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This collection consists of David Foster Wallace related acquisitions that illuminate
both personal and professional activities of the author and academic. The materials
are arranged in alphabetical order and date from 1993 to 2010. |
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Photocopies of Wallace's completed "usage ballots"
for the American Heritage Dictionary. Wallace was a
member of the company's board that governs decisions on usage, spelling,
pronunciation, etc. Donated by Steve Kleinedler (10-04-010-G). |
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One cassette tape containing a recording of David Foster Wallace reading from A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again. Also
contains readings by David Bowman and Jan Banbury. Acquired from Ken Lopez
Bookseller (14-08-008-P). |
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Primarily Wallace correspondence (1997-2005), including a Christmas card from Wallace
to "D. M." [David Markson?], a note from Wallace to
unidentified recipient, a letter from Nicholas Raftopoluous to Wallace with
Wallace's reply written on the letter, two photocopied postcards from Wallace
to
Peyton Watson, and one photocopied letter from Watson to Wallace. Also includes
two
items of ephemera signed by Wallace. Donated by Bernard Peyton Watson
(11-12-004-G). |
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Correspondence with Larry Dark, editor of the O. Henry Awards Series, beginning with
a 1996 postcard from Wallace thanking Dark for kind words on an article and ending
with a 2004 postcard in which Wallace recommends David Means’ latest work for The
Story Prize consideration. Also present is paperwork related to Wallace serving as
a judge for, and later being nominated for, an O. Henry Award. Acquired from James
Cummins Bookseller (17-06-016-P). |
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Materials written by Wallace for English 347.02 Advanced Creative Writing: Prose
including a syllabus and "Adventures in Revision, English
347" as well as a newspaper clipping written by Amy Ahrens about a reading
by Wallace in 1996 at Babbitt’s Books during his time as a professor at Illinois
State University. Acquired from Monster Pawn Normal, Inc. (16-3-12-P). |
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Items related to "Democracy and Commerce at the U.S.
Open," an article Wallace wrote for Tennis
magazine in 1995, including correspondence with Jay Jennings, senior editor at
Tennis. Acquired from Jay Jennings
(10-04-009-P). |
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Nine annotated copies of the essay "Host" for the
Atlantic Monthly, from a heavily marked early
draft to a "final final" draft. With a photocopied
letter from Wallace to Martha Spaulding of the Atlantic, a brief note from Spaulding explaining the editorial process,
and a "Semi mini style sheet for DFW." Donated by
Martha Spaulding (10-10-011-G). |
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A graded copy of a student’s story "I Can Disappear"
with notes and comments by David Foster Wallace including "Buy a dictionary or die slowly." Acquired from Monster Pawn Normal, Inc.
(16-09-002-P). |
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A faxed typescript draft of Infinite Jest. Acquired
from Royal Books (11-01-011-P). |
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A photocopy of a typed letter from Wallace to Brandon Hobson in which he gives
writing advice to the 22-year-old Hobson, comparing and contrasting his own
experiences at that age. Donated by Brandon Hobson (10-07-002-G). |
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A thank-you note to Richard Elman, a former teacher of Wallace’s, and a description
of the context of the note by Alice Elman, as well as a typed letter to Elman
on Hotel Algonquin letterhead [1988]. Acquired from James Cummins, Bookseller.
(16-4-03-P, 19-07-11-P). |
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A photocopy typescript of a draft of Wallace’s short story " Lyndon." Acquired from Glenn Horowitz Booksellers, Inc.
(16-01-020-P). |
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An unpublished typescript essay titled Pearls & Swine by Wallace, written at
the request of James Harmon, who wrote to well-known individuals requesting that
they respond to the prompt, "If you could offer the young
people of today one piece of advice, what would it be?" Harmon published
the responses in 2002, although Wallace's essay was not included. Includes Harmon's
original request letter to Wallace, two letters from Wallace to Harmon, and the
related Ballantine contract with a handwritten change by Wallace. Acquired from
Glenn Horowitz Bookseller, Inc. (11-11-006-P). |
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A postcard (2006) from David Foster Wallace to Nicholas Martin in which he encourages
Martin to find a penpal in an institution. "I'm not kidding," writes Wallace.
Donated by Nicholas Martin (14-08-007-G). |
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A limited-printing poster (2010) created by Sam Potts of a diagram of characters in
Infinite Jest. Donated by Sam Potts (13-07-009-G). |
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A letter with envelope from Wallace to Colin Harrison (18-12-08-G) |
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Further acquisitions of Wallace related materials are expected. |
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