Collection number: MC 26
Size: 6 boxes
(2.0 cu.ft.)
About John M. Duncan
John M. Duncan was born in Gardner, Massachusetts in 1902. After spending his youth in Corning, New York and Philadelphia, he attended the University of Oklahoma and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Education. He was a Staff Sergeant in World War II and following his discharge he married a librarian, Lillian Perkins (“Perks”), who worked at the University of New Hampshire, and they lived in Madbury, N.H. He was employed by the Office of the Division of Employment Security in Portsmouth, New Hampshire and began writing in 1948. He published his first novel in 1956. He died in 1976.
About the John M. Duncan Papers
The collection consists of various manuscripts and proofs of Duncan’s two novels for young readers, Down the Mast Road (1956) and Twelve Days ‘Til Trenton (1958), as well as some unpublished manuscripts. Also included are book reviews and memorabilia.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
This collection is open.
Copyright Notice
Contents of this collection are governed by U.S. copyright law. For questions about publication or reproduction rights, contact Special Collections staff.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], [Folder], [Box], John M. Duncan Papers, 1956-1966, MC 26, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.
Acquisitions Information
Donated:
- John M. Duncan, June 29, 1976 (Accession #: 108)
- Lillian Duncan, August 1, 1977 (Accession #: 774)
- Richard Merritt, June 11, 1984 (Accession #: 8379)
Collection Contents
Series 1: Down the Mast Road
| Box 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Box 1, Folder 1 | Partial manuscript, then untitled | |
| Box 1, Folder 2 | Typescript of various segments of manuscript, The Mast Pine: December 1775 | |
| Box 1, Folder 3 | Typescript of various segments of manuscript, The Mast Pine: December 1775, different draft from above. Pages 22-102, chapters IV-XVI | |
| Box 1, Folder 4 | Typescript of various segments of manuscript, The Mast Pine: December 1775. Pages 103-151, chapters XVII-XXIV | |
| Box 1, Folder 5 | Typescript of various segments of manuscript, The Mast Pine: December 1775. Pages 152-197 and 6 additional pages, chapters XXV-XXVI | |
| Box 1, Folder 6 | Author’s typescript of Down The Mast Road, chapters 1-8 | |
| Box 1, Folder 7 | Author’s typescript of Down The Mast Road, chapters 9-18 | |
| Box 1, Folder 8 | Author’s typescript of Down The Mast Road, chapters 19-28 | |
| Box 1, Folder 9 | Author’s typescript of Down The Mast Road, chapters 29-end | |
| Box 1, Folder 10 | Carbon copy of author’s typescript, chapters 1-7 | |
| Box 1, Folder 11 | Carbon copy of author’s typescript, chapters 8-16 | |
| Box 1, Folder 12 | Carbon copy of author’s typescript, chapters 17-25 | |
| Box 1, Folder 13 | Carbon copy of author’s typescript, chapters 26-end | |
| Box 1, Folder 14 | Publisher’s proof of Down The Mast Road, chapters 1-6 | |
| Box 1, Folder 15 | Publisher’s proof, chapters 7-15 | |
| Box 1, Folder 16 | Publisher’s proof, chapters 16-25 | |
| Box 1, Folder 17 | Publisher’s proof, chapters 26-end | |
| Box 2 | ||
| Box 2, Folder 1 | Galley proof of Down The Mast Road, February 15, 1956 | |
| Box 2, Folder 2 | Galley proof, March 7, 1956 | |
| Box 2, Folder 3 | Galley proof, undated | |
| Box 2, Folder 4 | Page proofs | |
| Box 2, Folder 5 | Dummy, pp.1-80 | |
| Box 2, Folder 6 | Dummy, pp.81-191 | |
| Box 2, Folder 7 | Unbound copy of finished book, pp. 9-96 | |
| Box 2, Folder 8 | Unbound copy of finished book, pp. 97-191 | |
Series 2: Twelve Days ‘Til Trenton
