James Still papers
Abstract
Descriptive Summary
- Title
- James Still papers
- Date
- 1885-2007
- Extent
- 53.0 Cubic feet
- Subjects
- American literature--Appalachian Region.
- Authors, American--20th century.
- Mountain life in literature.
- Arrangement
- Organized into the following series: Biographical Materials (1910-2007, undated), Correspondence (1921-2000, undated), Works by James Still: Manuscripts (1929-2001, undated), Works By James Still: Published Work (1929-2001, undated), Derivative Work (1983-1999, undated), Works about James Still (1939-1999, undated), and Subject Files (1885-2000, undated).
- Preferred Citation
- [Identification of item], James Still Papers, 1885-2007, 87M12, Special Collections and Digital Programs, University of Kentucky Libraries, Lexington
- Repository
- University of Kentucky
Collection Overview
- Biography / History
- Although an Alabama native, author James Still is considered a Kentuckian. He spent most of his life in Kentucky and most of his writings center around the coal fields in the eastern part of the state. Still, who was one of ten children, was born in LaFayette, Alabama on July 16, 1906 to Lonie Lindsay and J. Alex Still. His father was a cotton farmer/horse doctor who envisioned a legal career for his son. But, by age eight his son harbored dreams of becoming an author. Still had no monetary resources, but was able to earn a Bachelor's degree in 1929 from Lincoln Memorial University, Harrogate, Tennessee, by working, among several jobs, in a stone quarry and as a janitor in the library. After completing his duties, Still spent many solitary nights in the library pouring over the literature he found there. In addition to funds earned at school, Still also received assistance from wealthy industrialist Guy Loomis. Loomis also partially subsidized Still's graduate school experience at Vanderbilt University where he took a class with Fugitive John Crowe Ransom and received an M.A. in English in 1930. At Loomis' suggestion Still attended the University of Illinois where he earned a B.A. in Library Science in 1931.
- At the height of the depression Still was unable to locate permanent employment. Riding freight trains in his search, he tried selling Bibles in Mississippi, picking cotton in Texas, and working for Sears and Roebuck in Atlanta. In 1932 former college classmate and poet Don West offered Still a job organizing Boy Scout troops and baseball teams at a Bible camp in Knott County, Kentucky. At summer's end Still was offered a non-salaried position as a librarian at the Hindman Settlement School with room, board, and laundry furnished. The young man remained at the school for six years. While there he initiated a satellite program to supply children's books to local schools one day a week and one summer he worked as a social worker with the Federal Emergency Relief Administration-an experience which left an indelible impression on him.
- James Still's professional writing career began in 1931 with the publication of his poem "Dreams" which appeared in Arcadian Magazine. During the next five years his poetry appeared in such periodicals as Boys Life, Virginia Quarterly Review, The Saturday Review of Literature, The Literary Digest, Poetry 47, The Sewanee Review, The New Republic, Mountain Life and Work, Kaleidograph, and The Atlantic. In 1937 Viking Press published Hounds on the Mountain a collection of his poems. The young author's first published short story, "All Their Ways are Dark," appeared in The Atlantic in June of 1936.
- Many of his subsequent works were authored in a 150-year-old log house, owned by his neighbors and friends the Amburgey family, located between the Dead Mare Branch and Wolfpen Creek facing Little Carr in Knott County. Still retreated to this secluded thirty-one acre, mostly mountainous tract, located nine miles from the Settlement School in 1939. The location was a perfect place to try his hand at farming, to raise a garden, to observe the wonders and horrors of nature, and to ponder and participate in his adopted community.
- It was at the log house that Still completed his collection of short stories, On Troublesome Creek, Hounds on the Mountain, and his most acclaimed work River of Earth published in 1940. The novel tells the story of a coal miner and his family who travel from one mine to another in search of work during the depressed late 1920s. The family is maintained by their strong bond in the face of hardship and calamity. The book's setting was inspired by Still's experience surveying people in their homes while he served with the Federal Emergency Relief Administration. Dean Cadle, in the foreword to the 1978 edition of the work, compares River of Earth to John Steinbeck's Grapes of Wrath and noted that they were "the only books chronicling the demoralizing Depression years that have continued to gain readers in more affluent ones." Called "a work of art" by Time Magazine, River of Earth is considered a modern classic. Still's realism, his use of dialect and narration, his acute awareness of relationships and human character, and his economical yet richly descriptive approach captured high praise from critics and won him the Southern Author's Award.
- Still's other writings also drew critical praise. Not only did his short stories appear in the O. Henry Memorial Prize Stories series (1937, 1938, 1939, and 1941), several were also included in Best American Short Stories (1946, 1950, 1952). The young writer became acquainted with other authors at renowned literary workshops such as the Bread Loaf Conference (1937), the MacDowell Colony (1938) and at the Yaddo Arts Colony (1939, 1940, 1941, 1951, and 1981). Moreover, he also received two Guggenheim fellowships in 1941 and 1946.
- In spite of his age, at thirty-six Still was among the first men drafted into the Army/Air Force from Knott County. Attaining the rank of Sergeant E-7, he served for two years in the Gold Coast, a British colony which became Ghana in 1956. While in Africa he visited Egypt, Palestine, and Eritrea. He survived a crash landing in the Sudan, attacks of blackwater fever (malaria) and a bad case of dysentery. After he returned to Kentucky he rejoined the staff of the Hindman Settlement School in 1951. Ten years later in 1962 he joined the Department of English at Morehead State University as an Associate Professor-a post he held until 1970. Thereafter he was a visiting professor at Ohio University (Portsmouth), and at Berea College (1972) and served as a lecturer at numerous institutions.
- Retirement allowed Still to write full-time. As a consequence he underwent another literary renaissance which included publication of several children's books, collections of folklore, short stories, and poetry and in 1977 his second and last novel, Sporty Creek: A Novel About an Appalachian Boyhood, (G. P. Putnam's Sons, N.Y.). Other books included: Way Down Yonder in Troublesome Creek: Appalachian Riddles and Rusties (G. P. Putnam's Sons, N.Y., 1974), Pattern of a Man and Other Stories (Gnomon Press, 1976), Jack and the Wonder Beans (G.P. Putnam's Sons, 1979), The Run for the Elbertas (University of Kentucky Press, 1980), Rusties and Riddles and Gee-Haw Whimmy-Diddles (University Press of Kentucky, 1989), The Wolfpen Notebooks: A Record of Appalachian Life (University Press of Kentucky, 1991), and The Appalachian Mother Goose (University Press of Kentucky, 1998).
- James Still's work did not go unnoticed. In 1979 the University of Kentucky established the James Still Fellowship program to encourage Appalachian-related research. Moreover, during the 1980s he worked with Kentucky and Tennessee Public Television on programs featuring his work. In addition, he appeared regularly as a commentator on National Public Radio. He also received numerous awards and honorary degrees from such institutions as Berea College, Lincoln Memorial University, Morehead State University, and the University of Kentucky. In 1995 he was named Poet Laureate of Kentucky.
- An inveterate reader, Mr. Still's interests included botany, entomology, Appalachian folklore, the Civil War and World War I. He also made many trips to Mexico, Honduras, Belize, Guatemala, and El Salvador to study the Mayan civilization. Perhaps the most treasured events, however, were the annual birthday parties sponsored by the Hindman Settlement School and his friends during the decades preceding his death on April 28, 2001. Also important in Still's life was his enduring relationship with his adopted daughter Teresa Perry Reynolds to whom he left his literary legacy.
- Scope and Content
- These are the papers of the writer James Still. Published works consist of poems, short stories, and note book material that Still published in various periodicals, journals, magazines, and on broadsides. Manuscripts include both typed and handwritten drafts and notes relating to Still's poems, essays, short stories, and novels. Included are drafts or portions of drafts of the monographs River of Earth, On Troublesome Creek, Run for the Elbertas, etc. Some of the manuscript material was never published, including the unfinished novel Bad Hair. There are also derivative works that were based on or drew inspiration from Still's original work and were adapted or changed into new formats, including pieces he modified himself.
- In addition to manuscripts and published materials, the collection also includes biographical materials, financial records, correspondence, interviews, book reviews, promotional materials, and memorabilia. Detailed descriptions of the James Still correspondence can be found in this database: http://stillbib.omeka.net/. There are also subject files containing materials collected by Still on a variety of topics which reflect his diverse interests. They include newspaper clippings, pamphlets, booklets, magazine articles, form letters and other promotional materials.
Restrictions on Access and Use
- Conditions Governing Access
- Collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
- Copyright has not been assigned to the University of Kentucky.
Contents of the Collection
BIOGRAPHICAL MATERIALS, 1910-2007, undated
Scope and Contents note
Organized alphabetically by type or content of material; arranged chronologically thereunder.
AWARDS AND HONORS
1930s, 1940s, and 1960s
1970-1977
1978
1979
- Box 1, Folder 4
Scope and Contents note
Includes information on Still winning the Marjorie Peabody Waite award.
1980-1982
1983-1988
1989
1990-1992
1994-1996
- Box 1, Folder 9
Scope and Contents note
Includes information on Still's appointment as Kentucky Poet Laureate.
1997-1998 and 2002
undated and multiple dates
James Still Fellowship
BIBLIOGRAPHIES AND RELATED MATERIALS
BIRTHDAY CLIPPINGS AND MEMORABILIA
CLIPPINGS
1910-1949
- Box 2, Folder 6
Scope and Contents note
Includes image of Still's high school graduating class; mention of his appointment as contributing editor to Mountain Life and Work; clippings about his military honors and his dedication to library service in Eastern Kentucky.
1952-1963
- Box 2, Folder 7
Scope and Contents note
Includes clippings about Still's dedication to education and library service; clippings about Still's feelings on and methods of writing; who's who and encyclopedia entries; clippings related to Still's teaching and writing workshops at Morehead State.
1964-1967
- Box 2, Folder 8
Scope and Contents note
Includes clippings about Still receiving the poetry award from Alice Lloyd College; description of James Still room at Morehead State.
1968-1973
- Box 2, Folder 9
Scope and Contents note
Includes an article in Kentucky Association of School Libraries bulletin; excerpts from a dissertation written on Still.
1974-1977
- Box 2, Folder 10
Scope and Contents note
Includes clippings about Still's "unexpected" visit to Cumberland College in 1976; article about Still and Carlyle Cross being caught in political demonstrations in San Salvador.
