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The Karl Marlantes Papers, 1968-2012

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Marlantes, Karl
Title
The Karl Marlantes Papers
Dates
1968-2012 (inclusive)
Quantity
8.5 cubic feet, (7 boxes)
Collection Number
OLPb094MAR
Summary
This collection includes all of the drafts of the books written by Karl Marlantes, including the critically acclaimed Vietnam War novel, Matterhorn (2009). The collection also includes published versions of Marlantes's books, correspondence, research materials, and his journals from the Vietnam War.
Repository
Lewis & Clark College, Special Collections and Archives

Aubrey R. Watzek Library
615 S. Palatine Hill Rd.
Portland, OR
97219
Telephone: 5037687758
Fax: 5037687282
archives@lclark.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection has no restrictions and is open for research.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Karl Marlantes was born in Seaside, Oregon in 1945. After attending high school in Seaside, Marlantes was awarded a National Merit Scholarship. He attended Yale University, where he was awarded a Rhodes Scholarship. Rather than studying at Oxford, Marlantes enlisted in the U.S. Marine Corps, and served as a lieutenant during the Vietnam War, earning the Navy Cross, two Navy Commendations for Valor, two Purple Hearts, and ten Air Medals. After returning from the War, Marlantes began writing about his experience.

His first novel, Matterhorn: A Novel of the Vietnam War, was published in a small edition of 1,000 copies in 2009 by El León Literary Arts of Berkeley, California. With an official publication date of May 1, advanced readers copies were mailed out early in the year. Staffers at Barnes & Noble were impressed with the novel, and submitted it to a first-novel contest, which led a number of New York publishers to express interest in obtaining the rights to the book. Eventually, Grove Atlantic Press made a deal with El León and copies already printed but not yet distributed were issued as galleys for a El León/Grove joint revised publication, which was issued in 2010.

Matterhorn was Amazon's Book of the Month for March 2010, and debuted on the New York Times bestseller list in April 2010. It won the 2011 William E. Colby Award, was ranked #7 for Fiction in Time Magazine's Best Books of the Year (2010), and was one of the New York Times Notable Books of the Year (2010). It was also an ALA Notable Book (2010), won the Pacific Northwest Booksellers Association Award (2011), and won the Indies Choice Book Award (Adult Debut, 2011).

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Content Description

Includes book drafts, published books, notebooks, personal journals, correspondence, maps, reports, and research materials.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Permission to publish, exhibit, broadcast, or quote from materials in the Watzek Library Archives & Special Collections requires written permission of the Head of Archives & Special Collections.

Preferred Citation

The Karl Marlantes Papers (OLPb094MAR), Lewis & Clark College Aubrey Watzek Library Archives & Special Collections, Portland, Oregon.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

Arranged by book project and chronologically for each book.

Location of Collection

Special Collections

Acquisition Information

Donated to Lewis & Clark College by Karl Marlantes in 2012.

Future Additions

This collection may be supplemented periodically by new manuscript materials from the author.

Processing Note

Processed in 2012.

Separated Materials

Books written by Karl Marlantes are housed in the Special Collections rare book collections. Call numbers can be found in the online catalog at: http://libcat.lclark.edu/.

Related Materials

Lewis & Clark College Special Collections holds a separate Marlantes collections titled The Ken Pallack Collection of Karl Marlantes Materials, This collection is composed of early drafts of Matterhorn that were read by Ken Pallack. The drafts in the Ken Pallack collection are replicated in this collection (The Karl Marlantes Papers). The finding aid for the Ken Pallack Collection can be found at: http://nwda-db.orbiscascade.org/findaid/ark:/80444/xv97439.

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Detailed Description of the Collection

The following section contains a detailed listing of the materials in the collection.

  • Description: A - Matterhorn

    Draft of what would become MATTERHORN. Earliest manuscript of the book with letter explaining the manuscript to Mr. Wattenberg - Oct. 20, 1971. The draft is paginated, but out of sequence, as it arrived from the author. Many chapters are paperclipped together.

