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Preliminary Inventory of the Josephine Humphreys Papers, 1946-1993 and undated

Collection Overview

The collection documents Humphreys' professional life as an author. It contains correspondence between Humphreys and other writers and editors; business contracts with Viking Press and others for her publications and for movie rights; handwritten and typed manuscripts and proofs for her books Dreams of Sleep, Rich in Love, and Fireman's Fair, as well as typescripts of works by other authors (including Robb Forman Dew and Louise Erdrich); reviews of her own work as well as reviews written by Humphreys of others' works; and information detailing her speaking engagements and interviews. In addition, the collection contains clippings of reviews and interviews, photographs and negatives (16 black-and-white, 4 color, and 23 negatives); audiotapes from a "Women in Literature" series in which Humphreys participated; and 10 electronic files of book manuscripts, especially Dreams of Sleep, originally on computer disks and now migrated to the electronic records server. Also included are books inscribed to Humphreys and seven scrapbooks containing additional correspondence regarding her work as well as reviews.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Josephine Humphreys Papers, 1946-1993 and undated
Creator
Humphreys, Josephine
Extent
27.7 Linear Feet, 11,900 Items
Repository
David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
Location
For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Language
English.

Series Quick Links

Administrative Information

Collections are on the move for the renovation of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »

warning Access Restrictions

Collection is restricted.

In addition, patrons must sign the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibility and Privacy Rights form before using this collection.

Also, all or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. Consequently, there may be a 24-hour delay in obtaining these materials.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

warning Use Restrictions

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

Contents of the Collection

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Three original 8" floppy computer disks were removed from this accession, and their contents (6 electronic files of manuscript material, including Dreams of Sleep) were migrated to the Special Collections server. Contact the Reference Archivist on duty for access.

In addition, some of the materials in this collection are not immediately accessible, because they require further processing before use. See notes in boxes 1, 2, 3, 4, and 13. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Correspondence and business contracts in boxes 1 and 2 are restricted.

Attention: Technical Services staff need to remove materials from envelopes; flatten wrinkled paper; and reformat newspaper clippings.

Correspondence and business contracts are restricted.

Rural Seminar-Expectations and Evaluations [note: the folder appears to contain correspondence, 1992]
Box 1
Correspondence and souvenirs, 1983-1991

Includes letter from Mrs. Onassis, 1988; telegram from Harriet Wasserman; and Yale Memo Book, 1968.

(19 folders)
Box 1
[Review in] Spy!
Box 1
Travel notes, 1986-"Notes written while driving through the South"
Box 1
Poetry Center 92nd St., 1990 April 8
Box 1
PEN-Hemingway Prize-Judge, 1990 January-May (newspaper clippings)
Box 1
Student Comments R[ich] I[n] L[ove]
Box 1
Movie script [ Rich In Love screenplay by Alfred Uhry], 1991
Box 1
Story for George Garrett, 1990
Box 1
Prince of Wales [Business Forum address to spouses], 1990
Box 1
Printed Material, 1991-1993
(5 folders, including one legal in oversize box)
Box 1
Speaking engagements and workshops, 1988-1989
(19 folders)
Box 1

Attention: Technical Services staff need to remove materials from envelopes and reformat newspaper clippings.

Correspondence and business contracts are restricted.

Travel, 1988-1989
(9 folders)
Box 2
Calendars and travel schedules, 1986-1988
(6 folders)
Box 2
Contracts and Business, Photos, Catalogs, Souvenirs, 1987-1988

Includes movie and publishing contracts, correspondence with various presses, and book covers for Rich in Love.

(48 folders, including one legal size in oversize box)
Box 2
Articles and interviews about Humphreys, 1984-1991
(7 folders)
Box 2

Attention: Technical Services staff need to reformat newspaper clippings throughout box.

Articles and interviews about Humphreys, 1984-1990
(4 folders)
Box 3
Reviews by Humphreys, 1988-1990
(14 folders)
Box 3
Articles by Humphreys, 1988-1996
(21 folders, including one legal in oversize box)
Box 3
Reviews of Humphreys' work, Rich in Love,Dreams of Sleep,Fireman's Fair, and A World Unsuspected,1984-1991

Includes thesis by John Richard Woodmanse on Humphreys' work.

(14 folders)
Box 3
Reviews for Rich in Love, Dreams of Sleep, Fireman's Fair, and A World Unsuspected, 1984-1991 (cont.)
(14 folders)

Attention: Technical Services staff need to reformat newspaper clippings throughout box.

