Indiana University Writers' Conference records, 1940-2009

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Summary

Creator:
Indiana University Writers' Conference
Abstract:
Held annually since 1940, the Indiana University Writers' Conference provides workshops and classes that offer writers of all levels the opportunity to learn from a faculty of well-known and award-winning authors. Correspondence between Conference staff and potential faculty members as well as various administrative files are represented in the contents of this collection.
Extent:
6.1 cubic feet (8 boxes; 1 oversize folder)
Language:
Materials are in English
Preferred citation:

[Item], Indiana University Writers' Conference records, Collection C444, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

Background

Administrative History:

Begun in 1940 and held annually each year except for two years during World War II, the Indiana University Writers' Conference was originally organized by IU English professor Cecelia H. Hendricks to provide aspiring writers with the opportunity to learn from and interact with more experienced and often nationally renowned or award-winning authors.

Throughout its history, Conference Directors such as Ralph Collins, who took over in 1941, Robert Mitchner, and Roger Mitchell, amongst many others, and up until the current Director, Bob Bledsoe, have reached out over the years to numerous authors, editors, and literary agents to lead workshops in fiction, nonfiction, and poetry. Other topics, such as radio scripts and blogging reflected the writing styles and techniques popular to their day.

Though much of the correspondence within this collection represents failed efforts to convince well-known authors to present at the Conference, many of staff's efforts were successful, bringing a variety of significant literary figures to teach in Bloomington. As noted by Kurt Vonnegut, a 1964 faculty member, it's "the most respectable writers' conference I know."

Scope and Content Note:

This collection is comprised of records from 1940 to 2009 that represent the planning and administration of the annual Indiana University Writers' Conference.

The Writers' files series consists of correspondence between Conference staff and potential faculty spanning 1940-2004. The series is arranged alphabetically by surname. Many of the files hold regrets of the author but for those who did agree to serve conference faculty, the files hold correspondence detailing their plans. Notable authors with which staff corresponded include Margaret Atwood, Ray Bradbury, John Steinbeck, and IU alum Don Herold.

The Administrative files series, 1940-2009, is comprised of promotional items such as newsletters, press releases, posters, and brochures, as well as schedules of events, various correspondence, and lists of faculty members. Notable within this series is a detailed and thorough history of the Conference within the file titled "Writers' Conference History, 1993."

Acquisition information:
Accession 2007/012
Appraisal:

Duplicate documents, financial documents and receipts, as well as participant lists, evaluations, and transcripts were weeded from the collection.

Provenance:

Transferred to the Archives by the Writers' Conference in February 2007; Accession 2007/012. Added one item from Accession 2017/004.1154

Processing Information:

Processed by Sarah Venables.

Completed in 2011.

Arrangement:

Collection is organized into two series, Writers' files and Administrative files.

Access and use

Restrictions:

Collection is open for research. Advanced notice required.

Terms of access:

Copyrights for records originating with Indiana University administrative units, departments, and other offices are held by the Trustees of Indiana University. For more information, please contact the Indiana University Archives staff.

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Digital reproductions of archival materials from the Indiana University Archives are made available for noncommercial educational and research purposes only. If you are the copyright holder for any of the digitized materials and have questions about its inclusion on our site, please contact the Indiana University Archivist.

Preferred citation:

[Item], Indiana University Writers' Conference records, Collection C444, Indiana University Archives, Bloomington.

Location of this collection:
Herman B Wells Library E460
1320 East Tenth Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-7000, United States
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Campus:
Indiana University Bloomington
Contact:
812-855-1127
archives@iu.edu