Paul Bowles papers, 1933-2008, bulk 1967-1985

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Summary

Creators:
Bowles, Paul, 1910-1999
Abstract:
Correspondence and manuscripts of Paul Bowles, American author and composer of operas, film and stage scores, ballets, songs and chamber music.
Extent:
2.20 Linear Feet (1 box, 1 folder)
Language:
Materials are in English.
Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Paul Bowles papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Background

Scope and content:

The collection contains three manuscripts by Bowles (two short stories and one musical score) as well as a series of letters between him and his friend and fellow author, Lonnie Burr. The majority of the correspondence is authored by Bowles and includes several picture postcards from Morocco and other foreign locations. Also included in the collection are two letters Bowles wrote to the William Morris Agency. Issues addressed within the collection include the political situation in Morocco and the United States, descriptions of Morocco's Tangier peninsula, discussions of contemporary writers and their work and the personal lives of both Bowles and Burr. The addendum is comprised of three folders containing original and photocopies of Bowles' correspondence, 1967-1994; Lonnie Burr's writings about Bowles, 1968-1999; and the DVD "The Many Faces of Lonnie Burr, 1950 to 2008," 2008.

Biographical / historical:

Paul Bowles (1910-1999) was an American author and composer of operas, film and stage scores, ballets, songs and chamber music. Bowles studied music with Aaron Copland and Virgil Thomson and began to write at the encouragement of Gertrude Stein. Although born in New York, Bowles spent much of his adult life in his adopted home of Morocco. Many of his novels and short stories focus on life in Morocco from the perspective of both natives and foreigners. Bowles also worked as a translator, working on English versions of French, Spanish, Italian and Moroccan originals. He earned numerous grants, awards and fellowships throughout his lifetime, including an American Book Award nomination. Bowles was married to the playwright Jane Auer Bowles (1917-1973). He died in November 1999, in Morocco.

Lonnie Burr (born 1943) is an American actor, entertainer, and writer. Burr met and became friends with Paul Bowles in 1968 as a student in a class taught by Bowles.

Acquisition information:
Purchased from Lonnie Burr, April 1985 and April 2010.
Processing information:

Processed by library staff in July 1989. Charla M. DelaCuadra created a finding aid derived from a legacy summary report in July 2020. In February 2023, Maggie Hughes processed the addendum.

Arrangement:

Arranged in loose chronological order.

Physical / technical requirements:

NOT AVAILABLE. DVD in box 1 is not available for paging until reformatted. Please contact Reader Services for more information.

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Access and use

Restrictions:

Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at the Huntington Library for more information.

Terms of access:

The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining necessary permissions rests with the researcher.

Preferred citation:

[Identification of item]. Paul Bowles papers, The Huntington Library, San Marino, California.

Location of this collection:
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, CA 91108, US
Contact:
(626) 405-2191
reference@huntington.org
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