Preliminary Inventory of the Will Inman Papers, 1910-2003

[top]

Descriptive Summary

Title Creator Extent Repository Language [top]

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions Use Restrictions Preferred Citation Provenance Processing Information             

[top]

Biographical Note

1923, May 4	Born, Wilmington, North Carolina
1943	Graduated from Duke University
1964-1971	Editor and publisher of Kauri, a poetry newsletter,
1967	Artist in residence, American University, Washington DC
1969	Married Barbara Ann Sherman
1969-1973	Member of the English faculty, Montgomery College, Rockville, MD.
1973	Divorced Legally Changed name from William A. McGirt, Jr. to Will Inman. Moved to Tucson, Arizona

Will Inman is a poet, essayist, editor, and publisher. He was born William Archibald McGirt, Jr. in Wilmington, North Carolina where his father, William A. McGirt, was in the insurance and real estate business and his mother, Delia E. McGirt (maiden name Inman), was a registered nurse. He attended Duke University, graduating with an A.B in 1943. After college, Inman worked as a union organizer for tobacco workers in North Carolina before moving to New York City in the late 1950s. He served as the Vice-president of Free University of New York in the mid 1960s. He has worked as an editor and publisher of various literary journals and has had his work published in numerous anthologies and literary journals as well as in individual volumes. His weekly column, "Conchsound in the Hills," was published in the Franklin, PA News-Herald in the 1960s. In addition to writing poetry, fiction, plays, and essays, Inman has also been a prolific correspondent and diarist. He has been active in numerous causes, including the War in Vietnam, the Civil Rights movement, gay rights, and various environmental issues. In 1956, he was questioned by the House Un-American Activities Committee as to his relationship with the Communist Party. His activism continues into the 1990s; he has led writing workshops in an Arizona State Prison, as well as teaching writing to the homeless in transition.

[top]

Collection Overview

[top]

Subject Headings

• Baca, Jimmy Santiago, 1952- .
• Inman, Will, 1923- .
• Inman, Will, 1923- . Manuscripts.
• Inman, Will, 1923- . Kauri.
• McGirt, William Archibald, 1923- .
• Duke University--Students.
• Editors--United States.
• American literature--20th century--Periodicals.
• Authors, American--20th century.
• Authors, American--20th century--Correspondence.
• Authors, American--20th century--Diaries.
• Authors, American--Southern States.
• Authors, American--Southern States--Correspondence.
• Authors, American--Southern States--Political and social views.
• College students--North Carolina--Correspondence.
• Communism--United States--History--20th century.
• Diaries--American authors.
• Erotic poetry, American.
• Free University of New York
• Homosexuality--Literary collections.
• Homosexuality--Poetry.
• Indians of North America--Poetry.
• Poets, American--20th century.
• Poets, American--20th century--Correspondence.
• Poets, American--20th century--Diaries.
• Political activists--United States--Correspondence.
• Political poetry, American--20th century.
• Prisoners--Correspondence
• Protest poetry, American.
• Tucson (Ariz.)--Social life and customs.
• Tucson (Ariz.)--Description and travel.
• Wilmington (N.C.)--Description and travel.
• Wilmington (N.C.)--Social life and customs.
• Notebooks.
• Diaries.
• Black-and-white photographs.
• Color photographs.

	List of Series in Collection
		Accession #1998-0338
		Accessions #1998-0346 and #1998-0367
		Accession #1998-0371
		Accessions #1998-0395 and #1998-0404
		Accessions #1998-0414 and #1998-0415
		Accessions #1998-0418 and #1998-0438
		Accession #1998-0481
		Accession #1998-0534
		Accession #1999-0030
		Accession #1999-0156
		Accession #1999-0192
		Accession #1999-0258
		Accession 2001-0195
		Accession 2002-0143
		Accessions 2003-0181 and 2003-0124

[top]

Preliminary Description of Unprocessed Collection

Box 1
Box 2
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4
Box 5
Box 6
Box 7
Box 8
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4
Box 5
Box 6
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4
Box 1
Box 2
Box 1
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4
Box 5
Box 6
Box 7
Box 8
Box 9
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4
Box 5
Box 6
Box 7
Box 8
Box 1
Box 1
Box 2
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4
Box 5
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4
Box 5
Box 6
Box 1
Box 2
Box 3
Box 4
Box 5
Box 6
Box 7
Box 8

• Descriptive Summary
• Administrative Information
• Biographical Note
• Collection Overview
• Subject Headings
• Preliminary Description of Unprocessed Collection