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Peter Bowen papers, 1990-2006

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Bowen, Peter, 1945-
Title
Peter Bowen papers
Dates
1990-2006 (inclusive)
Quantity
5.8 linear feet
Collection Number
Mss 646
Summary
The papers of author Peter Bowen consist mainly of manuscripts for his published and unpublished works, including manuscripts for novels in the Gabriel Du Pré series and for novels in the Yellowstone Kelly series. Also included are articles, storyboards, notes, drafts of movie scripts, and correspondence.
Repository
University of Montana, Mansfield Library, Archives and Special Collections
Archives and Special Collections
Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library
University of Montana
32 Campus Dr. #9936
59812-9936
Missoula, MT
Telephone: 406-243-2053
library.archives@umontana.edu
Access Restrictions

Researchers must use collection in accordance with the policies of Archives and Special Collections, the Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, and The University of Montana-Missoula.

Languages
English
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Biographical Note

Peter Bowen is the author of two series of novels set in the American west. One centers around Luther Sage “Yellowstone” Kelly, a fictionalized rendering of a historical figure of the late-nineteenth and early-twentieth century. The other centers around a detective named Gabriel Du Pré, a Canadian Metis living in Toussaint, Montana.

Bowen was born in 1945 and spent at least part of his childhood in the Rocky Mountains, moving from Denver, Colorado, to Bozeman, Montana, at the age of 10. Bowen went on to study ceramics at the University of Michigan and by 1979 he had moved back to the Rocky Mountain region living in Idaho and Montana.

In 1987, Bowen published his first novel, Yellowstone Kelly: Gentleman and Scout. Yellowstone Kelly, like many of the other books in the series, is a picaresque novel chronicling the protagonist’s reluctant involvement in historical events as geographically disparate as Colonel Nelson Miles’ campaign against the Nez Percé and the Boer War. In his essay about the Yellowstone Kelly series in All Our Stories Are Here: Critical Perspectives on Montana Literature, Gregory Morris writes “beneath that ludic, playful history lies a more subversive ideological critique of the American mythos and of the American identity.” As of 2010, Bowen has published three other titles featuring Yellowstone Kelly including Kelly Blue, Imperial Kelly, and Kelly and the Three-toed Horse.

In addition to the Yellowstone Kelly novels, Bowen has published 13 novels featuring Gabriel Du Pré. The first of these novels was Coyote Wind. The Gabriel Du Pré novels often pit the townspeople of Touissant attempting to protect their community from outsiders of various ilk. The Gabriel Du Pré novels have drawn critical praise from The New York Times Book Review and Washington Post Book World, amongst other publications.

In the early nineties, Bowen published a number of articles in Forbes FYI under the pseudonym Coyote Jack.

Peter Edward Bowen died April 8, 2020 in Livingston, Montana.

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Content Description

The Peter Bowen Papers consist mostly of manuscripts of published and unpublished works by Bowen. Manuscripts for Stewball and an unpublished novel called Blood Moon are interfiled with correspondence with the publisher. The published manuscripts include works in the Yellowstone Kelly series and the Gabriel Du Pré series. In some cases, differences between the drafts and the published work reflect significant revision to plot and the ordering of events. Amongst the Kelly manuscripts is a draft of a novel titled Kelly, 1876 that may be a precursor to Kelly Blue. The collection also contains drafts and clippings of articles written for Forbes FYI under the pseudonym Coyote Jack. Many of the book length works contain storyboards that outline the action of the corresponding novel chapter-by-chapter. While some storyboards were created on large pieces of paper, others were written on adhesive-backed notepads (Post-its). Lastly, the collection contains background materials for Kelly and the Three-Toed Horse. All works are listed in alphabetical order according to either the published title or the title of the most recent draft.

Manuscript materials for Bitter Creek, Hot Bones, Montana Rose, and Solus are available as Accession 2023-041.

Manuscript materials for Badroot, Stone Rider, and The Water Lily are available as Accession 2024-043.

Essays, unpublished prose, poetry, correspondence, photos, and other materials are available as Accession 2024-009. Contact Archives and Special Collections for information.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Researchers are responsible for using in accordance with 17 U.S.C. and any other applicable statutes. Copyright not transferred to The University of Montana, with the exception of materials acquired in accession 2003-66. 2003-66 includes drafts of Wolftrap, The Envelope, and The Gig.

Preferred Citation

Peter Bowen Papers, Archives and Special Collections, Maureen and Mike Mansfield Library, The University of Montana-Missoula.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

This collection guide is arranged in alphabetical order according to the title of the work or a description of the materials. Physically, materials acquired before 2010 are interfiled in an alphabetic order. Materials acquired in 2010 and later are not interfiled.

Acquisition Information

Materials were acquired by Linda Slakey of Amherst, Massachusetts between December 31, 2002 and December 31, 2014. Additional accessions arrived through 2023.

Future Additions

Periodic additions to the collection are expected.

Processing Note

The original accessions were rearranged by the archivist according to project (work). The accession number associated with each file is written on the upper-left hand corner of the front flap of each folder.

Appraisal Notes

Formal appraisals were conducted on accessions 2006-47, 2009-19, 2010-35, 2011-045, 2013-44, 2014-44, and 2015-34.

Bibliography

Morris, Gregory L. "'I Have Had Some Statisfactory Times': The Yellowstone Kelly Novels of Peter Bowen." In All Our Stories Are Here: Critical Perspectives on Montana Literature, edited by Brady Harrison, 180-196. Lincoln: University of Nebraska Press.

"Peter Bowen." Biography, Detroit: Gale, 2005. Literature Resource Center. (GALE|H1000156863).

