Texas State University's Wittliff Collections has expanded its archives dedicated to Cormac McCarthy, adding 36 banker's boxes filled with his personal journals, photos, letters, and drafts of unpublished novels. This collection, compiled by McCarthy during his career, offers scholars and fans of Southern Gothic literature more insight into the Pulitzer Prize-winning author's work, as reported by TPR.
Cormac McCarthy, who passed away in 2023 at 89, is known for novels like "No Country for Old Men" and "The Road," which won a Pulitzer Prize in 2007. The expansion of the archive includes materials related to his last published works, "The Passenger" and "Stella Maris." David Coleman, Director of Wittliff Collections, noted that McCarthy was a private individual, and few were aware of the extensive records he kept. Coleman stated that this enhancement of the archives will support researchers for generations, as he told TPR.
The Wittliff's McCarthy collection, initially housed in the university in 2007, has been a magnet for global researchers, attracting them to its San Marcos campus. Now, they are set to uncover details extending McCarthy's archived timeline into the 2020s, which aligns with the acquisition details. According to a KSAT, Katie Salzmann, a lead archivist at The Wittliff, is looking forward to what this expansion means for Texas State students and faculty, as they will have direct campus access to the expansive archive, drawing scholars across the globe.
The enhanced collection strengthens the Wittliff Collections' reputation in humanities scholarship, supporting Texas State's pursuit of Carnegie R1 status, which reflects research excellence. Dennis McCarthy, Cormac's brother and literary executor, facilitated the new acquisition. He noted, "The Wittliff Collections have been a treasure trove for McCarthy scholars," according to a statement shared with TPR. This expanded collection not only honors McCarthy's literary legacy but also increases the primary resources available for literary research.
