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Archival Descriptions
Texas A&M University, Libraries, Cushing Memorial Library & Archives
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William Gibson Spook Country Manuscript Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000584
  • Collection
  • 2006-2007

This collection consists of two versions of the manuscript for William Gibson's 2007 novel Spook Country, a science fiction technothriller that is the second in his acclaimed "Blue Ant" trilogy. (It follows Gibson's 2003 novel Pattern Recognitions and precedes 2010's Zero History). The trilogy has been defined by Gibson himself as "speculative novels of last Wednesday", that is, novels set in the contemporary world but viewed through a science fictional perspective, showing readers the present through a futuristic lens.

The Blue Ant trilogy centers on the character of Hubertus Bigend, an advertising executive and tech magnate who serves as the series' amoral antihero. Though Bigend dominates the trilogy as whole, Spook Country focuses on the intertwining stories of three characters in particular: Hollis Henry, a journalist hired by Bigend to write a story on the phenomenon of 'locative art'; Chinese-Cuban Tito, a member of a family of criminals who gets bound up in American secret intelligence operations; and Milgrim, a drug addict being held in captivity by a mysterious covert operative named Brown. The novel, set in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks, and explores the uses and misuses of locative technology, the eversion of cyberspace, and the changed political climate of the United States following the attacks. It was nominated for the 2008 Locus award for Best SF Novel, the 2009 Imaginaire Award, and the 2017 Prix Aurora for Best of the Decade.

Both versions are housed in clamshell boxes within the larger enclosure. The first box contains the autographed typescript of the novel, with heavy corrections and copyedits. The second box holds the autographed and corrected unbound proofs.

Gibson, William

Neal Barrett Jr. Slightly Off Center Manuscript

  • US TxAM-C C000268
  • Collection
  • 1992

This collection contains the manuscript Slightly Off Center by Neal Barrett, Jr. with an introduction by Joe R. Lansdale. Advance Proof Copy, perfect bound. Austin, TX: Swan Press, 1992. 155 p.

Barrett, Neal, Jr., 1929-2014

Simon McCaffery Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000249
  • Collection
  • 1990

This collection consists of the typescript for McCaffery's 1990 short story "Night of the Living Dead Bingo Women".

McCaffery, Simon, 1963-

Walter Jon Williams Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000172
  • Collection
  • 1988

This collection consists of the 93 page manuscript for Williams' story "No Spot of Ground", later published in Isaac Asimov's Science Fiction Magazine.

Williams, Walter Jon

Robert P. Jasinski Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000251
  • Collection
  • 1988

This collection consists of the typed manuscript (11 leaves) for Jasinski's 1988 study Science Fiction in East Germany: 1949-1982. Included are pictures, text and a map from magazines pasted onto the leaves.

Jasinski, Richard

Keith Laumer Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000226
  • Collection
  • 1986

This collection consists of the first page, handwritten, with title and two lines of dialogue, of Laumer's 1986 novella “The Pan-Galactic Pageant of Pulchritude: A Retief Story”.

Laumer, Keith

Gregory Benford Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000205
  • Collection
  • 1981

This collection consists of photocopies of the 49 page typed manuscript for the novelette, Shall We Take a Little Walk, published in Destinies, the winter of 1981.

Benford, Gregory, 1941

John Varley Manuscript

  • US TxAM-C C000223
  • Collection
  • 1981

This collection consists of a photocopy of the 83-page typescript for Varley's 1981 story "Blue Champagne".

Varley, John

Harry Harrison Manuscript

  • US TxAM-C C000192
  • Collection
  • 1980

This collection consists of the manuscript for Harrison's one-act play The Day After the End of the World, written in 1980. The manuscript is 15 leaves typed with handwritten edits.

Harrison, Harry

Steven Gould Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000252
  • Collection
  • 1979-2008

This collection consists primarily of manuscripts, proofs and galleys for a number of works by SF author Gould, including both novels and short stories. It also includes several typescripts for works not written by Gould, including several volumes of the George R.R. Martin-edited _Wild Cards_shared universe novels.

