MC42. Handy Writer's Colony Collection, 1930-1964
Scope and Contents
A writers' colony, located in Marshall, Illinois, opened in 1950 by Lowney and Harry Handy and best-selling novelist James Jones. It supported numerous young writers, many of whose stories and novels were published. The colony dissolved with the death of Lowney Handy in 1964.
The collection includes: by-laws, minutes, correspondence, membership, and financial records of the colony regarding its founding, organization, finances, philosophy, and teaching methods; approximately 2,000 letters written by Lowney Handy, Harry Handy, James Jones, colony members, relatives, publishers, editors, friends, and fans; military records, and other personal papers of James Jones; commonplace books, memorabilia, and other papers of Lowney Handy; class notes, journals, and poetry of colony member Charles Robb; an extensive clipping file concerning the colony and Jones's career; photographs and negatives of the Handys, Jones, the colony and its members.
Also included are about 100 published and unpublished manuscripts of Lowney Handy, and colony writers, including Rex Bollin, Tom T. Chamales, Edwin Daly, William Duhart, Edward Kurtz, Jere Peacock, Charles Robb, Jerry Tschappat ("Gerald Tesch"), Charles Stevenson Wright, and others.
The collection includes an extensive collection of notes, manuscript drafts, and galleys of James Jones's 1951 novel From Here to Eternity, as well as some of his early essays, short stories, and his first, unpublished novel, "They Shall Inherit the Laughter."
Dates
- Created: 1930 - 1964
Creator
- Handy, Lowney (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
RESTRICTED: Access upon special request. Reproduction restricted.
Extent
33.00 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Source of Acquisition
Margaret C. Turner - Gift of 1983 and 1984
Creator
- Handy, Lowney (Person)
- Handy, Harry (Person)
- Jones, James (Person)
- Title
- Archon Finding Aid Title
- Description rules
- Other Unmapped
- Language of description
- Undetermined
- Script of description
- Code for undetermined script
- Language of description note
- und
Repository Details
Part of the UIS Archives/Special Collections Repository
Archives/Special Collections LIB 144
One University Plaza, MS BRK 140
Springfield IL 62703-5407 US
217-206-6520
archives@uis.libanswers.com