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Vereen McNeill Bell Collection

 Collection
Identifier: DC010

Scope and Contents

The collection is organized into the following series: 1) Biographical Information; 2) Correspondence; 3) Printed Material; 4) Photographs; and 5) Vereen Bell Awards. The biographical information includes materials Mr. Bell's family. The correspondence dates from 1937 to 1991, some of which is from Mr. Bell but most of which is from his family. The printed materials include a mostly complete bibliography of Mr. Bell's works, reviews, and general articles about him. There are also memorials and tributes made to him after his death. There are a limited number of photographs of him. There is general information about the Vereen Bell Award for creative writing, as well as correspondence relating to the establishment of the award. In addition, there are copies of most of the winning entries of the Vereen Bell competition, and information relating to the contest. The 1976 Vereen Bell Award file contains a handwitten note by judge Robert Bly listing the winners. The oversize folder contains a print of the poem "College Days" by Charles Wright. It was presented on the occasion of the Vereen Bell Memorial Reading in honor of Professor Gil Holland in 2004.

Dates

  • Creation: 1932 - 2015

Biographical / Historical

Vereen Bell graduated from Davidson College in 1932. Shortly after his graduation, he moved to Louisiana to study writing under the guidance of Mr. Fred Litten. He was editor of the Magazine "American Boy" for two years before resigning and devoting his time to free-lance writing. He has written two novels, "Swamp Water" and "Two of a Kind," in addition to numerous short stories, many of which were published in magazines. He died in 1944 at the age of 33. In 1947 his college roommate, Mr. D. Grier Martin, established the Vereen Bell Award for creative writing at Davidson College in memory of Vereen Bell.

Extent

0.83 Linear Feet (2 boxes + Oversize)

Language

English

Immediate Source of Acquisition

2013-90

Processing Information

Processed on 09/09/1994

Title
Vereen McNeill Bell Collection
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Manuscript Collections Repository