Descriptive Summary
Lorna Novak Papers
1963-1966
Manuscript Collection MS-03059
2 boxes, 1 galley folder (.5 linear feet)
Novak, Lorna.
Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin
The papers of this Texas author consist of
drafts of her two novels.
English
Biographical Sketch
Lorna Beth McCormick Novak was born in Amarillo, Texas, on April 27, 1927. Her father
worked in advertising and Lorna enrolled in the University of Texas in 1945. Lorna belonged
to a number of honorary societies during her stay at the University. She withdrew from the
University in 1946 and married Gordon Shaw Novak, proprietor of Novak Construction Company.
They lived in Amarillo, Texas, raising three children and publishing two novels, in 1963 and
in 1966. Novak died in Amarillo in 2013.
Novak's principal literary genre is the novel. Her two published works include
Does It Make Into a Bed? (1963) and How Amelia Secured the Tie that Binds with a Very Loose Knot (1966).
She also wrote an original play for children, Amorinda and the Caterpillar, as well as play adaptations on popular
children's stories that includes Jack and the Beanstalk and
Sleeping Beauty, which are not represented in the collection.
Scope and Contents
The Lorna Novak papers consist of original and carbon copy typescripts, printer's copies,
and galley proofs of her two published works.
The collection represents Lorna Novak's two creative endeavors as a novelist. Examples of
her revision process include unpublished versions of the novels and holographic editing of
the final drafts. Each of the drafts is identified by Novak on the title page. Early drafts
are not dated. Drafts entitled
The Swackhammer Nose and
The Blight From the East are earlier versions of Does It Make Into a Bed? There's Nothing Else to Marry is a first draft of Novak's second
novel, How Amelia Secured the Tie that Binds with a Very Loose Knot. All
drafts of the two novels are arranged alphabetically by title.
Acquisition
Gifts of Lorna Novak, 1965, 1967
Access
Open for research
Processed by
Christopher Filippi, 1995
Index Terms
Subjects
Novelists, American--Texas
Document Types
First drafts
Galley proofs
Lorna Novak Papers--Folder List
1
1-3
The Blight From the East,n.d. carbon typescript, second version,
Does it Make Into a Bed?, 1963
1
4-6
Printer's copy with holograph revisions
Galley proof, Nov. 1966
(oversize housing)
How Amelia Secured the Tie that Binds with a Very Loose Knot, 1966
1
7-8
Late draft, publisher's copy, Jan.
1965
1
9
Final draft with holograph revisions, April 1966
(folder 1 of 2)
2
1
Final draft (folder 2 of 2)
2
2-5
The Swackhammer Nose,n.d. typescript, first version,
2
6-7
There's Nothing Else to Marry,n.d. first draft with holograph revisions,