Gould, Steven, 1955

Sheila Jazmann Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000241
  • Collection
  • 1978

This collection consists of a copy of the proofs for the 1978 novel Elvis, Come Back!, written by Sheila Jazmann and published by Chameleon Books. The novel tells the story of an attempt by scientists to bring Elvis Presley back to life after his death in August 1977.

Alan Dean Foster Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000193
  • Collection
  • 1977

This collection contains a 286-page unproofed typed copy of Foster's 1977 novel The End of the Matter.

Foster, Alan D.

Scott A. Cupp Academic Paper

  • US TxAM-C C000260
  • Collection
  • 1975

This collection contains "The Fantasy of Love in the Works of Cordwainer Smith", an academic paper by Scott A. Cupp. 10 p., 1975.

Cupp, Scott

Glen Cook Manuscript

  • US TxAM-C C000216
  • Collection
  • 1973

This collection consists of the typed manuscript with handwritten edits of Cook's 1973 short story "The Night of Dreadful Silence". Also included is one blurb with the cover format.

Cook, Glen

Gordon Eklund Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000194
  • Collection
  • 1973

This collection consists of the manuscript for Eklund's 1973 story "The Stuff of Time", which was published in the September 1973 issue of Fantastic Stories.

Eklund, Gordon

Janet Fox Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000191
  • Collection
  • 1973

This collection consists of the manuscript for Fox's short story A Witch in Time, published in September 1973. The manuscript is typed, 22 pages with an additional 2-page blurb.

Fox, Janet

Karl T. Pflock "AFC" Manuscript

  • US TxAM-C C000255
  • Collection
  • 1973

This collection consists of the manuscript with handwritten edits of the story "AFC", by Karl T. Pflock, published in Fantasticin September 1973, accompanied by a typewritten blurb.

Pflock, Karl, 1943-2006

Ted White Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000230
  • Collection
  • 1973

This collection includes the typescript for an editorial by White for the September 1973 issue of Fantastic, and some 14 pieces of editorial correspondence, undated.

White, Ted

Barry N. Malzberg Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000202
  • Collection
  • 1972

This collection contains the typed manuscript (7 leaves with a 2 leaf blurb), with handwritten edits, of Barry Malzberg's 1973 story "Isaiah", which was first published in the issue of Fantastic Science Fiction and Fantasy Stories.

A crossed-out date on the last page gives the date of composition to be December 20, 1972.

Malzberg, Barry

Anne McCaffrey Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000197
  • Collection
  • 1969

This collection consists of the original manuscript for McCaffrey's novella The Partnered Ship (1969), which was included as the concluding chapter in her famed 1969 novel The Ship Who Sang. The manuscript (typed 70 leaves) is signed by McCaffrey and has multiple handwritten edits.

McCaffrey, Anne

Samuel R. Delany Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000033
  • Collection
  • 1968-1979

This collection consists of materials relating to two of Samuel R. Delany's more famous novels. Materials include two typescripts of his 1973 novel Equinox (originally published as The Tides of Lust), and the corrected galley proofs of Triton (1976).

Also included is the typescript of Delany's 1979 memoir Heavenly Breakfast.

The manuscripts all contain holograph corrections and revisions by Delany.  There is also a note contextualizing the manuscript on the first page of each item.

Delany, Samuel

Alexei Panshin Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000189
  • Collection
  • 1968-1973

This collection consists of several manuscripts of Panshin's work, including his 1968 novel The Thurb Revolution and his serialized novel The Son of Black Morca (1973, photocopies). Also included is a set of galleys for Panshin's Masque World (1969).

Panshin, Alexei

Jon Manchip White Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000174
  • Collection
  • 1965

This collection consists of the release dialogue script of the 1965 Paramount film Crack in the World starring Dana Andrews as Dr. Steven Sorenson, who plans to tap the geothermal energy of the Earth's interior by means of a thermonuclear device detonated deep within the Earth. Despite dire warnings by fellow scientist Ted Rampion (Kieron Moore), Sorenson proceeds with the experiment after secretly learning that he is terminally ill. This experiment causes a crack to form and grow within the earth's crust, which threatens to split the earth in two if it is not stopped in time. The screenplay was written by White and Julian Halevy.

White, Jon M.

