Jarvis Thurston Papers, 1959-1969 | MS Manuscripts

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Collection Overview

Title: Jarvis Thurston Papers, 1959-1969

Predominant Dates:1959-1969

ID: MS/MS/ms114

Primary Creator: Thurston, Jarvis 1914-

Extent: 1.0 Boxes

Date Acquired: 09/12/1969

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The Jarvis Thurston Papers consist primarily of correspondence relating to Washington University's Department of English and its visiting writers program. The most significant part of the Thurston collection is the correspondence from James T. Farrell to Thurston and Van Duyn. These letters are of a more personal nature and often discuss literary matters such as Van Duyn's work. A small group of manuscripts, notably two drafts of a Thurston short story, "The Cross," is also included.

Collection Historical Note

Jarvis Thurston (1914-2008), a native of Utah, was an editor, author, and educator who studied at the University of Utah and the University of California at Berkeley. He received a Ph.D. in literature from the University of Iowa in 1946 and was a professor of literature since that time. He taught at the University of Louisville for four years and in 1950 joined the faculty of Washington University. Thurston served as English Department chairman from 1967-1969 and retired in 1982. Thurston was instrumental in establishing Washington University's creative writing program and attracting a constellation of distinguished writers to the University including Stanley Elkin, Wayne Fields, Donald Finkel, William Gass, John Morris, Howard Nemerov, and Constance Urdang.

Thurston's articles and short stories have appeared in literary magazine and anthologies; however, he is best known as an editor. The co-author of Short Fiction Criticism, 1800-1958 (1960), Thurston edited two books, Reading Modern Short Stories (1955) and Short Stories from the Literary Magazines (1972). While at the University of Louisville, he and his wife, Mona Van Duyn, founded the quarterly Perspective and served as the magazine's principal editors for its entire run from 1947 to 1975. Thurston was regarded as a key figure in discovering some of the nation's best literary talent. Perspective published the early writing of several of his Washington University colleagues, along with works by James Gardner, Anthony Hecht, William S. Merwin and Douglas Woolf. He died in 2008 of heart disease.

Administrative Information

Repository: MS Manuscripts

Access Restrictions: Some Restrictions. Please contact Curator for more information.

Use Restrictions:

Users of the collection must read and agree to abide by the rules and procedures set forth in the Materials Use Policies.

Providing access to materials does not constitute permission to publish or otherwise authorize use. All publication not covered by fair use or other exceptions is restricted to those who have permission of the copyright holder, which may or may not be Washington University.

If you wish to publish or license Special Collections materials, please contact Special Collections to inquire about copyright status at (314) 935-5495 or spec@wumail.wustl.edu. (Publish means quotation in whole or in part in seminar or term papers, theses or dissertations, journal articles, monographs, books, digital forms, photographs, images, dramatic presentations, transcriptions, or any other form prepared for a limited or general public.)

Acquisition Source: Gift of Jarvis Thurston

Acquisition Method: Accession number 1087

Related Materials: See also MSS144 Mona Van Duyn and Jarvis Thurston Papers and MSS093 Perspective Archive

Preferred Citation: Name of the Collection, Washington University Libraries, Department of Special Collections

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series I: General Correspondence],
[Series II: Manuscripts],
[Series III: Miscellany],
[Series IV: Printed Material],
[Series V: Teaching],
[All]

Series I: General Correspondence

Sub-Series I.1: General Correspondence, circa 1951-1982

Consists of business and personal correspondence, primarily to Thurston. 160 items

