Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
Breece D'J Pancake papers
MSS 10975
Archival Resource Key
/repositories/3/resources/1544
2.5 Cubic Feet
6 document boxes
.0348 Gigabytes
1973-2013
English
Conditions Governing Access
The collection is open for research use.
Original digital and audiovisual media (ex. floppy disks, thumb drives, videocassettes) cannot be handled directly by patrons. Please contact Special Collections via our online Reference Request form, https://small.library.virginia.edu/services/reference-request, to request access to these materials. Please be aware that additional actions may be required to make these items available. Items will be evaluated on a case-by-case basis before access can be made. Depending on the request size, making them available may take some time.
Arrangement
The new addition ViU-2022-0105 has been combined with ViU-2019-0053 which was on deposit for many years under MSS 10975. We recently purchased all of the accretions (MSS 10975-a,-b,-c,-d,-e) and have combined them with 2019-0105.The collection has been reprocessed into 7 series. Series 1 is Correspondence. Subseries 1 is Breece D' J Pancake correspondence. Subseries 2 is Helen Pancake and John Casey correspondence. Series 2 is manuscripts. Series 3 is articles and reviews. Series 4 is contracts, permissions, and royalty checks. Series 5 is newspaper clippings and photographs. Series 6 is teaching and student materials of Breece D' J Pancake and miscellaneous including Breece D' J Pancake's personal bible. Series 7 is born digital materials related to the collection. The collection is 6 document boxes, one oversize folder, and born digital materials.
Biographical / Historical
Breece D'J Pancake was an American author. He was born in 1952 in West Virginia. Pancake died in the age of 26, apparently of suicide, publishing only six short stories, mostly in The Atlantic Monthly. His first and only collected stories were published after his death in 1983, and won great acclaim. Pancake's style and power have been compared to such twentieth-century literary giants as William Faulkner, James Joyce, Flannery O'Connor, and Samuel Beckett, and it is considered today a masterpiece of American short fiction.
Pancake grew up in Milton, a small town in Cabell County. He completed a B.A. in English in Marshall University in 1974 and spent the next two years as an English instructor at Fork Union Military Academy and Staunton Military Academy. He left teaching in 1976 to enroll in the MA program at the University of Virginia. There Pancake began to write fiction.
His first published story, "Trilobites," appeared in The Atlantic Monthly in 1977. This event would bestow on him the unusual middle initials D'J, a miss-punctuation by the Atlantic editors of the initials for "Dexter" (his middle name), and "John" (the name he adopted after his conversion to Catholicism in his mid-twenties). Pancake chose to adopt the misprint and used it afterwards on all his published works.
Breece D'J Pancake died on the night of April 8, 1979, from a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head. His death was officially judged a suicide, though some family members and childhood friends believe his death was a tragic accident. All those who read his work believed he was on the cusp of a brilliant career, full of promise and potential. His collected stories were nominated for the Pulitzer Prize and named an American Library Association Notable Book for 1983. In a letter to author John Casey, who was Pancake's friend and professor at the University of Virginia, Kurt Vonnegut wrote: "I give you my word of honor that he is merely the best writer, the most sincere writer I've ever read. What I suspect is that it hurt too much, was no fun at all to be that good. You and I will never know."
Source:
"Breece D' J Pancake" The Short Story Project. Accessed 6/20/23
https://shortstoryproject.com/writers/breece-dj-pancake/
Preferred Citation
MSS 10975, Breece D' J Pancake papers, Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library, University of Virginia Library.
Related Materials
ViU-2022-0105 (addition 1 to MSS 10975) is included with materials from ViU-2019-0053 (10975-a-e) and are all combined in this Resource record 10975.
Michael Jennings collection of Breece D' J Pancake ViU-2022-0096 is also included with MSS 10975.
Related collection is MSS 10973 John Casey letters to Marcia McGhee.
Content Description
Breece D' J Pancake papers, MSS 10975 a-e. Papers were formerly on long term deposit and have been purchased.
The collection contains typescripts, setting copy, and galley proof of "The stories of Breece D'J Pancake," and other manuscripts of his short stories and class papers. There are translations into German, and Italian of "The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake." Also included is an afterword to a new edition by Andre Dubus II.
There are also original letters from Pancake as well as post cards; letters from Pancake's mother, Helen; letters to Casey concerning his efforts to publish Pancake's stories; letters from Breece D'J Pancake to Michael Jennings, and material pertinent to documentary film maker Mark Rance's attempts to secure funding and produce a script based on Pancake's work including screenplay adaptations.
The collection also contains contracts; royalty statements; book reviews; and papers concerning a controversy over a poem allegedly about Pancake.
There are newspaper clippings, photographs, and a Holy Bible and two books by Henri J.M. Nouwen owned by Pancake.
