Allan Gurganus (1947- ), a gay, white, Southern writer, was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. Gurganus trained as a painter, served in the United States Navy during the Vietnam War, then studied at Sarah Lawrence College and the Iowa Writers' Workshop. He later taught writing at Sarah Lawrence College; the Iowa Writers' Workshop; Stanford University; and Duke University. The collection includes the following series: (1) Writings; (2) Correspondence; (3) Personal Papers; (4) Artwork; and (5) Others' Works.

The (1) Writings Series is divided into the Books, Novellas and Articles subseries, Uncollected Works subseries, and Addresses and Speeches subseries. Gurganus's writings, collected here as manuscripts, typescripts, and proofs with notes, documenting his development of well-known and critically-acclaimed works. His collected works include White People; The Practical Heart; Plays Well with Others; and, Local Souls. Gurganus's other books and individual stories, essays, and drawings or illustrations related to the titles are included in this Series.

The (2) Correspondence Series is divided into the Chronological Correspondence subseries which consists of letters to and from Gurganus, publishers, and friends, and the Correspondence, Alphabetical by Name subseries is comprised of correspondence between Gurganus and other writers, artists, literary figures, and close friends.

The (3) Personal Papers Series contains Gurganus's family correspondence, documents, many of the books, letters, art and photographs kept in his home. Financial and legal records as well as documentation of his writing career through contracts and royalty statements are also included in this series. The (4) Artwork Series is comprised of doodles, drawings, paintings, and sketches. Series (5) Others' Works, includes books, articles, and typescripts written by friends, students, and others.

Author and illustrator. Collection includes letters from Davenport to Abbot Tom Gleason (1960-1966), and to Duke University secretary Dorothy E. Roberts (1970-1990). Early letters discuss Davenport's attraction to Gleason, as well as daily life, contemporaries, and other intellectual subjects like art or literature. There are clippings regarding his his career and family, along with book reviews written by him or about his work. Also includes collected contributions to a symposium (1974) on Davenport's work printed in the serial Margins. Included are the author's short stories "A Gingham Dress," "Belinda's World Tour," and "Juno of the Veii," as well as his article "The Symbol of the Archiaic."

Box 1 of the collection contains a few letters from Davenport, primarily written to Dorothy E. Roberts, a secretary in Duke University's English Department. There are clippings regarding his his career and family, along with book reviews written by him or about his work. Also includes collected contributions to a symposium (1974) on Davenport's work printed in the serial Margins. Included are the author's short stories "A Gingham Dress," "Belinda's World Tour," and "Juno of the Veii," as well as his article "The Symbol of the Archiaic."

Box 2 of the collection contains letters and postcards from Davenport to Abbott (Tom) Gleason. There are 68 pieces of correspondence, with all but three from 1960-1962; others are from 1963, 1964, 1966, and one undated. Totals include 37 letters (20 ALS and 17 TLS); 30 postcards; one holiday card. The 37 letters amount to 71 pages, plus 31 postcards and a card, equals 102 "pages" of text, mostly concentrated in three years. Three letters are on airmail stationary; from the lot there are only two absent envelopes.

The correspondence discusses both parties' personal and intellectual lives. Davenport confesses his attraction for Gleason and his struggle with Gleason's lack of reciprocation. Davenport asserts, however, his ability to refrain from acting on his attraction. Many of the letters recount daily life, some in a very lyrical and detailed manner, while other letters raise general intellectual inquiry on subjects such as art, photography, quotations, etc. Discussion passes about the works and progress of Davenport's contemporaries, including prominent writers such as Ezra Pound and Samuel Beckett. Postcards and other letters document travel.

Stuart Wright (1948-), an author, bibliographer, and publisher, attended Roxboro (N.C.) High School and Wake Forest University, where he received B.A. degrees in German and Music. He received his master's degree in Southern Studies in 1973 and a second master's degree in U.S. History in 1980, both from Wake Forest University. In the late 1970s and through much of the 1980s, Wright served as Lecturer in Education at Wake Forest. The collection consists of materials related to the Virginia writer George Garrett (1929-2008) assembled by author, bibliographer, and publisher Stuart Wright. Wright published George Garrett : a bibliography, 1947-1988 / edited by Stuart Wright. Huntsville, TX: Texas Review Press, Sam Houston State University, 1989.

A Collection of materials related to the Virginia writer George Garrett (1929-2008) assembled by author, bibliographer, and publisher Stuart Wright. Wright later published George Garrett : a bibliography, 1947-1988 / edited by Stuart Wright. Huntsville, TX: Texas Review Press, Sam Houston State University, 1989.

The collection consists chiefly of serials containing writings by Garrett, including poetry, short stories, literary criticism, reviews, editorials, screenplays, dramatic scripts, novels, and a few speeches. Many of the items are inscribed or signed by George Garrett and other authors. There are also manuscripts of Garrett's screenplays and other writings. Many of Garrett's literary criticism pieces concern the writings of William Faulkner.

Other formats include photographs including publicity photos for the movie The young lovers, screenplay by Garrett. Biographical data on Garrett is found in interviews, clippings, and biographical sketches of Garrett's career as a writer and teacher. Other periodicals containing the writings of other writers of interest to Garrett are included in this collection.