1978-1979
- Box 2, Folder 11
Scope and Contents note
Includes clipping about Still's receiving Berea College's Special Weatherford Award; articles about Still, Gurney Norman, and Harriette Simpson Arnow at Appalachian Writer's Workshop in Hindman; in-depth feature article by Shirley Williams; biographical sketch by Dean Cadle.
1980-1981
- Box 2, Folder 12
Scope and Contents note
Includes an article on the history of Hindman Settlement School; article about Still receiving Kentucky Arts Council Milner Award.
1982
- Box 2, Folder 13
Scope and Contents note
Includes article from The Kentucky Post that discusses Still's life and writing; two articles from The Sentinel-Echo, one that focuses on Still's life and writing and one in which Appalshop is discussed; Something about the Author biography.
1983
- Box 2, Folder 14
Scope and Contents note
Includes TV guides' clippings from various appearances of Still on KET; The Sentinel-Echo articles on Still and differences between Eastern and Western Kentucky and "hanging around" with Still; an article about Still having some luck at the races in Saratoga Spring, NY.
1984
- Box 2, Folder 15
Scope and Contents note
Includes newspaper photo of Still and others at Carl Perkins' funeral; a 1984 calendar with an image of Still's Dead Mare Branch home.
1985-1986
- Box 2, Folder 16
Scope and Contents note
Includes The Sentinel-Echo article on River of Earth; a 1986 Louisville Courier-Journal article in which Still mentions his and his neighbors' eating habits during the 1940s; Atlanta Journal-Constitution article; in-depth story in Courier-Journal Magazine; KET guide with Still on cover.
1987-1988
- Box 3, Folder 1
Scope and Contents note
Includes in-depth story in The Mountain Spirit; November 1987 article from Lexington Herald-Leader; September 1988 article from The Mountain Eagle.
1989-1990
- Box 3, Folder 2
Scope and Contents note
Includes articles on lecture series Appalachia: a Sense of Community in Mount Vernon, Kentucky; article from Charleston Daily Mail (WV); article from The Daily Times in Portsmouth, OH that discusses River of Earth.
1991-1992
- Box 3, Folder 3
Scope and Contents note
Includes a Lexington Herald-Leader "lifestyle" piece on Still and his home and writing; a short article from the Huntington, WV Herald-Dispatch on Still's notebooks of Appalachian sayings; an article about Still finding a Daniel Boone letter in his house; a Courier-Journal article about Hindman.
1993-1994
- Box 3, Folder 4
Scope and Contents note
Includes a September 1993 article about Still's childhood in Alabama; partial Louisville Courier-Journal article about Still and Randy Wilson; an article from an unknown source about Still's writing habits.
1995-1996
- Box 3, Folder 5
Scope and Contents note
Includes a Mountain Eagle article about the reporter's conversation/visit with Still; a 1996 article from Danville, Kentucky's Advocate-Messenger which contains inaccuracies but has an interesting segment on Still and his gardening; "Mountain Man," a Louisville Courier-Journal piece; an article about Still's portrait being painted; a May 1995 Q&A.
1997
- Box 3, Folder 6
Scope and Contents note
Includes article on KET's Still documentary from The Lafayette Sun in Chambers County, Alabama; Dr. James O. Chatham discusses Still and his Dead Mare Branch home in a sermon; "Where Will We Find Home?"
1998-2007
- Box 3, Folder 7
Scope and Contents note
Includes a Lexington Herald-Leader article about "rebuilding" Hindman, Kentucky; a piece called "Keepers of Our Collective Memory" about Still's 92nd birthday party, at which Thomas D. Clark was present; a posthumous article about a reissue of Pattern of a Man; and journal entries written by Randy Wilson recalling stories of James Still's life during the Great Depression and World War II, as told to him by Still while the two traveled and performed together.
undated
- Box 3, Folder 8
Scope and Contents note
Includes part of a Contemporary Authors Autobiography Series article written by Still; an article from an Alabama paper about boyhood in the area where Still grew up; a partial article on Still and Thomas D. Clark.
FINANCIAL RECORDS
Scope and Contents note
Bank Statements are mostly from banks in Hindman, Hazard, Morehead, and Whitesburg, Kentucky.
Bank 1930s
Bank 1939, 1940s, 1950
Bank 1950s
Bank 1963-1965
Bank 1968-1969 and 1971-1972
Bank statements and receipts, 1980, 1995-1997
Car insurance
Charitable donations
Checks and check stubs
Contracts and agreements
Credit cards information
Deed for Still's home, 1972
Documents marked "will"
Expense lists
Guest lecture and travel fees
Individual income tax
Investments, stocks, and mutual funds
Payments for and insurance policy of brother, Alfred Still
Payments for contributions to NPR's "All Things Considered"
Permission fees
Receipts, invoices, bill stubs
Royalty statements, 1950-1989
Royalty statements, 1990-1999
Salary
Miscellaneous
GENERAL MEMORABILIA
Alabama
Amburgey family
- Box 5, Folder 2
Scope and Contents note
Jethro Amburgey, noted dulcimer maker, gave to James Still for his lifetime use the Amburgey homeplace, located between the waters of Wolfpen Creek and Dead Mare Branch, facing Little Car Creek, near Hindman, KY. Still resided there for much of his life.
Army
Associates and contacts
Associates and contacts, cont.
Associates and contacts, cont.
Boy scout certificates and handbooks
Calendars
Children's drawings
Christmas card lists
Conferences attended
Fairfax High School
Family related clippings and documents
Family tree and family reunion
Family trees [of Still's friends and non-Still relatives]
Home on Dead Mare Branch documents
Home on Dead Mare Branch printing plate
Legal documents
Memberships, Kentucky Humanities Council, 1980-1983
Memberships, Kentucky Humanities Council, 1984-1996 and undated
Memberships, various
- Box 6, Folder 5
Scope and Contents note
Includes South Atlantic Modern Language Association; the Kentucky Colonels; the Red Cross.
Perrys/Bradleys
- Box 6, Folder 6
Scope and Contents note
Teresa Perry often called James Still "Still" and he referred to her as his adopted daughter. Contents include childrens's art by Teresa Perry's brother Michael and her children.
Poems and literary notes
Teaching certification
Schedules and appointments
Still's Christmas card and stationary designs
Sweepstakes
Miscellaneous
HINDMAN SETTLEMENT SCHOOL
Scope and Contents note
Still worked as staff for the Hindman Settlement School from 1932-1939 and 1951-1961. He also lived there off and on in a house owned by the school until his death in 2001.
Hindman News 50th Anniversary Edition
History
Library/student records and related materials
Newsletters
Publications
Songs gathered from and sung by students
Writers' workshops
Miscellaneous
Miscellaneous, cont.
LINCOLN MEMORIAL UNIVERSITY
Scope and Contents note
Still earned his A.B. degree at Lincoln Memorial University in 1929.
Alumnus, 1951-1982
Alumnus, 1986-1991
Alumnus, 1992-1998
Coursework
Homecoming, 1979
Honorary degree commencement program
Lincoln print by Lloyd Ostendorf
Mountain Herald, 1926
Mountain Herald, 1927
Mountain Herald, 1930
Newsletters
Programs and events
Publications
Miscellaneous
MOREHEAD STATE UNIVERSITY
Scope and Contents note
Still was an associate professor in the English department at Morehead from 1962-1970.
Business concerning failed student
Caroline Gordon visit
Class schedules
Grading records, Summer 1963 and Fall 1964
Grading records, Fall 1964 and Spring 1965
Grading records, Spring 1965 and Fall 1966
Grading records, Winter 1966 and Summer 1967
Grading records, Fall 1967 and Fall 1968
Grading records, Winter 1968 and Winter 1969
Grading records, Spring 1970 and undated
Clippings and personal memorabilia
Commencement programs
Fred Wolfe visit
James Still Room
James T. Farrell visit and related materials
James T. Farrell visit and related materials
Jesse Hill Ford visit
Newsletters
Pay stubs
Publications, 1960s
Publications, 1980s and undated
Richard Chase visit
Writers' workshops
Miscellaneous
OHIO UNIVERSITY, PORTSMOUTH
PUBLIC APPEARANCES AND SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
1937
1960s
1970s
1980-1982
1983
1984-1985
1986-1987
1988-1989
1990
1991
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997-2000
undated
TRAVEL MEMORABILIA
Belize, circa 1981-1982
Birth certificate and passport
Central America trips, circa 1977-1979
Expo [19]67, Montreal
- Box 18, Folder 10
Scope and Contents note
Includes articles, postcards, tickets, and brochures.
Expo [19]67, Montreal
Florida, North Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia, 1967, 1990, 1993, and undated
Gethsemani Abbey, Trappist, KY, 1984 and undated
Iceland, 1986
Kentucky, undated
London, England and York, England, circa 1980s and undated
Maps
Maps, cont.
Maryland, Massachusetts, New York, 1959, 1963, 1991, 1994, and undated
Mexico 1983 by Stephen Birnbaum
Texas Centennial Exposition at Dallas, 1936
World's Fair playbill, 1939
World's Fair parking tickets and magazine, 1982
Yucatan, Mexico, 1986 and 1989
UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS
Scope and Contents note
Still earned a B.S. degree in library science at the University of Illinois in 1931.
Alumni directory
Alumni News
Library School Association newsletters
Library school coursework, Bibliography
Library school coursework, Book Selection
Library school coursework, History of Libraries
Library school coursework, Library Administration and Extension
Library school coursework, Reference
Library school coursework, Reference, cont.
Library school, miscellaneous
Miscellaneous
VANDERBILT UNIVERSITY
Scope and Contents note
Still earned a M.A. degree from Vanderbilt in 1930.
Clippings
Masters thesis notes
- Box 20, Folder 8
Scope and Contents note
Thesis is titled: "The Function of Dreams and Visions in the Middle English Romances," 1930
Newsletters
Papers from John Crowe Ransom's class
Paper from Renaissance and Reformation class
Research for American literature class
Miscellaneous
YADDO
Scope and Contents note
Still accepted invitations to Yaddo, the artists' colony, in Saratoga Springs, New York, in 1939, 1940, 1950, 1951, and 1982.
