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Hugh Walthall literary papers

 Collection — Multiple Containers
Identifier: MS2347

Scope and Contents

This collection contains typed and handwritten poems, published works of poetry in monographs, anthologies, and serials. Some of the publications are journals that include poems by Mr. Walthall. These materials date from the 1960s through the 2000s.

Dates

  • Creation: Circa 1960s-Circa 2000s

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

Some material may be copyrighted or restricted. It is the patron's obligation to determine and satisfy copyright or other case restrictions when publishing or otherwise distributing materials found in the collections.

Biographical / Historical

Hugh Wallace “Wally” Walthall (1948 - 2015) was a local D.C. poet, actor, playwright, and publisher.

Poet, Actor, Playwright, and Publisher. He moved to Washington DC in the late 1960s. His poems have been published in Washington Review, Shenandoah, American Review, Gargoyle, and the G.W. Review. Mr. Walthall sometimes published under the name Steamboat Jones. In 1978, Mr. Walthall’s book of poetry, ladidah, was published by Ithaca House.

Mr. Walthall was the founding publisher/editor, along with Richard Flynn, of Sultan of Swat (SOS) Books, which in the 1980s published books of poetry by local D.C. area poets. SOS Books was financed by a small class action settlement that Mr. Walthall was awarded for having been the subject of an illegal arrest during an anti-war protest. He was also the publisher/editor of the Journal of Pomposity, Shoddy Thinking and of Sex with Frankenstein, each of which lasted one issue. In the 1990s he began studying acting at the Studio Theatre Acting Conservatory and appearing in plays at the Studio Theatre SecondStage. His play, “Jean Stafford’s Theory of the Lindbergh Kidnapping”, was staged there. Mr. Walthall worked at the library of the Walter Reed Hospital retiring when the library closed in the early 2000s.

Mr. Walthall was born February 12, 1948 in Roswell, New Mexico and as a young a child moved with his family to Deep Creek Lake, Maryland. He died in Washington D.C. on November 1, 2015.

Extent

6 Linear Feet (4 record cartons and one large mailing envelope)

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Hugh Wallace “Wally” Walthall (1948 - 2015) was a local D.C. poet, actor, playwright, and publisher. The collection contains typed and handwritten poems, published works of poetry in monographs, anthologies, and serials. Some of the publications are journals that include poems by Mr. Walthall. These materials date from the 1960s through the 2000s.

Arrangement

This collection has not yet been arranged.

Physical Location

Materials are stored off-site, and will require additional retrieval time. Please contact the Special Collections Research Center for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Nicholas Walthall 2016 January 05 (Acession 2016.001).

Processing Information

This collection is unprocessed and will take more time to use for research. Please ask staff for assistance.

Source

Title
Preliminary guide to the Hugh Walthall literary papers , Circa 1960 - Circa 2015
Status
Collection Level Record
Author
Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University
Date
2016
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Research Center, The George Washington University Repository

Contact:
George Washington University Gelman Library
2130 H Street NW
Washington DC 20052 United States of America