Box 1

Folder 1-2

Item 1: Adams, Dock W., University of North Carolina, 1968: November 8: typed letter signed, 1 page with enclosures
Item 2: Anderson, Lee, 1896-1972, American author, 1970: May 21: autograph letter signed, 1 page
Item 3: Barnett, Howard A., Lindenwood College, 1968: September 25: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 4: Bartlett, Elizabeth, 1911-, American author, 1967: November 7: typed letter signed, 1 page with enclosures
Item 5: Benedikt, Michael, 1935-, American author, 1969: February 16: typed letter signed, 1 page with enclosures
Item 6: Blankenship, Jack E., 1947: March 20: autograph letter signed, 2 pages
Item 7: Brantley, Fred, New Yorker, 1956: June 14: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 8: Carver, Raymond, 1938-, American author, 1970: March 5: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 9: Carver, Raymond, 1938-, American author, 1971: July 9: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 10: Cassilli, R.V., 1919-, American author, 1969: October 24: typed letter signed, 2 pages
Item 11: Childress, William, 1933-, American author, 1970: February 14: typed letter signed, 1 page, with enclosures
Item 12: Cohn, Ruby, 1922-, American author, 1970: April 22: autograph letter signed, 1 page
Item 13: Coover, Robert, 1932-, American author, 1968: November 25: 1 page
Item 14: Curley, Daniel, 1918-, American author and editor, no date: typed letter signed [photocopy], 1 page
Item 15: Curley, Daniel, 1918-, American author and editor, 1973: January 18: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 16: Dickey, James, 1923-, American author, 1968: May 25: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 17: Dickey, James, 1923-, American author, 1968: June 18: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 18: Dickey, James, 1923-, American author, To: Matheson, William, 1967: November 19: typed letter signed (photocopy), 1 page
Item 19: Dickey, R.P., 1936-, American author, no date: typed letter [photocopy] signed, 1 page
Item 20: Duncan, Jeff L, 1939-, American author, 1970: April 29: autograph letter signed, 1 page
Item 21: Duncan, Jeff L, 1939-, American author, 1971: March 10: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 22: Duncan, Jeff L, 1939-, American author, 1971: July 19: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 23: Eliot, Thomas H., Washington University, 1968: December 26: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 24: Eliot, Thomas H., Washington University, 1968: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 25: Elkin, Stanley, 1930-, American author., 1965: January 5: autograph letter signed, 2 pages
Item 26: Finkel, Donald, 1929-, American author., 1969: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 27: Flaherty, Douglas, 1939-, American author., 1968: September 5: autograph card signed, 1 page
Item 28: Gass, William H, 1924-, American author., 1962: September 30: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 29: Gass, William H, 1924-, American author, 1965: August 14: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 30: Gass, William H, 1924-, American author, 1968: April 9: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 31: Gass, William H, 1924-, American author, 1968: June 4: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 32: Gass, William H, 1924-, American author, 1969: January 10: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 33: Gass, William H, 1924-, American author, 1969: February 20: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 34: Gold, Herbert, 1924-, American author, 1968: June 20: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 35: Gold, Herbert, 1924-, American author, 1969: March 19: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 36: Gonczy, Daniel J., Southern Illinois University, 1968: October 28: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 37: Gregor, Arthur, 1923-, American author, 1971: September 1: typed letter signed, 1 page with enclosures
Item 38: Grotrian, Carol., Washington University, To Hille, Bob, 1968: October 28: typed letter [carbon], 1 page
Item 39: Hall, James B, 1918-, American author., 1973: October 7: typed card signed, 1 page
Item 40: Hawkes, John, 1925-, American author., 1982: August 11: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 41: Hecht, Anthony, 1923-, American author., 1971: October 4: typed card signed, 1 page
Item 42: Hollo, Anselm, 1934-, Finnish author., 1969: March 6: autograph letter signed, 1 page
Item 43: Howard, Richard, 1929-, American author, no date: typed card signed, 1 page
Item 44: Karchmer, Sylvan, University of Oregon., 1960: April 30: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 45: Karchmer, Sylvan, University of Oregon, 1960: July 19: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 46: Karchmer, Sylvan, University of Oregon, 1965: April 15: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 47: Karchmer, Sylvan, University of Oregon, 1976: May 14: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 48: Karl, Barry, 1927-, American author, no date: typed letter signed, 2 pages
Item 49: Kessler, Milton, American author, 1976: September 29: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 50: Kinkel, Frances W., Fontbonne College, 1968: September 20: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 51: Larkin, Philip, 1922-, British author, 1966: February 24: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 52: Larkin, Philip, 1922-, British author, 1968: June 10: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 53: Laughlin, James, 1914-, American author and publisher, 1968: September 5: autograph card signed, 1 page
