Poet, writer, literary critic, and academic, Reginald Gibbons enjoyed a long-standing personal and professional relationship with William Goyen and Thomas McGrath. This collection reflects Gibbons' advocacy for the publication of both writers' works, especially during his years as editor of Northwestern University's
The William Goyen Series is subdivided into three Subseries: A. Works; B. Goyen Correspondence, 1945-1983; and C. About Goyen.
The Works in Subseries A. contain short stories and novels already present in the Ransom Center's Goyen Papers. Titles include
Subseries B. Goyen Correspondence, 1945-1983, includes original and photocopied letters to and from writers Eve Caram and Katherine Anne Porter, theater director-producer Margo Jones, editor and publisher Carol Southern, and Reginald Gibbons.
Material about Goyen in Subseries C. includes articles, obits, reviews, biographical entries, a 1982 interview for
The Gibbons correspondence regarding Goyen in Series II. has much to do with his active role as Goyen's literary executor and the publication of Goyen's works. Correspondents include Eve Caram; Clark Davis; Gary Haber; Robert Phillips; Patrice Repusseau, Goyen's wife, actress Doris Roberts; Stephen Spender; Eudora Welty; and others.
The Thomas McGrath papers in Series III. are arranged in two Subseries: A.
Subseries A. contains drafts, corrections, and proofs of an interview conducted between January 30 and February 1, 1987 by Gibbons and Terrence Des Pres. The interview titled
Much of Subseries B. regarding the
Gift, 2005 (G12425)
Open for research, except for restricted correspondence and versions of
Liz Murray, 2006
An audio cassette commemorating a celebration of Tom McGrath on March 15, 1991, in Chicago was transferred to the Ransom Center's Sound Recordings Collection.