Fielding Dawson postcards to Welch D. Everman

Biographical and Historical Notes

Fielding Dawson (1930-2002)

American writer Fielding Dawson (1930-2002) penned dozens of short stories over the course of a long career. In addition to being a writer, Fielding Dawson was a painter, illustrator, and educator. He taught creative writing at the Naropa Institute, as well as in the U.S. prison system, including at Rikers Island, Sing-Sing, and Attica. Fielding Dawson’s novel, No Man's Land, is set inside an American prison, and draws upon Dawson's own experiences as a writing teacher inside New York State's Sing Sing penitentiary.

Dawson grew up in Kirkwood, Missouri. Later he attended North Carolina's Black Mountain College, where he studied poetry with Charles Olson and befriended painter Franz Kline. The quest for artistic maturity is a common theme in many of Dawson's works, including, An Emotional Memoir of Franz Kline, and Tiger Lilies: An American Childhood.

Sources

"Fielding Dawson." Contemporary Authors Online. http://galenet.galegroup.com (accessed June 2012)

Welch D. Everman (1946-2004)

American writer and educator Welch D.(Duane) Everman (1946-2004), was a prolific writer, including a novel, Orion (1975); a collection of short stories, The Harry and Sylvia Stories; two books of literary criticism, Who Says This? (1988) and Jerzy Kosinski: The Literature of Violation (1989); and two books on old movies.

He also wrote more than 200 short stories, reviews, essays and articles on literature, film, music and the visual arts.

In 1987, Welch began teaching in the English department at the University of Maine, Orono, where taught courses in creative writing, contemporary American and European fiction, critical theory, the literature of Stephen King, and pop culture. A pioneer in the distance education program, Welch was awarded the Friends of Distance Education Achievement Award in 2002.

Sources

"Welch D(uane) Everman." Contemporary Authors Online. http://galenet.galegroup.com (accessed June 2012)

Sources

Bangor Daily News, obituaries. http://bangordailynews.com/2008/09/25/obituaries/welch-d-everman/ (accessed June 2012)

Content Description

American writer Fielding Dawson wrote these two oversize postcards to American writer Welch D. Everman in the fall of 1977. The first postcard (7" x 6"), dated October 26, 1977, is typed on the verso of a printed version of Fielding Dawson's poem, "Homage to Ring Lardner," which was issued by Dawson in 1975. Dawson wrote of packing and sending his archive, the work he was doing on his loft in New York city, his work on two new novels. He also recommended that Everman read his article titled "An Essay on New American Fiction" in Vort.

The second postcard (6.5" x 5.5"), dated November 12, 1977, is typed on the verso of a reproduction of the book cover for Dawson's Two Penny Lane. In his message, Dawson thanked Everman for a recent letter and acknowledged the good news regarding a grant. He remarked on future visits, Everman's new novel, Orion, and a joint project which he and Everman were planning. He also mentioned his own activities including an upcoming reading at Buffalo, his recent writing habits, the continued work on his loft, and the recent rejection of his book, Tiger Lilies by Dial Press. Finally he offered Everman his cure for the common cold.