Item 54: Legler, Philip, 1928-, American author, 1970: December 1: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 55: Legler, Philip, 1928-, American author, 1971: January 22: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 56: Legler, Philip, 1928-, American author, 1971: March 21: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 57: Legler, Philip, 1928-, American author, 1971: May 19: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 58: Lessing, Doris, 1919-, British author, 1968: June 8: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 59: Levi, Albert William, 1911-, American author, 1947: August 9: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 60: Liberman, Michael, 1965: February 17: autograph card signed, 1 page
Item 61: Lore, William E., 1975: May 27: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 62: Martin, Tillman L., 1952: January 18: autograph letter signed, 4 pages
Item 63: Merrill, James Ingram, 1926-, American author, 1968: May 25: autograph letter signed, 3 pages
Item 64: Merrill, James Ingram, 1926-, American author, 1968: June 19: autograph letter signed, 2 pages
Item 65: Merwin, William S, 1927-, American author, 1968: August 30: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 66: Painter, L. A., 1956: May 24: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 67: Percy, Walker, 1916-, American author, 1968: April 26: autograph letter signed, 1 page
Item 68: Petersen, Donald, 1923-, American author, 1966: April 18: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 69: Petersen, Donald, 1923-, American author, 1966: October 21: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 70: Prager, Len, 1962: November 26: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 71: Rago, Henry Anthony, 1915-1969, American author, 1966: March 1: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 72: Roth, Philip, 1933-, American author, 1968: June 24: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 73: Santner, George J., Mollman Publishing Co, 1969: December 5: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 74: Sayle, Mrs. M.T., Secretary to J. P. Donleavy, 1968: June 22: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 75: Schneider, Dorothy L., 1970: November 9: autograph letter signed, 1 page
Item 76: Sebenthall, Roberta E, 1917-, American author, 1970: March 6: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 77: Simmons, Herbert A, 1930-, American author, 1969: April 8: autograph letter signed, 4 pages with enclosures
Item 78: Smith, Ken, 1938-, British author, 1969: May 18: typed letter signed, 1 page, with enclosures
Item 79: Starbuck, George, 1931-, American author, 1969: August 12: typed letter [mimeograph] signed, 1 page
Item 80: Tarn, Nathanial, 1928-, British author, 1969: July 31: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 81: Thurston, Jarvis A., 1914-, American author and editor, To Cardwell, Guy Adams, 1905-, American author, 1951: autograph letter signed, 1 page
Item 82: Thurston, Jarvis A., 1914-, American author and editor, To Dickey, James, 1923-, American author, 1968: May: typed letter 1 page
Item 83: Thurston, Jarvis A., 1914-, American author and editor, To Gass, William, 1924-, American author, 1968: March 26: typed letter signed, 2 pages
Item 84: Thurston, Jarvis A., 1914-, American author and editor, To Gass, William H, 1924-, American author, 1968: May: autograph letter signed, 2 pages
Item 85: Thurston, Jarvis A., 1914-, American author and editor, To Gold, Herbert, 1924-, American author, 1968: May: 2 pages
Item 86: Thurston, Jarvis A., 1914-, American author and editor, To Howard, Richard, 1929-, American author, 1968: September 10: typed letter [carbon] signed, 1 page
Item 87: Thurston, Jarvis A., 1914-, American author and editor, To Kling, Merle, 1968: March: typed letter, 1 page
Item 88: Thurston, Jarvis A., 1914-, American author and editor, To Kling, Merle, 1968: March 22: typed letter signed, 2 pages
Item 89: Thurston, Jarvis A., 1914-, American author and editor, To Kling, Merle, 19684: typed letter signed, 2 pages
Item 90: Thurston, Jarvis A., 1914-, American author and editor, To Larkin, Philip, 1922-, British author, 1968: May: autograph letter signed, 2 pages
Item 91: Thurston, Jarvis A., 1914-, American author and editor, To Little, Brown & Co., Public Relations Dept., 1968: May 24: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 92: Thurston, Jarvis A., 1914-, American author and editor, To Merrill, James Ingram, 1926-, American author, 1968: May: autograph letter, 3 pages
Item 93: Thurston, Jarvis A., 1914-, American author and editor, To Merrill, James Ingram, 1926-, American author, 1968: May 20: typed letter, 1 page
Item 94: Thurston, Jarvis A., 1914-, American author and editor, To Stanley, William Merwin, 1927-, American author, 1968: August 20: typed letter [carbon], 2 pages
Item 95: Wallace, Robert, 1932-, American author, 1969: April 12: typed letter signed, 2 pages, with enclosures
Item 96: Wallace, Robert, 1932-, American author, 1969: September 9: typed letter signed, 1 page, with enclosures
Item 97: Webb, Howard, Southern Illinois University, 1968: October 23: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 98: Webb, Howard, Southern Illinois University, 1968: November 18: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 99: Weiss, Neil, 1960: July 14: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 100: Williams, Miller, 1930-, American author, 1968: December 3: typed letter signed, 1 page with enclosures
Item 101: Williamson, Pat, 1971: June 25: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 102: Wolf, Luna, Secretary to James T. Farrell, 1956: July 30: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 103: Wolf, Luna, Secretary to James T. Farrell, 1957: December 16: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 104: Wolf, Luna, Secretary to James T. Farrell, 1959: February 18: typed letter signed, 1 page