Clippings
Memorabilia
Newsletters, 1981-1985
Newsletters, 1987-1999
Notes
Postcards
Publications
MISCELLANEOUS
OVERSIZE
Oversize materials include: World Landmarks 19-month calendar (1991), Journal of images from the home of James Still, Dead Mare Branch (1971), University of Illinois pennant, Poster of James Still public readings (1985), Poster of James Still reading sessions (1996), Poster of James Still reading seminar, Poster of Elizabeth Maddox Roberts, Poster of James Still chat at Laurel County Public Library (1989), Poster for Kentucky Department of Libraries and Archives, Drawing of Appalachian log cabin, and Portrait of James Still by Bob Barber (1982) [11 items]
CORRESPONDENCE, 1921-2000, undated
Scope and Contents note
This section concerns correspondence between James Still and others, containing both letters he received and letters he sent, of which there are few. Correspondence is arranged chronologically; to identify specific correspondents and the dates on which they wrote Still, please consult the letter database ( ). The undated correspondence is organized alphabetically by the last name of the sender when known. At the end of this section, correspondence is included for which the sender and/or the date could not be satisfactorily identified. Detailed descriptions of the James Still correspondence can be found in this database: http://stillbib.omeka.net/.
GENERAL CORRESPONDENCE
1921-1927
1928
1929
1930
1931
1932
1933-1935
1936-1939
1940-1941
1942-1948
1949-1953
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
January-June, 1962
July-December, 1962
1963
1964
January-April, 1965
May-December, 1965
1966
January-June, 1967
July-December, 1967
January-April, 1968
May-December, 1968
January-June, 1969
July-December, 1969
January-July, 1970
August-September, 1970
October-December, 1970
January-April, 1971
May-June, 1971
July-October, 1971
November-December, 1971
January, 1972
February-March, 1972
April-June, 1972
July-December, 1972
January-June, 1973
July-December, 1973
January-June, 1974
July-December, 1974
January-July, 1975
August-December, 1975
January-May, 1976
June-October, 1976
November-December, 1976
January, 1977
February-March, 1977
April-June, 1977
July-August, 1977
September-October, 1977
November-December, 1977
January-March, 1978
April-May, 1978
June, 1978
July, 1978
August, 1978
September, 1978
October, 1978
November, 1978
December, 1978
January-February, 1979
March-April, 1979
May, 1979
June, 1979
July-August, 1979
September-October, 1979
November-December, 1979
January, 1980
February, 1980
March-April, 1980
May-June, 1980
July-August, 1980
September, 1980
October, 1980
November-December, 1980
January, 1981
February, 1981
March-April, 1981
May, 1981
June, 1981
July 1-July 14, 1981
July 15-July 31, 1981
August, 1981
September, 1981
October, 1981
November, 1981
December, 1981
January, 1982
February-March, 1982
April, 1982
May, 1982
June, 1982
July 1-July 14, 1982
July 15-July 31, 1982
August 1-August 15, 1982
August 16-August 31, 1982
September 1-September 14, 1982
September 15-September 30, 1982
October, 1982
November, 1982
December 1-December 15, 1982
December 16-December 31
January, 1983
February, 1983
March, 1983
April, 1983
May, 1983
June, 1983
July 1-July 15, 1983
July 16 -July 31, 1983
August, 1983
September 1-September 15, 1983
September 16-September 30, 1983
October, 1983
November, 1983
December 1-December 15, 1983
December 16-December 31, 1983
January, 1984
February, 1984
March-April, 1984
May-June, 1984
July-August, 1984
September 1-September 17, 1984
September 18-September 30, 1984
October-November, 1984
December, 1984
January, 1985
February, 1985
March, 1985
April, 1985
May, 1985
June, 1985
July, 1985
August, 1985
September, 1985
October, 1985
November, 1985
December, 1985
January, 1986
February, 1986
March, 1986
April 1-April 15, 1986
April 16-April 30, 1986
May 1-May 15, 1986
May 16-May 31, 1986
June, 1986
July 1-July 12, 1986
July 13-July 14, 1986
July 15, 1986
July 16, 1986
July 17-July 31, 1986
August, 1986
September 1-September 15, 1986
September 16-September 30, 1986
October, 1986
November, 1986
December, 1986
January, 1987
February, 1987
March, 1987
April, 1987
May, 1987
June, 1987
July, 1987
August, 1987
September, 1987
October, 1987
November, 1987
December, 1987
January, 1988
February-March, 1988
April, 1988
May, 1988
June, 1988
July, 1988
August, 1988
September, 1988
October, 1988
Thank-you letters, Knott County Central HS, October, 1988
November, 1988
December, 1988
January, 1989
February, 1989
March, 1989
April, 1989
May, 1989
June 1-June 15, 1989
June 16-June 30, 1989
July 1-July 15, 1989
July 16-July 31, 1989
August, 1989
September, 1989
Mary Adam's Class, 8th grade, Hayes Lewis Elementary, September 1989
October 1-October 15, 1989
October 16-October 31, 1989
November, 1989
December, 1989
January, 1990
February, 1990
March, 1990
April, 1990
May, 1990
June, 1990
July, 1990
August, 1990
September, 1990
October, 1990
November, 1990
December, 1990
January, 1991
February, 1991
March, 1991
April, 1991
May 1-May 15, 1991
May 16-31, 1991
June, 1991
July 1-July 15, 1991
July 16-July 31, 1991
Birthday cards from students at the James Still Learning Center for dyslexic children, Hindman Settlement School, July, 1991
August 1-August 15, 1991
August 16-August 31, 1991
September, 1991
October, 1991
Maggie Cox's 4th grade class, Jessie D. Lay Elementary, October, 1991
Mrs. Niceley's class, Jefferson Elementary, October, 1991
Girdler elementary, October, 1991
November, 1991
December, 1991
January, 1992
February, 1992
March, 1992
4th-6th grades classes, Arlie Boggs Elementary, March, 1992
April-May, 1992
Mrs. Nyoka Crawford's 5th grade class, West Whitesburg Elementary, May, 1992
June, 1992
July 1-July 15, 1992
July 16-July 31, 1992
August, 1992
September, 1992
October, 1992
November, 1992
December, 1992
January, 1993
February, 1993
Mrs. Sherry Power's 3rd grade class, Harlow Elementary, February, 1993
March, 1993
April, 1993
May, 1993
June, 1993
July, 1993
August, 1993
September, 1993
October, 1993
November, 1993
December, 1993
Letters from Southeast Community College students, instructed by Linda Spelman, December, 1993
January, 1994
February, 1994
March, 1994
April, 1994
May, 1994
June, 1994
July, 1994
August, 1994
September, 1994
October, 1994
November, 1994
December, 1994
January, 1995
February, 1995
March, 1995
April, 1995
May, 1995
June, 1995
July, 1995
August-September, 1995
October, 1995
November, 1995
December, 1995
January, 1996
February, 1996
March, 1996
April, 1996
May, 1996
June, 1996
July 1-July 13, 1996
July 14-July 31, 1996
August, 1996
September, 1996
Whitesburg Elementary, September, 1996
October, 1996
November, 1996
December, 1996
January, 1997
February, 1997
March, 1997
April, 1997
May, 1997
June, 1997
July 1-July 15, 1997
July 16-July 31, 1997
August-September, 1997
October, 1997
November, 1997
December, 1997
January, 1998
February, 1998
March, 1998
April-May, 1998
June, 1998
July, 1998
August, 1998
September, 1998
October, 1998
November, 1998
Hayfield Montessori School, Louisville, Kentucky, November, 1998
December, 1998
January-February, 1999
March-April, 1999
May-July, 1999
August, 1999
September-October, 1999
November-December, 1999
2000
undated, A-B
undated, C-D
undated, E-J
undated, K-M
undated, N-R
undated, S
undated, James Still
undated, 6th, 7th, and 8th grade classes of the James Still Learning Center, Hindman Settlement School
undated, Lonie Lindsey Still [James Still's mother]
undated, T-Z
unknown sender, 1928-1998
unknown sender, undated
unknown school, undated
unknown school, undated
CHRISTMAS/HOLIDAY GREETINGS
Scope and Contents note
The following boxes contain Christmas/holiday greetings. They are not included in the database along with the other letters because of a lack of substantial correspondence within. Like the letters, they are arranged chronologically, with a section at the end containing cards for which the sender and/or date could not be satisfactorily identified. The undated correspondence is organized alphabetically by last name when known.
1927-1949
1950s
1960s
1970-1976
1977-1978
1979
1980
1981-1982
1983
1983 (cont.)
1984
1985
1986
1987
1988
1989
1990
1991
1991 (cont.)
1992
1993
1994
1995
1996
1997
1998
1999
undated, A-E
undated, F-O
undated, P-Z
unknown sender, December 23, 1931-December, 1991
unknown sender, undated
WORKS BY JAMES STILL: MANUSCRIPTS, 1929-2001, undated
Scope and Contents note
These files contain notes for and drafts of work which may or may not have eventually been published. Arranged alphabetically by title, the manuscripts are generally working copies, and may be filed under different titles than they were later published under. When original pieces are too fragile for public use photocopies have been provided, which must be used instead of the originals. Researchers are advised to also see the "Published Work" section for what is usually the final published version. Additionally, when the long form of an abbreviated title is known or the related works are known, the relationship will be stated in the folder description, "AA" is known to stand for "Alabama Alabama," and is known to relate to "TX" [which stands for Texas].
"A" - ARTIST
Notes and newspaper clippings labeled "A" in Still's hand; April 1, 1998
Notes labeled "AA" and "Alabama, Alabama" in Still's hand; undated
- Box 56, Folder 2
Scope and Contents note
"AA" stands for "Alabama, Alabama," a piece Still was working on near the end of his life. The piece also bears a striking similarity to the project notes labeled "TX."
Notes labeled "AA" and "Alabama, Alabama" in Still's hand; undated
Notes and newspaper clippings labeled "AA" and "Alabama, Alabama" in Still's hand; undated [newspaper clippings date between 1985-1993]
Typescript draft of autobiographical essay "The Act of Writing;" undated
Typescript draft of "Advice for Nancy Gunn on her seventh birthday;" undated
Two typescripts of the poem "Aftergrass;" undated
Typescript of the poem "Airborne over the Cumberlands," with editing in Still's hand; undated
Typescript of the short story "All Their Ways Are Dark;" includes typed notes with editing in Still's hand; undated
- Box 56, Folder 9
Scope and Contents note
Story appears to be a version of the first chapter of River of Earth; it differs only slightly from the published version.