| Box 2 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Box 2, Folder 9 | Holograph draft of manuscript of Twelve Days ‘Til Trenton | |
| Box 2, Folder 10 | Typescript, first draft | |
| Box 2, Folder 11 | Typescript, second draft, chapters 1-16 | |
| Box 3 | ||
| Box 3, Folder 1 | Typescript of Twelve Days ‘Til Trenton, second draft, chapters 17-end | |
| Box 3, Folder 2 | Typescript, third draft, chapters 1-16 | |
| Box 3, Folder 3 | Typescript, third draft, chapters 17-end | |
| Box 3, Folder 4 | Typescript, fourth draft, chapters 1-8 | |
| Box 3, Folder 5 | Typescript, fourth draft, chapters 9-16 | |
| Box 3, Folder 6 | Typescript, fourth draft, chapters 17-end | |
| Box 3, Folder 7 | Typescript, copy of fourth draft, chapters 1-8 | |
| Box 3, Folder 8 | Typescript, copy of fourth draft, chapters 9-16 | |
| Box 3, Folder 9 | Typescript, copy of fourth draft, chapters 17-end | |
| Box 3, Folder 10 | Typescript, blueline proof, chapters 1-14 | |
| Box 3, Folder 11 | Typescript, blueline proof, chapters 15-end | |
| Box 3, Folder 12 | Galley proof, October 10, 1957 | |
| Box 3, Folder 13 | Galley proof, November 11, 1957 | |
| Box 4 | ||
| Box 4, Folder 1 | Galley proof of Twelve Days ‘Til Trenton, undated | |
| Box 4, Folder 2 | Page proof | |
| Box 4, Folder 3 | Dummy | |
Series 3: Short Stories and Other Works
| Box 4, Folder 4 | Holograph manuscript of untitled story | |
| Box 4, Folder 5 | Holograph manuscript of one-act play in draft form, “In Answer to Your Question.” | |
| Box 4, Folder 6 | Typescript of unpublished story, “Lars, the Uphill Skier” and letter from Eleanor Nichols, McGraw-Hill, July 29, 1960 | |
| Box 4, Folder 7 | Typescript draft of “Lars, the Uphill Skier.” |
Series 4: Miscellaneous
| Box 4 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Box 4, Folder 8 | Index cards of works consulted by John M. Duncan for both books | |
| Box 4, Folder 9 | Whittlesey House Books For Young People catalog, 1956 | |
| Box 4, Folder 10 | Book reviews: Saturday Review, Horn Book Magazine, Chicago Schools Journal, Books For the Teen Age, NYPL, Scoop, Durham Resident Advertiser and a letter from a young reader | |
| Box 4, Folder 11 | Autograph note from Elizabeth Yates, signed (Found in Gifts of True Love) | |
| Box 5 | ||
| Box 5, Folder 1-2 | Two scrapbooks, one for Down The Mast Road and the other for Twelve Days ‘Til Trenton containing letters and postcards from readers, book reviews, jacket covers, etc. | |
Series 5: Oversize Materials
| Oversize Box 1 | ||
|---|---|---|
| Oversize Box 1, Item 1 | “A Norrible Espeerience” – hand drawn cartoon of child fishing | |
| Oversize Box 1, Item 2 | 5 x7″ b and w photograph of John M. Duncan sitting at table in Dover NH Library | |
| Oversize Box 1, Item 3 | 5 x7″ b and w photograph of book cover for Down The Mast Road” | |
| Oversize Box 1, Item 4 | 5 x7″ b and w photograph of book cover for Twelve Days ‘Til Trenton | |
| Oversize Box 1, Item 5 | Pen and ink drawing by Paul Goldoni for the cover of Down the Mast Road | |
| Oversize Box 1, Item 6 | Pen and ink drawing (by Don Duncan?). A cartoon of cats playing on stairs and a woman being stopped with “Excuse me! But those stairs don’t go anywhere. They were put there just for the cats to play on.” | |
| Oversize Box 1, Item 7 | Promotional poster for Down the Mast Road with photograph of John M. Duncan | |
| Oversize Box 1, Item 8 | 20 x 16 photograph of Duncan mounted on board | |
| Oversize Box 1, Item 9 | Map of Lee, New Hampshire with inscription: “To John M. Duncan in Appreciation from the citizens of Lee – Bicentennial 1966.” | |
| Oversize Box 2 | ||
| Oversize Box 2, Item 1 | Oversized materials The following materials are stored in Map Drawer A6
| |
