View XML QR Code

John Jakes Papers, 1951-1989

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Jakes, John, 1932-2023
Title
John Jakes Papers
Dates
1951-1989 (inclusive)
Quantity
12 cubic ft. (12 boxes) + digital
Collection Number
10190
Summary
John Jakes was an American author, known for historical and speculative fiction. This collection contains manuscripts from John Jakes’ writing career. Included are manuscripts of short stories, scripts, and books written by Jakes.
Repository
American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming
American Heritage Center
University of Wyoming
1000 E. University Ave.
Dept. 3924
Laramie, WY
82071
Telephone: 3077663756
ahcref@uwyo.edu
Access Restrictions

There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public. However, the collection will require the completion of a use agreement before any reproductions can be made, and no reproductions can be made of any of the material within box 1.

Languages
English
Return to Top

Historical Note

John Jakes was an American author, known for historical and speculative fiction. John William Jakes was born March 31, 1932, in Chicago. Jakes studied creative writing at DePauw University in Indiana and started his career by selling stories to pulp magazines. He married his wife Rachel in 1951, and in 1952, they appeared together on the game show Beat the Clock. John graduated from DePauw in 1953 and went on to earn an MA in American Literature from Ohio State University. They moved to Dayton, Ohio in 1961, where Jakes worked as a copywriter for several advertising agencies. Over those ten years, he wrote fiction at night and on the weekends, and in 1971, John began writing full-time. Over the course of his career, he wrote under a few pseudonyms, the two most famous being the names Jay Scotland and J.X. Williams. The Jakes moved to Florida in the 70s and had four children. John Jakes died in Sarasota on March 11, 2023, at the age of 90.

While at DePauw University John Jakes published speculative fiction stories and in the twenty years after graduating college, he published dozens of stories and several novels, most of which were fantasy fiction, science fiction and westerns, as well as historical fiction. Jakes was a member of the Swordsman and Sorcerers’ Guild of America, a group of heroic fantasy authors founded in the 1960s. They helped to promote the “Sword and Sorcery” subgenre, which Jakes published the Brak the Barbarian stories within. John’s popularity skyrocketed with the publication of his Kent Family Chronicles, which was a bestselling American Bicentennial series of books in the mid to late 70s. He continued to publish more popular works of historical fiction, most dealing with American History. The most famous of which was his North and South trilogy about the U.S. Civil War, which was later adapted into an ABC miniseries. John also ventured into writing stage adaptations, and his adaptation of Charles Dickens’s A Christmas Carol was first performed in Hilton Head and has since become a popular production for university and regional theaters.

Return to Top

Content Description

This collection contains manuscripts from John Jakes’ writing career. Included are manuscripts of short stories, scripts, and books written by Jakes. This includes drafts of his famous North and South Trilogy, his children’s story, “Susanna of the Alamo” and his “California Gold” novel. Also included are correspondence, information about the sale of the rights to “California Gold” and ledgers for the sale of his short stories.

Return to Top

Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright Information

The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.

Restrictions on Use

Statement on Potentially Harmful Language and Images Found in Collections

The American Heritage Center aspires to approach all areas of our work in ways that are respectful to those who create, use, and are represented in our collections. For a variety of reasons, however, users may encounter offensive or harmful language or images in some of our finding aids, catalogs, and collection materials.

Note that the AHC does not censor or alter contents of the collections as they provide context and evidence of a time, people, place, or event. Therefore, we encourage users to bring questions and concerns about descriptions in our finding aids to our attention via email or anonymous web-form. For more information, read our full statement.

Preferred Citation

Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.

Return to Top

Administrative Information

Related Materials

John Jakes Papers, MS 0110, Browne Popular Culture Library, University Libraries, Bowling Green State University.

John Jakes Papers, Rare Books and Special Collections, University of South Carolina Libraries.

John William Jakes papers, MSD-1953-001. Archives of DePauw University and Indiana United Methodism.

Acquisition Information

This material was recieved from John Jakes between 1982 and 1990.

Processing Note

This collection was processed by Brittany Heye in May of 2024.

Return to Top

Detailed Description of the Collection

  • Container: Box

    • Description: Correspondence
      Dates: 1958, 1982, 1985, undated
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: Correspondence to Michael Avalone
      Dates: 1967-1971
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: "Black in Time" A Science Fiction Entertainment Novel
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: "Susanna of the Alamo: A True Story" by John Jakes and designed and illustrated by Paul Bacon
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: "Susanna of the Alamo"- first draft text
      Dates: 1985
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: "Susanna of the Alamo"- second and third drafts
      Dates: 1985, 1989
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: "Susanna of the Alamo"- drafts
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: "Susanna of the Alamo"- notes & correspondence
      Dates: 1989
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: "Susanna of the Alamo"- photocopy of original thumbnail layout by artist (Paul Bacon)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: "Susanna of the Alamo"- Publisher's Press Packet
      Dates: 1989
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: "Susanna of the Alamo"- revised text with suggested cuts added
      Dates: 1985
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: "Susanna of the Alamo"- text
      Dates: 1985
      Container: Box 1
    • Description: File Ledger Sheets- Short Stories
      Dates: 1951-1956
      Container: Box 11
    • Description: File Ledger Sheets- Short Stories (A-L)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 11
    • Description: File Ledger Sheets- Short Stories- unsold (current)
      Dates: undated
      Container: Box 11
    • California Gold:

