The Virginia Quarterly Review was established in 1925 and was originally conceived by
President Edwin Alderman in 1915. President Alderman wanted the University of
Virginia to publish a national periodical that "was solidly based, thoughtfully and
wisely managed and controlled ... a great serious publication wherein it shall
be focused and set down the very best thought ... of men everywhere in the
nation and the world on vital questions in the fields of Economics, Politics,
Ethics, Literary Interpretation and Historical Analysis...."
The first editor
was James Southall Wilson, followed by Stringfellow Barr, Lambert Davis (who was
able to maintain the journal through the Depression) Lawrence Lee, Archibald
Shepperson, and Charlotte Kohler. The VQR was in the hands of its first woman editor during World War II when the men were
away at war. Kohler's tenure lasted for an impressive
thirty three years. In 1975 Staige Blackford became the editor and continued the
high standards set by President Alderman until his retirement and death in 2003. The
next editor was Theodore "Ted" Genoways who with support from key staff has
continued to uphold the Virginia Quarterly Review as "a national journal of
literature and discussion." (Quotes are taken from Staige Blackford's foreword in the
Anthology of the 75th anniversary publication, "We Write for Our Own Time")
The collection consists of editorial correspondence with contributors during the
tenure of Staige Davis Blackford, Jr. (1975-2003) and the beginning of Ted
Genoways' tenure (2003). Included are almost all of the literary figures of this
period, and many from other fields. Included are authors' original manuscripts,
(volumes 76-79) and some book reviews, newspaper clippings and magazine articles. Of
interest is correspondence from George Core, editor of the Sewanee Review, who wrote
to Staige Blackford about the future director of the Virginia Quarterly Review. He
mentioned his concerns about the potential difficulties of a new director managing a
staff and being an editor. The collection is about 3,000 items, 10 hollinger boxes,
and 4 linear feet.
Correspondence from the editor to authors letting them know whether
their writing was accepted or rejected by the Virginia Quarterly
Review
Box-folder 6:3
2002 Editorial
Correspondence
# items
Box-folder 6:4
2003 Editorial
Correspondence
# items
Box-folder 6:5
2001-2003
Correspondence of Staige Blackford
# items
Box-folder 6:6
1977-1983
Correspondence of Staige Blackford and Greg Orr
# items
There is correspondence and poetry submissions
Box-folder 6:7
2001-2003
Correspondence about poetry
# items
Correspondence and information about how the poetry would be
organized in the journal
Box-folder 6:8
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors-A
# items
Box-folder 7:1
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors-Bacon-Bogaty
# items
Box-folder 7:2
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors-Boland-Boyd
# items
Box-folder 7:3
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors-Cadmus-Coppedge
# items
Box-folder 7:4
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors-Core-Cushman
# items
Of interest is correspondence from George Core, editor of the Sewanee
Review, who wrote to Staige Blackford about the future director of
the Virginia Quarterly Review. He mentioned his concerns about the
potential difficulties of a new director managing a staff and being
an editor
Box-folder 7:5
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors Daniels-Fessler
# items
Box-folder 8:1
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors Finley-Furgurson
# items
Box-folder 8:2
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors Gaines-Havird
# items
Box-folder 8:3
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors Mays-Just
# items
Box-folder 8:4
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors Kalserlian-Livingston
# items
Box-folder 8:5
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors Lodato-Murray
# items
Box-folder 9:1
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors Nace-Osborne
# items
Box-folder 9:2
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors Paddock-Pushcart
# items
Box-folder 9:3
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors-R
# items
Box-folder 9:4
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors-Sadler-Skloot
# items
Box-folder 9:5
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors Slavitt-Tucker
# items
Box-folder 9:6
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors Uchida-Whitfield
# items
Box-folder 9:7
2000-2003
Correspondence with Authors Williamson-Zwiep
# items
Box-folder 10:1
2001-2003
Correspondence with publishers (lists)
# items
Poet 's Market Update Sheet, Long Ridge Writers Group Market
Directory, information about listings, awards, workshops, and
grants
Box-folder 10:2
2002
Financial
# items
Capital One miles and correspondence about finances
Box-folder 10:3
1994-2003
Newspaper clippings and Magazine articles
# items
Box-folder 10:4
2000
Recognitions
1 item
There is a certificate of recognition for the Virginia Quarterly
Review
Box-folder 10:5
n. d.
Restricted
# items
There are items that have social security numbers
Box-folder 10:6
1998 2000 VQR 75th Anniversary
# items
Included is Staige Blackford's foreword in the VQR Anthology, "We
Write for Our Own Time." The Anthology was published in celebration
of the 75th anniversary of the VQR and
was a collection of the best articles compiled from the
publication.
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