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University of Texas at Austin

Knute Skinner:

A Preliminary Inventory of His Papers at the Harry Ransom Center

Creator: Skinner, Knute, 1929-
Title: Knute Skinner Papers
Dates: 1952-1969
Extent: 2 boxes (.84 linear feet)
Abstract: This collection is composed of the papers of Knute Skinner prior to 1970, and includes works, mainly poems, and correspondence.
Call Number: Manuscript Collection MS-03865
Language: English
Access: Open for research


Administrative Information


Acquisition: Purchases, 1968-1969 (R 3967, R 4662, R 5072)
Processed by: Jonathan Reynolds, 2006
Repository:

Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin

Scope and Contents


This collection is composed of the papers of Knute Skinner prior to 1970. It is arranged into two series: I. Works (arranged alphabetically) and II. Correspondence (which is subdivided into outgoing and incoming and arranged chronologically).
Poems account for the majority of the works present, with multiple handwritten and typescript drafts and Skinner's handwritten edits. Many are dated and signed by him as well. Included are poems that were published in his collections A Close Sky over Killaspuglonane (1968 edition), for which the galley proof sheets are also present, and In Dinosaur Country (1969), for which the proof copy is included.
There are two short stories: "A Room for Sixty Francs" and the published version of "The Man Who Checked Out the Library" (Limbo, October 1964) with many handwritten revisions by Skinner. A selection of book reviews from 1961 to 1969 is organized alphabetically by the title. While the author and title of the book is typically documented, the publications for which the reviews were written are not.
The Correspondence for the collection concerns Skinner’s professional life with a few references of a personal nature. There are acceptance and rejection letters from poetry submissions, royalty notices, and academic letters from university colleagues. The sole letter written by Skinner in the series is a response to a critique from Larry Lee of A Stranger with a Watch (1965). Other correspondents include Elizabeth Bartlett, Beth Bentley, Thomas Churchill, Edward Field, Robert Huff, X.J. (Joseph) Kennedy, Thomas Kinsella, James Liddy, Richard Lloyd-Jones, Tom MacIntyre, Lorna Reynolds, Robert Sward, and Reed Whittemore.

Related Material


Other collections in the Ransom Center with Skinner materials include Paul Engle and James Tate.

Separated Material


Sound recordings were transferred to the Ransom Center's Sound Recording collection and are described individually in a list at the end of this finding aid and in a searchable database.

Knute Skinner Papers--Container List