    Dates: 1971
    Container: File 1.1
  • Description: B - Matterhorn

    Dates: 1971
    Container: File 1.2
  • Description: C - Matterhorn

    Dates: 1971
    Container: File 1.3
  • Description: D - Matterhorn

    Dates: 1971
    Container: File 1.4
  • Description: E - Matterhorn

    Dates: 1971
    Container: File 1.5
  • Description: F - Matterhorn

    Dates: 1971
    Container: File 1.6
  • Description: G - Matterhorn

    Dates: 1971
    Container: File 1.7
  • Description: To Children Ardent titlepage-199
    Dates: 1985
    Container: File 1.8
  • Description: To Children Ardent 200-399

    Dates: 1985
    Container: File 1.9
  • Description: To Children Ardent 400-599

    Dates: 1985
    Container: File 1.10
  • Description: To Children Ardent 600-744

    Dates: 1985
    Container: File 1.11
  • Description: To Children Ardent Titlepage-199

    Dates: Mar. 1985
    Container: File 1.12
  • Description: To Children Ardent 200-399

    Dates: Mar. 1985
    Container: File 1.13
  • Description: To Children Ardent 400-599

    Dates: Mar. 1985
    Container: File 1.14
  • Description: To Children Ardent 600-745

    Dates: Mar. 1985
    Container: File 1.15
  • Description: A - To Children Ardent Working MSS

    To Children Ardent, working manuscript 1977-1979, eventually submitted June 1979 - Chapters 1-22 and chapters 22-End (41 total chapters). Manuscript completed September 1977 at Zig Zag, Oregon.

    Dates: 1977-79
    Container: File 2.1
  • Description: B - To Children Ardent Working MSS

    Dates: 1977-79
    Container: File 2.2
  • Description: C - To Children Ardent Working MSS

    Dates: 1977-79
    Container: File 2.3
  • Description: D - To Children Ardent Working MSS

    Dates: 1977-79
    Container: File 2.4
  • Description: E - To Children Ardent Working MSS

    Dates: 1977-79
    Container: File 2.5
  • Description: F - To Children Ardent Working MSS

    Dates: 1977-79
    Container: File 2.6
  • Description: G - To Children Ardent Working MSS

    Dates: 1977-79
    Container: File 2.7
  • Description: H - To Children Ardent Working MSS

    Dates: 1977-79
    Container: File 2.8
  • Description: To Children Ardent 1-199

    Dates: Circa 1980's
    Container: File 3.1
  • Description: To Children Ardent 200-399

    Dates: Circa 1980's
    Container: File 3.2
  • Description: To Children Ardent 400-599

    Dates: Circa 1980's
    Container: File 3.3
  • Description: To Children Ardent 600-799

    Dates: Circa 1980's
    Container: File 3.4
  • Description: To Children Ardent 800-999

    Dates: Circa 1980's
    Container: File 3.5
  • Description: To Children Ardent 1000-1129

    Dates: Circa 1980's
    Container: File 3.6
  • Description: The Jungle Sea T.P-199

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 3.7
  • Description: The Jungle Sea 200-399

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 3.8
  • Description: The Jungle Sea 400-599

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 3.9
  • Description: The Jungle Sea 600-745

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 3.10
  • Description: The Jungle Sea Misc typed notes from MSS

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 3.11
  • Description: First There Is A Mountain T.P.-199

    Dates: 2005
    Container: File 3.12
  • Description: First There Is A Mountain 200-399

    Dates: 2005
    Container: File 3.13
  • Description: First There Is A Mountain 400-599

    Dates: 2005
    Container: File 3.14
  • Description: First There Is A Mountain 600-799

    Dates: 2005
    Container: File 3.15
  • Description: First There Is A Mountain 800-852

    Dates: 2005
    Container: File 3.16
  • Description: Matterhorn T.P.-199

    Dates: Spring 2007
    Container: File 4.1
  • Description: Matterhorn 200-399

    Dates: Spring 2007
    Container: File 4.2
  • Description: Matterhorn 400-599

    Dates: Spring 2007
    Container: File 4.3
  • Description: Matterhorn 600-799

    Dates: Spring 2007
    Container: File 4.4
  • Description: Matterhorn 800-906

    Dates: Spring 2007
    Container: File 4.5
  • Description: Vietnam Image of KM with captured NVA gun

    Note on reverse of photo: Wilson and not known w/ captured NVA machine gun. Hill 484 Feb-Mar '69. Kim added note: But I think it's me because satchel where I kept diary on right side.

    Dates: Feb-Mar 1969
    Container: File 4.6
  • Description: Kim Maps of Vietnam

    Dates: 1968-1969
    Container: File 4.7
  • Description: Matterhorn Notebook (3 ring spiral)

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 4.8
  • Description: Karl Marlantes' Field Journal (Vietnam)

    Dates: Nov. 1968
    Container: File 4.9
  • Description: Notebook, Notes from Children Ardent

    Dates: April. 1987
    Container: File 4.10
  • Description: Karl Marlantes' Vietnam Journal

    With loose N.D. articles, papers, letters and military payment slips

    Dates: 1968-1969
    Container: File 4.11
  • Description: A - Matterhorn edits by Jon Stallworthy

    Dates: Feb. 2008
    Container: File 4.12
  • Description: B - Matterhorn edits by Jon Stallworthy

