The Department of Archives and Special Collections at the University recently acquired a substantial collection of Mississippi author Larry Brown's papers. The collection includes over one hundred short stories, as well as essays, poems, successive drafts, holograph corrections, novels, and just about everything Larry Brown wrote from 1982 to 1995.

"Larry Brown is one of the most distinctive literary figures from north Mississippi since William Faulkner," said Thomas Verich, university archivist." There is every expectation that the Larry Brown archive will prove to be one of our greatest treasures. His papers are a natural fit at the University, joining those of William Faulkner, Ellen Douglas, Tennessee Williams, and Willie Morris. All papers are open for public viewing."

Including published and unpublished materials in both typed and handwritten formats, this collection contains the only physical copies of many of Brown's literary works. Manuscript marginalia hold Brown's notes as well as the remarks of publishers and other commentators. Most items are dated, and each story includes Brown's word count.

Brown had always assumed he would leave this collection to his children, so he was never eager to sell it. However, Verich said that when it became clear several institutions wanted the collection, the University of Mississippi was always Brown's preference.

Larry Brown, the recipient of the Mississippi Institute for Arts and Letters award for literature, is the author of Facing the Music, Dirty Work, and Joe. His most recent novel, Father and Son, was named one of People magazine's Top 10 books for 1996. For some time now it has been rumored that Brown's work will find its way into movie production as well.