Notes titled "The Appalachian Experience;" list of quotations on the subject of Appalachia; undated
One page typescript with three poems: "Apple Trip," "The Woods in the Road," and "Funnel Spider," with light editing in Still's hand; undated
Two typescripts of the poem "Apple Trip;" undated
Two typescripts of the poem "Apples in the Well," one with light editing in Still's hand; undated
Typescript of the poem "Artifacts;" undated
Photocopy of published version of the poem "Artist" with light editing in Still's hand; Kentucky Poetry Review, vol. 25, no. 2; Fall/Winter 1989/90, p. 102
AT YEAR'S END
Three copies of the poem "At Year's End," two typed with light editing in Still's hand, one handwritten; undated
Typescript of the poem "At Year's End," with abbreviated bibliography at the bottom of the page; undated
Typescript of the poem "At Year's End;" undated
Typescript of the poem "At Year's End," with light editing in Still's hand; undated
Typescript on a 3"x 5" note card of the poem "At Year's End;" removed from Christmas card sent to Kate Black; December 1994
AUNT LIMMA - "B"
BAD HAIR
Scope and Contents note
The following folders contain portions of the unfinished novel Bad Hair. It appears to have been started in the late 1950s and work on it continued into the 1990s. The project drew much of its content from The Wolfpen Notebooks, and some of Still's published short stories, two of which were included in their entirety: "The Run for the Elbertas" and "Ride on the Short Dog." The folders are arranged in an attempt to preserve the order imposed by Still.
Chapter outlines, notes and typed pages, abstracts from a proposal; undated.
Chapter outlines, map of the area in which Bad Hair takes place, introductory piece, typed notes; undated.
"Organization," notes, and chapter "One;" revised version of "Run for the Elbertas," which was reworked at Yaddo in 1982
Typescript and handwritten notes titled "B/H: Organization;" undated
Words, phrases and character names to be used in Bad Hair
"General notes;" lists of dialogue, expressions, vernacular and sayings, similar in style to what one would find in The Wolfpen Notebooks; undated
Handwritten and typescript notes labeled "B/H" [ Bad Hair]; undated
Newspaper clippings and notes labeled "B/H" [ Bad Hair]; undated
Newspaper clippings and handwritten notes labeled "B/H" [ Bad Hair]; undated
Typescript notes labeled "B/H: unassigned" and handwritten and notes labeled "B/H" [ Bad Hair]; undated
Newspaper clippings and notes labeled "B/H: unassigned;" undated
Lists of things needing to be done in order to complete the novel, revised chapter titles, typed and handwritten notes; undated
Newspaper clippings and handwritten notes labeled "B/H" [ Bad Hair]; undated
Typescript and handwritten notes labeled "B/H" [ Bad Hair]; undated
Typescript and handwritten notes labeled "B/H" [ Bad Hair]; undated
Typescript and handwritten notes labeled "B/H" [ Bad Hair]; undated
Notes and revised portions of typescript; undated
Newspaper clippings and handwritten notes; undated
Typescript segments of chapters with handwritten corrections, lists of phrases and Kentucky post offices, excerpts from The Old Country Store (1954) by Gerald Carson, typed by Still; undated
- Box 57, Folder 19
Scope and Contents note
These notes appear to be for the chapter "At the Store" in which Cash Enlow is a central figure. Some of them are marked CE, which is understood to stand for Cash Enlow.
Typescript notes with hand revisions and notations, labeled "BH: Dog Days;" undated
Typescript portions of a chapter, title abbreviated to "SO" ["Songs of the Oracle"]. The central characters are Josie, Cash Enlow, Godey Spurlock and Mal; undated.
Handwritten notes labeled as "SO;" undated
"Chapter 1: A Ride on the Short Dog;" undated
"A Ride on the Short Dog;" revised draft; March 27, 1980
"Chapter One;" revised draft; August 27, 1980
"One;" revised draft; June 1981
"Chapter 1: A Ride on the Short Dog;" revised draft; marked "revised copy: 16 August 1985"
"2: At the Store;" multiple drafts of chapter; also marked "CE" [understood to stand for Cash Enlow, a central character in the novel]; June 10, 1973
Photocopies of preceding folder
"In the Rye;" eight pages of typed chapter with revisions by hand; dated December 1958. Typescript and handwritten notes, lists of words and portions of dialogue, typed noted labeled "BH: in rye/John Ashburn/at the creek;" newspaper clipping; undated
Photocopies of preceding folder, which, due to the fragility of the original documents, must be used
"VI: In the Rye;" typescript notes with handwritten corrections; undated
"VII: John Ashburn;" typescript draft of chapter and handwritten notes; December 28, 1958
"X: The Tobacco Cure;" typescript draft of chapter and handwritten notes; March 12, 1959
"11: Rell Smoot;" typescript draft of chapter and handwritten notes; March 4, 1960
Photocopies of preceding folder, which, due to the fragility of the original documents, must be used
"12: Hence Brewer;" typescript draft of chapter and handwritten notes; September 4, 1959
Photocopies of preceding folder, which, due to the fragility of the original documents, must be used
"13: Jason Mosgrove;" typescript draft of chapter and handwritten notes, newspaper clippings; September 30, 1960
Photocopies of preceding folder, which, due to the fragility of the original documents, must be used
"14: Up Paw-Paw;" typescript draft of chapter and handwritten notes; September 8, 1960
"19: Spring Branch School;" typescript draft of chapter and handwritten notes; May 9, 1962
Photocopies of preceding folder, which, due to the fragility of the original documents, must be used
"23: The Chiding;" typed and handwritten notes; undated
"25: The Fare-You-Well;" multiple drafts of chapter from the novel Bad Hair; 1951, 1965, 1972
Photocopies of preceding folder, which, due to the fragility of the original documents, must be used
"26: Riar's Farm;" draft of chapter from the novel Bad Hair; undated
"The Shooting;" incomplete draft of chapter from the novel Bad Hair; undated
"The Wonder Ride;" drafts, notes; undated
"The Hurrah's Nest," also labeled "Face like Folks;" draft of chapter from the novel Bad Hair; undated
"Run for The Elbertas;" revised earlier draft; 1957
Photocopies of preceding folder, which, due to the fragility of the original documents, must be used
"Run for The Elbertas;" revised later draft; 1971
"Run for The Elbertas;" revised later draft, includes handwritten notes, lists labeled "plot lines and follow-throughs," "sayings and idioms," "persons," "places and occasions," "nicknames and designations," and "expletives and greetings;" 1982
Photocopies of preceding folder, which, due to the fragility of the original documents, must be used
Untitled portion of "Run for the Elbertas" chapter; undated
"Run for the Elbertas;" handwritten revisions, separated by page number, to the short story "Run for the Elbertas," as well as some notes for other Bad Hair chapters; undated
BALLAD - BIRDS
Typescript of the poem "Ballad;" contains note [not in Still's hand] that the poem was published on page 3 of Appalachian Heritage in the summer of 1983; undated
Typescript of the poem "Ballad," with light editing; undated
Typescript of the poem "Banjo Bill Brewer," with light editing; contains note that it was published in The Household Magazine in July of 1938 [however, it was actually published under the name "Banjo Bill Cowley"]; undated
Typescript of the poem "Banjo Bill Cowley", with light editing; undated
Typescript drafts of the short story "Bare Bones," one of which is incomplete; undated [2 copies]
Typescripts of the poem "Beggar-King;" undated [2 copies]
Manuscript of the poem "Belle Coney, My Mountain;" undated
Typescript piece "A Bell on Troublesome;" undated
Typescript of piece titled "Between Friends;" undated
Typescript of piece titled "Big Dates," with light editing; undated
Typescript of story outline and notes for piece titled "The Big Picnic;" undated
- Box 60, Folder 16
Scope and Contents note
This story appears to center around Still's experience serving in the Army in World War II.
Notes labeled "Birds;" undated
BLAB SCHOOL
Notes, newspaper clippings and typescript labeled "The Blab School;" undated
- Box 60, Folder 18
Scope and Contents note
Blab School was later published as An Appalachian Mother Goose in 1998.
Photocopies of preceding folder
Typescript of The Blab School: An Appalachian Mother Goose; edited in pencil; included two rejection letters that were removed to "Correspondence;" undated
Typescript of The Blab School: An Appalachian Mother Goose, with title page and dedication to Jacob Alexander Bradley; undated [3 copies]
Typescript of The Blab School: An Appalachian Mother Goose, with light editing; undated
Photocopies of preceding folder
Typescript of The School of Blabs: An Appalachian Mother Goose, with light editing; undated
Photocopies of preceding folder
BLACK BREAD - CHANCE MEETING
Typescripts of the poem "Black Bread," one with light editing; undated [5 copies]
Typescript with editing, handwritten notes labeled "Blue Racer;" undated
- Box 61, Folder 6
Scope and Contents note
Also labeled "Blue Runner" and "Snake Patch" with multiple revisions of the title appearing throughout.
Photocopy of typescript collection of published poems by James Still titled "Books by James Still;" undated
Typescript with editing titled "Box Turtle;" undated
Typescript of piece titled "Boy in the Woods;" undated
Typescript notes with editing labeled "The Boy Who Drew Birds;" undated
Notes, typed and handwritten, labeled "BP;" undated
Typescript of piece titled "Brass Monkey," with light editing; undated
Typescript of the poem "The Broken Ibis;" undated
Typescript of the poem "The Broken Ibis," with light editing; dated July 29, 1946
Typescript notes labeled "Brother Jeems;" undated
Typescript of the short story "Brother to Methusalem," with editing; undated
Typescript of the poem "A Burned Tree Speaks," with light editing and notes; undated
"The Burning of the Waters;" short story; 1969
- Box 61, Folder 18
Scope and Contents note
Still made some minor revisions of this story for the published version found in Mountain Life and Work, vol. 45, no. 7 (July 1969); most of these revisions were included when the story was again published in The Run for the Elbertas, 1980.
Typescript labeled "The Burning of the Waters," with editing; undated
- Box 61, Folder 19
Scope and Contents note
The text of this typescript differs considerably from the published story of the same name.
