Stephen Dixon papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-0236

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Stephen Dixon papers primarily document Dixon's writing career from approximately 1950 to 2018. Dixon's preferred writing method involved the use of a typewriter, and the collection is largely original typescripts and galleys of published short story collections and novels. These papers contain working drafts, original manuscripts, and corrections of revisions of the writings between the submission of the final typescript and the published work. See the Creative Works series for written materials related to Dixon's novels, plays, and short stories, as well as film adaptations of his works.

The collection also contains articles about Dixon, reviews of his work, records related to his role as a faculty member at the Johns Hopkins University Writing Seminars, and letters from publishing companies and personal correspondents. There are also eight unpublished stories written before 1960 by Dixon's brother James, whom Dixon considered his mentor.

Dates

approximately 1950-2019

Creator

Dixon, Stephen, 1936-2019 (Person)

Language of Materials

This collection includes materials in English and French.

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is housed off-site and requires 48-hours' notice for retrieval. Please contact Special Collections for more information. Collection is open for use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. Researchers are responsible for determining any copyright questions. It is not necessary to seek our permission as the owner of the physical work to publish or otherwise use public domain materials that we have made available for use, unless Johns Hopkins University holds the copyright.

Biographical Note

Stephen Dixon (1936-2019) was born in New York City. He graduated from the City College of New York in 1958 and taught fiction writing in the Writing Seminars at Johns Hopkins University. Dixon is the author of several novels and short stories. He has been nominated for the National Book Award twice: in 1991 for Frog, and in 1995 for Interstate. He was nominated for the 1992 PEN/Faulkner Award for Fiction for Frog. His writing has also earned him a Guggenheim Fellowship, the American Academy Institute of Arts and Letters Prize for Fiction, the O. Henry Award, and the Pushcart Prize.

Extent

33.97 Cubic Feet (26 record center cartons, 2 legal full-size document boxes, 1 flat box)

Additional Description

Abstract

This collection primarily documents the career of author Stephen Dixon and spans from approximately 1950 to 2018. Dixon was born in 1936 in New York City. He taught fiction writing in the Writing Seminars at The Johns Hopkins University and is the author of several novels and short stories.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Stephen Dixon donated these papers over a period of time. The first accession (89-90.41) was transferred on January 30, 1990. Accession 94-95.25 came in 1994, and accession 96-97.4 arrived on November 15, 1996. Additional accessions occurred in 2012, 2013, 2016, and 2018. Paul Maliszewski, an author who assisted Dixon with editing some manuscripts, also donated materials in 2016. Additional materials were donated by Dixon in 2019.

Related Materials

This collection contains letters received from American writer John Barth. Additional materials related to John Barth are available in The John Barth collection, MS.0499, Special Collections.

Related Materials

Additional materials donated by Stephen Dixon, including copies of his published works, are available in the Sheridan Libraries catalog. Please contact Special Collections for more information.