    Dates: Feb. 2008
    Container: File 4.13
  • Description: Notes on Children Ardent

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 4.14
  • Description: Correspondence

    Dates: 1996
    Container: File 4.15
  • Description: Computer printouts of notes, ideas, and draft pages

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 4.16
  • Description: Matterhorn research , battle maps, reports, correspondence

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 4.17
  • Description: Research, Correspondence, Pamphlets

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 4.18
  • Description: Correspondence with publishers writing samples

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 4.19
  • Description: Notes - Working chapters Matterhorn

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 4.20
  • Description: Killing - I, Start- End of Long March, (good copy)

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 4.21
  • Description: Killing - I, End of Long March, Bald Eagle Launch

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 4.22
  • Description: Old Chapters - Thrown out (save)

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 4.23
  • Description: Matterhorn - Working

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 4.24
  • Description: A- Matterhorn Edits

    Dates: May. 2009
    Container: File 5.1
  • Description: B - Matterhorn Edits

    Dates: May. 2009
    Container: File 5.2
  • Description: C - Matterhorn Edits

    Dates: May. 2009
    Container: File 5.3
  • Description: D - Matterhorn Edits

    Dates: May. 2009
    Container: File 5.4
  • Description: Matterhorn Misc. (folder)

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 5.5
  • Description: A - Matterhorn Edits (Jofie #2)

    Dates: Jul. 2009
    Container: File 5.6
  • Description: B - Matterhorn Edits (Jofie #2)

    Dates: Jul. 2009
    Container: File 5.7
  • Description: C - Matterhorn Edits (Jofie #2)

    Dates: Jul. 2009
    Container: File 5.8
  • Description: A- Matterhorn Edits (Jofie #3)

    Dates: Aug. 2009
    Container: File 5.9
  • Description: B - Matterhorn Edits (Jofie #32)

    Dates: Aug. 2009
    Container: File 5.10
  • Description: Copy KM Edits Matterhorn Final Galley

    Dates: Nov. 14, 2009
    Container: File 5.11
  • Description: Matterhorn KM Edits of Copy Editing

    Dates: Undated
    Container: File 5.12
  • Description: A - Original Manhood and War

    Original manuscript left in order received. Most pages numbered, but out of sequence with some interleaving and editing.

    Dates: Sept. 27, 1991
    Container: File 6.1
  • Description: B - Original Manhood and War

    Dates: Sept. 27, 1991
    Container: File 6.2
  • Description: C -Original Manhood and War

    Dates: Sept. 27, 1991
    Container: File 6.3
  • Description: D - Original Manhood and War

    Dates: Sept. 27, 1991
    Container: File 6.4
  • Description: E - Original Manhood and War

    Dates: Sept. 27, 1991
    Container: File 6.5
  • Description: F - Original Manhood and War

    Dates: Sept. 27, 1991
    Container: File 6.6
  • Description: G - Original Manhood and War

    Dates: Sept. 27, 1991
    Container: File 6.7
  • Description: H - Original Manhood and War

    Dates: Sept. 27, 1991
    Container: File 6.8
  • Description: I - Original Manhood and War

    Dates: Sept. 27, 1991
    Container: File 6.9
  • Description: A - Initiations, Warriors, Soldiers and the Sacred Space of Battle

    Dates: Fall 1992
    Container: File 6.10
  • Description: B - Initiations, Warriors, Soldiers and the Sacred Space of Battle

    Dates: Fall 1992
    Container: File 6.11
  • Description: C - Initiations, Warriors, Soldiers and the Sacred Space of Battle

    Dates: Fall 1992
    Container: File 6.12
  • Description: Coming to Terms (original) T.P.-199

    Dates: May 1, 1996
    Container: File 6.13
  • Description: Coming to Terms (original) 200-296

    Dates: May 1, 1996
    Container: File 6.14
  • Description: Coming to Terms with Mars T.P.-199

    Dates: 1996
    Container: File 6.15
  • Description: Coming to Terms with Mars 200-296

    Dates: 1996
    Container: File 6.16
  • Description: A - Reflections on Combat 1-199

    Dates: 1997
    Container: File 7.1
  • Description: B - Reflections on Combat 200-325

    Dates: 1997
    Container: File 7.2
  • Description: Reflections on Combat T.P.-199

    Dates: Jan-Feb 2003
    Container: File 7.3
  • Description: Reflections on Combat 200-325

    Dates: Jan-Feb 2003
    Container: File 7.4
  • Description: What Is It Like To Go To War (Grove Press)

    Dates: Aug. 22, 2011
    Container: File 7.5

Doug Erickson
2012

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