Typescript of poem "Cabin on Wolfpen Creek," with light editing; undated
Typescript of short story and notes labeled "Carnival and Flood," with editing; undated [presumed to be written in the 1940s]
Notes labeled "CM" [Chance Meeting] and a flyer for a Visiting Writers series featuring Gwendolyn Brooks at Austin Peay College in Clarksville Tennessee labeled "Days at AP State" [the label is referred to obliquely in the "Chance Meeting" notes]; notes and flyer were clipped together; undated; flyer dated 1988
CHILD OF THE HILLS/CHILD IN THE HILLS
Typescript draft of the poem "Child of the Hills," with revisions; undated
Early typescript draft of the poem "Child in the Hills," with light editing; undated
Typescript of the poem "Child in the Hills;" undated
Typescript of the poem "Child in the Hills," with "in the Hills" crossed out; undated
CHILD WITH A CAPE JASMINE - DEATH OF A FOX
Typescript of the poem "Child with a Cape Jasmine;" undated
Typescript of the poem "Child with a Cape Jasmine," with revisions; undated
Typescript of the poem "Child with a Cape Jasmine," with revisions; undated
Typescript of the poem "Child's Country;" undated
Typescript of the poem "Christmas Eve;" undated
Typescript of the poem "Christmas Eve;" undated
Typescripts of the poem "Clabe Mott;" undated [2 copies]
Typescripts of the poem "Come Down from the Hills," with light editing; undated [5 copies]
Notes titled "Comments at Carl Perkins birthday dinner at Morehead State University, July 3rd, 1983"
Typescript of the short story "The Climb to 'Tater Hill/Knob;" dated September 19, 1949
Typescript of the poem "The Common Crow;" undated
- Box 62, Folder 18
Scope and Contents note
Removed from an envelope postmarked 1971: Boston Massachusetts, along with the poem "Mine is a Wide Estate."
Typescript of the poem "The Common Crow;" undated
Typescripts of the poem "Could It Be;" one version has a title change from "I Believe" to "Could It Be;" undated [2 copies]
Typescript of the poem "Cousin Nimrod," with light editing; undated
Typescript notes labeled "CR" with handwritten corrections; February-July 1969
Typescript and handwritten notes labeled "Crony;" undated
Typescript notes on C.S. Lewis, with light editing, accompanied by a photocopy of the cover of A.N. Wilson's biography of C.S. Lewis (1990); undated
Typescript of the poem "Dance on Pushback;" includes several drafts with revisions; undated
Typescripts of the poem "The Dark House;" undated [2 copies]
Typescript of the poem "Dark Interval;" undated
Typescripts of the poem "Dark Interval;" undated [4 copies]
Typescript draft or revision of the poem "Dark Interval," with light editing; undated
Handwritten and typed notes for the poem "Days at Year's End," and notes written on an advertisement for The Genius of China (1986) by Robert Temple; undated
Draft of the poem "Day of Flowers;" undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "The Day We Hanged Morg;" undated
Typescript of a short piece titled "Decline of the Yodel," with light editing; undated
Typescript diary entries with handwritten notes labeled "Dead Mare Branch," undated
Draft of "Dear Abbey" letter; undated
Typescript of the poem "Death in the Forest;" undated
Typescript of the poem "Death in the Hills;" undated
Typescript of the poem "Death of a County Sheriff," with light editing; undated
Typescript piece labeled "X: Death of Cunypone" [presumed to be from the early 1930s]
Typescripts of the poem "Death of a Fox;" undated [3 copies]
Typescripts of the poem "Death of a Fox," with light editing; undated [4 copies]
Typescript poem "Death of a Fox;" dated September 7, 1983
DEATH ON TROUBLESOME CREEK
Typescript of poems labeled "Death on Troublesome Creek;" undated
Typescript of the poem "Death on Troublesome Creek;" undated
Typescript of the poem "Death on Troublesome Creek," with light editing; undated
Typescript of the poem "Death on Troublesome Creek," with light editing [longer version]; undated
DEAD MARE BRANCH - DOG DAYS
DOVE
Typescript of the poem "Dove," with editing in Still's hand; undated
Manuscript of the poem "Dove," with light editing; undated
Typescript of the poem "Dove;" undated
Typescript of the poem "Dove;" undated
Typescript of the poem "Dove;" undated
DR. ROARCH - FOXHOLE NOTES
Handwritten pages labeled "Dr. Roarch;" undated [2 copies]
Typescript of the poem "Dreams;" undated
Typescript of the poem "Dulcimore;" undated
- Box 63, Folder 10
Scope and Contents note
Appears to be an earlier version of the poem "Dulcimer"
Typescript of the poem "Dulcimer;" undated
Typescript of the poem "Dulcimer;" undated
Typescript of the poem "Dulcimer;" undated
Typescript of the poem "Early Whippoorwill;" undated
- Box 63, Folder 14
Scope and Contents note
Includes note that it was published in The Nation, March 27, 1954.
Typescript of the poem "Early Whippoorwill;" undated
Typescript of the poem "Easter Egg Hunt," with light editing; undated
Typescript of notes titled "Edward Thomas," with editing; undated
Typescript of the poem "The Egg Hiding;" dated January 4th, 1954
Typescripts of the poem "The Egg Hiding," one of which has light editing; undated [3 copies]
Typescript titled "Elsie Stumps Her Toe I (III: Rusties)," with editing by Still; undated
Typescript titled "The Fallow Years," with light editing; undated
Typescript short story titled "Father was a Horse Doctor," with editing by Still; undated
Typescript short story titled "Fee-Diddle," with light editing; undated
Typescript poem "Feud;" undated
Typescript poem "Feud;" undated
Typescript poem "Fiddle," with light editing by Still; undated
- Box 63, Folder 26
Scope and Contents note
Includes note that it was published in Household, September 1938.
Typescript poem "Fiddlers' Convention;" undated
- Box 63, Folder 27
Scope and Contents note
A revised version of "Fiddlers' Convention" was published on July 13, 1936 in "The Conning Tower" column titled "Fiddlers' Convention on Troublesome Creek."
Typescript poem "Fiddlers' Convention;" undated
- Box 63, Folder 28
Scope and Contents note
Second page missing. A revised version of "Fiddlers' Convention was published on July 13, 1936 in "The Conning Tower" column titled "Fiddlers' Convention on Troublesome Creek."
Typescript poem "Fiddlers' Convention;" undated
- Box 63, Folder 29
Scope and Contents note
A revised version of "Fiddlers' Convention was published on July 13, 1936 in "The Conning Tower" column titled "Fiddlers' Convention on Troublesome Creek."
Typescript poem "Foals on the Hills;" undated
Typescript titled "The Foot," with editing by Still; undated
- Box 63, Folder 31
Scope and Contents note
Also labeled "GP," which stands for "Green Project."
Notes, typed and handwritten, clippings labeled "The Foot;" untitled
Typescript piece titled "The Foot;" also titled "At the Foot;" undated
Handwritten list of names titled "For the Children of My Heart;" undated
Handwritten notes titled "Four Bad Men;" undated
Handwritten notes titled "Foxhole Notes;" undated
FOX HUNT
Typescript poems clipped together by Still: "Fox Hunt," "Hounds on the Mountain," [2 copies] and "Mountain Fiddles;" undated
Typescript poems "Fox Hunt," with second copy incomplete; undated [2 copies]
Typescript poem "Fox Hunt," with editing by Still; undated
- Box 63, Folder 39
Scope and Contents note
Differs significantly from other version of poem under the same title which was later published as "Fox Hunt on Defeated Creek."
Typescript poem "Fox Hunt," with light editing; undated
Typescript poem "Fox Hunt," with light editing; undated
Typescript poem "Fox Hunt," with light editing; undated
FOX HUNT ON DEFEATED CREEK
Typescript poem "Fox Hunt on Defeated Creek;" undated
Typescript poem "Fox Hunt on Defeated Creek;" undated
Typescript poem "Fox Hunt on Defeated Creek;" undated
Typescript poems "Fox Hunt on Defeated Creek;" undated [2 copies]
FROM THE MOUNTAIN, FROM THE VALLEY
Typescript poems for From the Mountain, From the Valley: New and Collected Poems [University Press of Kentucky, 2001] with notes and suggestions from editor Ted Olson; undated
Typescript, first draft; "Introduction" by editor Ted Olson
- Box 64, Folder 2
Scope and Contents note
Edited version published as "Preface," University Press of Kentucky, 2001.
Handwritten corrections in Still's hand for Ted Olson's introduction (see Box 64, Folder 2), autobiography, and several of the poems; handwritten Dedication for From the Mountain, From the Valley: New and Collected Poems ; undated
Typescript poems for From the Mountain, From the Valley: New and Collected Poems, with notes and suggestions from editor Ted Olson and Still's handwritten notes to Ted Olson; undated
Publisher's proof of From the Mountain, From the Valley: New and Collected Poems, with light editing; 2000
FUN FOX - FURY
Typescript of riddles and folk sayings for a project tentatively titled "Fun Fox," with light editing; undated
Typescript and handwritten notes, clippings, labeled "Fun Fox;" undated
Typescript poems "Funnel Spider," with light editing; undated [2 copies]
Typescript poems "Funnel Spider;" one copy is dated April 3, 1966 [2 copies]
Typescript marked "save for The Fury;" undated
GALE
Typescript and handwritten notes labeled "G" or "Gale;" undated
- Box 64, Folder 11
Scope and Contents note
"Gale" is presumed to stand for Contemporary Authors, a Gale publication.
Handwritten notes labeled "G" or "Gale;" undated
- Box 64, Folder 12
Scope and Contents note
"Gale" is presumed to stand for Contemporary Authors, a Gale publication.
Handwritten notes labeled "G" or "Gale;" undated
- Box 64, Folder 13
Scope and Contents note
"Gale" is presumed to stand for Contemporary Authors, a Gale publication.
Handwritten notes labeled "G" or "Gale;" undated
- Box 64, Folder 14
Scope and Contents note
"Gale" is presumed to stand for Contemporary Authors, a Gale publication.
GIONO - MAN-FACE
Handwritten notes labeled "Giono;" undated
Typescript titled "Godey Spurlock's Notebook;" undated
- Box 64, Folder 16
Scope and Contents note
Brief anecdotes under this name were published periodically in the Troublesome Creek Times, a Knott County newspaper.
Typescript titled "Golden Wedding;"; date estimated to be early 1930s
- Box 64, Folder 17
Scope and Contents note
Includes two chapters and several pages of revisions and additions. Also included are several pages of a story titled "Not to Praise Caesar" typed in the verso of chapter one.
