Collection context
Summary
- Creators:
- Carpenter, Don
- Abstract:
- The Don Carpenter Papers, 1950-1993, consist of writings, and a small amount of correspondence and biographical materials. The bulk of the collection consists of writings, including drafts, short stories, novels and screenplays, both published and unpublished. The materials found in the collection includes his drafts and final revisions of Hard Rain Falling, Getting Off, The True Life of Story of Jody McKeegan, Blade of Light and A Couple of Comedians.
- Extent:
- Number of containers: 9 cartons Linear feet: 11.25
- Language:
- Collection materials are in English.
Background
- Scope and content:
-
The Don Carpenter Papers, 1950-1993, consist of writings, and a small amount of correspondence and biographical materials. The bulk of the collection consists of writings, including drafts, short stories, novels and screenplays, both published and unpublished. The materials found in the collection includes his drafts and final revisions of Hard Rain Falling, Getting Off, The True Life of Story of Jody McKeegan, Blade of Light and A Couple of Comedians.
Writings include notes, drafts, edited drafts, and the final versions of Carpenter's works. It also includes the work done for his famous novel and Hollywood move, Payday. A majority of the collection consists of materials related to his novel Blade of Light, which also includes the screen play and galley proofs. The collection also includes his unpublished novel Friday's at Enrico's.
Correspondence includes letters written to his family and friends; notable correspondents include Norman Mailer and Philip Whalen. The biographical materials consist of interviews given by Carpenter about his life and work.
- Biographical / historical:
-
Don Carpenter was born in Berkeley, California on March 16, 1931 and died in Mill Valley, California on July 28, 1995. Carpenter grew up in northern California with his family, and completed high school in Portland, Oregon before serving in the military during the Korean War. After the war, Carpenter returned to Portland, Oregon where he completed his B.S. at Portland State College. In 1956, Carpenter married Martha Ryherd and had two daughters, Bonnie and Leha. Carpenter eventually received his M.A. from San Francisco State College. While in northern California, Carpenter taught English but eventually discontinued teaching and spent most of his life writing fiction, which included short stories, novels, and screenplays. He also wrote for different publications and magazines, writing short book and novel reviews and also publishing his own short fiction. Carpenter is known for his first novel, Hard Rain Falling, which lead him to write more novels such as A Couple of Comedians. Though he was known greatly for his novels, Carpenter also wrote many short stories and several novels that remained unpublished, such as his novel Friday's At Enrico's . Carpenter's novel, Payday, was made into a movie in 1973.
- Acquisition information:
- The Don Carpenter Papers were purchased by The Bancroft Library in 2002.
- Physical location:
- Many of the Bancroft Library collections are stored offsite and advance notice may be required for use. For current information on the location of these materials, please consult the Library's online catalog.
- Rules or conventions:
- Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: a Content Standard
Access and use
- Location of this collection:
-
University of California, Berkeley, The Bancroft LibraryBerkeley, CA 94720-6000, US
- Contact:
- 510-642-6481