Roy William Cowden papers, 1909-1961

Summary

Creator:

Cowden, Roy William.

Abstract:

Professor of English and first director of the Avery Hopwood Awards for writing at the University of Michigan. Correspondence, largely with students; manuscripts of writings; notes and class materials. Also material related to his unpublished book, The Creative Process in Writing.

Extent:

2 linear feet (in three boxes)

Language:

English

Call Number:

851017 Aa 2

Authors:

Finding aid created by Michigan Historical Collections staff. Updated in November 2024 by Olga Virakhovskaya.

Background

Scope and Content:

The collection consists of correspondence mainly with students and from the period of 1953 to 1955; a series of his various writings, some teaching materials, and a speech. Also, drafts, typescripts, and manuscript material related to Cowden's unfinished book, The Creative Process in Writing. Chapter subjects include Dickens, Keats, Meredith, E.B. Browning, Thoroeau, Whitman, Conrad, Carlyle, and Swinburne.

Biographical / Historical:

Roy W. Cowden was born in 1883 at Fredonia, N.Y. He received a bachelor of arts degree from the University of Michigan in 1908 and a master's degree from Harvard University in 1909. He joined the U-M faculty in 1909 as an instructor in English, and was advanced to the rank of full professor in 1935. He was best known as director of the Avery and Jule Hopwood Awards Program in Creative Writing at the U-M, a post he held from 1934 until the time of his retirement in 1952. He died September 1961.

Acquisition Information:

The collection was the gift of Mrs. Roy W. Cowden (donor no. 3981 ). Additional materials were transferred by The University of Michigan Library Special Collections Research Center (donor no. 9776 ) in September 2024.

Processing information:

In September 2024, The University of Michigan Special Collections Research Center transferred to the Bentley Historical Library a processed collection of Roy William Cowden papers. These materials were added to the current collection as The Creative Process In Writing Series. Bentley staff preserved the arrangement and description of the materials as received.

Accruals:

No further additions to the records are expected.

Rules or Conventions:

Finding aid prepared using Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Subjects

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Names:

University of Michigan. Avery Hopwood and Jule Hopwood Prizes.
University of Michigan. Department of English Language and Literature.
University of Michigan -- Faculty.