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Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Description: Ash Child
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 1/1
  • Description: Bad Root storyboard
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 8/6
  • Description: Badlands

    Draft is titled Malpais

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 1/2-3
  • Description: Blood Moon
    Dates: 2002
    Container: Box/Folder 1/4-5
  • Description: Blood Moon storyboard
    Dates: 2002
    Container: Box/Folder OS 9/8
  • Description: Blood Moon photocopy and correspondence
    Dates: 2002
    Container: Box/Folder 1/6-7
  • Description: Blood Moon treatment and correspondence
    Dates: 2002
    Container: Box/Folder 1/8
  • Description: Blood Moon first person draft
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 2/1-2
  • Description: The Buffalo Star
    Dates: 1990
    Container: Box/Folder 2/3
  • Description: The Buffalo Star
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 12/1-3
  • Description: The Buffalo Star draft and storyboard
    Dates: 2002
    Container: Box/Folder 8/7
  • Description: The Buffalo Star draft and storyboard (continued)
    Dates: 2002
    Container: Box/Folder 10/1-2
  • Description: Coyote Jack and Other Articles

    Includes letter to Christopher Buckley from President George Bush.

    Dates: 1990-1999
    Container: Box/Folder 12/4
  • Description: Cruzatte and Maria
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 2/4-7
  • Description: Ficard
    Dates: 2002
    Container: Box/Folder 12/5
  • Description: Ficard
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 3/1-2
  • Description: Ficard storyboard
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder OS 9/9
  • Description: Fooler draft and storyboard
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 10/3-4
  • Description: Forbes FYI columns and other magazine articles
    Dates: circa 1990-1992
    Container: Box/Folder 14/1
  • Description: The Gig
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 3/3-6
  • Description: The Goat Lady
    Dates: 1996
    Container: Box/Folder 12/6-7
  • Description: The Goat Lady
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 13/1-2
  • Description: The Gold Star Line
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 3/7
  • Description: Kelly, 1876

    Note in first folder indicates manuscript may be published. Some correlation with novel titled Kelly Blue.

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 4/1-2
  • Description: Kelly and the Clowns notes and background materials
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 4/3
  • Description: Kelly and the 3 Toed Horse
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 4/4-5
  • Description: Kelly and the 3 Toed Horse Notes
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 13/3
  • Description: Kelly and the 3 Toed Horse background materials
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 4/6
  • Description: Kelly scripts
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 4/7
  • Description: Long Son proofs
    Dates: 1999
    Container: Box/Folder 4/8-9
  • Description: Long Son
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 4/10
  • Description: Long Son (continued)
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 5/1
  • Description: Nails
    Dates: 2005
    Container: Box/Folder 5/2-3
  • Description: Nails storyboard
    Dates: 2005
    Container: Box/Folder OS 9/7
  • Description: Orion's Eyes
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 5/4-5
  • Description: Publications List
    Dates: 2006
    Container: Box/Folder 13/4
  • Description: Raven
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 13/5
  • Description: Raven draft and storyboard
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 10/5
  • Description: Rumors of the Fall
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 5/6-7
  • Description: Rumors of the Fall
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 13/6
  • Description: Rumors of the Fall
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 13/7
  • Description: Rumors of the Fall storyboard
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder OS 9/4
  • Description: Shimmer Sample Chapter and Character List
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 13/8
  • Description: Stewball draft and correspondence
    Dates: 2004
    Container: Box/Folder 6/1-2
  • Description: Stewball storyboard
    Dates: 2004
    Container: Box/Folder OS 9/6
  • Description: The Stick Game proofs
    Dates: 2000
    Container: Box/Folder 6/3-4
  • Description: The Stick Game
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 6/5-6
  • Description: Stone Rider
    Dates: 1995
    Container: Box/Folder 10/6-7
  • Description: Talons First Draft Fragment
    Dates: 2006
    Container: Box/Folder 13/9
  • Description: Talon Storyboard and Fragment
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 13/10
  • Description: The Tumbler

    Draft titled Saltimboque

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 13/11
  • Description: The Tumbler
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 6/7
  • Description: The Tumbler storyboard
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder OS 9/5
  • Description: Water Rose

    Draft titled The Snow Lady.

    Dates: 2001
    Container: Box/Folder 7/1-2
  • Description: Water Rose storyboard
    Dates: 2001
    Container: Box/Folder OS 9/3
  • Description: Water Rose

    Draft titled The Snow Lady.

    Dates: Summer 2001
    Container: Box/Folder 7/3-4
  • Description: Water Rose storyboard
    Dates: Summer 2001
    Container: Box/Folder OS 9/2
  • Description: Water Rose

    Draft titled The Snow Lady.

    Dates: circa 2001
    Container: Box/Folder 7/5
  • Description: Water Rose
    Dates: 2004
    Container: Box/Folder 7/6-7
  • Description: Water Rose storyboard
    Dates: 2004
    Container: Box/Folder OS 9/1
  • Description: Water Rose

    Draft titled Ink Rose.

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 8/1
  • Description: Water Rose storyboard
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder OS 9/10
  • Description: Water Rose

    Draft titled The Envelope.

    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 8/2-3
  • Description: Wolftrap
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 8/4-5
  • Description: Water Rose storyboard and manuscript
    Dates: undated
    Container: Box/Folder 11

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

Personal Names

Form or Genre Terms

Occupations

Titles within the Collection

  • Ash Child
  • Badlands
  • Cruzatte and Maria
  • Kelly and the Three-Toed Horse
  • Long Son
  • Nails
  • Stewball
  • The Stick Game
  • The Tumbler
  • The Water Rose

Finding aid prepared by Steven Bingo
2010

CC Attribution
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

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