Photocopies of preceding folder
Typescript poem "Granny Frolic;" undated
Typescript poem "Grateful Earth," with light editing and title crossed out; undated
Typescript poems "Graveyard in the Hills" with one page of typed notes; undated [4 copies]
Typescript short story "Green Fire," with editing by Still; undated
Typescript notes labeled "the final chapter of The Green Project;" undated
Handwritten notes titled "Green Thumb Theory;" undated
Clippings labeled "Haunted Dulcimer;" undated
Typescript and handwritten notes labeled "Haunted Dulcimer;" undated
Typescript and handwritten notes for a short story titled "The Haunted Dulcimer;" undated
- Box 65, Folder 9
Scope and Contents note
Notes also labeled "TWM," presumed to stand for "The Wild Man."
Handwritten piece titled "The Haunted Dulcimer;" undated
Typescript piece titled "He Spake of Trees;" undated
Typescript poem "He Who Broke the Land," with editing by Still; undated
Typescript poem "Heir to Fair Boundaries," with editing by Still; once titled "Beggar-King;" date estimated to be 1950s
- Box 65, Folder 13
Scope and Contents note
Note on top reads: Revised February 11th, 1954 ( Good Housekeeping Magazine).
Poem "Here in My Bed" written on a scrap of paper, with editing; dated August 24, 1985
Typescript poem "Here and Now;" undated
Typescript poem "Here Walks a Child;" undated
Copy of "Heritage" read at Harry Caudill's funeral with Still's remarks written at the top of the page; 1990
Copy of "Heritage" read at Jim Wayne Miller's funeral with Still's typed remarks; undated
Typescript poem "High Field;" undated
Typescript poem "High Field," with light editing; undated
Handwritten poem "High Pastures" with a note by Still that it was published in A Gathering at the Forks Vision Book in 1993, page 367; undated
Typescript piece titled "The High-Water Horse," with light editing; undated
Typescript poem "The Hill-born" marked "VA Quarterly Review;" undated
Typescript poems "The Hill-born," with light editing; undated [5 copies]
Typescript poem "Hill-Death;" undated
Typescript poems "Hill-Death;" undated [2 copies]
Typescript poem "Hill-death;" undated
Typescript poem "Hill Imprisonment;" undated
Typescript poem "Hill Meadows," with light editing ; undated
- Box 65, Folder 29
Scope and Contents note
Typed on verso is a quote attributed to James J. Hill: "You can not build a reputation on things you are going to do;" the quote is repeated for the full length of the page.
Typescript notes labeled "Hill Town;" undated
Typescript poem "Hill Towns;" undated
Typescript short story labeled "The Hills Remember;" undated
Typescript notes labeled "Hindman;" undated
Typescript short story "Hit Liked to a-Killed Me," with light editing; circa 1930s
Typescript poem "Home," with editing by Still; undated
Typescript note titled "Homeplace;" undated
Handwritten autobiographical piece "Hootlocka;" undated
Typescript poem "Horseback in the Rain;" undated
Typescript poem "Horseback in the Rain;" undated
Typescript poems "Horseswapping on Troublesome Creek;" undated [4 copies]
Typescript poem "Hounds," with light editing; undated
Photocopy of two typescript poems "Hounds" and "Stallions," with editing by Still; undated
Typescript poems "Hounds on the Mountain;" undated [9 copies]
Poems ("Child in the Hills," "Mountain Dulcimer," and "Fox Hunt") from the collection Hounds on the Mountain (1937); undated
- Box 66, Folder 1
Scope and Contents note
galley proofs of the first 5 pages with handwritten notes by Still
Poems from the collection Hounds on the Mountain (1937); undated
- Box 66, Folder 2
Scope and Contents note
All except 7 poems are in the folder. There is more than one copy of some of the poems. Some have handwritten corrections by Still.
Notes, typed and handwritten, labeled "How it is with us;" undated
Handwritten note labeled "How to Make a Dulcimer;" undated
Handwritten poem "How to Talk Two Cobs Together;" undated
Handwritten notes labeled "The Hungriest Goat;" undated
Typescript poem "Hunter;" undated
Typescript poem "Hunter, Hunter," with light editing; undated
Typescript titled "Hunting for Hindman;" undated
Typescript poem "I Believe;" undated
- Box 66, Folder 10
Scope and Contents note
Published under the title "Could It Be" in From the Mountain, From the Valley (2001).
Typescript poem "I did not know how like unto death," with editing by Still; undated
Typescript short story "I Love My Rooster," with handwritten corrections by Still; 1940
Typescript poems "I Shall Go Singing;" undated [2 copies]
Typescript poem "I Shall Go Singing," with editing by Still; undated
Typescript poem "I Was Born Humble..." and "Heritage;" undated
Typescript poem "I Was Born Humble," with light editing and typed notes; also included is the poem "Death in the Forest" [which is the same poem with a different name]; undated
Typescript poem "If I Wrote Poems," with editing by Still; undated
Handwritten poem "In Awe;" undated
Handwritten notes labeled "In his yellow boots;" undated
Handwritten and typed notes, and clippings, labeled "In Sickbird Winter;" undated
Handwritten notes titled "In Sickbird Winter;" undated
Handwritten notes titled "In the High Pastures;" undated
Handwritten poem "In the Yellow Wood;" undated
Typescript short story "Incident at Pigeon Roost;" undated
Typescript poem "Infare;" undated
Typescript essay "The Intent of the Artist," with notes written by Still; undated
- Box 66, Folder 26
Scope and Contents note
Clipped to the pages was a note that reads "JWM." This is understood to represent Jim Wayne Miller, writer and friend to Still.
Typescript poem "Interval;" undated
Typescript poem "Interval;" undated [4 copies]
Typescript poem "It Has Been Said;" undated
Handwritten notes for Jack and the Wonder Beans; undated
Handwritten and typed notes for Jack and the Wonder Beans; undated
Typescript autobiographical essay titled "James Still, 1906- ;" undated
- Box 66, Folder 32
Scope and Contents note
Later published in Contemporary Authors, Autobiography Series, vol. 17, 1993. The published version is also included in the folder.
Copyedited manuscript of "James Still, 1906- ," with correspondence from series editor and copy editor; January 12, 1993
- Box 66, Folder 33
Scope and Contents note
Later published in Contemporary Authors, Autobiography Series, vol. 17, 1993.
Typescript short story "Journey to the Forks," with light editing by Still; undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "JWM;" undated
- Box 66, Folder 35
Scope and Contents note
JWM is understood to represent Jim Wayne Miller, author and friend to Still.
Typescript poems "Kentucky Hill Towns," with typed notes; undated
Handwritten list titled "Kentucky Post Offices-1874;" undated
Typescript labeled "King Tickle-whiskers;" undated
Typescript poems: "Kite," "Duty," "Fireflies," "If," "Greeting," and "Advice;" with light editing; undated
Typescript poem "Knife Trader," with light editing; undated
Typescript poem "Lambs on the Hills;" undated [3 copies]
- Box 67, Folder 6
Scope and Contents note
Published as "Lambs" in From the Mountain, From the Valley.
Typescript poem "Last Night;" undated
Typescript and handwritten notes labeled "Laughing Snake;" undated
- Box 67, Folder 8
Scope and Contents note
Similar material to that found in The Wolfpen Notebooks.
Typescript poem "Leap Minnows, Leap;" undated
Typescript poem "Let this Hill Rest;" undated
Typescript poem "Let Us Go Back to Hills and Kentucky's Earth;" undated
- Box 67, Folder 11
Scope and Contents note
Revised and published as "Nixie Middleton" in Hounds on the Mountain, 1937.
Typescript and handwritten notes and clippings labeled "Letter from Mrs. R. (Roosevelt);" undated
Typescript notes titled "Letter to Mrs. Roosevelt;" undated
Handwritten notes titled "Library in the Hills;" undated
Typescript piece titled "Library on the Hoof;" undated
Handwritten poem "Littcarr, Kentucky;" undated
- Box 67, Folder 16
Scope and Contents note
First published as "Beloved Place" in Saturday Evening Post, vol. 227, p. 78, July 17, 1954.
Typescript poem "Lizard," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript short story "Locust Summer;" undated (2 drafts with light editing)
Typescript poem "Log House on Wolfpen;" dated 1942
Typescript poem "Longer Is Day upon the Hills;" undated
Typescript poems "Longer Is Day upon the Hills;" undated [3 copies, one copy with handwritten corrections]
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "Madcalf;" undated
Typescript poem "Madcalf," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript poem "Madcalf," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript poem "Madly to Learn," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript poems "Madly to Learn," with handwritten corrections; dated April 1984 [2 copies]
Photocopy of published poem "Madly to Learn," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript poems "A Man Can Stand Up;" undated [4 copies]
Typescript notes labeled "Man-Face;" undated
MAN IN THE BUSHES/THE WOLFPEN NOTEBOOKS
Scope and Contents note
Folders 30-35 contain material that Still originally titled Man in the Bushes and was later published as The Wolfpen Notebooks (Lexington, Ky.: University Press of Kentucky, c1991.)
Typescript notes labeled "M/B," with handwritten corrections; undated
- Box 67, Folder 30
Scope and Contents note
"M/B" stands for Man in the Bushes, an early title for The Wolfpen Notebooks.
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "M/B," with handwritten corrections; undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "M/B," with handwritten corrections; undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "M/B," with handwritten corrections; some notes also labeled "MIB," "Laughing Snake," "Godey Spurlock's Notebook," and various other early titles for The Wolfpen Notebooks; undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "M/B," with handwritten corrections; undated
"Man in the Bushes," photocopies of pages sent to Jim Wayne Miller marked "Additions to M/B;" dated June 11, 1987
MAN O' WAR - RENTERS
Typescript poem "Man O' War: an Epitaph;" undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "Man of Straw;" undated
Handwritten notes on Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings; undated
Typescript notes labeled "Master Occasion"; undated
- Box 67, Folder 39
Scope and Contents note
Typed notes from "Pork on the Fark (Fork?): Killing, Curing and Canning." U.S. Dept. of Agriculture, F.B. No. 1186.
Handwritten notes labeled "A Master Time;" undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "A Master Time," including a letter from Still to Marshall Best of Viking Press concerning the book-in-progress; circa 1970/1971 and undated
- Box 67, Folder 41
Scope and Contents note
This was an early working title for the collection of short stories that would later published as Pattern of a Man.
