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9 months ago in Archival Studies By Veena

Researching the Elusive Author William Wharton (Albert du Aime)

I'm writing a monograph on the author William Wharton (real name Albert du Aime), who was famously private. Where on earth do I start finding primary sources and unpublished material?

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By Usha K Answered 3 months ago

You have a great detective project! Your first major stop should be the Harry Ransom Center at the University of Texas at Austin—they hold his literary archive. For scholarly work already done, search Dissertation Abstracts. Contact his original publisher (Alfred A. Knopf) and try to reach his literary estate. Finally, mine historical newspaper databases like the New York Times for contemporary reviews and the rare interviews he gave. It's about piecing together a portrait from scattered fragments.

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