Mark Smith Papers, 1950-2022

Collection number: UA 9/11/3
Size: (8 boxes) (7.15 cubic feet cu.ft.)

About Mark Smith, 1935-2022

Mark Smith was a professor of English at the University of New Hampshire. At UNH he taught fiction writing and theory for 33 years and counted among his peers the writers Donald Hall, John Yount, Donald Murray and U.S. poet laureate Charles Simic. He designed the department’s Master of Arts in Writing program (now an M.F.A.), which was one of the earliest programs in the country.

Smith was also an American novelist and poet, and is best known for his third novel, "The Death of the Detective," a National Book Award finalist in 1975 and New York Times paperback best seller. During the course of his career he received grants and fellowships from the Rockefeller, Guggenheim, Ingram Merrill Foundation, Fulbright Foundation, and the National Endowment of the Arts.

Originally from the Midwest, Mark Smith relocated to New Hampshire in 1963 and thereafter begain his teaching career at UNH. He also lived in Maine, as well as New Mexico and Florida, and had several lengthy visits to Europe. He continued writing until the end of his life, including four novels and two short story collections, poetry and essays, largely unpublished.

About the Mark Smith Papers, 1950-2022

The Mark Smith Papers consist of correspondence between Smith and other writers and his publishers, as well as drafts and reviews of his essays, articles, short stories, poetry and novels. Smith's notes and research are also included. The collection MS 229, Mark Smith Papers, is integrated with this collection.

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 number], [Box number], Mark Smith Papers, 1950-2022, UA 9/11/3, Milne Special Collections and Archives, University of New Hampshire Library, Durham, NH, USA.

Acquisitions Information

This collection contains prior collection MS 229, as well as acquisitions from surviving family members (UA 2024.02)

Separated Material

Faculty personnel files and letters of recommendation were removed from the collection to comply with regulations governing non-public information.

Collection Arrangement

This collection is arranged alphabetically by correspondent, then chronologically by essay, article, short story, poetry and novel. The end of the collection contains miscellaneous reviews, notes and incomplete drafts.

Collection Contents

Series Series 1: Mark Smith Papers, 1950-2022

(7.15 cubic feet)

