Reginald Gibbons (1947-) Papers

The Reginald Gibbons Papers consist of biographical, correspondence, teaching, student, financial and publication files. Most files are arranged alphabetically within category, though the teaching, student and publication files are arranged hierarchically with the more general files found first and the most specific files following. Within each folder, the contents are arranged chronologically. Teaching materials, dating from approximately 1977 to 2003, form the bulk of the series.

Dating from 1979 to 2005, biographical materials include several curriculum vitae, press releases from Northwestern and publishing houses, news clippings documenting his awards, and some of his own writing.

The correspondence files span the years 1980 to 2002 and include subject folders for both incoming and outgoing correspondence. Alphabetically arranged files consist of assorted communication with colleagues both at Northwestern and abroad, letters and memos concerning the Illinois Literary Publishers Association, and two folders containing interdepartmental memorandums and communications with colleagues concerning the MA in literature program and the Writing Major.

The teaching files are divided into two subcategories: Northwestern University and Other Universities. Within the Northwestern University files, the first files are projects worked on for classes, teaching notes for several classes in notebooks, and assorted course packets. The remaining files are arranged by course number. Within all files, the materials are arranged chronologically. The files typically include syllabi, teaching notes, student work with comments, and correspondence with students and with other faculty. Any folder containing student’s work is restricted. The Other University files, documenting visiting professorships at Princeton and the University of Chicago, are arranged chronologically.

Spanning the years 1982 to 2003, the student files include letters of recommendations from 2002 and 2003 (organized alphabetically by student’s names within the folders), and individual student files, arranged alphabetically. Within the individual student files, the materials, which may include letters of recommendation, work done by the student with comments, and professional or personal correspondence, are arranged chronologically. These files are restricted.

The restricted financial file contains documents concerning the Fellow Assistant Research Award (FARA) which Gibbons received in 2001 to assist him with a novel and literary managing duties at TriQuarterly.

Publications files contain drafts, notes and correspondences relating to a small fraction of Gibbons’ published work. Arranged by genre, the publications include Criticism in the University, several prefaces written for issues of TriQuarterly and other publications, and book reviews published in several venues.