February 3, 2015, Filed Under: Books + ManuscriptsWorld War II-era Armed Services Editions boosted troop morale and fostered a new generation of readers The book, When Books Went to War: The Stories That Helped Us Win World War II by Molly Guptill Manning, celebrates the importance of the Armed Services Editions. Published between 1943 and 1947, these inexpensive paperback editions were given to servicemen on the frontlines. As Manning points out, not only did… read more
January 27, 2015, Filed Under: Books + Manuscripts, Research + TeachingFellows Find: H. P. Lovecraft letter sheds light on pivotal moment in his career James Machin is a PhD student at Birkbeck, University of London, working on a thesis on early weird fiction, circa 1880 to 1914. He is also the editor of Faunus, the journal of the Friends of Arthur Machen. His research at the Ransom Center was funded by a dissertation fellowship… read more
January 22, 2015, Filed Under: Books + Manuscripts, Conservation, Meet the StaffMeet the Staff: Heather Hamilton, Head of Paper Conservation Meet the Staff is a Q&A series on Cultural Compass that highlights the work, experience, and lives of staff at the Harry Ransom Center. Heather has a Bachelor of Arts in English from the University of Massachusetts at Boston and a Master of Arts from Buffalo State College with a… read more
January 20, 2015, Filed Under: Books + Manuscripts, CatalogingA note from James Purdy cheers up “Wicked Witch of the West” actress Margaret Hamilton The papers of American author James Purdy (1914–2009) at the Ransom Center include a missive written to Purdy in the spring of 1971 by the actress Margaret Hamilton (1902–1985). Hamilton is, of course, best known for her role as the Wicked Witch of the West in the 1939 film version… read more
January 15, 2015, Filed Under: Research + Teaching, Theatre + Performing ArtsVideo: Fellow discusses creation of performance histories Matthew McFrederick visited the Harry Ransom Center’s Reading Room as an international fellow from the University of Reading. He conducted research for his thesis, “Staging Beckett in London: Constructing Performance Histories of Samuel Beckett’s Drama.” McFrederick’s research is part of the Arts and Humanities Research Council–funded “Staging Beckett” project, which… read more
December 16, 2014, Filed Under: Research + TeachingLost in the Archives: Video highlights fellow’s research methods Kamran Javadizadeh, an assistant professor in the English Department at Villanova University, visited the Ransom Center this fall to conduct research for his current book project, “Bedlam & Parnassus: The Institutionalization of Midcentury American Poetry.” The idea for Javadizadeh’s book began when he discovered that Ezra Pound and Elizabeth Bishop… read more