Bernard Gordon Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000170
  • Collection
  • 1963-01-17

This collection consists of a domestic version of the export script dated January 17, 1963, for the British science fiction movie The Day of the Triffids (1962), written by Gordon and based on the famous 1951 novel by John Wyndham.

Gordon, Bernard

Murray Leinster "Honeymoon on Dlecka" Manuscript

  • US TxAM-C C000263
  • Collection
  • 1955

This collection consists of the typed manuscript (21 leaves) for Leinster's short story "Honeymoon on Dlecka", published in Fantastic Universe, July 1955.

Leinster, Murray, 1896-1975

Tom Godwin "You Created Us" Manuscript

  • US TxAM-C C000266
  • Collection
  • 1954

This collection consists of one typed manuscript (17 leaves) by Godwin, for his 1955 story "You Created Us".

Godwin, Tom, 1915-1980

Theodore Sturgeon Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000235
  • Collection
  • 1954

This collection consists of an advance copy (bound unpaged galley proofs) of the first edition, first state; and an advance copy (bound unpaged galley proofs) of the first edition, second state, of Sturgeon's 1953 novel More Than Human.

The proofs represent the first state of the text without Sturgeon's extensive last-minute changes made at the publisher's office. A handwritten signed note by Sturgeon dated August 1954 on the inside front cover reads: "A few hours before 'More Than Human' went to press, the author felt a profound dissatisfaction with the last section. Working in the corner of a busy office at his publisher's, he rewrote the final portion. This is, as far as he knows, the only copy extant of the book before these changes were made. It is donated, with the author's warmest good wishes, to the World Science Fiction Convention of 1954, at San Francisco."

The revisions to the galleys were made on leaves 16, 120, 136, 139, and 144-145 and consisted mostly of insertions of new copy, ranging from about 150 words in one case to about 1500 in another (at the story's conclusion).

The proofs are accompanied by a signed letter, dated August 25, 1954, from Sturgeon (signed "Ted") to "Les" (probably Lester Cole, co-chairman of the convention) on Sturgeon's stationery, with an autograph postscript. This is the cover letter sent with the proof, in which Sturgeon explains why he will not be able to attend the 1954 convention due to a death in the family. He expresses sincere regret and names those to whom he would like to have his greetings conveyed, including "the six (at least) X's. These last are the handful, among all the wonderful people there, whom [sic] I haven't met yet but would discover and have for lifelong friends if only I could be there."

Sturgeon, Theodore

Poul Anderson Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000277
  • Collection
  • 1951-1954; 1980-1983

This collection contains correspondence regarding Anderson’s writing and travel plans, 1951-1954, and manuscripts and galley proofs of "Ivory, and Apes, and Peacocks", The Devil’s Game, and Orion Shall Rise (1980-1983).

Anderson, Poul, 1926-2001

Alfred Elton Van Vogt Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000180
  • Collection
  • 1949-1956; Undated

This collection consists of materials relating to the 1956 A. E. Van Vogt novel Empire of the Atom, including the original typescript, galleys, and correspondence related to the book's publication and review.

Van Vogt, A. E. (Alfred Elton), 1912-2000

Alex Haley Collection

  • US TxAM-C C000012
  • Collection
  • 1949-1965, 1967, 1991

This collection consists of one box of material that includes heavily edited and complete manuscript pages from the Autobiography of Malcolm X, his writings on Mahalia Jackson, Wilma Rudolph, the story Queenie, a follow-up to Roots, and other writings. Also included are his notes regarding the re-run of the mini-series Roots. He mentions a meeting he had with Warren Beatty where they discussed Roots. The notes are titled "Re: Roots Re-Run for TV Guide. Between the Covers acquired the collection from a bookseller who bought it directly from the estate of Virginia Hannon. A group of early letters from Alex Haley it's seven letters sent between 1949-1954 (one from 1967) to close family friend, Virginia Hannon. The letters present Haley, then a journalist in the Coast Guard, trying to get his writing career started and relating thoughts about his working habits, carious siblings, and plans for the future. All letters are written light, optimistic, and sometimes flirtatious style. Accompanying them are several related photographs, including one of Hannon in uniform, and a copy of Haley's posthumous novel Queen inscribed to her by his brother, George.

