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On Writing, By Writers - Manuscripts and Revisions
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Summary |
|
| Creator: | West, William Walter, 1925-. |
| Title: | William W. West Papers |
| Dates: | 1963-1966 |
| Size: | 2 boxes (1 linear foot) |
| Abstract: | The William W. West Papers contains materials related to the publication of West's book, On Writing, By Writers, including multiple edited drafts and correspondence with writers included in the book. |
| Language: | English |
| Repository: |
University Archives, Special Collections Research Center Syracuse University Libraries 222 Waverly Ave., Suite 600 Syracuse, NY 13244-2010 https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center/university-archives |
Biography
William Walter West was born on August 26, 1925
in Fort Wayne, Indiana. He received a Bachelor of Arts degree from the State College of
Iowa in 1948 and a Master of Arts degree from the State University of Iowa in 1953. He
also received a Ph.D. from Syracuse University in 1966, and it was there that West
worked as a professor of education, teaching some of the subjects about which he was
most passionate.
West began his career in education as a high school English teacher, working in high schools in Iowa, Wisconsin, and Massachusetts. In the early 1960s, he moved to higher education, becoming Assistant Professor of English at State University College in Cortland, New York. In 1964, he also began working with Syracuse University’s English Education Program as a visiting lecturer. West joined Syracuse University full time just a year later, when the school appointed him Associate Professor of Education at the University’s Reading and Language Arts Center.
In teaching English education at Syracuse University, West explored ways to help young people make meaningful connections between their lives and their studies. He encouraged instructors to get their students emotionally engaged in writing and literature by first teaching them to value their own experiences, passions, and observations. He also frequently discussed contemporary issues in linguistics, a subject in which he specialized, and how developments in the field could be applied to education.
West’s efforts to further these values were not contained to Syracuse University. He presented at education conferences, advised local school committees as a consultant, and worked with education organizations, such as the National Council of Teachers of English. His views were also expressed in his writing, in such educational texts as On Writing, By Writers (1966), Exploring, Visualizing, Communicating: A Composition Text (1979), and Teaching the Gifted and Talented in the English Classroom (1980).
Scope and Content Note
The materials collected in the William W. West Papers, dating between 1963 and 1966, demonstrate much of the work West (and others) put into the 1966 book On Writing, By Writers. Intended for teaching older or more advanced high school students, this book encourages students to find fulfillment and enjoyment in reading literature, to be creative in their writing and in their lives, and to examine the significance of structure in the works they read.
West wanted to achieve these outcomes by having accomplished authors write about their own work in ways that would benefit students. He contacted at least fourteen writers, of various styles and genres, to discuss which short work or excerpt of theirs would be best to use for the book, how to obtain permission to use it, and the manner of commentary he hoped to have them contribute.
These efforts are collected in the Correspondence series of the William W. West Papers. This series contains correspondence from all of the writers featured in the published edition of On Writing, By Writers. The correspondence varies in scope, with some authors engaging in detailed exchanges about the project and others complying with West’s requests in a more straightforward way. Some authors of particular note represented in this series include Ray Bradbury, John Updike, Robert Penn Warren, Paddy Chayefsky, and John Berryman. Of those, Updike’s correspondence is perhaps the most unique, as he took a different approach to cooperating with West. Rather than comment upon his own work, Updike chose to edit and discuss West’s writing on his story selected for the book. In his correspondence, Updike offers questions, comments, and corrections on West’s writing, including a discussion about whether West is misrepresenting his approach to art.
West’s efforts to write about the works of the authors with whom he corresponded are featured in the series On Writing, By Writers - Manuscripts and Revisions. This series includes much of the work done on the book, ranging from its earliest stages as an outline of chapter headings for an unnamed textbook to the final published version itself. The most substantial materials in this series are a complete early draft marked with editing notes and a galley proof, similarly annotated with editor's notes. Also included in this series are drafts of two writer commentaries and a draft of the chapter on Updike which reflects some of the revisions suggested through correspondence.
Restrictions
Access Restrictions
Please note that the collection is housed off-site, and advance notice is required to allow time to have the materials brought to the Reading Room on campus.
Use Restrictions
Written permission must be obtained from University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries and all relevant rights holders
before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this
collection.
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
Preferred citation for this material is as follows:
William W. West Papers,
University Archives,
Special Collections Research Center
Syracuse University Libraries
Acquisition Information
William West donated this collection to Syracuse University in 1966 at the request of the Archives.
Processing Information
Folders were arranged in series. Acidic newspaper clippings were copied and the originals were discarded.
Finding Aid Information
Created by: Cara Howe
Date: 2010
Revision history: Converted to EAD by Sean Molinaro, 2012