Typescript poem "The Merry Golden Tree;" undated
Handwritten poem "Merry Legs;" undated
Typescript poems "Midwinter Doldrums," with handwritten corrections; November 11, 1969 and undated [5 copies]
Typescript poems "Mine is a Wide Estate;" circa 1971 [2 copies]
Typescript poems "Montani Semper Liberi;" undated [2 copies]
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "Morning Glory Hell;" undated
Typescript poems "Morning on the Hills;" circa 1938 and undated [4 copies]
Typescript poems "Morning on the Hills," with handwritten corrections, also includes the same poem titled "American Wilderness;" undated [3 copies]
Typescript essay "Mountain College;" circa 1930
Typescript poems "Mountain Dulcimer;" undated [5 copies]
Typescript of notes labeled "Mountain Farm," also includes "Hill Orchard" and "Lot #3" notes; undated
Typescript poem "Mountain Farm;" undated
Typescript poems "Mountain Fiddle;" undated [6 copies]
Typescript poems "Mountain Fiddle," with handwritten corrections; undated [2 copies]
Typescript poem "Mountain Fiddlers;" undated
Typescript poem "Mountain Fiddlers;" undated
- Box 68, Folder 15
Scope and Contents note
Title changed from "Fiddlers' Convention" to "Mountain Fiddlers;" poem was clipped by Still to two copies of poem titled "Fiddlers' Convention," which are included in this folder.
Typescript poems "Mountain Heritage;" undated [3 copies]
Typescript poems "Mountain Infare," with handwritten corrections; undated [4 copies]
Typescript poems "Mountain Men;" undated [2 copies]
Photocopy of published poem "Mountain Men," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript poems "Mountain Men are Free;" undated [3 copies]
Typescript poem "Mountain Portrait," with handwritten corrections; undated
- Box 68, Folder 21
Scope and Contents note
Very similar to "Uncle Ambrose," appears to be an early version.
Typescript poems "Mountain Twilight;" undated [3 copies]
Typescript of short story titled "The Moving;" December 14, 1970
Typescript of short story titled "The Moving," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript essays "Moving Mountains: I, Women Coal Miners," with handwritten corrections; undated [3 copies]
Handwritten poem "Mrs. Lloyd, Her Rag Sale," labeled first draft; undated
Typescript poem "Mrs. Lloyd, Her Rag Sale," labeled second draft; undated
Galley proofs of "Mrs. Razor;" undated
Typescript short story titled "Murder on Possum Trot Mountain," with handwritten corrections; undated
Handwritten notes labeled "Mushrooms;" undated
Handwritten poem "My Aunt Carrie;" undated
Typescript poem "My Aunt Carrie," with handwritten corrections; undated
Handwritten notes titled "N" and "NB;" undated
Handwritten and typed play titled "Nancy Hanks," includes only the prologue and act II; 1929
Handwritten poems "Night Thoughts;" undated [3 copies]
Typescript poem "Night Thoughts;" undated
Typescript poems "Night Thoughts," with handwritten corrections; undated [2 copies]
Typescript short story "Not to Praise Caesar;" undated
Handwritten notes labeled "Notebook II;" undated
Typescript poem "Now Has Day Come," includes other poems Still clipped together; undated
Typescript poems "Now Has Day Come," with handwritten corrections; Summer 1937 [2 copies]
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "NPR;" circa 1980s
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "NPR;" circa 1980s
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "NPR;" circa 1980s
Handwritten note labeled "The Oaken Death;" undated
Typescript notes labeled "October;" 1960
Typescript poems "Of Concern," with handwritten corrections; undated [2 copies]
Typescript poems "Of the Faithful," with handwritten corrections; circa 1980s [2 copies]
Typescript poem "Of the Faithful;" undated
Typescript poem "Okra: an Appreciation," with handwritten corrections; undated
Handwritten poem "Old Man Drinking Coffee at Druthers, Deploring;" undated
Typescript poem "Old Poet;" undated
Typescript poem "On Being Drafted into the US Army from my Log Home on Wolfpen Creek in March 1942" with "note to editor" and handwritten editing; undated
Typescript poem "On Deer Foot Creek;" January 1961
Typescript poem "On Deer Lick Creek," with handwritten corrections; January 1961
Typescript poem "On Double Creek," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript poems "On Dying Young;" undated [2 copies]
Typescript poem "On Encountering Royalty while Passing through Georgia;" undated
Typescript poem "On Laurel Creek," with handwritten corrections; May 1964
Typescript poem "On Laurel Creek;" undated
Typescript short story and notes "On Pigeon Roost Creek;" undated
Typescript short story "On Quicksand Creek," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript poems "On Redbird Creek;" undated [9 copies]
Typescript poems "On Redbird Creek," with handwritten corrections; undated [2 copies]
Handwritten poem "On Redbird Creek;" undated
Typescript poem "On Redbud Creek," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript poems "On the Passing of My Brother Alfred;" undated [4 copies]
Handwritten poem "On the Passing of My Brother Alfred;" undated
Handwritten poem "On the Passing of My Good Friend John;" undated
Typescript poem "On Thinking of Hounds on the Mountain," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript collection of short stories "On Troublesome Creek;" 1941
Typescript poem "On Wolfpen Creek;" undated
Typescript poem "One Hundred and Seventh Year;" undated
Typescript poem "Parable," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript poem "The Passage" including rejection letter from Skyline editor; undated
Handwritten poem "Passenger Pigeons;" undated
Typescript poem "Passenger Pigeons;" undated
Typescript poem "Passing of a County Sheriff;" undated
Typescript poems "Pattern for Death;" undated [2 copies]
Typescript collection of short stories Pattern of a Man and Other Stories, with handwritten corrections; undated
Spiral-bound notebook labeled "The Pensive Spring;" undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "Perrin;" undated
Handwritten note labeled "Place Names;" undated
Typescript poem "Poem," with handwritten corrections; undated
Handwritten notes labeled "Poetry Notes;" undated
Handwritten note labeled "Projects;" undated
Typescript short story "The Proud Walkers;" undated
Typescript notes labeled "Quail-Bob White;" undated
Typescript short story "The Quare Day," with handwritten corrections; undated
Handwritten poem "Question" marked 'first draft;' undated
Typescript poems "Question," with handwritten corrections; undated [2 copies]
Typescript poems "Rain on the Cumberlands;" undated [2 copies]
Typescript poem "Rain on the Cumberlands," with handwritten corrections and unrelated, repeated phrases on the back of the page; undated
Typescript poem "Redbird River Country," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript notes labeled "The Renters;" undated
RIVER OF EARTH
Typescript novel River of Earth, with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript novel River of Earth; undated
Typescript novel River of Earth (continued); undated
Typescript forward to the novel River of Earth by Dean Cadle; 1978
Typescript poems "River of Earth;" undated [2 copies]
Typescript poems and related material for the collection River of Earth: the Poem and Other Poems; circa 1982
Typescript portions of script for performance by Still with Randy Wilson "River of Earth in Story and Song;" circa 1990s
ROCKS ROCKS ROCKS - TWO POEMS
Typescript note labeled "Rocks Rocks Rocks," with handwritten corrections; undated
Handwritten and typed notes titled "Rumple-skin;" undated
Typescript short story "Run for the Elbertas," with handwritten corrections; various dates
Handwritten note labeled "Rusties;" undated
Typescript notes labeled "The Rye Patch Book;" undated
Typescript notes labeled "S;" undated
Typescript short story "School Butter," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript short story "School Butter," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript poem "School Days on Rowdy Creek;" undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "Season of the Fox/Time of Foxes;" undated
Typescript short story "Snail Pie," with handwritten corrections; undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "SO;" undated
Handwritten notes titled "The So-Called Hillbilly Observed;" undated
Typescript poem "Social Mobility," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript notes labeled "The Song of the Corn;" undated
Typescript poem "Sorrow;" undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "Spain Shot Cuba;" undated
Typescript novel and handwritten notes Sporty Creek; undated
Handwritten notes labeled "Spring Branch;" undated
Typescript poems "Spring Foal;" undated [5 copies]
Typescript poems "Spring Foal," with handwritten corrections; undated [3 copies]
- Box 72, Folder 12
Scope and Contents note
One version of the poem was read on NPR's "All Things Considered" on April 12, 1983.
Typescript poem "Spring on Troublesome Creek," with handwritten corrections; undated
Handwritten notes labeled "SS Enlightenment;" undated
Typescript poems "Stallion;" undated [3 copies]
Typescript poems "The Stallion Is Dead;" undated [3 copies]
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "Sticking it out on Dead Mare Branch;" circa 1989
Handwritten notes labeled "Stoneback;" undated
Typescript notes and poem labeled "Stone Orchards;" undated
Typescript short story "The Straight," with handwritten corrections; circa 1947
Typescript notes labeled "Struck Pages;" undated
Handwritten poem "The Sun;" undated
Typescript notes labeled "Sun Rotted the Snow;" undated
Typescript poem "Sun-Ball on the Mountain;" undated
Typescript poems "Sunday on Redbird Creek;" undated [4 copies]
Typescript short story "Sunstroke on Stingy Creek," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript poem "Survival, 1951," with handwritten corrections; September 8, 1951
Typescript short story "Sweet Asylum," with handwritten corrections and notes; undated
Typescript poems and notes labeled "Swift are their Feet," with handwritten corrections; undated [2 copies]
Typescript poems "Swift Were Their Feet," with handwritten corrections; undated [4 copies]
Typescript poem "Talt Hall;" undated
Typescripts of piece about Mary Bingham titled "Tercenary of the City of Amherst, Massachusetts, October 21-22, 1959," with handwritten corrections; undated [3 copies]
Typescript notes labeled "The Terrible Deer;" undated
Typescript notes labeled "There is a Unity that is Death;" undated
Typescript poem "There is No One in this House;" undated
Typescript poem "This Day Only," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript poem "This Man Dying;" undated
Typescript poem "This Spring" with typescript poem "Sorrow" that Still clipped together with handwritten corrections; undated
Handwritten poem "Those I Want in Heaven with Me;" undated
Typescript poems, "Those I Want in Heaven with Me Should There Be Such a Place," with handwritten corrections; undated [3 versions]
Typescript poem "To My Dog," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript notes labeled "To Tell the Tale," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript poem "To the Mountains," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript poems "To this Man Dying;" undated [3 copies]
Typescript poems "To this Man Dying," with handwritten corrections; undated [3 copies]
Typescript notes labeled "The Tonic Cup;" undated
Typescript notes labeled "TR," with handwritten corrections; undated [2 sets of notes]
Typescript poems "Tracks on Stone," with handwritten corrections; undated [4 copies]
Typescript poem "Travel," with handwritten corrections; July 19
Handwritten notes labeled "Trees;" undated
Typescript poems "The Trees in the Road," with handwritten corrections; circa 1966-67 [2 copies]
Typescript poem "The Trees in the Road;" undated (published in Appalachian Review, vol. 2, no. 2, Winter 1968)
Typescript notes labeled "Tropical Syndrome" and "The Battle for Accra," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript poem "Truck Driver," with handwritten corrections; undated
Handwritten poem "Truck Driver"; undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "The Tunnel;" undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "The Wild Man/TWM;" undated
Typescript poem "Two Poems by James Still" ("Unemployed Coal Miner" and "After some 20 Years Attempting to Describe a Flowering Branch of Redbud"); undated
TX
Scope and Contents note
TX is a notation for Texas.
