Modern American Manuscripts

The Department of Special Collections houses many manuscript materials originating in the United States since the end of the Civil War. A general correspondence file includes several hundred items, many relating to Catholic authors.

Concentrated holdings include manuscripts of missionary Nicholas Louis Sifferath, letters of poet and scholar Louise Imogen Guiney, letters addressed to librarian and editor Mary Eileen Ahern, papers of Owen Francis Dudley, Raymond Larsson, Stanley Barney Smith, John T. Frederick and The Midland Press. A few literary manuscripts of note, such as the Willa Cather letter depicted in the thumbnail graphic to the left, are mentioned in Robbins, ed. American Literary Manuscripts (Athens: Univ. of Georgia, 1977).

More complete finding aids for our modern American manuscripts are being revised and developed for eventual Web publication. At present, researchers interested in more information about our holdings in this area should write to Benjamin Panciera, Curator for Special Collections.

Additional manuscript items in this category, especially as they relate to the history of Notre Dame and the activities of its professors and departments, may be found in the University Archives.