Collection ID: LMC 2269
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Collection context

Summary

Creator:
Woods, John E. (John Edwin)
Abstract:
The Woods mss., 1943-2023, consist of personal papers, correspondence, and manuscripts of German-language works translated into English by John Edwin Woods.
Extent:
13 Boxes (10 standard, 3 oversized.) and 1 folio(s)
Language:
Materials are in English and in German .
Preferred citation:

[Item], Woods mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Background

Biographical / Historical:

John Edwin Woods (1942-2023) has won numerous awards for his translations, including the Helen and Kurt Wolff Translator's Prize (1996), the ALTA Translation of the Year Award (1994), the Society of Authors Schlegel–Tick Prize (1991), the PEN Translation Prize (1987 and 1981), and the American Book Award for Translation (1981). Woods has translated all of the major novels of Nobel laureate Thomas Mann and numberous other authors of German literature.

Scope and Content:

The collection includes numerous items related to John Woods' personal life and career as a translator of the works of both Arno Schmidt and Thomas Mann. There is a large body of correspondence regarding Schmidt written by Ernst Krawehl and others, as well as manuscripts of Schmidt writings translated by Woods, such as Evening Edged in Gold, School for Atheists and Bottom's Dream. Also present are an array of published and unpublished manuscripts translated from the writings of authors of German literature such as Hannah Arendt, Libuŝe Monikóvá, John Rabe, Christoph Ransmayr, Jan Philipp Reemstma, Christoph Ransmayr, and Ingo Schulze. Most of the manuscripts include the handwritten edits and annotations made by the translator.

Acquisition information:
Acquired: 2002, 2005, 2024.
Processing information:

Processed by Staff.

Completed in 2013. Updated in 2025 by Evan Brandon.

Arrangement:

This collection is organized into the following series: I. Personal papers; II. Translations; III. Arno Schmidt; IV. Thomas Mann; V. Writings by Woods; VI. Born-digital.

Physical location:
Lilly - Folio; Lilly - Stacks; ALF

Access

RESTRICTIONS:

This collection is open for research.

Many collections are housed offsite; retrieval requires advance notice. Please make an appointment a minimum of one week in advance of your visit.

TERMS OF ACCESS:

Photography and digitization may be restricted for some collections. Copyright restrictions may apply. Before publishing, researchers are responsible for securing permission from all applicable rights holders, then filling out the Permission to Publish form.

PREFERRED CITATION:

[Item], Woods mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
1200 East Seventh Street
Bloomington, Indiana 47405-5500, USA
CAMPUS:
Indiana University Bloomington
CONTACT:
(812) 855-2452
liblilly@iu.edu