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "TX;" undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "TX;" undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "TX;" undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "TX;" undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "TX;" undated
Clippings labeled "TX;" undated
UNEMPLOYED COAL MINER - WATER OF LIFE
Typescript poem "Unemployed Coal Miner;" undated
Typescript short story "Up-Ladder," with handwritten corrections; undated
Handwritten notes labeled "The Violet;" undated
Handwritten poem labeled "Visitor;" undated
Typescript short story "Water of Life" marked "second draft," with handwritten corrections; undated
WAY DOWN YONDER
Typescript riddles "Way Down Yonder on Troublesome Creek," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript draft Way Down Yonder on Troublesome Creek, with handwritten corrections and index of first lines; undated
Typescript draft Way Down Yonder on Troublesome Creek, with handwritten corrections; circa 1974
Typescript draft Way Down Yonder: Riddles and Antics from Troublesome Creek, with handwritten corrections and introduction; undated
Typescript draft Way-Down-Yonder: Riddles and Antics from Troublesome Creek, with handwritten corrections; undated
WELCOME - WOLFPEN GRIMM
Handwritten poems "Welcome, Somewhat, Despite the Disorder;" February 12, 1977 [2 copies]
Handwritten poem "What about It?;" undated
Typescript poem "What Have You Heard Lately?" with handwritten corrections; undated
Handwritten notes labeled "What Will the Wedding Supper Be?" undated
Typescript poems "When the Dulcimers are Gone;" undated [5 copies]
Typescript poems "When the Dulcimers are Gone," with handwritten corrections; undated [2 copies]
Typescript of 1st page of story titled "White Harvest;" undated
Typescript poems "White Highways" with handwritten corrections; undated [2 copies]
Typescript notes labeled "The Whittle Gipsies," with handwritten corrections; undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "Wick Jarrett;" undated
Typescript poem "Wilderness;" undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "Wildflowers;" undated
Handwritten and typed notes labeled "Wolfpen Creek Tales;" undated
Handwritten notes labeled "Wolfpen Data-source Matt Combs et al;" undated
Handwritten notes labeled "The Wolfpen Grimm;" undated
WOLFPEN NOTEBOOKS
Scope and Contents note
The following folders contain notebooks Still kept over the course of his lifetime recording the verbal expressions of his friends and neighbors. Excerpts from the notebooks were compiled and edited for "James Still: The Wolfpen Notebooks," published in Foxfire (Fall 1988) [see Box 96, Folders 4-8 and Box 97, Folders 1-8]. Later, material from the notebooks was published in The Wolfpen Notebooks (University Press of Kentucky, 1991.) [see Box 79, Folders 1-5 and Box 80, Folders 1-6]
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book I; circa 1948
Photocopies of preceding folder
- Box 76, Folder 2
Scope and Contents note
Though The Wolfpen Notebooks are in good condition, photocopies were made by the University of Kentucky before it possessed the actual notebooks, which it received upon Still's death. Both the originals and the photocopies are acceptable for use.
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book II; circa 1950
Photocopies of preceding folder
Ori ginal handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book III; circa 1948
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book IV; undated
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book V; undated
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book VI; undated
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book VII; circa 1957
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book VIII; circa 1958
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book IX; circa 1959
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book X; circa 1951
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book XI; circa 1959
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book XII; circa 1959
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book XIII; circa 1960
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book XIV; circa 1960
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book XV; undated
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book XVI; circa 1962
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book XVII; undated
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book XVIII; circa 1965
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book XIX; circa 1966
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book XX; undated
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book XXI; circa 1970
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book XXII; circa 1975
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book XXIII; circa 1979
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book XXIV; circa 1980
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book XXV; circa 1962 (chronologically, this book follows Book XVI)
Photocopies of preceding folder
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, also labeled Book XXV by Still; circa 1981
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, Book XXVI; possibly circa 1987
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks, 1982 notebook; circa 1982
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks; circa 1983
Original handwritten notebook from The Wolfpen Notebooks; undated
Typescript of The Wolfpen Notebooks; draft 1, with handwritten corrections; collected by the University Press of Kentucky; undated
Typescript of The Wolfpen Notebooks; draft 2, with handwritten corrections; collected by the University Press of Kentucky; undated
Typescript of The Wolfpen Notebooks; draft 3, with handwritten corrections; collected by the University Press of Kentucky; April 24, 1988
Typescript of The Wolfpen Notebooks; draft 4, with handwritten corrections; collected by the University Press of Kentucky; undated
- Box 79, Folder 4
Scope and Contents note
This draft was still tentatively being called "The Man in the Bushes."
Typescript of The Wolfpen Notebooks; draft 5, with handwritten corrections; collected by the University Press of Kentucky; undated
- Box 79, Folder 5
Scope and Contents note
This draft was still tentatively being called "The Man in the Bushes."
Typescript of The Wolfpen Notebooks; draft 6, with handwritten corrections; collected by the University Press of Kentucky; August 21, 1990
- Box 80, Folder 1
Scope and Contents note
This draft was still tentatively being called "The Man in the Bushes."
Typescript of collected sayings from The Wolfpen Notebooks; undated
Typescript of The Wolfpen Notebooks; draft 7, with handwritten corrections, collected by the University Press of Kentucky; undated
Handwritten and typed correspondence between James Still and The University of North Carolina Press concerning issues on the editing and publication of The Wolfpen Notebooks; July-August 1987
Handwritten and typed correspondence between James Still and The University Press of Kentucky concerning issues on the editing and publication of The Wolfpen Notebooks; January 1987-September 1990
Typescript contract between James Still and the University Press of Kentucky concerning The Wolfpen Notebooks; January 29, 1969
WOLFPEN POEMS - YOUNG DEATH
Typescript list of poems added to The Wolfpen Poems; undated
Typescript poems not included in The Wolfpen Poems; undated
Handwritten and typed table of contents and notes for The Wolfpen Poems; undated
Typescript collection of The Wolfpen Poems with letter from Jim Wayne Miller; October 27, 1982
Typescript collection of The Wolfpen Poems; undated
Typescript collection of The Wolfpen Poems, with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript collection of The Wolfpen Poems, with handwritten corrections; circa 1986
Typescript collection of The Wolfpen Poems, with handwritten corrections; circa 1986
Correspondence concerning The Wolfpen Poems, including a letter from Jim Wayne Miller and a first, second, and third draft of a manuscript by Aleksis Rannit which was solicited for inclusion in The Wolfpen Poems but was not used (see Rannit, Aleksis in the Box 92, Folder 19); 1983-1985
Typescript collection of The Wolfpen Poems, with handwritten corrections and extra pages that were not included in the final draft; undated
Galley proofs of The Wolfpen Poems, with handwritten corrections; circa 1986
Typescript notes labeled "Wolfpen Rations," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript collection of quotes The Wolfpen Rusties: Appalachian Riddles and Gee-Haw Whimmy-Diddles, with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript collection of quotes The Wolfpen Rusties: Appalachian Riddles and Gee-Haw Whimmy-Diddles, with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript collection of quotes The Wolfpen Rusties: Appalachian Riddles and Gee-Haw Whimmy-Diddles, with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript correspondence with editor concerning corrections to The Wolfpen Rusties: Appalachian Riddles and Gee-Haw Whimmy-Diddles; circa 1974
Handwritten notes labeled "The Woods;" undated
Typescript notes labeled "The Woods in the Road," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript notes labeled "The World is Pretty Big," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript poems "Yesterday in Belize," with handwritten corrections; undated [9 copies]
Typescript draft "Yesterday's Tomorrow," with handwritten corrections; undated
Typescript notes labeled "You-Too;" undated
Typescript poem "Young Death;" undated
UNTITLED WORK
Scope and Contents note
Every effort was made to place untitled work when it could be definitively and unquestionably identified as part of a story, poem, autobiographical essay or other work. Unfortunately, because Still used characters, places, and situations repeatedly, it was often impossible to identify untitled work. All untitled work has been arranged chronologically when possible.
Untitled, incomplete autobiographical essay; undated
Handwritten and typescript notes, untitled; 1920s and 1930s
Handwritten and typescript notes, untitled; 1940s
Handwritten and typescript notes, untitled; 1950s
Handwritten and typescript notes, untitled; 1960s
Handwritten and typescript notes, untitled; 1970s
Handwritten and typescript notes, untitled; 1980s
Handwritten and typescript notes, untitled; 1990s
Handwritten and typescript notes, untitled; undated
Handwritten and typescript notes, untitled; undated
Handwritten and typescript notes, untitled; undated
Handwritten and typescript notes, untitled; undated
Handwritten and typescript notes, untitled; undated
Handwritten and typescript notes, untitled; undated
Handwritten and typescript notes, untitled; undated
Handwritten and typescript notes, untitled; undated
WORKS BY JAMES STILL: PUBLISHED WORK, 1929-2001, undated
Scope and Contents note
The published work consists of poems, short stories, and note book material that James Still published in various periodicals, journals, magazines, and on broadsides. They are organized by title (when works were later published under a different name, every effort has been made to identify them as such), and include the name of the publication in which they were printed, volume, number, and date, when this information is known. If a story or poem also appeared in a book its title is provided. For working drafts, researchers are advised to refer to "Works by James Still: Manuscripts, 1929-2001."Oversized materials are located in Box 91 and are arranged in alphabetical order by title of work.