Jesse Stuart papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- Jesse Stuart papers
- Date
- 1933-1979 (inclusive)
- Extent
- 1.35 Cubic Feet
- Subjects
- American literature -- Appalachian Region.
- Greenup (Ky.)
- Poets.
- Poets laureate -- Kentucky.
- Bert T. Combs Appalachian Collection
- Kentucky Authors Collection
- Arrangement
- Collection is arranged alphabetically.
- Preferred Citation
- 59M31: [Identification of item], Jesse Stuart papers, 1933-1979, University of Kentucky Libraries Special Collections Research Center.
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Jesse Hilton Stuart was born in W-Hollow near Riverton in Greenup County, Kentucky, in 1907. The son of an illiterate farmer, Stuart is recognized as an outstanding regional author. In 1929 he received an A.B. degree from Lincoln Memorial University and attended Vanderbilt University in 1931-1932, studying there when "The Fugitive Poets," a group of poets and scholars, were active. When his 19 stanza poem Elegy for Mitch Stewart was published by the American Mercury magazine in 1933, Stuart credited Robert Penn Warren and Donald Davidson for encouraging him to submit his work. Stuart had a distinguished career in Kentucky as a school teacher, principal and eventually superintendent of Greenup County Schools. He achieved fame, however, as a poet and writer of short stories, novels and articles. Stuart was honored by Lincoln Memorial University in 1942 with a Ph.D. in Human Letters and in 1954 was named poet laureate of eastern Kentucky by the Kentucky legislature. Jesse Stuart married Naomi Dean Norris and they had one daughter, Jane.
- Scope and Content
- The Jesse Stuart papers (dated 1933-1979; 1.35 cubic feet; 5 boxes) consist of letters, manuscripts of short stories and poems, photographs, and biographical materials, documenting Stuart's career as a poet and author. Included are the poem Elegy for Mith Stuart and the short stories Three Hundred Acres of Elbow Room, published in the American Mercury, 1934 and the Yale Review, 1935; Hair appeared in the Best Short Stories of 1937; and that same year the short story Toes was translated into Russian while Stuart was studying in Europe as a Guggenheim fellow, previously it had been published in Stuart's Head O'W-Hollow. The letters consist of correspondence with Bruce Denbo, Carlton Wells, Lawrence Thompson, Joseph Houlihan, Jim Presgraves, Paul Neal, and William Seward.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open to researchers by appointment.
- Use Restrictions
- The physical rights to the materials in this collection are held by the University of Kentucky Libraries Special Collections Research Center.
Contents of the Collection
Biographical, 1936-1970
Correspondence, 1935-1979
Betty Rufert letter, 1938 January 29
Bruce Denbo correspondence, 1969-1970
Carlton Wells correspondence, 1935-1977
Correspondence, mostly with Mark Bittner, 1948-1973
- Box 2, folder 1-2
Scope and Contents
This folder consists mainly of correspondence with Mark Bittner. The material, which was generated between 1951 and 1973, was a result of the writer's contacts through their affiliation with Lincoln Memorial University. The correspondence between Bittner and Stuart contain biographical material on Stuart in addition to references to addresses he made at Lincoln Memorial University and the University of Pittsburgh. Throughout the correspondence, Stuart mentions his works-in-progress, political issues and personal matters.
Invitations, 1955
Jim Presgraves correspondence, 1973
John Ciardi correspondence, 1966
Joseph Houlihon correspondence, 1965-1974
Lawrence Thompson correspondence, 1967-1979
Miscellaneous, 1935-1936
Paul Neal correspondence, 1951-1972
Scriptorium correspondence, 1951-1979
William Seward correspondence, 1945-1971
Writings, 1933-1979
Manuscripts, 1933-1937
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Table of Contents
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center is open Monday to Friday, 9:00am to 4:00pm. Appointments are encouraged but not required. Schedule an appointment here.
Researchers must have an SCRC Researcher Account to request materials. View account set-up and use instructions here.
Questions? Contact SCRC via our Contact Form.
Requests
No items have been requested.
You may come across language in UK Libraries Special Collections Research Center collections and online resources that you find harmful or offensive. SCRC collects materials from different cultures and time periods to preserve and make available the historical record. These materials document the time period when they were created and the view of their creator. As a result, some may demonstrate racist and offensive views that do not reflect the values of UK Libraries.
If you find description with problematic language that you think SCRC should review, please contact us at SCRC@uky.edu.
