The Legacy of David Foster Wallace, a collection of essays that examine Wallace, his writing, and his place in literary history, has been published by University of Iowa Press.
Wallace’s archive resides at the Ransom Center.
Molly Schwartzburg, former Cline Curator of Literature at the Ransom Center and current curator at Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library at the University of Virginia, contributed an essay about how Wallace’s manuscripts and personal library were handled and processed after they arrived at the Ransom Center.
Read the full article on The Daily Beast website, “Last Letters From World War I Literary Heroes.”
English poet Wilfred Owen’s last letter to his mother. Dated Oct. 31, 1918, Owen was killed on November 4, one week before the Armistice.
The Ransom Center holds a Wilfred Owen Collection of World War I Poetry, which includes some family correspondence as well.
Read the full article “Your Humble Serpent: “Book Snake” and “Book Worm” are unsung Reading Room companions”
A small book worm, assisted by a book support, and a large book snake; both assist Io Montecillo, by gently holding open small and large books. Photo by Pete Smith.
Samantha Cabrera constructing “book snakes” with chain links. Photo by Mary Baughman.
Read full article Hyde Park host provided home away from home for scholars.
Martha Campbell in front of her Hyde Park home.
Campbell keeps a shelf of books written by the scholars who have stayed with her. Photos by Alicia Dietrich.
James Salter, whose archive is housed at the Ransom Center, will receive the 2012 PEN/Malamud Award, which honors excellence in the art of the short story. To celebrate the news, the Ransom Center is giving away two signed copies of James Salter books.
Photo of James Salter by Linda Gervin.
While writing Innocents Abroad, Samuel Clemens (known more familiarly as Mark Twain) carried a Bible during a trip to Constantinople in 1867. The book is now part of the Ransom Center’s collections and can be seen in the exhibition The King James Bible: Its History and Influence, which runs through July 29.
The Bible recently underwent some work in the Ransom Center’s conservation lab. Learn about the steps taken to conserve and house this historical book.
Read the full article “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz”: A children’s classic lives on though many editions and sequels.
First edition, second state of L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” (Chicago: George Hill, 1900).
Illustration from the first edition of of L. Frank Baum’s “The Wonderful Wizard of Oz” (Chicago: George Hill, 1900).
“The Tin Woodman of Oz” by L. Frank Baum. Chicago: Reilly & Lee, 1918.
Leaf from the autograph manuscript of L. Frank Baum’s “The Tin Woodman of Oz,” 1918.
“Tik-Tok of Oz” by L. Frank Baum. Chicago, Reilly & Lee, 1914.
“The Royal Book of Oz” by L. Frank Baum. 1921.
“Jack Pumpkinhead of Oz” by Ruth Plumly Thompson. 1929.
“Speedy in Oz” by Ruth Plumly Thompson. 1934.
“The Wishing Horse of Oz” by Ruth Plumly Thompson. 1935.
“Ozoplaning with the Wizard of Oz” by Ruth Plumly Thompson. 1939.
Susan Meiselas/Magnum Photos. Front and back of press print “Nicaragua: 1978” from Magnum Photos archive at the Ransom Center.
