urn:taro:utexas.hrc.00540. David Foster Wallace: A Preliminary Inventory of the Collection at the Harry Ransom Center Finding aid created by Stephen Cooper and Rebecca Law Harry Ransom Center, 2011 Finding aid encoded by Stephen Cooper, 19 July 2011 and Rebecca Law, September 2016. Updated by Stephen Cooper, 16 July 2025. Finding aid written in English. Collection Summary Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin Wallace, David Foster, 1962-2008 David Foster Wallace Collection 1983-2010 Manuscript Collection MS-05177 4 document boxes, 1 oversize folder (osf) (1.68 linear feet) This collection consists of David Foster Wallace related acquisitions that illuminate both personal and professional activities of the author and academic. English Acquisition:

Gifts and purchases, 2010-2016 (10-04-009-P, 10-04-010-G, 10-07-002-G, 10-10-011-G, 11-01-011-P, 11-11-006-P, 11-12-004-G, 13-07-009-G, 14-08-007-G, 14-08-008-P, 16-01-020-P, 16-03-012-P, 16-04-003-P, 16-09-002-P, 17-06-016-P, 18-12-008-G, 19-07-011-P, 2025.0062, 2025.0067, 2025.0081, 2025.0014)

Access:

Open for research

 Processed by:

Stephen Cooper, 2011; Rebecca Law, 2016

 Scope and Contents

This collection consists of David Foster Wallace related acquisitions that illuminate both personal and professional activities of the author and academic. The materials date from 1983 to 2010.

Works:

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 (2010-04-009-P).

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 (2010-10-011-G).

A faxed typescript draft of Infinite Jest. Acquired from Royal Books (2011-01-011-P).

An unpublished typescript essay titled Pearls & Swine by Wallace, written at the request of James Harmon, who wrote to well-known individuals requesting that they respond to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. (2011-11-006-P).

A photocopy typescript of a draft of Wallace’s short story Lyndon. Acquired from Glenn Horowitz Booksellers, Inc. (2016-01-020-P).

Pre-publlication proof copy of Girl With Curious Hair, 1989. Acquired from Christian White Rare Books Ltd. (2025.0104).

Correspondence:

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 (2010-07-002-G).

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 (2011-12-004-G).

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 (2014-08-007-G).

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. (2016-04-003-P, 2019-07-011-P).

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 (2017-06-016-P).

A letter with envelope from Wallace to Colin Harrison (2018-12-008-G). Donated by Colin Harrison.

Twenty-six letters, from David Foster Wallace, to Corey Washington, 30 June 1983 – 15 September 1996 (2025.0062). Acquired from Bull's Head Rare Books.

Handwritten letter from David Foster Wallace to Sven Birkerts, dated November 14, 1993 (2025.0067). Acquired from Bull's Head Rare Books.

Letters from David Foster Wallace to Christopher Hamacher, 2005-2006 (2025.0081). Donated by Christopher Hamacher.

Personal and career related:

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 (2010-04-010-G).

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 (2014-08-008-P).

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. (2016-3-012-P).

Works by others:

A limited-printing poster (2010) created by Sam Potts of a diagram of characters in Infinite Jest. Donated by Sam Potts (2013-07-009-G).

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. (2016-09-002-P).

Further acquisitions of Wallace related materials are expected.

Additional Wallace materials at the Ransom Center are located in the David Foster Wallace Papers, the Bonnie Nadell Collection of David Foster Wallace, the Don DeLillo Papers, the Steven Moore Collection of David Foster Wallace, the Little, Brown and Company Collection of David Foster Wallace, and and the James Linville Paris ReviewCollection.

 Container List Works 1.2 Democracy and Commerce at the U.S. Open,  Tennis magazine, typed drafts with corrections and correspondence, 1995-1996, undated 1.5-6 Infinite Jest, typed photocopy draft, 1995 2.1-6 Infinite Jest, typed photocopy draft, 1995 [continued] 3.2 Pearls & Swine, unpublished essay, with correspondence and contract 3.7 Lyndon, typescript, undated 1.3-4 Host,  Atlantic Monthly, drafts with corrections and correspondence, 2004-2005 4.1 Girl With Curious Hair, proof copy, 1989 Correspondence 3.1 Letter to Brandon Hobson, 1993 3.3 Correspondence with D. M. [David Markson?], Nicholas Raftopoluous, and Peyton Wallace. With two ephemera items signed by Wallace 3.4 Postcard from David Foster Wallace to Nicholas Martin, 2006 3.8 Letters to Richard Elman, undated 3.9 Correspondence with Larry Dark, with related papers, 1996-2004, undated 3.10 Letter to Colin Harrison, 11 February 2003 3.17-18 Letters to Corey Washington, 1983-1996 3.19 Letter to Sven Birkerts, November 14, 1993 4.2 Letters from David Foster Wallace to Christopher Hamacher, 2005-2006 Personal and career related 1.1 American Heritage Dictionary usage ballots, 1999-2006 * Cassette tape with David Foster Wallace reading from A Supposedly Fun Thing I'll Never Do Again (*removed to Ransom Center Sound Recordings) 3.6 English 347.02 syllabus, 1995-1996 Works by others osf Poster by Sam Potts of a diagram of characters in Infinite Jest, 2010 3.5 I Can Disappear, graded paper, undated