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Patrick McManus Papers, circa 1952-2016

Overview of the Collection

Creator
McManus, Patrick F.
Title
Patrick McManus Papers
Dates
circa 1952-2016 (inclusive)
Quantity
22 linear feet, (52 boxes.)
Collection Number
Cage.925
Summary
This collection contains drafts of articles, magazine columns, and books by the humorist Patrick F. McManus, circa 1950s-2016. It also includes final published copies of his writings and correspondence with publishers and fans as well as reviews, undergraduate and graduate class papers and video and audio recordings featuring interviews and readings of McManus' writings.
Repository
Washington State University Libraries' Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections (MASC)
Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections
Terrell Library Suite 12
Pullman, WA
99164-5610
Telephone: 509-335-6691
mascref@wsu.edu
Access Restrictions

This collection is open and available for research use.

Languages
English
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Historical Note

Patrick F. McManus (1933-2018) grew up near Sand Creek outside Sandpoint, Idaho. He spent a great deal of his childhood outdoors, exploring the nearby creek and mountains--subject matter for the dozens of magazine columns and stories that he would later write. McManus graduated from Sandpoint High School in 1952 and proceeded to complete a journalism degree at Washington State College in 1956. He worked briefly as a police reporter before returning to Washington State College to complete a master's degree in 1959. In 1960, he began teaching English, creative writing, and journalism courses at Eastern Washington State College, where he remained until his retirement in 1983. In 2013, Eastern Washington University chose him for its Distinguished Faculty Award. As professor emeritus, he continued to support the university via the McManus Scholarship in Creative Writing and Journalism. In 2018, he passed away in Spokane, Washington, survived by his wife Darlene and four daughters.

Over the course of his career, McManus established himself as a humor writer for a range of magazines and newspapers. From 1982 to 2009, he wrote a monthly humor column called the "Last Laugh" for Outdoor Life. He also served as the publication's editor-at-large. In addition, he served as columnist and associate editor for Field and Stream from 1977 to 1982, and published essays in Reader's Digest, Sports Illustrated, and the New York Times, among others.

McManus published fourteen collections of his humor columns, beginning with A Fine and Pleasant Misery in 1978 and ending with The Horse in My Garage and Other Stories in 2012. He also wrote a series of mystery novels starring Sheriff Bo Tully of Blight, Idaho. In addition, he wrote a book on humor writing (The Deer on a Bicycle) and a cookbook in collaboration with his sister (Whatchagot Stew). McManus' books often emerged as best-sellers. In total, some six million copies sold over the course of his career. Parts of McManus' work were converted for the stage by a former student, Tim Behrens, who began touring his McManus shows in 1992. As of 2019, these shows continue to tour regularly.

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Content Description

This collection consists of 52 boxes containing drafts of Patrick F. McManus' writings and correspondence with publishers and fans, circa 1950s-2016, as well as final published copies of his work, copies of class papers and notes, reviews and publications about his work, and audio and video recordings featuring interviews with the author and readings of his work.

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Use of the Collection

Restrictions on Use

Copyright restrictions apply. The McManus family retains intellectual property rights.

Preferred Citation

The suggested citation for the collection is: [Item Description]. Patrick McManus Papers, 1952-2016. Manuscripts, Archives, and Special Collections, Washington State University Libraries, Pullman, WA.

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Administrative Information

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in ten series:

Series 1: Reviews and Publications about Patrick McManus, 1955-2016: This series includes bibliographies of McManus' publications as well as reviews of his work and master's theses about his writing.

Series 2: Student Work: Essays, Notes, and Correspondence, 1954-1972: This series includes essays, notes, and the master's thesis written by McManus in his undergraduate and graduate courses at Washington State University and Eastern Washington University. Series 3: Correspondence and Fan Mail, 1957-1986: This series contains correspondence between McManus and various publishers as well as fan mail.

Series 4: Television and Radio Scripts and Plays, 1960-1981: This series contains scripts and plays written by Patrick McManus.

Series 5: Workshops and Conferences, 1978-1986: This series contains flyers and schedules for workshops and conferences where McManus spoke, 1978-1986.

Series 6: Unpublished Work, 1953-1982: This series contains McManus material that was not published, including rejected short stories, scripts, and a brochure.

Series 7: Drafts of Magazine and Newspaper Columns and Stories, with Correspondence, 1957-2012: This series contains drafts of magazine and newspaper columns and stories by McManus, as well as related correspondence with publishers. Series 8: McManus Publications, 1955-2014: This series contains copies of McManus' final, published work, including both magazine columns and books.

Series 9: Book Drafts and Correspondence, 1979-2013: This series contains drafts and galleys of books published by Patrick McManus, 1979-2013, along with related publisher correspondence.

Series 10: Audio and Video Recordings and Interviews, 1985-2013: This series contains copies of interviews by McManus and performances of his work on VHS and cassette tape.

Acquisition Information

Patrick and Darlene McManus donated this collection to the Washington State University Libraries in multiple installments beginning in 1979 (MS.1979.09, MS.1987.28, MS.2005.20, MS.2012.13, MS.2016.11).

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Detailed Description of the Collection

Talea Anderson
June 17, 2019

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

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