Bradford Morrow papers (Ms.2005.15)

The Bradford Morrow papers have been organized into the following five series:

Series I. Writings contains materials dated from 1955 to 2001. It has been arranged into the following subseries:

Subseries A. Bibliographies contains material such as drafts and proofs related to Morrow's A Bibliography of the Black Sparrow Press, 1966-1978 (1981) and A Bibliography of the Writings of Wyndham Lewis (1978). This series also includes a hardcover copy of Blast: 3 (1984), which contains writings by and about Wyndham Lewis, and two issues of Enemy News, the newsletter of the Wyndham Lewis Society. The materials in this subseries are arranged into a sub-subseries for each bibliography and are dated from 1978 to 1984.

Subseries B. Essays, criticism and speeches contains Morrow's first published scholarly article, "A Source for 'Palace in Smoky Light' ", as well as essays about Kenneth Rexroth, William Makepeace Thackeray's Henry Esmond, and Ezra Pound. Many of the essays in this series were written while Morrow was doing graduate work at Yale and are unpublished. This series also includes other literary essays, commentaries, and introductions. This material is dated from 1973 to 1988.

Subseries C. Novels contains materials, chiefly working manuscripts and correspondence, related to Morrow's novels. Many of the manuscripts are annoted by his editors. This subseries has been arranged into the following sub-subseries:

• Sub-subseries 1. Almanac Branch, Morrow's second novel, contains manuscripts in various stages. One manuscript contains corrections and comments by David Foster Wallace. These materials are dated circa 1990.
• Sub-suberies 2. Ariel's Crossing contains notebooks and working manuscripts written under two titles: Ariel's Crossing and Nambe's Crossing, which was a later title for the novel that was eventually published as Ariel's Crossing. These materials are dated from 1999 to 2001. Some supplementary materials such as material for the book jacket and a biographical sketch of Morrow are also included in this subseries.
• Sub-subseries 3. Come Sunday, Morrow's first novel, contains various drafts and manuscripts as well as some research materials related to the book. Some of the manuscripts are labeled using the name of the editors who reviewed them and some are labeled with the names of the places where they were written (Montauk and Sea Cliff on Long Island, New York; Longmeadow, Massachusetts, etc.). The books used for research for this novel are found in Series 4. Books. These materials are dated from 1955 to 1986.
• Sub-subseries 4. Giovanni's Gift, Morrow's fourth novel, contains early drafts, manuscripts written under alternate titles, correspondence, permissions, and an article from New York Magazine about the novel. These materials are dated from 1993 to 1997.
• Sub-subseries 5. Trinity Fields, Morrow's third novel, contains contracts, drafts in various stages, edited manuscripts and some correspondence and research materials related to the novel. Books used for research for this novel are found in Series 4. Books. These materials are dated from 1993 to 1996.
• Sub-subseries 6. Quagg contains the manuscript for Morrow's unpublished novel Quagg. Books used for research for the novel are found in Series 4. Books. The manuscript is not dated.

Subseries D. Plays contains the scripts of two unpublished plays written by Morrow in the early 1970's: Le Peuplier and Persephone and Hephaistos.

Subseries E. Poetry contains both published and unpublished poems. Drafts and the final version of his published work Posthumes are included in this series, as well as drafts, contracts and correspondence related to the children's book Bestiary. This series also includes unpublished song lyrics written in collaboration with Brazilian guitarist Sergio Assad. These materials are dated from 1970 to 1994.

Subseries F. Short fiction contains both published and unpublished short stories and magazine articles written by Morrow, as well as the only extant story version of Morrow's abandoned first novel Ennui. These materials are dated from 1974 to 1999.

Subseries G. Translations contains plays, poems, novellas, and short stories translated from Italian into English by Morrow. Most of the material that Morrow translated was written by Leonardo Sciascia and Luigi Pirandello. These materials are dated from 1971 to 1982.

Series II. Correspondence contains Morrow's correspondence with publishers and agents regarding his writings as well as letters to and from other authors and fans. Correspondence may also be found in Series 1. Writings and Series 3. Personal papers. This series is dated from 1980 to 1999.

Series III. Personal papers includes maps and ephemera from the year Morrow spent as an exchange student in Italy, informal diaries and notebooks containing writings on various topics such as the Vietnam War, a diary concerning Kenneth Rexroth's funeral, photographs, copies of articles from various newspapers and magazines, material from Morrow's business, Bradford Morrow Bookseller, including material related to its publication John Steinbeck: A Collection of Books and Manuscripts; pamphlets and other ephemera related to the litarary magazine Conjunctions; royalty statements from the New Directions Publishing Corporation for 1991-1997, biographical information about Morrow, reviews of his writings, and promotional materials regarding his books and personal appearances. These materials are dated from 1968 to 1993.

Series IV. Books contains books Morrow used for research in writing his novels, primarily Come Sunday, Trinity Fields, and Quagg. The majority of the books are related to Latin American politics and history. The books are dated from 1912 to circa 1985.

Series V. Writings by other authors contains a manuscript by the poet Martine Bellen dedicated to Morrow on his birthday, a manuscript of The Phantom Empire by poet and critic Geoffrey O'Brien, the manuscript of Don DeLillo's novel Underworld , the manuscript of The House of Childres by Coleman Dowell, and the manuscript of Patrick McGrath's novel The Grotesque. These materials are dated from 1986 to 1993.