Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

Stored off-site. Users must request boxes 48 hours in advance of desired use. Neither drop-in nor next-day requests can be fulfilled. For additional information, contact Special Collections.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Jim Hinkle, Faulkner research collection, 1930-1990, Accession #11069, Special Sollections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Acquisition Information

This research material was made a gift to the Library by Mrs. Nancy H. Hinkle of Santee, California, on November 10, 1992.

Biographical/Historical Information

James Hinkle conceived the idea of a series--Reading Faulkner--of glossaries of William Faulkner's novels and established its principles, selected the authors, and worked on the various stages of planning and preparation. Hinkle believed that readers must understand each word in Faulkner's novels at its most basic or literal level before beginning to understand the works' larger issues. Hinkle spent much of his scholarly life reading about the South and things Southern, first in printed sources and then in county and city archives. These articles and records are part of this research collection. He was also intrigued by Faulkner's names, and compiled commentaries on their etymologies, their cultural and historical backgrounds, and their pronunciations. He listened to the tapes of Faulkner's readings at the University of Virginia in order to hear how Faulkner himself pronounced the names and words he wrote. The notes concerning Faulkner's names are included among the papers. Following his establishment as a Hemingway scholar, Hinkle began to study Faulkner and his works. He believed that careful reading, exhaustive inquiry, and thoughtful interpretation might allow one to slip inside Faulkner's genius and emerge a better person. He urged his students to study Faulkner with an open and inquisitive mind. Many of his best student essays, questions and answers, and notes are among these papers. [from Reading Faulkner: The Unvanquished PS3511.A86 U537 1995] James Hinkle, professor of English at San Diego State University, taught seminars on Ernest Hemingway and William Faulkner. He delivered several papers at various Hemingway and Faulkner meetings. In Hemingway studies, he was best known for work on The Sun Also Rises, and delivered a speech, "Why the American Family on the Train and the Old Basque on the Bus Are in The Sun Also Rises" at the South Atlantic MLA special SAR session to observe the 60th anniversary of the publication of SAR. He published several articles in the Hemingway Review (1986 Fall, 1982 Fall), and collaborated with other scholars on books on Faulkner, including Reading Faulkner: The Unvanquished and Reading Faulkner: Light in August and contributed an article to William Faulkner -- Materials, Studies, and Criticism (1981 April). OBITUARY. The following was taken from the "Death Notices and Funeral Announcements" of the December 11, 1990 Los Angeles Times: James Currey Hinkle died of massive heart failure on December 5, 1990. Mr. Hinkle was born on December 21, 1923 in Evansville, Indiana and had served in the 3rd Division of the United States Army during World War II as a Technical Writer in North Africa and through the Anzio invasion. He was decorated with the Purple Heart and two Bronze Stars. He married Nancy Hanks Hufstader on August 14, 1948 in Flint, Michigan. He graduated from Denison University in Granville, Ohio, then undertook graduate work at the University of Iowa, the University of Paris, and at Harvard University where he received a Masters degree in American Literature. He then taught at Harvard University, Dickinson College, Denison University, and San Diego State University where he was a faculty member for the last thirty years. His chosen fields of emphasis were the works of William Faulkner and Ernest Heminway. He was active in local youth sports thoughout the '60s and '70s. He is survived by his wife, seven children and six grandchildren. At his request, there will be no funeral service. On February 8, 1991 San Diego State University is having a Memorial service. Memorial contributions may be sent to: American Heart Assoc., San Diego County Chapter, P. O. Box 3625, San Diego, CA 92103.