Thomas McGrath Papers
Collection
Identifier: Mss 237
Scope and Content
The Thomas McGrath papers consist of correspondence and manuscripts. The Correspondence Series covers the period January 15, 1970 to April 10, 1971. It consists entirely of incoming letters that have been arranged chronologically. The correspondence, mainly with literary friends and former students, concerns a mixture of literary subjects and personal matters. Also, there are various letters giving opinions and inquiries about Letter to an Imaginary Friend, Parts I and II which was published in 1970. For a detailed listing of the correspondence see the calendar section of the finding aid.
The Manuscripts Series consists of a photocopy of Mr. McGrath's Letter to an Imaginary Friend, Part II and several poems. The original manuscript was returned to Mr. McGrath upon his request. The Letter to an Imaginary Friend manuscript is a handwritten, edited draft. It is close to being a final draft. Parts I to IV (pages 1-11 and 1-72) are on individual sheets while Parts IV to VI (pages 73-113) are in a bound ledger.
The Subject Files Series contains drafts of several poems by Mr. McGrath, including one written on a beer coaster and another on check blanks. The titles include, Silence and Solitude, After I'm Gone, Easter Song, Again: This Room, In the Street, In this Time, and Landscape with Birds, Early Spring. The two small notebooks contain some of Mr. McGrath's personal thoughts, literary phrases and reminders for himself.
The Manuscripts Series consists of a photocopy of Mr. McGrath's Letter to an Imaginary Friend, Part II and several poems. The original manuscript was returned to Mr. McGrath upon his request. The Letter to an Imaginary Friend manuscript is a handwritten, edited draft. It is close to being a final draft. Parts I to IV (pages 1-11 and 1-72) are on individual sheets while Parts IV to VI (pages 73-113) are in a bound ledger.
The Subject Files Series contains drafts of several poems by Mr. McGrath, including one written on a beer coaster and another on check blanks. The titles include, Silence and Solitude, After I'm Gone, Easter Song, Again: This Room, In the Street, In this Time, and Landscape with Birds, Early Spring. The two small notebooks contain some of Mr. McGrath's personal thoughts, literary phrases and reminders for himself.
Dates
- 1970-1971.
Creator
- McGrath, Thomas, 1916-1990. (Person)
Access
The collection is open under the rules and regulations of the NDSU Archives.
Copyrights
The copyright is not held by the Institute for Regional Studies.
Biography
Thomas McGrath was born November 20, 1916 near Sheldon, North Dakota, the son of James Lang and Catherine (Shea) McGrath. After graduating from local schools, he attended the University of North Dakota in 1935 from where he was graduated in 1939. In 1940 he received an M.A. Degree from Louisiana State University and then taught for a year at Colby College at Waterville, Maine. With the entry of America into World War II, Mr. McGrath served in the U.S. Army Air Forces from 1942 to 1945. In 1947 he was a Rhodes Scholar at New College, Oxford University in England. Mr. McGrath from 1950 to 1954 taught at Los Angeles State College and in 1960 to 1961 at Post College on Long Island, New York. In 1961 he came to North Dakota State University as Assistant Professor of English, and in 1969 he accepted a position at Moorhead State University.
Mr. McGrath's career as a poet made him a leading writer in America. Among his work are To Walk a Crooked Mile, Letter to an Imaginary Friend, The Movie at the End of the World: Selected Poems, The Gates of Ivory, and The Gates of Horn. He authored some twenty film scripts, was editor of Crazy Horse and assistant editor of California Quarterly and other literary magazines. Among his awards are the Alan Swallow Poetry Book Award in 1954 for Figures from a Double World, the Amy Lowell Traveling Poetry Scholarship (1965-1966) and a Guggenheim Fellowship (1967-1969).
Mr. McGrath married Eugenia Johnson on February 13, 1960 and they had one son Thomas Samuel Koan McGrath. Mr. McGrath was a member of the Association of Rhodes Scholars and Phi Beta Kappa. He died September 19, 1990.
Mr. McGrath's career as a poet made him a leading writer in America. Among his work are To Walk a Crooked Mile, Letter to an Imaginary Friend, The Movie at the End of the World: Selected Poems, The Gates of Ivory, and The Gates of Horn. He authored some twenty film scripts, was editor of Crazy Horse and assistant editor of California Quarterly and other literary magazines. Among his awards are the Alan Swallow Poetry Book Award in 1954 for Figures from a Double World, the Amy Lowell Traveling Poetry Scholarship (1965-1966) and a Guggenheim Fellowship (1967-1969).
Mr. McGrath married Eugenia Johnson on February 13, 1960 and they had one son Thomas Samuel Koan McGrath. Mr. McGrath was a member of the Association of Rhodes Scholars and Phi Beta Kappa. He died September 19, 1990.
Extent
.4 Linear Feet (.4 linear ft.)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Incoming letters from literary friends and former students regarding literary subjects and personal matters, including his teaching career, personal health, being blacklisted, his marriage, and birth of his son Thomas Samuel Koan McGrath. Includes a photocopy of his manuscript for Letter to an imaginary friend, part II, and drafts of various poems. There is also a calendar listing of the letters including writer, date, and summary of contents.
Provenance
On loan from Thomas McGrath, Moorhead, Minnesota, through Dr. Catherine Cater,
Spring 1971.
Property rights
On loan from Thomas McGrath.
- American poetry -- 20th century.
- Blacklisting of authors -- Minnesota.
- Blacklisting of authors -- North Dakota.
- McGrath, Thomas, 1916-1990.
- Moorhead State University. -- : Faculty.
- Motion picture authorship.
- North Dakota State University. -- : Faculty.
- Poetry.
- Poets, American -- Minnesota -- 20th century.
- Poets, American -- North Dakota -- 20th century.
Creator
- McGrath, Thomas, 1916-1990. (Person)
- McGrath, Thomas, 1916-1990. (Person)
- Title
- Finding Aid to the Thomas McGrath Papers
- Description rules
- Appm
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Institute for Regional Studies Repository
Contact:
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu
West Building N
3551 7th Avenue North
Fargo North Dakota 58102 United States
ndsu.archives@ndsu.edu