MenuInventory of the James Leslie Woodress Papers, 1941-1976
Abstract
Professor of American literature at the University of California, Davis.
The James Leslie Woodress Papers span the years from 1941 to 1976. The collection (2.4 linear feet) consists mainly of professional papers including correspondence with colleagues and literary figures, editors and publishers, copyright holders, libraries, and others regarding the production of a number of Woodress' published works on the history of American literature.
Descriptive Summary
- Repository
- David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
- Creator
- Woodress, James Leslie
- Title
- James Leslie Woodress Papers, 1941-1976
- Language of Material
- English
- Extent
- 2.4 Linear Feet, 1112 Items
- Location
- For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
Series Quick Links
- Booth Tarkington Series, 1941-1956 and undated
- Dissertations in American Literature Series, 1957-1969 and undated
- Eight American Authors Series, 1967-1973 and undated
- Essays Mostly on Periodical Publishing in America Series, 1971-1973 and undated
- Howells and Italy Series, 1948-1952 and undated
- Voices from America's Past Series, 1960-1964, 1974-1976, and undated
- Yankee's Odyssey Series, 1954-1960 and undated
Collection Overview
The James Leslie Woodress Papers span the years from 1941 to 1976. The collection consists mainly of professional papers, including correspondence with colleagues and literary figures, editors and publishers, copyright holders, libraries, and others regarding the production of a number of Woodress' published works, including Booth Tarkington: Gentleman from Indiana, Dissertations in American Literature, Eight American Authors, Essays Mostly on Periodical Publishing in America: A Collection in Honor of Clarence Gohdes, Howells and Italy, A Yankee's Odyssey: The Life of Joel Barlow, and Voices from America's Past, a historical pamphlets series. Among the significant correspondents are Ashbel G. Brice and John Menapace of the Duke University Press, Elizabeth Blackert and Robert F. Wilson of McGraw-Hill, and scholars such as Walter Blair, Hugh Holman, Jay B. Hubbell, Lewis Leary, Floyd Stovall, and Willard Thorp. Background notes and drafts of publication materials are also contained in the collection. The collection is divided into seven series, corresponding to Woodress' published works and arranged in alphabetical order by title: Booth Tarkington, Dissertations in American Literature, Eight American Authors, Essays Mostly on Periodical Publishing in America, Howells and Italy, Voices from America's Past, and Yankee's Odyssey. These series are described fully below. Acquired as part of the Jay B. Hubbell Center for American Literary Historiography.
Administrative Information
A majority of collections are stored off site and must be requested at least 24 business hours in advance for retrieval. Contact Rubenstein Library staff before visiting. Read More »
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research.
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 AllComprised of book production materials and correspondence for research and editorial purposes related to Woodress' published book-length work, Booth Tarkington: Gentleman from Indiana. Included among this material are permissions; book illustrations; published writings by Booth Tarkington; and research, editorial, and other correspondence. Also included in the series are two groups of index cards designated as "Notes for Booth Tarkington (1955)."
Comprised of book production materials and correspondence for research and editorial purposes related to Woodress' published book-length work, Dissertations in American Literature. Included among this material are an author's contract; draft writings (some with hand-written corrections); research, editorial, and other correspondence; as well as correspondence from readers of the published work.
Contains book production materials and correspondence for research and editorial purposes related to a published book-length collection of essays for which Woodress was editor, Eight American Authors. Included among this material are draft writings (some with hand-written corrections); author, editorial, and other correspondence; as well as correspondence from readers of the published work.
Comprised of book production materials and correspondence for research and editorial purposes related to a published book-length collection of essays which was edited by Woodress with the assistance of Townsend Ludington and Joseph Arpad, Essays Mostly on Periodical Publishing in America: A Collection in Honor of Clarence Gohdes. Included among this material are draft writings (some with hand-written corrections); author, editorial, and other correspondence; and a copy of the publication contract.
Contains publication materials and research and editorial correspondence related to Woodress' doctoral dissertation and the published book-length work that resulted from it, Howells and Italy, a work on the novelist William Dean Howells. Included among this material are draft writings; research, editorial, and other correspondence; as well as correspondence from readers of the published work.
