, (originally titled "Patterns" or "Change of Venue" n.d.Box 12 TMss (w/autograph corrections, 1 electrostatic copy). 59 pp.
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"A Cheerful Disposition" n.d.Box 1Clipping (electrostatic copy). 23 pp.
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"Cousins, Family Love, Family Life, All That" 1958 Dec 17Box 1Galley Proofs (2 copies). 68 pp.
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"Cousins, Family Love, Family Life, All That," from The New Yorker 1959 Apr 25Box 1Magazine clipping. 8 pp.
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"Daphne's Lover" n.d.Box 1Clipping (electrostatic copy, w/autograph corrections). 26 pp.
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"Dean of Men" n.d.Box 1TMs (electrostatic copy). 36 pp.
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"The Elect" 1966 Nov 28Box 1TMs (w/autograph corrections). 17 pp.
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"A Fable of Nashville" 1975 Aug 19Box 13 TMss (incomplete, w/autograph corrections). 15 pp.
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"Guest," and TLS, Peter Taylor to "Dear Bill" 1958 NovBox 12 TMss (w/autograph corrections). 33 pp.
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"Guests" 1958 Dec 3Box 1Galley Proof. 44 pp.
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"Gwendolyn's Divorce" n.d.Box 13 TMss (w/autograph corrections). 34 pp.
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"In the Micro District" [1976?]Box 1TMs. 48 pp.
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"In the Micro District" n.d.Box 1TMs (w/autograph corrections). 48 pp.
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"In the Micro District," accompanied by TLS, Fiction Department, The New Yorker , to Peter Taylor, 1 p. 1976 Sep 10Box 1TMs (electrostatic copy). 48 pp.
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"Lee in the Mountains" n.d.Box 1AMs. 1 p.
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"Like the Sad Heart of Ruth," in The New Republic 1941 Dec 8Box 1Magazine . 2 pp.
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"Mrs. Billingsby's Wine" 1966 Nov 14Box 1Galley Proof. 11 p.
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"The Narrower View" n.d.Box 1TMs (w/autograph corrections). 30 pp.
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"The Other Times," from The New Yorker 1957 Feb 23Box 1Magazine clipping. 19 pp.
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"An Overwhelming Question," from Miss Leonora When Last Seen n.d.Box 1Clipping (electrostatic copy). 18 pp.
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"A Pair of Bright-Blue Eyes" and "Reservations," from The New Yorker 1958, 1961Box 1Magazine clipping. 26 pp.
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"The Party" and "The Lady is Civilized" in River 1937 Mar-AprBox 1Magazines. 8 pp.
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"The Pilgrim Sons" n.d.Box 13 AMss. 5 pp.
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"The Pilgrim Sons," (originally titled "Fellow Travellers, Old Style") n.d.Box 12 TMss (w/autograph corrections). 6 pp.
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"Porte-Cochere," from The New Yorker 1949 July 16Box 1Magazine clipping (electrostatic copy). 4 pp.
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"A Sentimental Journey," from The New Yorker 1955 Mar 12, n.d.Box 1Magazine clipping & TMs (incomplete). 16 pp.
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"A Strange Story," from Miss Leonora When Last Seen n.d.Box 1Clipping (electrostatic copy). 30 pp.
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"Sweat" 1967 Jun 12Box 2TMs (w/autograph corrections). 9 pp.
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"The Unforgivable," (originally titled "In Mero Proper") n.d.Box 2AMs. 5 pp.
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"The Unforgivable," (originally titled "The Public School Boy" and "In Mero Proper") 1957 Aug 14, n.d.Box 22 TMss (w/autograph corrections). 27 pp.
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"The Unforgivable," accompanied by TLS, "W.M." to Peter Taylor" 1957 Nov 13Box 2Galley Proof. 19 pp.
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"The Unforgivable," from The New Yorker 1950 Jan 25Box 2Magazine clipping. 15 pp.
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"Venus, Cupid, Folly and Time," from the Kenyon Review 1958 SpringBox 2Magazine clipping. 34 pp.
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"A Walled Garden," from Happy Families are All Alke n.d.Box 2Clipping (electrostatic copy). 6 pp.
