MenuInventory of the Padgett Powell Papers, 1972-2009
Abstract
Author and professor at the University of Florida. Published works include Edisto, A Woman Named Drown, Typical, Mrs. Hollingsworth's Men, and The Interrogative Mood: A Novel?.
Collection includes writings and drafts of Powell's early novels, including Edisto and A Woman Named Drown, as well as essays, short stories, and articles for popular magazines and literary anthologies. Some of these appear in Typical, a collection of Powell's short stories. The collection also includes correspondence, publishing contracts, reviews, interviews, and travel files, many relating to the publication of Edisto.
Descriptive Summary
- Repository
- David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
- Creator
- Powell, Padgett.
- Title
- Padgett Powell Papers, 1972-2009
- Language of Material
- English
- Extent
- 10 Linear Feet, 7500 Items
- Location
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Collection Overview
The Padgett Powell Papers contains 4 series: Writings, Professional Materials, Correspondence, and Oversize Materials. The majority of the collection lies in the Writings Series, which includes drafts and publishing materials from Powell's books Edisto, A Woman Named Drown, Typical, and The Interrogative Mood: A Novel?. The Writings Series also has a large run of Powell's "General Writings," which includes essays and articles for various publications, travel pieces, short stories (some of which later appeared in Typical), and other drafts. These files may include multiple versions of the text, as well as correspondence with the piece's publisher.
Additional correspondence can be found in the Correspondence Series, which includes Powell's communications with editors, publishers, awards committees, and various literary figures. This series has been arranged to reflect Powell's initial arrangement: general and literary correspondence has been filed first, followed by an alphabetized subject and name file. Dates are included when known.
The collection's Professional Materials include both travel files, interview files, and some of Powell's academic work and records from his student days at the College of Charleston and at the University of Houston. The Oversize Materials series includes miscellaneous objects, usually related to publicizing or advertising Powell's readings or books.
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 »
Access Restrictions
Collection is restricted.
However, collection may contain materials to which the Acknowledgment of Legal Responsibilities and Privacy Rights form applies. Patrons must sign this 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.
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
Browse List of Series
Collapse All
Expand AllWritings, 1983-2009
The majority of the collection lies in the Writings Series, which includes drafts and publishing materials from Powell's books Edisto, A Woman Named Drown, Typical, and The Interrogative Mood: A Novel?. The Writings Series also has a large run of Powell's "General Writings," which includes essays and articles for various publications, travel pieces, short stories (some of which later appeared in Typical), and other drafts. These files may include multiple versions of the text, as well as correspondence with the piece's publisher.
Materials relating to Edisto include early drafts of the book; correspondence and drafts from its excerption in The New Yorker; several revised galleys and proofs; "scraps" and "dead matter" leftover from the book's publication; foreign edition contracts; reviews; and screenplay versions of the text.
Materials from A Woman Named Drown include drafts and revisions, including a series labeled by Powell as A-S; "dead matter" and other excerpts from the text; foreign edition correspondence; and reviews and fan mail.
Materials relating to the publication of Typical, including various drafts of different stories, proofs and edits, reviews, and some fan mail. There are other versions of stories appearing in Typical in the General Writings subseries, described below.
This subseries includes only copyedited drafts and proofs from the publication of The Interrogative Mood: A Novel?.
The General Writings subseries includes drafts of articles, essays, short stories, and other writings by Powell for a wide variety of audiences, including newspapers, popular magazines, and anthologies. Some of these files include early drafts; others include published versions and accompanying correspondence between Powell and the publisher. Some writings are filed by publisher rather than by title; these distinctions were originally made by Powell and have been maintained during archival processing. Also included in this subseries are versions of short stories that later appeared in Typical, Powell's own collection of short stories.
Professional Materials, 1972-1993
The collection's Professional Materials include both travel files, interview files, and some of Powell's academic work and records from his student days at the College of Charleston and at the University of Houston.
Correspondence, 1983-1993
Additional correspondence can be found in the Correspondence Series, which includes Powell's communications with editors, publishers, awards committees, and various literary figures. This series has been arranged to reflect Powell's initial arrangement: general and literary correspondence has been filed first, followed by an alphabetized subject and name file. Dates are included when known.
Oversize Materials
Oversize material advertising Powell's works, including Edisto and other books.
Historical Note
Padgett Powell is an American author who teaches writing at the University of Florida. His first novel, Edisto, was published in 1984 to wide acclaim, and was nominated for the American Book Award. He has since published several more books, including A Woman Named Drown (1987), Typical (1991), Edisto Revisited (1996), Aliens of Affection (1998), Mrs. Hollingsworth's Men (2000), The Interrogative Mood: A Novel? (2009), and You and I (2011).
Subject Headings
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Padgett Powell Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.
Provenance
The Padgett Powell Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a purchase in 1993 and 2012.
Processing Information
Processed by Meghan Lyon, July 2012
Encoded by Meghan Lyon, July 2012
Accession(s) described in this finding aid: 1993-0276, 2012-0129
This collection is minimally processed: materials may not have been ordered and described beyond their original condition.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.