      Container: Box

      • Description: Sale of "California Gold" hard and soft rights
        Dates: 1986
        Container: Box 1
      • Description: Final Copy
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 1
      • Description: In Process Items
        Dates: 1989
        Container: Box 1
      • Description: Master Typesetting
        Dates: 1989
        Container: Box 1-2
      • Description: Outline (first and final drafts)
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 2
      • Description: Volume Six- "Power and Glory, 1899-1903"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 2
      • Description: Volume Six- "Power and Glory, 1899-1903" typed final copy
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 2
      • Description: Author's Treatment for an 8-hr TV Mini Series
        Dates: 1990
        Container: Box 2
    • North and South Trilogy:

      Container: Box

      • Description: Book One- "North and South"- first draft
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 4
      • Description: Book One- "North and South"- first draft outline
        Dates: January 1980
        Container: Box 4
      • Description: Book One- "North and South"-outline
        Dates: 1980
        Container: Box 4
      • Description: Book One- "North and South"- pre-production manuscript
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 4-5
      • Description: Book One- "North and South"- style sheet
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 5
      • Description: Book One- "North and South"- typed final draft
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 5
      • Description: Book One- "North and South"- galley proofs
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 5-6
      • Description: Book One- "North and South"- copy edited manuscript (boxed)
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 6
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- draft
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 7
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Book One- "A Vision from Scott"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 7
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Book Two- "A Worse Place Than Hell"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 7
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Book Three- "Let Us Die to Make Men Free"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 8
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Book Four- "The Butcher's Bill"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 8
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Book Five- "The Judgements of the Lord"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 8
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Galley Proof
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 8
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Prologue and Book One- "A Vision from Scott" Galley Proof
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 8
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Book Two- "The Downward Road" Galley Proof
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 8
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Book Four- "Let Us Die to Make Men Free" Galley Proof
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 8
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Book Five- "The Butcher's Bill" Galley Proof
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 9
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Edits and Afterword
        Dates: 1984
        Container: Box 9
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Miscellaneous Notes
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 9
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Outline
        Dates: 1982
        Container: Box 9
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Outline- Author's Annotated Copy
        Dates: 1982
        Container: Box 9
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Replacement Pages
        Dates: 1984
        Container: Box 9
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Indexes to Research Books
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 9
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Story Detail Notes
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 9
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- copy edited manuscript (boxed)
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 9
      • Description: Book Two- "Love and War"- Uncorrected Proof (bound)
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 9
      • Description: Book Three- "Heaven and Hell"- Draft
        Dates: 1987
        Container: Box 10
      • Description: Book Three- "Heaven and Hell"- Final Outline
        Dates: August 1986
        Container: Box 10
      • Description: Book Three- "Heaven and Hell"- First Outline
        Dates: 1985
        Container: Box 10
      • Description: Book Three- "Heaven and Hell"- Galley Proof
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 10
      • Description: Book Three- "Heaven and Hell"- Miscellaneous
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 10
      • Description: Book Three- "Heaven and Hell"- Original Page Revisions
        Dates: 1987
        Container: Box 10
      • Description: Book Three- "Heaven and Hell"- Source Book Indexes and Excerpts
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 10
      • Description: Book Three- "Heaven and Hell"- Unused First Draft material
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 11
      • Description: Book Three- "Heaven and Hell"- Working Notes
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 11
      • Description: Book Three- "Heaven and Hell"- copy edited manuscript (boxed)
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 11
      • Description: Book Three- "Heaven and Hell"- 3 5in. Floppy discs- Author's Final Computerized MS
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box digital, Folder ahcdm_10190_001-003
    • Scripts:

