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[Identification of item], Alexander Blackburn Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
The Alexander Blackburn Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a gift in 1999 and 2004.
Accessioned by Meghan Lyon, January 2010
Encoded by Meghan Lyon, January 2010
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Alexander Blackburn (b. 1929) is the son of William Blackburn and Elizabeth Cheney Bayne Blackburn. He is a graduate of the University of North Carolina (M.A., 1956) and the University of Cambridge (Ph.D., 1963). He served in the U. S. Army during the Korean War before becoming a professor of English and literature at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs in 1973. His interests and writings center on the American West; he has also published a critical study on the writer-philosopher Frank Waters. Blackburn also founded and edited the
More information on Alexander Blackburn can be found at his website,
Collection contains two accessions. Accession (1999-0184) (1102 items; 6.0 lin. ft.; dated 1953-1998), consists primarily of writings by Alexander Blackburn, including books, articles, clippings, and typescripts of unpublished works. Also included are correspondence with writer Frank Waters and some other letters; memorabilia; and editorial files and an almost complete run of the literary journal,
Accession (2010-0012) (6750 items; 9 lin. ft.; dated 1880-1990s) includes writings, drafts, books, and family history materials. Included are materials from Alexander Blackburn's mother, Elizabeth Cheney Blackburn, and the Cheney family.
These are searchable subject entries for this collection. Performing a search on these subjects in the Duke University Libraries online catalog will bring up other related research materials.
Related collections include the William Blackburn Papers, 1859-1985 and undated.
Accession (1999-0184) (dated 1953-1998) consists primarily of writings by Alexander Blackburn, including books, articles, clippings, and typescripts of unpublished works. Also included is correspondence with writer Frank Waters and some other letters; memorabilia; and editorial files and an almost complete run of the literary journal,
1 and 3 are missing. The bound copy of Vol. 5 is damaged, but an unbound complete text is attached. Vol. 11, the Frank Waters Issue, is an extremely rare book. Vol. 17, with Index to Vols. 1-16, has some cover damage. Vol. 22 was edited by A.B.'s successor, C. Kenneth Pellow
Vol. 5 (1982) through Vol. 19 (1997), missing Vol. 17 (1995). A.B. frequently wrote essays for this periodical containing papers submitted for the annual conjoint meeting of The Frank Waters Society and the Rocky Mountain Modern Language Association.
Only extant copy of this Army publication edited by A.B.
Editorial correspondence with writers and other material relevant (especially) to founding the magazine in 1974-75. There are some letters, too, from such well-known writers as Yusef Komunyakaa. See also Box 1.
Accession (2010-0012) (6750 items; 9 lin. ft.; dated 1880-1990s) includes writings, drafts, books, and family history materials. Included are materials from Alexander Blackburn's mother, Elizabeth Cheney Blackburn, and the Cheney family.