The July 2015 addendum includes an archive of seven Typed Letters Signed from Alex Haley sent between 1949-1954 (with one from 1967) to a close family friend, along with related photographs and the first edition of Queen Inscribed by his brother George Haley. The letters are overall near fine with typical folds from being mailing and light toning, with their original mailing envelopes that show wear including are nick, tears, and chip, but all are present; the photos are fine. The book is fine in a fine dustwrapper.

The letters, which are signed both as "Alex" and "Palmer," his middle name, were written to Virginia Hannon, a woman who taught Alex Haley French at Alcorn College before he left to join the Coast Guard. The letters begin after he's become a journalist writing for Coast Guard Magazine, and it seems, after an absence from Hannon. The letters are very familiar and playful with references to her French class, updates on his brothers George and Julius, and although married, some flirtatious comments about her breasts, "they were not as you say, spinsterly," and his faraway demeanor in class, "believe me, love, I was not, when you observed me, thinking about any damned touchdowns." There is also lots of talk about Haley's writing career. The early letters from 1949 included his thoughts on his drive to be a writer: "I'm trying pretty hard and have thus far had some minor successes," as well as his bad habits: "I'm essentially lazy, but I love to write once I get started." It's during an extended hospital stay for the treatment of a pilonidal cyst in 1953 that he seems to really make headway: "I never had so much time on end to write in my life. I have to stand up to type, to be sure, but - boy, am I turning out the words! Things I've wanted to work on for ages." In a letter the next year he excitedly describes what was his first big career break: "The prime accomplishment to date, a milestone in my life, I guess, was the sale two weeks ago, of 'The Harlem that Nobody Knows,' a 4,000-word piece, to Reader's Digest ... As a result, I, last week, got taken in the stable of Ruth Aley, probably one of the top 5 literary agents in the country. I am working like a bastard, to put it bluntly." The job led to a series of articles in the magazine and an assignment with Playboy interviewing many of the most important African-Americans of the day. The final letter from 1967 takes the form of two short but sweet holograph notes to Hannon written on the margins of a form letter and a photocopied travel article. They show a busy, successful writer still trying to keep in touch with an old friend.

The letters are accompanied by a black and white photograph of a young Hannon in a military uniform (possibly Red Cross), along with two later color photos of George with Wynelle [Hannon's sister] and George with President Bill Clinton. Plus, there is a copy of Haley's book Queen, published posthumously, and warmly Inscribed by George: "To my dear sister, Virginia Rose Hannon With love, respect and appreciation Your brother George Haley - and all the rest of the Haley Family 12 June 1993." An interesting and intimate collection of early correspondence from one of the most influential African-American writers of the 20th Century.

Haley, Alex

Mildred Watkins Mears Papers

  • US TxAM-C 192
  • Collection
  • 1946-1963

This collection consists of some correspondence, a significant number of mostly typed manuscript drafts, both published and unpublished, and a printer's galley for her book, Coryell County Scrapbook, published in 1963 by Texian Press of Waco, Texas. Also present are a few newspaper clippings, as well as handwritten and typed research notes for her published book.

The manuscript drafts reveal an engaging blend of scholarship, personal recollection, and anecdotal history chronicling the development of Coryell county from when the area was part of Coahuila, Mexico, through to its formal organization as a county in the state of Texas in 1854. Included is an account of the growth of Fort Hood as a military base in the early 1960s.

Stories are cited from early twentieth-century newspapers recounting Indian skirmishes with pioneering settlers, deeds of cattle rustlers and trail drivers, as well as events surrounding prohibition and various political rivalries. The early days of Fort Gates, now Gatesville, and the later development of Camp Hood, now Fort Hood, one of the nation's largest military installations, are described. Statistical tables and records present expenditures for, and descriptions of, buildings, jails, courthouses, prominent homes, banks, and businesses in Coryell county.

Interspersed among the political and economic accounts of the county's progress are more personal stories of weddings, births, parties, church events, legendary horses, dogs, local heroes, and even the county's centennial celebration in 1954. Mears' relatively unadorned narrative describes in some detail the increasing social, economic, and political prosperity and influence, as well as the setbacks, of Coryell County. Mears' work brings to life frontier Texas culture during the late nineteenth and early to mid-twentieth century.