Box 4
First Draft Manuscripts- Dreams of Sleep, 1978-1982
Box 5
Manuscripts- Dreams of Sleep and Rich in Love, 1982-1985, 1987
Box 6
Manuscripts- Rich in Love, 1987
Box 7
Manuscripts- Fireman's Fair, 1989-1990
Box 8
Manuscripts- Fireman's Fair, 1989-1990
Box 9
Manuscripts- Fireman's Fair, 1989-1990
Box 10
Manuscripts- Rich in Love, 1987
Box 11
Manuscripts- Rich in Love, 1987
Box 12
Subject Files: Southern States Tour and Hurricane Hugo, 1987

Attention: Technical Services staff need to reformat newspaper clippings throughout box.

Box 13

Some of the materials in this collection are not immediately accessible, because they require further processing before use. Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Technical Services staff need to: reformat clippings throughout; make use copies of audiotapes; and remove materials in magnetic-page scrapbooks.

One original 8" floppy computer disk was removed from this accession and its contents (4 electronic files of manuscript material, including Dreams of Sleep) were migrated to the Special Collections server. Contact the Reference Archivist on duty for access.

Dreams of Sleep typescripts

2nd typescript for Viking, 1983 April 1

(3 folders)
Box 1
Dreams of Sleep with editing marks by Reynolds Price, 1982 November
(4 folders)
Box 1
The Time of Her Life (typescript) by Robb Forman Dew, undated
(3 folders)
Box 1
Miscellaneous handwritten copy, 1986 and undated
Box 1
For A World Unsuspected (edited typescript), undated
Box 1
Earliest precursor of Rich in Love, c. 1983
Box 1
Electronic files on Disk 004 were originally filed here.
Box 1
Dreams of Sleep, chapter 1, undated
(2 folders)
Box 1
Anna Tyson, Chapter One: Grandmother's House, by Robb Forman Dew, c. 1986
Box 1
These are copies of the 50 pages of Dreams of Sleep I sent to R. Price in 1982
(2 folders)
Box 1
Earliest tries at Dreams of Sleep, c. 1978?
Box 1
Original typescript for Dreams of Sleep, undated
(3 folders)
Box 1
The Beet Queen (typescript), by Louise Erdrich, 1986
(3 folders)
Box 1
Dreams of Sleep, unrevised and unpublished proofs, undated
Box 1
Rich in Love, unrevised and unpublished proofs, undated
Box 1
A Generous Man, by Reynolds Price
Box 2
Love and Work, by Reynolds Price
Box 2
Edisto, by Padgett Powell
Box 2
The Beet Queen, by Louise Erdrich
Box 2
A Duke miscellany: Narrative and verse of the sixties, ed. by William Blackburn
Box 2
The Spiral [Ashley Hall, Charleston, SC, yearbook], 1960, 1962, 1963, 1964
(4 volumes)
Box 2
Clippings, 1983-1987
(3 folders)

[2 additional folders of clippings removed to oversize materials]

Box 2
Miscellaneous, 1987 and undated
Box 2
Souvenirs, 1963-1967, 1980-1987
(3 folders)

[Photographs and negatives removed to photographs folder; calendar, 1984, removed to oversized materials]

Box 2
Interviews, 1985-1987

[Oversized interviews removed to oversized materials]

Box 2
Photographs, 1960s-1980s
Box 2
Magazine reviews of Dreams of Sleep,1984
Box 2
#2 Sharon Kay Penman
Box 2
#3 Audrey Peterson
Box 2
#4 Nancy Reeves
Box 2
#5 Maryse Conde
Box 2
#6 Josephine Humphreys
Box 2
#7 Dottie Lamm
Box 2
Loneliness, by Renny Scott, undated
Box 2
Resume, c. 1972
Box 3
Bought from Colonial Antiques--Mr. Schwerin. Re: Dawn Langley Hall Simmons and 56 Society Street, undated
Box 3
Maps
Box 3
Reviews of other books, 1985 and undated
Box 3
W. G. Clark drawings
Box 3
Letters, 1946, 1967-1987
(6 folders)
Box 3
The Orlando Sentinel [newspaper] promotional packet, 1986
Box 3
American Booksellers Association Convention and Trade Exhibit guide, New Orleans, 1986 May 24-27
Box 3
Scrapbooks (1982-1986)
Box 4-5
Clippings (3 folders)
Oversize Folder 1
Calendar
Box 4-5
Interviews
Box 4-5

Historical Note

Author residing on Sullivan's Island (Charleston Co.), S.C.

Subject Headings

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Josephine Humphreys Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University

Provenance

The Josephine Humphreys Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a gift, 1992-1996.

Processing Information

Processed by Rubenstein Library staff, Paula Jeannet, Alice Poffinberger, and Ruth E. Bryan

Completed October 20, 2000

Encoded by Ruth E. Bryan

This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.

This collection is unprocessed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.