Allan Gurganus Papers, 1961-2020

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Access restricted. The Personal Papers series, Academics, Gurganus as Teacher subseries includes student materials. In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as...
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Summary

Creator:
Gurganus, Allan, 1947-
Abstract:
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.
Extent:
65 Linear Feet
.07 Gigabytes
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.11748

Background

Scope and content:

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.

Biographical / historical:

Allan Gurganus (1947- ), a gay, white, Southern writer, was born in Rocky Mount, North Carolina. He trained as a painter at the University of Pennsylvania, and the Pennsylvania Academy of Fine Arts. As punishment for his draft evasion during the Vietnam War, he served as a message decoder in the United States Navy for three years. It was during his time on the USS Yorktown that he began to write. After his military service, he graduated from Sarah Lawrence College where he had studied with Grace Paley. In the Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa, Gurganus studied with John Irving, Stanley Elkin, and John Cheever. It was Cheever who sold one of Gurganus's short stories to The New Yorker without his knowledge. "Minor Heroism" became the first story The New Yorker ever published about a homosexual character. Gurganus later taught writing at Sarah Lawrence College; the Iowa Writers' Workshop; Stanford University; and Duke University.

Extensive personal and professional correspondence between Gurganus and his family, friends, and other artists provides insight into how being gay and living in the south shaped his writing. These letters concern both personal and literary matters. Frequently the correspondents commented on each other's recent publications and work, or on projects in progress.

Acquisition information:
The Allan Gurganus Papers were received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2012-2020.
Processing information:

Processed by Leah Kerr and Bethany Lynch, October 2019.

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2012-0127, 2012-0221, 2017-0172, 2018-0062, 2018-0082, 2018-0142, 2018-0155, 2019-0057, 2020-0049, 2020-0100, 2021-0103.

Updated by Leah Tams, December 2021.

Accessions 2020-0049 and 2020-0100 processed by Vladimir Lukin, February 2023.

Arrangement:

Organized into the following series: Writings, Correspondence, Personal papers, Artwork, and Others' works.

Arrangement follows creator's chronological dates where available. Archivist arranged where dates are not available.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

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Using These Materials


Restrictions:

Access restricted. The Personal Papers series, Academics, Gurganus as Teacher subseries includes student materials. In accordance with the Family Education Rights and Privacy Act of 1974 as amended, Duke University permits students to inspect their education records and limits the disclosure of personally identifiable information from education records. Contact Research Services for more information.

Access note. Collection contains electronic records that require special equipment. Contact Research Services with questions.

Access note. Collection contains fragile audiovisual/photographic formats that may need to be reformatted before use. Contact Research Services for access.

Access restricted. Collection contains potentially sensitive information in the Personal series, Finanical and Legal subseries. Contact Research Services for Access.

Terms of access:

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.

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Preferred citation:

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