Comprised of production materials and correspondence for research and editorial purposes related to publication of the "Voices from America's Past" series of historical pamphlets edited by Woodress and Richard B. Morris. Included among this material are research, editorial, permissions, and other correspondence; permissions documents; a cover of Volume 4 of the series; draft writings and proofs (some with hand-written corrections); and a 1963 award from the Thomas Alva Edison Foundation.
Yankee's Odyssey Series, 1954-1960 and undated
Contains production materials and correspondence for research and editorial purposes related to publication of Woodress' book-length work, A Yankee's Odyssey: The Life of Joel Barlow. Included among this material are book illustrations; research, editorial, and other correspondence; as well as correspondence from readers of the published work. Also included in the series are a single large group of index cards designated as "Notes for Joel Barlow."
Historical Note
Chronology List
| Date | Event(s) |
|---|---|
| 1916 July 7 | Born Webster Groves, Missouri |
| 1938 | A.B., Amherst College |
| 1938-1940 | Assistant News Editor for station KWK, St. Louis, Missouri |
| 1940-1943 | Radio writer for United Press Association |
| 1943 | M.A., New York University |
| 1943-1946 | Second Lieutenant, U.S. Army |
| 1946 | Enrolled at Duke University |
| 1947-1949 | Assistant in Duke's English Department |
| 1949-1950 | Instructor at Grinnell College, Grinell, Iowa |
| 1950 | Received Ph.D. from Duke University; doctoral thesis was on novelist William Dean Howells |
| 1950-1958 | Appointed as Assistant, then Associate Professor at Butler University |
| 1952 | Howells and Italy published |
| 1955 | Booth Tarkington, Gentleman from Indiana published |
| 1957 | Publication of Dissertations in American literature, 1891-1955 |
| 1958 | A Yankee’s Odyssey: The Life of Joel Barlow published |
| 1958-1961 | Associate Professor, San Fernando Valley State University |
| 1958-1963 | Chair of English Department, San Fernando Valley State University |
| 1961 | Became Full Professor, San Fernando Valley State University |
| 1961-1965 | Served as Secretary of the American Literature Section of the Modern Language Association of America |
| 1962-1963 | Fulbright Lecturer, France |
| 1963 | Appointed Dean of the School of Letters and Science at San Fernando Valley State University; founded American Literary Scholarship, annual review of the year in American literary studies, published by Duke Press |
| 1965-1966 | Fulbright Lecturer, Italy |
| 1966 | Appointed Professor on the English Department faculty, University of California at Davis |
| 1968 | Publication of Dissertations in American Literature, 1891-1966 |
| 1970-1974 | Appointed Chair of English Department, UC Davis |
| 1972 | Eight American Authors published |
| 1973 | Publication of Essays Mostly on Periodical Publishing in America: A Collection in Honor of Clarence Gohdes |
Subject Headings
- American literature--History and criticism.
- American literature--Study and teaching.
- Authors, American.
- Authors, American--20th century--Correspondence.
- Barlow, Joel, 1754-1812.
- Blackert, Elizabeth.
- Blair, Walter, 1900-
- College teachers as authors.
- Gohdes, Clarence, 1901-1997.
- Historiography--United States.
- Holman, C. Hugh (Clarence Hugh), 1914-1981.
- Howells, William Dean, 1837-1920.
- Hubbell, Jay B. (Jay Broadus), 1885-1979.
- Jay B. Hubbell Center for American Literary Historiography (Duke University).
- Leary, Lewis Gaston, 1906-1990.
- Stovall, Floyd, 1896-
- Tarkington, Booth, 1869-1946.
- Thorp, Willard, 1899-1990.
- University of California, Davis--Faculty.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], James Leslie Woodress Papers, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University
Provenance
The James Leslie Woodress Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library as a gift in 1976, 1988, and 1997.
Processing Information
Processed by Aaron Thornburg, April 2009
Encoded by Aaron Thornburg, April 2009
Accession from 1976 and accessions 89-012 and 1997-0080 were merged into one collection, described in this finding aid.
Descriptive sources and standards used to create this inventory: DACS, EAD, NCEAD guidelines, and local Style Guide.
This finding aid is NCEAD compliant.