Robert O. Bowen, 1920-
Papers, 1948-1967
18 Boxes; 9 linear feet
Ms. Group 13

 Arrangement: In two parts: Manuscripts (including biographical records) and Correspondence

Biographical note: Professor, author, poet, and editor. Held faculty positions at several universities including the University of Alabama, Montana State University, University of Washington, University of Santa Clara, University of Dallas, and Alaska Methodist University. Author of several novels and works of non-fiction, and edited several journals, including the Dallas Review and the Alaska Review. Served in the United States Navy and was a prisoner of war of the Japanese during World War II.

Summary:
Manuscripts of Bowen's published novels, The Weight of the Cross, Bamboo, Sidestreet, and of The Truth about Communism and of several unpublished works, as well as of short stories, poems, dramatic works, articles and essays and of miscellaneous material, such as notes for speeches. Contains some material for a campaign against Dallas, Texas, merchants selling goods made in Communist countries, and other materials. 

Correspondence: Academic, literary, and personal correspondence from 1949 to 1967. The bulk of the correspondence is that received by him, but carbons are included for much of his academic and literary correspondence. There are few copies of his personal correspondence.

The literary correspondence includes many letters with Alfred A. Knopf, inc., and other publishers, agent Sterling Lord, journal editors, and other people involved with Bowen's book and periodical publications, including Edward Keating, founder and editor of Ramparts, of which Bowen was an associate editor for a short time. 

There is also substantial correspondence with personnel at the universities where Bowen taught and other places where he considered employment. His dispute with Leslie A. Fiedler and others at Montana State University, which received national publicity, is aired in both his professional correspondence and in personal correspondence with many of his friends. Some of the personal correspondence received in the early sixties is representative of  right-wing political opinion of the period. He maintained a correspondence with several former students throughout the entire span covered. Notable among these are letters from CKG [Charlotte Kelly Gafford] and Cleo [Bordwell]. Other frequent correspondents include writers James B. Hall, Gene Baro, Hudson Strode, Borden Deal, and Ray B. West, his wife Mildred Bowden, Irina Kozhevnikova, editor of Soviet Woman, and Canadian poet Earle Birney.

Source: Gift of Mr. Bowen.

17 November 2002