Call Number:

C0806

Repository:

Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division

Extent:

• 1 box
• 0.40 linear feet

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Caroline Gordon Collection, Box and Folder Number; Special Collections, Princeton University Library.

Date:

1939-1982 (inclusive) and 1970-1980 (bulk)

Creator:

Princeton University. Library. Special Collections and Gordon, Caroline, 1895-1981

Form:

Correspondence -- 20th century, photographs -- 20th century., and Poems -- 20th century.

Abstract:

Consists of selected papers of American novelist Caroline Gordon, including some of her correspondence with various family members, friends, and literary associates.

Caroline Ferguson Gordon was an American teacher, literary critic and novelist. Born on October 6, 1895, she grew up on a farm in Kentucky. Gordon graduated from Bethany College in West Virginia, in 1916 and began her career working as a writer for the Chattanooga Reporter until 1924. In 1925 she married Allen Tate, a poet and literary critic associated with the Southern Agrarian literary movement. Together they pursued their careers in writing, forging close bonds with other writers such as Robert Lowell, Hart Crane, Flannery O'Connor and Katherine Anne Porter. In 1931, Caroline published her first novel, Penhally, and in 1934 released her most popular work Aleck Maury, Sportsman. "Old Red," her best known story, published in Scribner's Magazine, was awarded a second-place O. Henry Award in 1934. She also received a Guggenheim Fellowship in 1932. Her relationship with Tate grew volatile, and they divorced, remarried, and finally divorced permanently in 1959. Caroline continued to move around the country throughout her life, living at various times in North Carolina, New Jersey, New York, and Washington state. In 1978 she moved to San Cristóbal de las Casas in Chiapas, Mexico, to be with her daughter and died there on April 11, 1981.

The collection consists of selected papers of Gordon including some of her correspondence with various family members, friends, and literary associates, such as Matthew Bruccoli, Allen Tate Wood, Nancy Wood, Sally Wood Kohn, Joseph Horrell, Amelia Wood Silver, Madeleine L'Engle, and Sister Eileen Campion. In a lengthy letter (1976) to her granddaughter, Caroline Wood Fallon, Gordon discusses the art of writing and provides examples of poems and diagrams of various points of view. Also included are Gordon's review of Robert Fagles' translation of Oresteia and a few photographs of Gordon.

A further accession includes forty-two letters (1962-1963) to Gordon from the young author Joan Thomas, four letters (1962-1963) from Gordon to Thomas, and 16 pages of typed poems, probably by Thomas which she sent to Caroline Gordon for her literary advice.

The following standard abbreviations, or their variations, are used to identify materials in this collection: ALsS = autograph letters signed, AMs = autograph manuscript, ANS = Autograph Note Signed, L = Letter, TLS = Typewritten Letter Signed, TMs = typewritten manuscript.

Arranged in accession number order.