George Garrett Papers
This collection houses a variety of material documenting George Garrett's scholarly and literary career. Although some of these items show Garrett's early work, the majority of the material dates to the 2000s which was toward the end of his career.
Series I has notes, drafts, complete manuscripts, and published works documenting Garrett's Southern Excursions: Views on Southern Letters In My Time. This book is composed of reviews, biographical pieces, and essays discussing both well-known and more obscure Southern authors.
Series II contains reports that Garrett wrote during his time as the Short Story Series Editor at the Louisiana State University Press. These documents detail Garrett's reasons for recommending certain works for publication.
Series III houses notes that Garrett used for speeches he gave throughout the United States. The topics range from discussions of authors and their works to Garrett's own work, including his Elizabethan Trilogy.
Series IV includes reviews that Garrett wrote for the New York Times Book Review in addition to short fiction pieces and some material intended for Southern Excursions but ultimately published in other forms.
Series V houses complete and incomplete fiction pieces, articles about Garrett, materials regarding the George Garrett festival hosted by the University of Tennessee, and notes documenting Garrett's life.
Series IV contains all large format items from the collection.
Dates
- 1966-2003
- Majority of material found within 2001-2003
Conditions Governing Access
Collections are stored offsite and must be requested in advance. See www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Conditions Governing Use
The UT Libraries claims only physical ownership of most material in the collections. Persons wishing to broadcast or publish this material must assume all responsibility for identifying and satisfying any claimants on www.special.lib.utk.edu for detailed information. Collections must be requested through a registered Special Collections research account.
Extent
3.5 Linear Feet (3 boxes)
Abstract
This collection houses a variety of material documenting George Garrett's scholarly and literary career, particularly Garrett's Southern Excursions: Views on Southern Letters in My Time (2003).
Biographical/Historical Note
George Palmer Garrett was born to George Palmer and Rosalie (Toomer) Garrett on June 11, 1929, in Orlando, Florida. Following graduation from Sewanee Military Academy, Garrett pursued his undergraduate degree at Princeton University, graduating in 1952. He later earned his MA (1956) and his PhD (1985) from Princetown.
Garrett began his teaching career at Wesleyan University after completing his MA. He went on to teach and serve as writer-in-residence at several colleges and universities, ultimately leading to his appointment as the Henry Hoyns Professor of English at the University of Virginia in 1984, a position he held until retirement in 1999.
In addition to teaching, Garrett was a novelist, poet, and short story writer. He also served as the contemporary poetry editor at the University of North Carolina Press and as the short story series editor at the Louisiana State University Press. Garrett served as the Poet Laureate of Virginia from 2002-2004. He earned several awards and fellowships throughout his career including a Guggenheim Fellowship (1974), a PEN/Malamud Award for short fiction (1990), and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Library of Virginia (2004). Garrett died in 2008 in Charlottesville, Virginia.
Arrangement
This collection consists of three boxes divided into six series:
- Series I: Southern Excursions: Views on Southern Letters in my Life
- Series II: Book Reports for Louisiana State University Press
- Series III: Speech Notes
- Series IV: Short Reviews
- Series V: Other Papers
- Series VI: Oversized Materials
Acquisition Note
This collection was donated to Special Collections in 2003.
Repository Details
Part of the Betsey B. Creekmore Special Collections and University Archives, University of Tennessee, Knoxville Repository