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Booth Tarkington collection

 Collection — Box: Communal Collections 12, Placement: 20
Identifier: MSA 223

Scope and Contents

Excerpts from the book, My Maiden Effort, by Gelett Burgess, which includes some of Booth Tarkington's first writings. Obituaries and stories written upon Tarkington's death.

Dates

  • Creation: 1921 - 1946

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection materials are in English.

Access Information

Collection is open for research.

Copyright and Use Information

Copyright held by Purdue University. Consult with Purdue University Archives and Special Collections prior to reproduction of materials.

Biographical Information

Booth Tarkington was a Purdue student, from the fall of 1890 - the spring of 1891. He then attended Princeton, where he graduated.

At Purdue he became a member of Sigma Chi fraternity. He was regarded more as a talented artist than as a writer in his college days at Purdue and contributed drawings both to the Purdue Exponent and the Debris. In later years, Mr. Tarkington visited the campus several times.

Tarkington was one of the most prolific writers of his generation. Often he worked from 6 a.m. until evening. Besides his novels he wrote many plays. Twice he won the Pulitzer prize for literature with his novels "The Magnificent Ambersons" and "Alice Adams."

Among his best known works were "Seventeen," "The Gentleman from Indiana," "Penrod," and "Monsier Beaucaire." His play "The Man From Home" was a Broadway success. Many of his books were made into movies, and Tarkington who earned almost nothing in the first five years of his career, became rich.

In May, 1940, Purdue officially recognized his greatness by awarding him the honorary degree of Doctor of Humane Letters. He was too ill to come to the campus for the award, so the diploma was presented to him at his Indianapolis home by Dr. Edward C. Elliott, then president of the Purdue, who was accompanied by the Purdue trustees and a delegation of faculty members and alumni.

Extent

0.025 Cubic Feet (One folder)

Title
Booth Tarkington collection
Status
Completed
Author
Mary A. Sego and Keertana Marella
Date
2020-04-01
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
English
Edition statement
Second edition. Collection description was first completed 2012-03-08.

Revision Statements

  • 2020-04-01: Collection description updated by Keertana Marella

Repository Details

Part of the Purdue University Archives and Special Collections Repository

Contact:
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765-494-2839