Box 1
Box 1, Folder 1		Banks, Russell, 1964-1986
Box 1, Folder 2		Bellow, Saul, 1969-1984
Box 1, Folder 3		Chappel, Fred, 1980-1983
Box 1, Folder 4		Craig, Philip, 1965-2005
Box 1, Folder 5		Davis, Paxton, 1981-1984
Box 1, Folder 6		Delbanco, Nicholas, 1980-1985
Box 1, Folder 7		Dodson, Reynolds, 1961-1992
Box 1, Folder 8		Dubus, Andre, 1967-1985
Box 1, Folder 9		Editors, 1964-1985
Box 1, Folder 10		Freund, Gerald, 1965
Box 1, Folder 11		Fiction Writers, 1972-1989
Box 1, Folder 12		Garrett, George, 1979-1983
Box 1, Folder 13		Irving, John, 1934, 1966-1986
Box 1, Folder 14		Lyons, Gene and Carr, John, 1974-1985
Box 1, Folder 15		MacDougall, Ruth, 1981-1986
Box 1, Folder 16		McCarthy, Cormac, Ellman, Richard and Hersey, John, 1966-1976
Box 1, Folder 17		McDermott, Alice, 1981-2009
Box 1, Folder 18		McElroy, Joseph, 1968-1983
Box 1, Folder 19		Monninger, Joseph, 1976-1982
Box 1, Folder 20		Millman, Larry, 1977-1986
Box 1, Folder 21		Murray, Donald, 1965-1986
Box 1, Folder 22		Poets, Yount, McBride and Hall, 1968-1984
Box 1, Folder 23		Samson, John, 1969-1978
Box 1, Folder 24		Simic, Charles, 1973-1985
Box 1, Folder 25		Swan, Gladys, 1984-1989
Box 1, Folder 26		Volkening, Henry, 1964-1972
Box 1, Folder 27		Warren, Robert Penn, 1968-1975
Box 1, Folder 28		Weesner, Ted, 1973-1990
Box 1, Folder 29		Williams, Tom, 1973-1974
Box 1, Folder 30		Miscellaneous, 1976-1985 Includes: Pete LaSalle, John Carr, William McFeeley, David Lowe, Richard Shelton
Box 1, Folder 31		Miscellaneous correspondence, 1964-1972
Box 1, Folder 32		Miscellaneous writers, 1964-2001
Box 1, Folder 33		UNH Master of Arts English Graduates, 1971-1997
Box 1, Folder 34		Former Students, 1982-1993
Box 1, Folder 35-37		Publisher correspondence, 1964-1968
Box 1, Folder 38-39		Publisher correspondence, 1973-1985
Box 1, Folder 40		Radio and movie company correspondence, 1968-1989
Box 1, Folder 41		Correspondence from Mark Smith, 1974-2005
Box 1, Folder 42		UNH correspondence, 1966-1967
Box 1, Folder 43		Correspondence regarding Guggenheim Fellowship, 1968 Includes original signed letter from fellowship trustees.
Box 1, Folder 44		Correspondence about book reviews, 1965-2007
Box 1, Folder 45		Correspondence about publication design, 1966-1979
Box 1, Folder 46		Correspondence regarding contracts, 1966-1982
Box 2
Box 2, Folder 1		School work, ca. 1950 – 1958
Box 2, Folder 2		College diploma, 1960
Box 2, Folder 3		Poetry, 2000-2016 Includes a printed copy of an assortment of poetry
Box 2, Folder 4		Book of Poetry: Swinburne’s Fibula, printed copy, draft, edits, 2010
Box 2, Folder 5		Book of Poetry: The Discoverer of Planets, partial draft, undated
Box 2, Folder 6		Book of Poetry: The Discoverer of Planets, draft, no edits, ca. 2020
Box 2, Folder 7		Book of Poetry: The Discoverer of Planets, draft, no edits, ca. 2020
Box 2, Folder 8		Book of Poetry: Neon a la Mode, draft, no edits, ca. 2020
Box 2, Folder 9		Book of Poetry: A Messenger Travels Great Distances, draft, no edits, ca. 2021
Box 2, Folder 10		Personal and autobiographical essays, 2021-2022 and undated
Box 2, Folder 11		Essay: Me and my chauffeur, undated
Box 2, Folder 12		Article: This Island of Maine, June 1978
Box 2, Folder 13		Play: The Deposition (A play for voices), ca. 1963-1976
Box 2, Folder 14		Short story: Edward, 1959 Published in the Northwestern University Tri-Quarterly.
Box 2, Folder 15		Short story: The Judge’s Chamber, ca. late 1950s Includes two drafts, one partial.
Box 2, Folder 16		Short stories, ca. late 1950s Includes The Detective, Sustenance, The Erkling, The Deposition and Skoal!
