Guide to the John Hawkes papers, 1947-2000

(bulk 1947-1948)


Brown University Library, Special Collections
Box A, John Hay Library
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
Fax: 401-863-2093
E-mail: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2009

Collection Overview

Title: John Hawkes papers
Date range: 1947-2000, (bulk 1947-1948)
Creator: Hawkes, John, 1925-1998
Extent: 1 box
Abstract: Author's last poems and letters on love and creativity before he turned to writing fiction. Written mostly at Hastings-on-Hudson, New York, in the five months preceding his marriage to Sophie Tazewell. One of two photocopies made by the author. "No other photocopies will be made." Also includes a memo written in 1948 to Mr. Hawkes from Thomas J. Wilson regarding a book idea on the subject of e.e. cummings and a listing of John Hawkes books being sold by Clouds Hill Books in 2000.
Language of materials: English
Repository: Brown University Library, Special Collections
Collection number: Ms. 85.18

Scope & content

Autograph manuscript signed with tyepwritten sections (58 pages). Author's last poems and letters on love and creativity before he turned to writing fiction. Wirtten mostly at Hastings on Hudson, New York, in the five months preceding his marriage to Sophie Tazewell. One of two photocopies made by the author. "No other photocopies will be made."

Typewritten memo to Mr. Hawkes from Thomas J. Wilson regarding a book idea on the subject of e.e. cummings, 16 July 1948. This was laid into a copy of The Harvard Wake, Spring 1946 issue, the focus of which was on e.e. cummings.

Prospectus for the John Hawkes collection from Clouds Hill Books. Includes letter to Samuel Hough from Darren Overty regarding the prospectus and an article about collector Carter Burden who collected the John Hawkes books as part of his larger collection of 20th century American literature, 18 October 2000.

Access Points

Subject Names Subject Names Subject Topics Subject Topics Document Types Occupations

Arrangement

This collection has no Series structure and is organized chronologically.

Biographical note

John Hawkes was the author of 16 novels, including The Cannibal, The Lime Twig, The Blood Oranges, and Travesty and Adventures in the Alaskan Skin Trade. An important figure in the post-war generation of American writers that includes John Barth, William Gaddis, and William Gass, he once claimed that he wrote fiction "on the assumption that the true enemies of the novel were plot, character, setting, and theme". He was one of the first writers in America to champion an iconoclastic "postmodern" or "metafictive" spirit in fiction, a spirit which insisted on formal experimentation, savage comedy and total imaginative freedom. Edmund White called him "America's greatest visionary".

Jack Hawkes was born in Stamford, Connecticut on August 17, 1925. In his own words, he was "an only child and an asthmatic". He went to Harvard in 1943 and a year later left for Europe to serve as an American Field Service ambulance driver in Italy and Germany. After the war he returned to Harvard and taught English there from 1955 to 1958. He then moved to Brown University, where he taught until his retirement in 1988.

In 1947, Hawkes married Sophie Tazewell, with whom he had three sons and one daughter. Hawkes died in Providence, RI on the 15th of May, 1998.

Biography from John Hawkes' obituary in The Independent, written by Patrick McGrath. The obituary was printed on Wednesday, 3 June 1998.

Access & Use

Access to the collection: There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials: Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation: John Hawkes papers, Ms. 85.18, Brown University Library.
Contact information: Brown University Library, Special Collections
Box A, John Hay Library
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
Fax: 401-863-2093
E-mail: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION  
Acquisition: The John Hawkes papers were a gift from the author, donated October 15, 1985. The Clouds Hill Books prospectus was donated by Samuel Hough in 2000. The provenance of the issue of The Harvard Wake and its accompanying memo is unknown.
ABOUT THE FINDING AID  
Author: Finding aid prepared by John Hay Library staff.
Encoding: Finding aid encoded by Daniel Mejia 2009 September 28
Descriptive rules: Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Related material: Other materials by John Hawkes can be found in Josiah by the Subject or Author search for: Hawkes, John.

Inventory

Box 1, Folder 1 Dedication
 1985 Oct 15
Box 1, Folder 1 To the Gardenia Giver
Contents Note: pp. 1-5

 1947 Apr 25
Box 1, Folder 1 Hawkes, John letter to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: pp. 6-9

 1947 May 20
Box 1, Folder 2 The Sculptor to a Silent Poetess
Contents Note: p. 10

 1947 May 24
Box 1, Folder 2 The Sleep: To a Young Girl
Contents Note: p. 11

 1947 May 25
Box 1, Folder 2 Hawkes, John letter to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: p. 12

 1947 Jun 5
Box 1, Folder 2 Hawkes, John letter to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: pp. 13-14

 1947 Jun 8
Box 1, Folder 2 Hawkes, John letter to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: pp. 15-16

 1947 Jun 9
Box 1, Folder 2 Hawkes, John letter to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: pp. 17-19

 1947 Jun 12
Box 1, Folder 3 Hawkes, John letter to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: p. 20

 1947 Jun 13
Box 1, Folder 3 Hawkes, John letter to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: pp. 21-23

 1947 Jun 14
Box 1, Folder 3 Hawkes, John letter to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: pp. 24-30

 1947 Jun 14
Box 1, Folder 4 Hawkes, John letter to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: pp. 31-33

 1947 Jun 15
Box 1, Folder 4 Hawkes, John telegram to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: p. 34

 1947 Jun 16
Box 1, Folder 4 Hawkes, John letter to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: pp. 35-37

 1947 Jun 16
Box 1, Folder 4 Hawkes, John letter to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: pp. 38-40

 1947 Jun 17
Box 1, Folder 5 Hawkes, John letter to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: p. 41

 1947 Jun 18
Box 1, Folder 5 Hawkes, John letter to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: pp. 42-43

 1947 Jun 19
Box 1, Folder 5 Hawkes, John telegram to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: p. 44

 1947 Jun 21
Box 1, Folder 5 Hawkes, John telegram to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: p. 45

 1947 Jun 21
Box 1, Folder 5 Hawkes, John telegram to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: p. 46

 1947 Jun 25
Box 1, Folder 5 Poem, begins: Earth is the pleasure...
Contents Note: p. 47

 1947 Jul 18
Box 1, Folder 5 Hawkes, John letter to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: p. 48

 1947 Oct 15
Box 1, Folder 5 Hawkes, John letter to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: pp. 49-50

 undated
Box 1, Folder 6 Poem, begins: Let us enter these archives...
Contents Note: p. 51

 1947 Jul 25
Box 1, Folder 6 Hawkes, John letter to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: p. 52-53

 undated
Box 1, Folder 5 Hawkes, John letter to Sophie Tazewell
Contents Note: pp. 54-55

 undated
Box 1, Folder 6 The List that Sophie and Jack made
Contents Note: pp. 56-58

 undated
Box 1, Folder 7 Typewritten memo to Mr. Hawkes from Thomas J. Wilson regarding a book idea on the subject of e.e. cummings. This was laid into a copy of The Harvard Wake, Spring 1946 issue, the focus of which was e.e. cummings.
 16 Jul 1948
Box 1, Folder 8 Prospectus for the John Hawkes collection from Clouds Hill Books. Includes letter to Samuel Hough from Darren Overty regarding the prospectus and an article about collector Carter Burden who collected the John Hawkes books as part of his larger collection of 20th century American literature.
 18 Oct 2000