Sub-Series I.2: James Farrell Correspondence

Box 1

Folder 3-4

Item 1: 1946: August 3: typed note signed, 1 page
Item 2: 1946: August 14: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 3: 1946: August 23: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 4: 1947: February 24: typed letter signed, 2 pages
Item 5: 1947: April 3: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 6: 1947: May 9: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 7: 1947: July 24: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 8: 1947: July 24: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 9: 1947: October 13: typed letter signed, 1 page, Enclosure: The AYD, reprint of article by Farrell
Item 10: 1947: November 10: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 11: 1949: March 11: telegram, 1 page
Item 12: 1949: March 12: telegram, 1 page
Item 13: 1949: March 12: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 14: 1949: March 15: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 15: 1949: April 4: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 16: 1949: April 21: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 17: 1949: August 8: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 18: 1949: October 10: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 19: 1951: January 2: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 20: 1951: March 1: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 21: 1951: December 16: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 22: 1952: December 20: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 23: 1953: December 26: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 24: 1954: December 23: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 25: 1955: January 17: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 26: 1956: December 19: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 27: 1957: March 10: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 28: 1959: February 17: autograph letter signed, 1 page
Item 29: 1962: March 17: autograph letter signed, 1 page, letter is intended as Christmas greeting and is composed of 2 pages
Item 30: 1962: July 16: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 31: To Cardwell, Guy Adams, 1905-, American author, 1952: December 6: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 32: To Van Duyn, Mona Jane, 1921-, American author, 1951: April 10: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 33: To Van Duyn, Mona Jane, 1921-, American author, 1954: January 19: autograph card signed, 1 page
Item 34: To Van Duyn, Mona Jane, 1921-, American author, 1954: March 22: typed letter signed, 2 pages
Item 35: To Van Duyn, Mona Jane, 1921-, American author, 1954: March 29: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 36: To Van Duyn, Mona Jane, 1921-, American author, 1954: July 31: autograph card signed, 1 page
Item 37: To Van Duyn, Mona Jane, 1921-, American author, 1954: November 12: typed letter signed, 1 page
Item 38: To Van Duyn, Mona Jane, 1921-, American author, 1959: February 21: autograph letter signed, 4 pages

Browse by Series:

[Series I: General Correspondence],
[Series II: Manuscripts],
[Series III: Miscellany],
[Series IV: Printed Material],
[Series V: Teaching],
[All]