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Miscellaneous Manuscript Pages n.d.Box 2TMs, AMs. 5 pp.
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The Collected Stories of Peter Taylor n.d.Box 2Galley Proof. 212 pp.
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Happy Families Are All Alike n.d.Box 2Page Proof. 92 pp.
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A Long Fourth and Other Stories n.d.Box 3Galley Proof. 73 pp.
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A Long Fourth and Other Stories n.d.Box 3Page Proof. 57 pp.
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In the Miro District and Other Stories , 2 folders 1976 July 22Box 3TMs (setting copy) (w/autograph corrections). 187 pp.
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In the Miro District and Other Stories 1976 Nov 13Box 3Galley Proof (w/autograph corrections). 69 pp.
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In the Miro District and Other Stories 1976 Nov 29Box 3Page Proof (w/autograph corrections). 108 pp.
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The Widows of Thornton n.d.Box 4Page Proof. 103 pp.
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Subseries B: Plays
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"The Death of a Kinsman" n.d.Box 4TMs (carbon). 48 pp.
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"Eminent Domain" n.d.Box 4TMs (w/autograph corrections). 5 pp.
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"Family Pieces" n.d.Box 4TMs (w/autograph corrections). 4 pp.
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The Game Room n.d.Box 4TMss (carbon). 96 pp.
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"A Later Plane" n.d.Box 4AMs, notebook. 6 pp.
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"A Later Plane" n.d.Box 4TMs (w/autograph corrections). 6 pp.
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"A Later Plane" n.d.Box 42 TMss (1 w/autograph corrections). 7 pp.
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A Stand in the Moutains , (previously titled "The Girl from Forked Deer") n.d.Box 4TMs (electrostatic copy). 93 pp.
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A Stand in the Moutains n.d.Box 4TMs. 183 pp.
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A Stand in the Moutains n.d.Box 4TMs (electrostatic copy). 171 p.
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A Stand in the Moutains , incomplete n.d.Box 4TMs (electrostatic copy). 31 p.
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The Southern Colony n.d.Box 4TMs (carbon). 190 pp.
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Tennessee Day in St. Louis n.d.Box 52 TMss (carbons) (w/autograph corrections). 228 pp.
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Tennessee Day in St. Louis n.d.Box 5TMs (carbon & mimeo) (w/autograph corrections). 212 pp.
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Tennessee Day in St. Louis, 2 folders n.d.Box 5TMs. 234 pp.
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Tennessee Day in St. Louis, Act I n.d.Box 5TMs (carbon). 31 p.
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Title Unkown n.d.Box 5TMs (w/autograph corrections). 12 pp.
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Presences , 2 folders n.d.Box 5Setting Copy. 378 pp.
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Presences 1972 Aug 3Box 5Galley Proof (master) (w/autograph corrections). 80 pp.
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Presences 1973Box 6Galley Proof (author's duplicate). 80 pp.
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Presences 1972 Sep 12Box 6Page Proof (w/autograph corrections). 114 pp.
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Subseries C: Poetry
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"Blows" n.d.Box 62 TMss (w/autograph corrections). 2 pp.
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"An Entry From His Journal," from an unknown work n.d.Box 6TMs (w/autograph corrections). 4 pp.
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"The Hand of Emmagene" n.d.Box 6TMs (w/autograph corrections). 19 pp.
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"The Hand of Emmagene" n.d.Box 63 TMss (w/autograph corrections). 4 pp.
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"In the Miro District" n.d.Box 6AMs. 4 pp.
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"In the Miro District," 2 folders n.d.Box 6TMs (w/autograph corrections). 20 pp.
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"The Instruction of a Mistress" n.d.Box 6TMs (w/autograph corrections). 6 pp.
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"Knowing" and "His Other Life" n.d.Box 62 TMss (w/autograph corrections).pp.
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"The Megalopolitans" n.d.Box 63 TMss (1 w/autograph corrections). 21 p.
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"The Megalopolitans," (originally titled "Crossing the Charles) n.d.Box 6TMs (fragments, some w/autograph corrections). 23 pp.
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"The Megalopolitans" n.d.Box 63 TMss (1 w/autograph corrections, electrostatic copies). 18 pp.