      Container: Box

      • Description: "Tribute" A Play in Two Acts by Bernard Slade
        Dates: 1978
        Container: Box 2
      • Description: "The American Bicentennial Series"- No. 50302- adapted for television by John Wilder, teleplay by Guerdon Trueblood
        Dates: January 31, 1978
        Container: Box 2
      • Description: "The American Bicentennial Series"- No. 85107- adapted for television by John Wilder, teleplay by Guerdon Trueblood
        Dates: November 23, 1977
        Container: Box 2
      • Description: "North and South"- Episode One (written by Douglas Hayes)
        Dates: 1984
        Container: Box 3
      • Description: "North and South"- Episode Two (written by Paul Edwards)
        Dates: 1984
        Container: Box 3
      • Description: "North and South"- Episode Three (written by Kathleen A. Shelley)
        Dates: 1984
        Container: Box 3
      • Description: "North and South"- Episode Four (written by Patricia Green)
        Dates: 1984
        Container: Box 3
      • Description: "North and South"- Production Schedule
        Dates: 1985
        Container: Box 3
      • Description: "North and South"- Storylines
        Dates: 1983
        Container: Box 3
      • Description: "North and South II"- first draft- Episode One, Part Two (written by Patricia Green)
        Dates: 1985
        Container: Box 3
      • Description: "North and South II"- Episode Two, Part Two (written by Patricia Green)
        Dates: 1985
        Container: Box 3
      • Description: "North and South II"- Episode Three, Part Two (written by Patricia Green)
        Dates: 1985
        Container: Box 3
      • Description: "North and South II"- Episode Four, Part Two (written by Patricia Green)
        Dates: 1985
        Container: Box 3
      • Description: "North and South II"- Final Draft-- Shooting Script prepared during production
        Dates: September 11, 1985
        Container: Box 3
      • Description: "North and South II"- Part Two
        Dates: 1985
        Container: Box 3
      • Description: "North and South II"- Revised Step Outline
        Dates: August 9, 1985
        Container: Box 3
      • Description: "The Rebels" parts I and II- teleplay by Sean Baine and R.A. Cinader
        Dates: 1978-1979
        Container: Box 3
      • Description: "The Seekers" part 1- teleplay by Steve Hayes
        Dates: 1978-1979
        Container: Box 3
      • Description: "The Seekers" part 2- teleplay by Steve Hayes
        Dates: 1978-1979
        Container: Box 3
    • Short Stories:

      Container: Box

      • Description: "The Agape Machine" published title- "The Long Love In"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "A Majesty of Dolphins" published as "The Highest Form of Life"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "And the Masters Walk"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Atlas Secrets" published title- "The Deadly Mission" by Alexander Blade
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Beast with A Hundred Skins"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Blizzardbrain" by Darius John Granger
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Coffins to Mars"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Countdown to Coffin Hill" by C.H. Thames
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Devils in the Walls" 2nd Expanded version
        Dates: 1963
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Don't Shoot the Wergs"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Doom Jungle"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: Fact Articles
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Feed Me, Mr. Wodgett"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Ghoul's Garden"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Girl in the Gem"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "I, Time" by Stephen Wilder
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "In the Days of King Arsgrat"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Keepers of the Dreaming Trees" published as "The Dreaming Trees"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Last Cry of Pain"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Last Job in the Death Works"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Love Is A Punch in the Nose"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Malice in Wonderland" by Alan Payne
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Man Who Wanted to be in the Movies"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Man Who Was Everybody"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Mandalay Passage"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Marshals Die on Sunday"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Matches"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Meet Miss Impossible" published title- "Miss Impossible" by C.H. Thames
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Mescalero Drums"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Miranda"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Mirror of Wizardry"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Naked Gun"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Night Alexander the Great Slept in the Carport"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Night of the Mustang"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Night They Took the Spy King" by Robert St. George
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Nine Shadows at Doomsday" by Adam Chase
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "No Place to Hide"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Old Maid of Angouleme" by John Jakes and Roger Elwood
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "One Race Show"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The One Way Train" published title- "Death Has Green Eyes"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Opener of the Crypt"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Outcasts of the Dog Show"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Peepshow Murder"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Pistol Patriots"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Pistol-Whipped!"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Point of Disorder" published title- "Political Machine"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Red Green"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Riddle in Concrete"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Selfish Bomb"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Sex Shoot"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Singular Occurrence at Styles"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Siren and the Shill"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Souvenir"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Stalkers of the Iron Jungle"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Stranger with Roses"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Stripped for Murder"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Tex" published title- "Manhunt"
        Dates: 1955
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Texans Ride North"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "There's No Vinism Like Chauvinism"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "To Hell With You" A Pete Horn Mystery
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "To Patch A Thief" published title- "Recidivism Preferred"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Traitor's Flight"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Underfellow"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "Uncle Willie's Strippers"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Voyage of the Singing Satellite" by Darius John Granger
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Whip Master" by Retz Colt
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "With A Knife in My Heart"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Woman at Apache Wells" published title- "Lobo Loot"
        Dates: 1952, 1980
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "The Woman in the White Sweater"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12
      • Description: "You Are Now Leaving Grim"
        Dates: undated
        Container: Box 12

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Authors -- United States -- 20th century.
  • Television mini-series -- United States.
  • United States -- History -- Civil War, 1861-1865 -- Fiction.

Titles within the Collection

  • North and South (Television mini-series)

Other Creators

  • Personal Names

    • Brak, the Barbarian (fictitious character)
    • Jakes, John, 1932- -- North and South trilogy.
    • Scotland, Jay, 1932-2023
    • Williams, J.X.
Loading...
Loading...