Mears, Mildred Watkins

Margaret Lips van Bavel Papers on Boonville

  • US TxAM-C 1286
  • Collection
  • 1937-1987

This collection contains the Boone and Bryan family history in a compilation of biographies, clippings, and photocopies from books and newspapers, and other topics on the history of Boonville, TX. Also included are land acre maps of the town of Boonville and several genealogies including the genealogy of the Harvey Mitchell family.

van Bavel, Margaretha H. M.

Ellen Schulz Quillin Manuscripts

  • US TxAM-C 95
  • Collection
  • 1928-1964

This collection contains two manuscripts written by Ellen D. Schulz Quillin. The first, "Texas Wild Flowers. a Popular Account of the Common Wild Flowers of Texas.", was published in 1928 by Laidlaw Brothers (Chicago, IL), and the second, "Texas Cacti: A Popular and Scientific Account of the Cacti Native to Texas", was published in 1930 by the Texas Academy of Science and written with Robert Runyon.

The manuscript for "Texas Wild Flowers. a Popular Account of the Common Wild Flowers of Texas." consists of two bound volumes, typed with handwritten edits and notes, and both contain a title page handwritten in graphite, dated and initialed by Ellen (December 23, 1955). The inscription in Part I reads, "Original Texas Wild Flowers manuscript. Of no value to anyone else. Kept for reference to revision, if I should get to it". and in Part II, the inscription slightly changes with the last sentence reading "Kept for reference in case of revision".

The first volume, Part I (pages 1-337), has a second note by Ellen handwritten in ink, dated October 20, 1963, in which she talks about the book being published, the revisions she wanted to make after it becoming know the book was out of bring in 1959 [Part 2 state 1939], and never got around to due to her work in writing "History of the Museum" in 5 volumes and resigning in 1960.

The second volume, Part II (pages 338-640), also has a handwritten ink note from October 20, 1963, however, the inscription reads "Presented to Peggy C. Owens, College Station, Texas to use in any way she can as Texas Wildflowers has not been replaced since it became out of print in 1939 [Part I states 1959] - used copies are generally not available - and the last used copy I saw advertised in a California catalogue was $27.50 - a prohibitive price".

The second manuscript in this collection, "Texas Cacti: A Popular and Scientific Account of the Cacti Native to Texas", is held within a Weston Paper box with an address label for Mrs. Peggy C. Owens affixed to the outside. The manuscript itself is bound, typed with handwritten edits and notes, and original photographs (95 pages total). Also found within are a few publications that were used for reference.

Contained within the front cover are four documents, two are keys for illustrations, one for illustrations from "Succulents" by van Laren from paintings made in Amsterdam by Messrs. C. Rol, J. Voerman and H. Rol, and the second unidentified. The third is an announcement for the release of "Texas Wild Flowers: A Popular Account of the Common Wild Flowers of Texas by Ellen D. Schulz Quillin, M. S." with an overall description of the book, an excerpt from the book on the origin of Texas bluebonnets and two reprints from Texas newspapers of articles announcing Ellen's new book in June and July of 1928. The fourth document is a note handwritten in ink, originally paper clipped to the front cover, dated April 21, 1964, reading "To Peggy Owens - One of my most Precious possessions. Ellen S. Quillin". Also noted in graphite below the original note is "send vols 1 & 2" by Ellen, May 12, 1964. On the first page in the top right corner is another handwritten note in ink by Ellen dating April 21, 1964, "To Peggy Owens - Compliments of the author".

Quillin, Ellen Schulz, 1892-1970

Yates Stirling Jr. Diary of the Commander of the U.S.S. Von Steuben Manuscript

  • US TxAM-C 318
  • Collection
  • 1918-1928

This collection includes the manuscript diaries of the commander of the U.S.S. Von Steuben, 317 pages.12 mo (6X4 inches), original calf, worn; a few minor creases and tears, lacking the last 7 leaves (not part of diary proper).  Vp, January 1 to September 7, 1918; April 8 to June 21, 1919; and circa 1928. There are two bound diary volumes and one typescript entitled "Battle Between the U.S.S. Von Steuben and German Submarine", June 18, 1818.

Sterling, Yates Jr., 1872-1948

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