Montana State University Library, Archives and Special Collections, Manuscript Collections
Bob and Gennie DeWeese collection on Robert Pirsig
DeWeese, Robert, 1920-1990
DeWeese, Gennie, 1921-2007
2571
Collection 2571, MtBC, us
0.4 linear feet
1970-2007
Robert "Bob" and Genevieve "Gennie" DeWeese were pioneers in the modernist art movement in the state of Montana. The collection includes correspondence between Pirsig and the DeWeeses, ephemera, photographs, and a photocopied annotated manuscript of Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance. The materials in this collection were gathered over the course of the DeWeese's friendship with Pirsig.
Collection materials are in English
Robert Kennel "Bob" DeWeese (1920-1990) and Genevieve "Gennie" Adams DeWeese (1921-2007) were pioneers in the modernist art movement in the state of Montana. Primarily painters and printmakers, both artists influenced a generation of students through their teaching and involvement with the Montana arts community. Bob was Professor of Art at Montana State University from 1949 to 1977. Both artists exhibited extensively throughout the state and major retrospectives of their works were presented at the Montana State University School of Art in 1979, the Yellowstone Art Center in 1990 for Bob, and at the Missoula Art Museum in 1996 for Gennie. In 1995 Bob and Gennie received the Montana Governor's Award for the Arts, and the same year Gennie was awarded an Honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts from Montana State University in Bozeman.
Bob and Gennie were a hub for a very lively community of intellectual, modernist "thinkers" and artists of their generation, mostly a cross section of university faculty. They loved to stay in touch with what people were thinking about and what was new in their respective fields through hosting parties which provided them with lifetime friends. This was the context that they became acquainted with Robert Pirsig in the late 1950s.
Robert Pirsig (1928-2017) was an instructor of English for Montana State College from September 1959 to June 1961. Pirsig was the author of
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and Lila. Pirsig's book Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is a fictional account of his motorcycle trip from Minnesota to California with his son and coming to terms with his nervous breakdown. The book featured conversations with his old friends, Bob and Gennie DeWeese, at their Cottonwood Canyon home.
The Bob and Gennie DeWeese Collection on Robert Pirsig includes correspondence with the DeWeeses from Pirsig and his family; ephemera, photographs, and a photocopied annotated manuscript. The materials in this collection were gathered over the course of the DeWeese's friendship with Pirsig. Topics include Pirsig's writing, including
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and Lila as well as aspects related to publication, publicity, and reception. Other topics addressed by the papers include art, philosophy, and the Pirsig family and friends.
Series 1 Correspondence
Series 2 Ephemera
Series 3 Photographs
Series 4 Manuscript
Duplication of the manuscript Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance is not permitted.
The Robert and Genevieve DeWeese Collection on Robert Pirsig was purchased from Lynn Parkinson and the DeWeese Family Trust in September 2013.
This collection was processed 2013 September 27
[Creator Name], [Date of Creation], [Brief Description of Object], Folder [#], Box [#], [Collection Name], [Collection #], Montana State University (MSU) Library, Bozeman, MT
Pirsig, Robert M.
Literature
Publishers and Publishing
Montana
Correspondence
1
Series 1
Letters and postcards in this series pertain to correspondence received by the DeWeeses from Robert Pirsig and his family, or discuss Robert Pirsig. Members of Pirsig's family included in the correspondence are his first wife Nancy Pirsig, second wife Wendy Pirsig, son Ted Pirsig, and daughter Nell Pirsig. Topics discussed include Pirsig's books
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and Lila, activities related to Pirsig's books, Pirsig's family, philosophy, artwork, and his Guggenheim fellowship.
This series contains photographic materials that have been separated from the series. An asterisk (*) next to a folder indicates that photographic material has been removed and relocated to series 3.
From Pirsig
1972-1978
1
1
From Pirsig
1980-1987
1
2
From Pirsig
1990-1997
1
3
From Pirsig
2000-2006
1
4
Discussing Pirsig
circa 1970-2007
1
5
Ephemera
Series 2
Series 2
Ephemera in this series include newspaper clippings discussing Robert Pirsig's books
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance and Lila, magazine article discussing Zen and the art of sailing, and drawings by Ted Pirsig.
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance Newspaper Clippings
1974-1984
1
6
Lila Newspaper Clippings
1991
1
7
Cruising Blues and Their Cure - Robert Pirsig, Esquire
May 1977
1
8
Drawings by Teddy
1
9
Photographs
Series 3
Photographs in this series portray Robert Pirsig, Pirsig family members, friends, and their sheep, Rufus.
Robert Pirsig and Family
1
10
1
Robert Pirsig and Family
1
10
2
Robert Pirsig and Family
1
10
3
Robert Pirsig and Family
1
10
4
Robert Pirsig and Family
1
10
5
Robert Pirsig and Family
1
10
6
Robert Pirsig and Motorcycle
1
10
7
Robert Pirsig and Motorcycle
1
10
8
Robert Pirsig and Motorcycle
1
10
9
Robert Pirsig and Motorcycle
1
10
10
Robert Pirsig and Motorcycle
1
10
11
Robert Pirsig and Motorcycle
1
10
12
Robert Pirsig and Motorcycle
1
10
13
Nancy Pirsig on a Motorcycle
1
10
14
Compliments of Henry Gorr
1
10
15
Compliments of Henry Gorr
1
10
16
Compliments of Henry Gorr
1
10
17
Summer Solstice Annual Picnic
1990 July
1
10
18
Summer Solstice Annual Picnic
1990 July
1
10
19
Summer Solstice Annual Picnic
1990 July
1
10
20
Summer Solstice Annual Picnic
1990 July
1
10
21
Nell Pirsig
1
10
22
Rodeo Scene in Wilsall
1990 July
1
10
23
On verso: We slept in our camper parked outside the corral, with the horses grazing all around us.
Nell Pirsig and Rufus
1
10
24
Rufus
1
10
25
Nell Pirsig, Matt Peiken, and Rufus
1
10
26
Robert and Wendy Pirsig and Relatives
2004 July
1
10
27
Robert and Wendy Pirsig and Relatives
2004 July
1
10
28
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance
1
11
Duplication not permitted.
Photocopied manuscript with handwritten marginal notes of
Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance prepared by Robert Pirsig prior to editing done by publishers for review by individuals central to the book. This photocopy was presented by Robert Pirsig to Robert and Genevieve DeWeese.