Walter S. Tevis papers

Abstract

The Walter S. Tevis papers (dated 1939-1984, undated; 1.26 cubic feet; 4 boxes) consist of correspondence, literary contracts, photographs, newspaper clippings, and manuscript drafts documenting the work of author Walter S. Tevis.

Descriptive Summary

Title
Walter S. Tevis papers
Date
1939-1984, undated (inclusive)
Extent
1.26 Cubic Feet
Subjects
Authors, American -- 20th century.
Authors, American -- Kentucky.
Authors -- Correspondence.
Authors and publishers.
Arrangement
Collection is arranged into series by format. Within series the folders are organized alphabetically. Where possible original folder titles were retained.
Finding Aid Author
Megan Mummey
Preferred Citation
59m4: [identification of item], Walter S. Tevis papers, 1939-1984, undated, University of Kentucky Special Collections Research Center.
Repository
University of Kentucky

Collection Overview

Biography / History
Walter S. Tevis (1929-1984) was an American novelist and short story writer. He served in the Navy during World War II in the Pacific Theater. Following his service, he finished high school at the Model Laboratory School and attended the University of Kentucky, studying creative writing under A.B. Guthrie, Jr. He held a B.A. (1949) and M.A. (1954) in English from the University of Kentucky as well as a M.F.A. (1960) from the Iowa Writers' Workshop at the University of Iowa. Tevis taught at Ohio University at Athens from 1965-1978. He published six novels including The Hustler, The Man Who Fell to Earth, The Queen's Gambit, and The Color of Money. Three of his six novels were filmed including The Man Who Fell to Earth, which starred David Bowie. He also publishe two dozen short stories that were published in magazine such as Esquire, Playboy, Collier's, The Saturday Evening Post, and Cosmopolitan.
Scope and Content
The Walter S. Tevis papers (dated 1939-1984, undated; 1.26 cubic feet; 4 boxes) consist of correspondence, literary contracts, photographs, newspaper clippings, and manuscript drafts documenting the work of author Walter S. Tevis. Items of note include rough drafts of The Hustler and The Color of Money; business correspondence; and correspondence from Tevis' childhood and his service in the navy during World War II. The childhood correspondence is written on Stanford Children's Convalescent Home stationery and dates from his hospitalization for a heart condition.

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 Special Collections Research Center.

Contents of the Collection

Biographical and assorted, 1946-1976, undated

Bibliography, 1973

  • Box 1, folder 1
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Honorable Discharge from the Navy, 1954

  • Box 1, folder 2
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Letters of promotion at Ohio University, Lecturer to Associate Professor, 1971-1972

  • Box 1, folder 3
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Life Insurance - miscellaneous, 1974-1976

  • Box 1, folder 4
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Miscellaneous, 1946-1974, undated

  • Box 1, folder 5
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Newspaper clippings, undated

  • Box 1, folder 6
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"Walter Tevis is Hustling Again", Sunday Plain Dealer Magazine, 1978 May 21

  • Box 4, folder 4
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Newton, Robert - proposal and description of a Work in Progress, Pro-seminar, undated

  • Box 1, folder 7
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Ohio University -- contracts, etc., 1974-1976

  • Box 1, folder 8
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Contracts, 1968-1976, undated

The Hustler (book) contracts, 1968-1973

  • Box 1, folder 9
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Limited Partnership Agreement "Exhibit X", undated

  • Box 1, folder 10
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Literary contracts, 1971

  • Box 1, folder 11
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The Man Who Fell to Earth (movie) contracts, 1974

  • Box 1, folder 12
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The Man Who Fell to Earth movie rights, 1968-1976

  • Box 1, folder 13
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Correspondence, 1939-1977

Business correspondence, 1954-1977

  • Box 1, folder 14
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Childhood and Navy correspondence, 1939-1946

  • Box 1, folder 15
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Gold, Herbert -- correspondence, 1971, undated

  • Box 1, folder 16
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The Hustler correspondence, 1966-1976

  • Box 1, folder 17
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The Man Who Fell to Earth correspondence, 1970-1976

  • Box 1, folder 18
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Mills, Robert P. -- miscellaneous letters from, 1969-1975

  • Box 1, folder 19
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Photographs, 1940s, undated