Box 2, Folder 17		Short stories, ca. 1961-1963 Includes The Cooks, Muscovado and Bergschrund.
Box 2, Folder 18		Short stories, ca. 1961-1963 Includes Monadnock, Tombolo, Seventeen Year Locusts, The Romance of Tenon and Mortise, Bully of the Town and Three Buttons Down.
Box 2, Folder 19		Short story: Toymaster, ca. 1961-1963
Box 2, Folder 20		Short story: Beer (first proof), 1972
Box 2, Folder 21		Short story: The Chuck Wagon Gang, ca. 1980s Includes multiple drafts.
Box 2, Folder 22		Short story: The Daughters of Melanippa, ca. 1980s Includes multiple drafts.
Box 2, Folder 23		Short story: Sweethearts on Parade, ca. 1980s Includes multiple drafts.
Box 2, Folder 24		Short story: Million Lonesome Women, ca. 1980s Includes multiple drafts.
Box 2, Folder 25		Short story: Rent-a-cop, ca. 1980s Includes multiple drafts.
Box 2, Folder 26		Short story: Shaking the Naked Ladies Out, ca. 1980s Includes multiple drafts.
Box 2, Folder 27		Short story: The Ultra Fox, ca. 1980s Includes multiple drafts.
Box 2, Folder 28		Short story: Coquillage or Fruit de Mer, ca. 1980s Includes multiple drafts.
Box 2, Folder 29		Short story: The Sweet Mistreater, ca. 1980s Includes multiple drafts.
Box 2, Folder 30		Short story: Choctaw Becomes Zolanda, 2022
Box 2, Folder 31		Novel: Toyland (draft), ca. 1961-1963
Box 3
Box 3, Folder 1-5		Novel: Toyland (draft), pages 1-241, ca. 1961-1963
Box 3, Folder 6-10		Novel: Toyland (draft), pages 1-241, ca. 1964
Box 3, Folder 11		Toyland screenplay, undated Written by Martin Goldman.
Box 3, Folder 12		Toyland editor’s notes, 1965
Box 3, Folder 13		Toyland reviews, 1965-1967
Box 3, Folder 14-21		Novel: The Middleman (draft), introduction and pages 1-343, 1967
Box 3, Folder 22		The Middleman reviews, 1967-1977
Box 3, Folder 23-33		Novel: The Death of the Detective (draft), pages 1-421, ca. 1973-1974
Box 3, Folder 34-36		Novel: The Death of the Detective (draft), Chapter 16-18, ca. 1973-1974
Box 3, Folder 37		Novel: The Death of the Detective (draft), Chapter 20, ca. 1973-1974
Box 3, Folder 38-40		Novel: The Death of the Detective (draft), Chapter 22-24, ca. 1973-1974
Box 3, Folder 41-47		Novel: The Death of the Detective (setting copy manuscript), pages 1-975, 1974
Box 4
Box 4, Folder 1		Novel: The Death of the Detective publicity, 1975-1982
Box 4, Folder 2-4		Novel: The Death of the Detective (galley proof), pages 1-228, ca. 1970s
Box 4, Folder 5-45		Novel: The Death of the Detective (draft), Chapters 1-40 and notes, ca. 1970s
Box 5
Box 5, Folder 1-4		Novel: The Death of the Detective (partial draft), pages 504-996, ca. 1970s
Box 5, Folder 5-10		Novel: The Death of the Detective (draft), pages 1-996, ca. 1970s
Box 5, Folder 11		The Death of the Detective Reviews, 1974-2006
Box 5, Folder 12-13		Novel: The Moon Lamp (draft), pages 1-230, 1974
Box 5, Folder 14		Novel: The Moon Lamp, index, 1975
Box 5, Folder 15-16		Novel: The Moon Lamp (draft), chapters 1-15, ca. 1975
Box 5, Folder 17-18		Novel: The Moon Lamp (manuscript), pages 1-313, 1976
Box 5, Folder 19		Novel: The Moon Lamp (page proof), 1976 Includes British publisher version.
Box 5, Folder 20		Novel: The Moon Lamp (bound page proof), 1976
Box 5, Folder 21		The Moon Lamp reviews, 1976
Box 5, Folder 22		The Moon Lamp publicity, 1976
Box 6
Box 6, Folder 1		Novel: The Moon Lamp (page proof), 1975
Box 6, Folder 2		Novel: The Moon Lamp (page proof), 1976
Box 7
Box 7, Folder 1		Novel: The Delphinium Affair (The Delphinium Girl), draft, 1978