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"Mrs. Border's Retirement" n.d.Box 6TMs (w/autograph corrections). 2 pp.
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"New Dust" n.d.Box 6TMs. 3 pp.
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"Peach Tree Gone Wild in the Lane" n.d.Box 6TMs (w/autograph corrections). 1 p.
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"A Tale of Two Cities" n.d.Box 6TMs (w/autograph corrections). 25 pp.
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"Three Heroine" n.d.Box 63 TMss (2 w/autograph corrections, 1 electrostatic copy). 19 pp.
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Poems n.d.Box 6TMs (electrostatic copies). 28 pp.
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Poems n.d.Box 632 TMss (some w/autograph corrections). 28 pp.
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Poems n.d.Box 6Page Proof (incomplete). 19 pp.
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"Wires Home" and "Chickless" 1975 Jun 5Box 62 TMss . 7 pp.
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Subseries D. Notebooks"
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"Stand in the Mountains," "Second Chance," "Emminent Domain," "The Second Going," and "The People that Believe in the World" 1973Box 7Play Notebook.pp.
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"The Whistler," "The Dreamer," "Family Scene," "The Senator," and "Family Pieces" n.d.Box 7Play Notebook.pp.
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"Mrs. Border's Resignation," "Two Ghosts," "A Missing Person," and "A Father and Son" n.d.Box 7Play Notebook.pp.
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"The Fortress," and "Second Going" n.d.Box 7Play Notebook.pp.
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"Three Heroines," "Art of Love," "Hand of Mary Jo (Emmagene)," "I Had," "Rivals," "The Purse," "His Other Life," and "My Allergy, My Darling" n.d.Box 7Poetry Notebook.pp.
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"All Kinds of Money," "Tolliver Campbell," "A Story of More Woe," "A Stand in the Mountains," "Peace," "The Enslaved," "Old Soldiers," and "Megalopolitans," (Bicentennial)" n.d.Box 7Poetry Notebook.pp.
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"Paying Guest," "Files," "Upon the Return of a Former Student," and "In the Miro District" n.d.Box 7Poetry Notebook.pp.
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"Scenes from My Life," "The Will," and "Eminent Domain" n.d.Box 7Notebook (Short Story and Play): .pp.
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Subseries E: Miscellaneous
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Randall Jarrell: 1914-1965 , edited by Robert Lowell, Peter Taylor, and Robert Penn Warren n.d.Box 7Galley Proof. 102 pp.
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Personal Correspondence, including w/Robert Giroux and Paul Engle 1948-1949Box 84 items
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Personal Correspondence, including w/John Casey and Allen Williams 1970-1974Box 814 items
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Personal Correspondence, including w/John Malcolm Brinnan 1975Box 817 items
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Personal Correspondence, including w/John McCutcheon, Irvin Ehrenpreis, Richard Jones and Dumas Malone 1976Box 847 items
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Personal Correspondence, including w/John McCutcheon, Richard Jones, Allen Tate, Ralph ellison, and John Casey 1977Box 855 items
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Personal Correspondence, including w/John Casey and Richard Jones n.d.Box 816 items
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Correspondence w/ The New Yorker , includes "first reading" contracts, 2 folders 1948-1977, n.d.Box 8111 items
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Correspondence w/Random House, Harcourt Brace & Co., McDowell Obolensky, Inc., Ivan Obolensky, Inc. and Astor-Honor, Inc. (publishers) 1949-1968, n.d.Box 985 items
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Miscellaneous business correspondence 1948-1977, n.d.Box 937 items
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Correspondence from year in Europe 1955-1956, n.d.Box 915 items
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Miscellaneous material from year in Europe 1955-1956, n.d.Box 927 items
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"Gentleman in a Dustcoat" (John Crowe Ransom) by Allen Tate, from Kenyon Alumni Bulletin 1968 Apr/JunBox 91 item
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HiKA , Kenyon College Literary Magazine w/selections by PT 1939-1940Box 94 items
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Potomac Magazine: " The New Yorker 's Scribes in Charlottesville" and "Katherine Anne Porter & the Vanity of Excellence" 1968, 1974Box 91 item
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"Reelfoot's Night Riders," from Southern Sportsman 1963-1964Box 95 items