Samuel Beckett, 1906-1989. Irish author
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Finding-Aid for the Beckett Papers [00008]Collection Description
Papers, ca. 1946-1981
212 items
Access: Open
The papers of this famous Irish author represent one of the most the most significant research collections in the Modern Literature Collection. In January of 1965, Washington University acquired its first Beckett manuscript, the typescript of the radio play, All That Fall. Over the next few years, the Library had the opportunity to acquire the manuscripts of much of the work Beckett produced during the 1960's. Among the highlights of the Beckett Papers are the set of 16 drafts for the story "Bing." As well as extensive groups of drafts for short pose pieces such as "Assez," "Le Depeupler," and "Imagination morte imaginez;" the heavily revised galley proof of the Olympia Press edition of Watt; and the successive drafts for Play/Comedie . By the end of the decade The Beckett Papers had grown to more than 200 manuscript items, and Washington University had become one of the most important centers for Beckett scholarship in the world.
During the 1970's Washington University's acquisitions of Beckett manuscripts slowed considerably. By this time the always generous Beckett had begun to donate the manuscripts of his recent work to other institutions, notably the Reading University Library in Reading, England. In 1976 Reading University and Washington University, whose collections overlap somewhat, exchanged photocopies of large portions of their manuscripts for deposit in each other's repository. This unique example of inter-institutional cooperation has enabled researchers from either side of the Atlantic to have needed manuscript material available without embarking on a lengthy journey. In 1981 Ruby Cohn, the noted Beckett scholar and Washington University alumna, made a very generous gift of typescripts, photocopies, and several interesting mimeographed scripts of some of Beckett's recent work which he had given to her.
The library also holds the correspondence between the bookseller, Henry Wenning, and Beckett, which spans 1960-1971. Wenning and Beckett developed a close friendship out of their initial business relationship. Their correspondence deals with a range of matters, from negotiations regarding the sale of manuscripts, Beckett's remarks on works in progress, his opinions of various productions of his plays, to more personal comments concerning his attitude toward his work or toward life. Together with the other manuscript materials in the Beckett collection, this correspondence comprises a valuable record of some of the most productive years in the life of a leading 20th-century novelist and playwright.
Washington University also has extensive holdings of printed materials by and about Beckett. This collection of over 700 items includes first and variant editions, signed and annotated books, proof copies, and translations of Beckett works. A select listing from the printed materials collection, together with a complete listing of the manuscript collection, may be found in The Samuel Beckett Collection at Washington University Libraries (1985).
Bibliography
Admussen, Richard L. The Samuel Beckett Manuscripts: A
Study. (Boston: G.K. Hall, 1979).
Bangert, Sharon, comp. The Samuel Beckett Collection at
Washington University Libraries . (St. Louis: Washington
University Libraries, 1985).
Davis, Robin J.. Samuel Beckett: Checklist and Index of His
Published Works, 1967-1976. (Stirling, Scotland: The
Compiler, 1979).
Federman, Raymond and John Fletcher. Samuel Beckett: His Works
and His Critics: An Essay in Bibliography . (Berkeley:
University of California Press, 1970).
Selected Names
Beckett, Samuel, 1906-1989. Irish author