Thomas Henry Carter Papers

Collection

Identifier: MSS.0074

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Papers in this collection reflect the various aspects of the brief but vigorous career of Thomas Carter as editor, critic, poet and teacher. Many of the papers are not dated, thus the summary of his academic career may be of some help in evaluating the manuscripts.

Dates

1950 - 1962

Chronology

1950 Graduated from Martinsville High School, Martinsville, Virginia. During the last two years of high school, he edited a magazine named The Spearhead which progressed from a mimeographed science fiction magazine to a more professionally designed magazine of contemporary literature. The Spearhead published items by Ray Bradbury, e. e. cummings, Merrill Moore, William Carlos Williams, and others; the literary correspondence which began at this time aided the development of many later literary projects.
1954 Graduated from Washington and Lee Magna Cum Laude and with membership in ODK and Phi Beta Kappa. It was his editorship of the Shenandoah, however, which was his most important achievement during these years. He became editor while a sophomore and served in that capacity for about two years; for many years he also served as editorial advisor or a contributor. While he was the editor, the Shenandoah became one of the most important student literary magazines in the United States; many writers considered it the best.
1954-1955 Taught high school in a county school near his home in Martinsville.
1955-1956 Attended Vanderbilt University, completing an M. A. in English in 1956. In the summer of 1956, he earned his teaching certificate at Peabody College.
1956-1958 Taught at Martinsville High School, where he initiated seminars in modern literature which attracted national recognition. Over a period of years the list of scholars and critics included Andrew Lytle, John Ciardi, Katherine Anne Porter, James Dickey, Louis Rubin, Brainard Cheney, Caroline Gordon and Ezra Pound.
1958-1959 Fellowship with the Kenyon Review.
1959-1962 Attended two summer sessions at Duke University for credits towards a Ph.D. and taught part-time. After a serious automobile accident he gave up his graduate studies and returned to Martinsville to teach.
1962 Instructor at the Patrick Henry Branch of the University of Virginia in Martinsville until his death in 1963.

1950
: Graduated from Martinsville High School, Martinsville, Virginia. During the last two years of high school, he edited a magazine named The Spearhead which progressed from a mimeographed science fiction magazine to a more professionally designed magazine of contemporary literature. The Spearhead published items by Ray Bradbury, e. e. cummings, Merrill Moore, William Carlos Williams, and others; the literary correspondence which began at this time aided the development of many later literary projects.
1954
: Graduated from Washington and Lee Magna Cum Laude and with membership in ODK and Phi Beta Kappa. It was his editorship of the Shenandoah, however, which was his most important achievement during these years. He became editor while a sophomore and served in that capacity for about two years; for many years he also served as editorial advisor or a contributor. While he was the editor, the Shenandoah became one of the most important student literary magazines in the United States; many writers considered it the best.
1954-1955
: Taught high school in a county school near his home in Martinsville.
1955-1956
: Attended Vanderbilt University, completing an M. A. in English in 1956. In the summer of 1956, he earned his teaching certificate at Peabody College.
1956-1958
: Taught at Martinsville High School, where he initiated seminars in modern literature which attracted national recognition. Over a period of years the list of scholars and critics included Andrew Lytle, John Ciardi, Katherine Anne Porter, James Dickey, Louis Rubin, Brainard Cheney, Caroline Gordon and Ezra Pound.
1958-1959
: Fellowship with the Kenyon Review.
1959-1962
: Attended two summer sessions at Duke University for credits towards a Ph.D. and taught part-time. After a serious automobile accident he gave up his graduate studies and returned to Martinsville to teach.
1962
: Instructor at the Patrick Henry Branch of the University of Virginia in Martinsville until his death in 1963.