Walter S. Tevis "In Navy, WWII Probably Panama", circa 1940s

  • Box 1, folder 20, item 1
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"Probably U.S.S. Hamilton, WWII", circa 1940s

  • Box 1, folder 20, item 2
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Walter S. Tevis portraits, undated

  • Box 1, folder 20, item 3-6
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Walter S. Tevis headshots, undated

  • Box 4, folder 1-3
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Walter S. Tevis sitting with a group of students, undated

  • Box 1, folder 20, item 7
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Unidentified man playing pool, undated

  • Box 1, folder 20, item 8-9
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The Man Who Fell to Earth (movie) promotional photographs, circa 1976

  • Box 4, folder 5-9
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Writings, 1955-1984, undated

Novels, circa 1959-1984

The Color of Money draft, circa 1984

  • Box 1, folder 21
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The Hustler draft, circa 1959

  • Box 1, folder 22
  • Box 2, folder 1-2
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The Man Who Could Read draft, 1976 April 1

  • Box 2, folder 3
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Poems, 1975

Poems in progress, 1975

  • Box 2, folder 4
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Screen plays, 1953, undated

"The Gentle Invader" screen outline, first draft, undated

  • Box 2, folder 5
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Scenario for "The Last Game", television play in four acts, undated

  • Box 2, folder 6
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"The Small Man" one act play, draft, 1953 August

  • Box 2, folder 7
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Short stories, 1955-1974, undated

Drafts, undated

"The Best in the Country" draft, undated

  • Box 2, folder 8
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"Big Man from the West Coast" draft, undated

  • Box 2, folder 9
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"The King is Dead" draft, undated

  • Box 2, folder 10
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"Man of Violence" draft, undated

  • Box 2, folder 11
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"The New Rooms" draft, undated

  • Box 2, folder 12
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"Post-War" draft, undated

  • Box 2, folder 13
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"Summer Music" draft, undated

  • Box 2, folder 14
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"The Trouble with Harry" a 3,000 word story, draft, undated

  • Box 2, folder 15
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Pool - miscellaneous drafts, undated

  • Box 2, folder 16
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Untitled drafts, undated

  • Box 2, folder 17
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Published, 1955-1974, undated

"Alien Love", Cosmopolitan, 1959 April

  • Box 2, folder 18
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"Alie Love" (Danish) Hjemmet, 1959 September 1

  • Box 2, folder 19
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"The Best in the Country", Esquire, undated

  • Box 2, folder 20
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"The Big Hustle", Collier's, undated

  • Box 2, folder 21
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"Checkmat in Vegas", Atlantic Monthly, 1974 October

  • Box 2, folder 22
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"Coolest Hand with a Cue", Sports Illustrated, 1974 December 16

  • Box 2, folder 23
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"First Love", Redbook, 1958 August

  • Box 2, folder 24
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"First Love", Woman's Own, 1959 January 24

  • Box 2, folder 25
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"First Love" (Danish), Hjemmet, 1959 September 8

  • Box 2, folder 26
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"Gentle is the Gunman", The Saturday Evening Post, 1960 August 13

  • Box 2, folder 27
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"The Hustler", Screen Stories, 1961 September

  • Box 2, folder 28
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"The Ifth of Oofth", 1958

  • Box 3, folder 1
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"Input Your Move", Louisville Courier-Journal, cover and table of contents only, 1974 May 19

  • Box 3, folder 2
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"The King is Dead", Playboy, 1973 September

  • Box 3, folder 3
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"The Man from Chicago", Bluebook, 1955 January

  • Box 3, folder 4
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"Misleading Lady", The American Magazine, 1955 October

  • Box 3, folder 5
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"The New Champ; Walter Browne, a Chess Champion", Newsweek, 1974 September 2

  • Box 3, folder 6
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"The Stubbornest Man", Saturday Evenng Post, 1957 January 19

  • Box 3, folder 7
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"The Stubbornest Man", John Bull, 1957 June 29

  • Box 3, folder 8
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"The Stubbornest Man" (Danish), Familie Journal, 1957 September 17

  • Box 3, folder 9
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"Sucker's Game", Redbook, 1958 February

  • Box 3, folder 10
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"When Mama Hired a Gunman", Today, 1961 January 28

  • Box 3, folder 11
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Family Star (London), 1959 November 21

  • Box 3, folder 12
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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.

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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.