Box 7, Folder 2-3		Novel: The Delphinium Girl (partial draft), pages 15-266, ca. 1978
Box 7, Folder 4		Novel: The Delphinium Girl (partial draft), pages 320-389, ca. 1978
Box 7, Folder 5		Novel: The Delphinium Affair (The Delphinium Girl) partial draft, 1979 Copy mailed by Harper and Row.
Box 7, Folder 6		Novel: The Delphinium Girl (copy edited), 1979
Box 7, Folder 7		Novel: The Delphinium Girl (typesetting copy), 1980
Box 7, Folder 8		The Delphinium Girl reviews, 1980
Box 7, Folder 9-10		Novel: Sweet Mistreaters (draft), pages 1-384, October 1978 Copy mailed by Russell and Volkening (agent).
Box 7, Folder 11-12		Novel: Sweet Mistreaters (draft), pages 1-364 and outline, November 1978 Copy mailed by Russell and Volkening (agent).
Box 7, Folder 13		Novel: Sweet Mistreaters (draft), ca. 1978
Box 7, Folder 14		Sweet Mistreaters notes, ca. mid 1970s
Box 7, Folder 15		Novel: Jerusalem (draft), ca. 1970s
Box 7, Folder 16		Novel: Jerusalem (draft), October 1978 Copy mailed by Russell and Volkening (agent).
Box 7, Folder 17		Novel: Doctor Blues (partial copy-edited version), pages 1-35; 71-200, 1983
Box 7, Folder 18		Novel: Doctor Blues (partial copy-edited version), pages 267-420, 1983
Box 7, Folder 19		Novel: Doctor Blues (partial copy-edited version), pages 421-472; 522-635, 1983
Box 7, Folder 20		Doctor Blues reviews, 1983
Box 7, Folder 21		Novel: Smoke Street (original typescript), 1985
Box 7, Folder 22		Smoke Street reviews, 1984-1985
Box 7, Folder 23		Novel: For Fear of Little Men (draft), ca. 1990s
Box 7, Folder 24		Novel: For Fear of Little Men (draft), pages 1-157, pre-1998
Box 8
Box 8, Folder 1		Novel: For Fear of Little Men (draft), pages 158-276, pre-1998
Box 8, Folder 2		Novel: For Fear of Little Men (draft), post 2010
Box 8, Folder 3-4		Novel: The Smell of Onions (draft), pages 1-268, pre-1998
Box 8, Folder 5		Novel: The Smell of Onions (draft), ca. 1990s
Box 8, Folder 6		Novel: The Smell of Onions (draft), ca. 1990s
Box 8, Folder 7		Novel: The Smell of Onions (draft), ca. 1990s
Box 8, Folder 8		Novel: The Smell of Onions (partial draft), ca. 1990s
Box 8, Folder 9		Novel: The Smell of Onions (draft), post 2010
Box 8, Folder 10		Novel: The Deadly Stream of Consciousness, post 2010
Box 8, Folder 11		Novel: True Crime Writer (partial draft), ca. 2010s
Box 8, Folder 12		Novel: Sweethearts on Parade (partial draft), ca. 1990s
Box 8, Folder 13		Novel: Sweethearts on Parade, a compilation of short stories, ca. 2010s
Box 8, Folder 14		Novel: The By-Turned Lover (partial manuscript), undated
Box 8, Folder 15		Novel: De Gama (partial draft), undated
Box 8, Folder 16		West Point novel research, 1984
Box 8, Folder 17		Book Jackets, undated Includes Toyland, Death of the Detective, Doctor Blues, The Moon Lamp, The Middleman.
Box 8, Folder 18		Miscellaneous chapters from novels, undated
Box 8, Folder 19		Partial draft, undated
Box 8, Folder 20		Miscellaneous loose papers from drafts, undated
Box 8, Folder 21		Mark Smith reviews of others’ work, 1975-1976 and undated
Box 8, Folder 22		Mark Smith publicity, 1983-1984 and undated
Box 8, Folder 23		Articles about Mark Smith, 1983-2014
Box 8, Folder 24		Dictionary of Literary Bibliography (DLB) Yearbook article about Mark Smith, 1988
Box 8, Folder 25		Featured Poet: Poetry Review, 2009
Box 8, Folder 26		Hardcover notebook, undated
Box 8, Folder 27		Miscellaneous notes, undated
Box 8, Folder 28		Miscellaneous, undated
Box 8, Folder 29		UNH related files and curriculum vitae, ca. 1971-2010 Includes letters of recommendation from Saul Bellow and Robert Penn Warren.