Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Collection is open to research. However, photocopying is restricted except by permission of Mr. Casey.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

John Casey Papers, Accession 10973-b, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Acquisition Information

This material was loaned to the Library by John Casey of Charlottesville, Virginia, on December 15, 1994.

Funding Note

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Scope and Content

This collection consists of 36 items, 1977-1994, chiefly correspondence, pertaining to the literary matters and the writing career of John Casey . Letters of August 17 & November 1, 1977, from Carl D. Brandt , of Brandt & Brandt , discuss literary matters of Casey. On October 13, 1983, Michael Mewshaw (1943-) writes concerning becoming a temporary visiting writer at the University of Virginia while the search is conducted for a replacement for Peter Taylor (1917-). Mewshaw also mentions the Life for Death libel suit and his book Short Circuit being in the same light as Paul Theroux 's Great Railway Bazaar . On March 4, 1989, Danny Julian Boggs (1944-) writes on the Dartmouth issue. An April 10, 1990 letter, from Joseph Connors of the American Academy in Rome , offers Casey a residency in writing at the academy. On January 31, 1992, Rebecca Brown (1956-) writes on her work with AIDS victims and the publication of her book The Terrible Girls . On May 22, 1992, Hilary Masters remarks on the acceptance of Erika Lynn Gentry into the program at the University of Virginia and comments on Spartina and An American Romance .

There is also material sent on October 15, 1993 by Helen F. Pancake concerning the royalties on Stories of Breece D'J Pancake [by James Alan McPherson ] and a new book on Breece D'J Pancake by Tom Douglass ; enclosed is a photograph of the woodcut of Breece. There are also notes [October 1993] on staging "Snow White" at Live Arts in Charlottesville, Virginia . There are two letters, January 26 & July 20, 1994, from Richard [Jones] in London, which discuss various topics: clash between Breece D'J Pancake and Mrs. Meade, Maalouf's Child's Play , Peter Taylor 's The Oracle at Stoneleigh Court , Cormac McCarthy 's (1933-) All the Pretty Horses , Paul Watkins (1964-), Mary Lee Settle , political matters in England , Julia Crampton 's book on Maidenhall, Lori de Lawter , and Nina Fitzpatrick 's Fables of the Irish Intelligentsia .

A March 27, 1994 letter from Helen F. Pancake mentions Casey's showing at the McGuffey Art Center and encloses a letter from Michael O'Rourke , author of Darkling , who comments on the magnificent work of Breece D'J Pancake . On April 29, 1994, Tom Douglass writes concerning his book on Breece D'J Pancake and comments on certain letters to be used in the book; enclosed are transcripts of letters, March 25, 1979, from Pancake to Casey. A letter, September 12, [1994], from Jodi [Boston?] refers to Casey's apparent request for the return of his letters so that they may be placed at the University of Virginia Library . There is also a draft for a citation for William Gaddis ' (1922-) A Frolic of His Own .

Other items of notice are a photograph, June 27 n.y., of John Casey rowing at Rivanna Reservoir , and a brochure for the Sewanee Writers' Conference for the summer of 1994.