Series VI. Associates

The Papers of Peter Taylor (1917-1994), writer, educator and former Vanderbilt student (1936-1937), were acquired by the Jean and Alexander Heard Library during the summer of 1988 from Collector Stuart T. Wright of Winston-Salem, North Carolina.

Of the eighteen boxes of this collection, six contain correspondence and another 5.5 are filled with manuscripts of Taylor’s writings. The other 3.5 boxes contain items of a biographical or personal nature, concern his career as author and educator, or involve his associates and their writings. There is one oversize box in the collection that contains galleys of Taylor’s manuscripts and a poster from the film adaptation of “The Old Forest.” The collection has thus been arranged in the following series: Correspondence, Writings, Literary Career, Academic Career, Biographical/Personal Papers, Associates, and Writings By Others.

Obviously, this collection will be of primary interest to those interested in Peter Taylor’s life and writings, but it will also be of importance to those researching such varied literary figures as Robert Fitzgerald, Carolina Gordon, Elizabeth Hardwick, Randall

Jarrell, Robert Lowell, John Crowe Ransom, Eleanor Ross, Jean Stafford, Allen Tate and Robert Penn Warren. Students of American Literature, Southern Literature and the Fugitive and Agrarian Groups will also benefit from these papers.

Collector Stuart Wright’s notes indicate, “Manuscript material is arranged and grouped as it was recovered from stacks of material. Folders contain material, therefore, that was (after a fashion) together when I purchased these items.” While the writings in this collection are now arranged by genres, the order of the material within the files has not been disturbed and thus is in Taylor’s original order.

For details about Taylor’s life and works, the following are recommended:

In 1995, Special Collections at the Jean and Alexander Heard Library purchased an 1995 addition to the papers of the late author Peter Matthew Hillsman Taylor (1917–1994). The purchase was made possible through a grant from the Lester Glenn Fant Southern Literature Fund.

This 1995 addition contains the personal materials of Peter Matthew Hillsman Taylor, a Southern writer who was considered by many a Master of the short story form. The materials are mostly textual and are comprised of correspondence, manuscripts, holographs, clippings, and other related printed matter. Photographs are also included in the 1995 addition, however there are few.

Of the twenty-one boxes that are comprised of this 1995 addition, ten contain correspondence and another six are filled with manuscripts of Taylor’s writings. The other five boxes contain items of a biographical or personal nature, concern his career as author, or involve writings of others. The 1995 addition has thus been arranged in the following series: Correspondence, Writings, Literary Career, Biographical, and Writings By Others. Also included within this 1995 addition is one over-sized folder containing a promotional poster for the Governor’s Awards In The Arts for Tennessee.

Series and Subseries Descriptions

1995 Addition Series I. Correspondence, 1962-2000 (10 boxes)

The bulk of the Correspondence Series is made up of incoming letters, most of which are identified. The letters contained within this series are arranged alphabetically by correspondent. Some letters include photographs and newspaper clippings. Although the majority of letters were sent to Mr. Taylor’s home in Charlottesville, Virginia, some were sent to his other residences in Gainesville and Key West, Florida. The letters range in subjects from fan mail to personal and business correspondence. Most letters are from editors, publishers, colleagues, friends, and family. However there are also letters from former students, well-wishers, and admirers. Not only did letters come from inside the United States, but other parts of the world. These include: England, Italy, Japan, China, and India.

Prominent correspondents include: Bill Broadway (11); Felder & Nan Heflin (14); Judith Jones (11); Matilda Kirby-Smith (9); Hubert McAlexander (10); Chris Metress (11); C. Ralph Stephens (14); John Thompson (9); Robert Penn Warren (4); Tom White (34); Marcella C. Winslow (9); Virginia L. Wolf (6).

1995 Addition Series II. Writings, Undated (6 boxes)

The Writings Series consists of six boxes of manuscripts that are both published and unpublished works of Peter Taylor. The Writing Series consists of various genres: short stories, novels, and plays. A number of unidentified manuscript fragments complete this series. The writings have been arranged alphabetically by title.

1995 Addition Series III. Literary Career, 1945-1993 (1.5 boxes and 1 oversized folder)

This series contains documents relating to Peter Taylor’s literary career. Documents relate to: contracts, copyright, invitations, readings/appearances, reprint permissions, reviews, and royalty statements. Also included within this series in an oversized folder containing a promotional poster for the Governor’s Awards In The Arts for Tennessee.

1995 Addition Series IV. Biographical, 1977-1993 (0.5 box)

This series contains biographical information that relates to Peter Taylor. Documents include: financial records, interviews, photographs, and other miscellaneous newspaper clippings relating to the life of Peter Taylor.

1995 Addition Series V. Writings By Others, 1977-1993 (3 boxes)

This is the last series in the 1995 addition and comprise of numerous writings others have sent to Peter Taylor to read. Documents have a broad range of genres and cover many subject areas. However, Peter Taylor and his writings is the subject of most documents. Documents within this series are alphabetized by the creator of the work.