In addition there is a documentary on videocassette "Breece D'J Pancake : An Appalachian Voice." (VHS, ca. 60 min., "Aired 1/87")
Series 1. CorrespondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242463Breece D' J Pancake correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424761973-1979EnglishBreece D' J. Pancake to Clarence (C.R.) and Helen Pancake (photocopy)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242478197311Breece D' J. Pancake letter to John Casey (TLS)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424641975 February 2English12Breece D' J. Pancake to John Casey (TLS) with poemsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424791976 December 1513Breece D' J. Pancake to Donnetta Pancake (TLS photocopy)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242480197714Breece D' J. Pancake to Helen Pancake (ALS photocopy)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424811977 August 1915Breece D' J. Pancake to Helen Pancake (TLS photocopy)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424821977 October 2416Breece D" J. Pancake postcards from Arizona to John CaseyArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424951978 July17Breece D' J. Pancake to Helen Pancake (ALS and TLS photocopies)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424831978 January-December18Scope and ContentsWith Jesse Stuart letter annotated by Breece and letter from Phoebe-Lou Adams after Breece's death
Breece D' J. Pancake to Helen Pancake (ALS photocopy)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424841978 December19Breece D' J. Pancake to Helen Pancake (TLS photocopies)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424851979 January-April110Scope and Contentswith greivance letters from Mike Beasley (former teacher) and Richard Jones (UVA professor and family friend)
Breece D' J. Pancake to Phoebe-Lou Adams (Atlantic Monthly (TLS) about his writing and a request to write a story about agencies trafficking young women from Asia. ( Advertisements included)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424861978-1979111Breece D' J. Pancake employment opportunitiesArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424981978-1979112Breece D' J. Pancake to John Casey (last letter) and letter about the have and have-nots as well as a dedication of "The Honored Dead" (ALS and TLS)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424881979 March 25113Breece D' J. Pancake to Helen Pancake (last letter) (TL photocopy)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424871979 [April]114Letters to Breece D' J. Pancake mostly from publications including PlayBoy, PlayGirl, The New Yorker,and Atlantic Monthlyabout his work, and a manuscript of "The Mark" Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424891974-1979115Scope and ContentsIncluded is correspondence with Jesse Stuart and a post card from Richard Jones dated April 12, 1979
John Casey recommendations for Breece D' J. PancakeArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425131976-1978116Breece D' J Pancake postcard to Michael JenningsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2435901977 April 25117Breece D' J Pancake to Michael JenningsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2435911977 May 28118Breece D' J Pancake postcard to Michael JenningsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/243592[1977 July]119Breece D' J Pancake postcard to Michael JenningsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2435931977 August 16120Breece D' J Pancake postcard to Michael JenningsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2435941977 August 19121Breece D' J Pancake Christmas Card to Michael JenningsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2435951977 December 21122Breece D' J Pancake to Michael Jennings and newspaper clippings about the murder to two Marshall studentsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/243596[1978 May]123Breece D' J Pancake to Michael JenningsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2435971978 June 5124Breece D' J Pancake postcard to Michael JenningsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2435981978 June125Breece D' J Pancake to Michael Jennings with newspaper clippingsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2435991980; 1981 January 13126Michael Jennings and John Casey correspondence and newspaper clippingsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/243600[1980 April 18]127Helen Pancake and John Casey correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424771976-2010EnglishHelen Pancake correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424961976-1982128Helen Pancake correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424991980-1993129Helen Pancake correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425001983-1984130Helen Pancake correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425011985-1987131Helen Pancake correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2424971987-1998132Helen Pancake correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425031987-2005133Helen Pancake correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425021988-1990134Helen Pancake correspondence (to John Casey)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425041990-199421John Casey correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425051990-201022Helen Pancake correspondence (to John Casey)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425061993 March 24, April 723Helen Pancake correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425071994-199624Helen Pancake correspondence (to John Casey)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242508199525Helen Pancake correspondence (to John Casey)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425091996-199926Helen Pancake correspondenceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425101997-200327Helen Pancake and John Casey correspondence (with photographs and an afterword to Breece's stories by Andre Dubus III)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425111999-200228Helen Pancake and John Casey correspondence (permissions)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425122000-200129Series 2. ManuscriptsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242490"The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake" (setting copy)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242514198331Afterword to "The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake by John Casey (with author's corrections)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242515198332"The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake," (marked set) Galley ProofArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242516198333"The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake," "Afterword" by John Casey with author's correctionsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242533198334"The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake" (Incomplete pages of manuscript)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242539undated35"Hollow, The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake," screenplay adaptation by Mark Rance (first draft with letter to John Casey)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242517198636"Hollow, The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake," screenplay adaption by Mark RanceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242518198637"Hollow, The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake," Screenplay by Mark RanceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242527199138"Hollow," based on "The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake," screenplay by Jeffrey L. Davidson 2nd draftArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425281991 May 2039"Hollow," based on "The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake," screenplay by Jeffrey L. Davidson Fifth draftArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425291992 April 15310"The Honored Dead, The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake," Application for grant to produce the screenplay
Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425191987311"Ridge Runners The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake," motion picture story outlineArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242520undated41"The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake," Application for grant from the Humanities Foundation of West Virginia to plan and script the filmArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242521[1985]42Two Programs for Radio based on "The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake" by Mark RanceArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242522198743"From Eros to Agape: Yorick's Journey" by Breece D' J Pancake, with autograph correctionsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425231978 Fall44"In the Dry" by Breece D' J Pancake, with autograph correctionsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242524[1978]45"In the Dry" by Breece D' J Pancake in The Atlantic Monthly printedArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425251978 August46"The Mark" by Breece D' J PancakeArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242526undated47"Oral Narrative of Cabell County, West Virginia as Culture Control" by Breece D' J PancakeArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242530undated48"Rat Boy" by Breece D' J PancakeArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242531undated49"Rat Boy" by Breece D' J PancakeArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242532undated410"Time and Again," by Breece D' J Pancake, in NightworkArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425341978 September411"Trilobites" by Breece D' J Pancake in The Atlantic MonthlyArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425351977 December412"Trilobites," A Screenplay by Mark Rance and David Selby based on Breece Pancake's short stories, with letters from John CaseyArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425361993 March 26413"Two Original Stories" by Breece D' J Pancake, A Thesis Presented to the Graduate Faculty of UVA for the Master of ArtsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425371978414Manuscript for "The Story of Breece D' J Pancake, Writer" by Thomas E. DouglassArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425381994415-16"The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake," Italian translation (Analise dei racconte) by Beatrice Gabellini for her thesisArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425402004-200551Unpublished manuscripts by Breece D' J PancakeArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242541undated52Series 3. Articles and ReviewsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242491Papers about controversy over a poem about Breece D' J Pancake by Victor Depta in Appalachian JournalArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425421998 July-August53Articles, interviews, and projects regarding Breece D' J PancakeArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425431983-201354"The Apprenticeship of Breece D' J Pancake: An Unpublished Story, Poems, and Letters," with introduction by Thomas E. Douglass in Appalachian JournalArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425441991 Fall55"Breece D' J Pancake" in Dictionary of Literary Biography by Albert E. WilhelmArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242545199256"Bullshit Artist: The Work of Breece D' J Pancake" by Greg Bottoms in C'Ville WeeklyArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425461999 February57"Pancake and Benedict" by Bob Snyder in Appalachian JournalArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425471988 Spring58"The Story of Breece D' J Pancake" and "Breece D' J Pancake Bibliography" by Thomas E. Douglass in Appalachian JournalArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425481990 Summer59Book ReviewsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425491992, 1998510Reviews of "The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake"Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425501980-1983511Reviews of "The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake"Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425511984-1990, undated512"Breece D' J Pancake" by Cynthia KadohataArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242552[1989]513"Hills of Home" by Raymond Nelson, A Review of "The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake"Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425531984, undated514The New York Times Book Review "The Stories of Breece D' J Pancake" by Joyce Carol OatesArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425631983 February 1311Series 4. Contracts, Permissions, and Royalty StatementsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242492ContractsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425541983-200761PermissionsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425552003-201262Royalty StatementsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425561984-200763Series 5. Newspaper clippings and photographsArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242493Newspaper clippings about Breece D' J PancakeArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425571983-199964Photographs of Breece D' J PancakeArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425581961, 197165Series 6. Breece D' J Pancake student, teaching materials and miscellaneous including his Holy BibleArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242559Breece D' J Pancake student, teaching materials, and miscellaneousArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/24256066Henri J. M. Nowen books on spiritual life and healingArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2425621972, 197567Breece D' J personal copy of his bibleArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/24256168Series 7. Digital materials and videocassetteArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/242564.0348 Gigabytes193 Files comprising 34.8 Megabytes on 1 USB and 1 CD-RAppalachian Heritage event featuring the work of Breece D' J Pancake on USB Flash driveArchival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2433182012 September 28Music track on CD-R [unreadable disc]Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/243319Documentary on videocassette "Breece D'J Pancake : An Appalachian Voice." (VHS, ca. 60 min., Aired 1/87)Archival Resource Key/repositories/3/archival_objects/2826191987-010058-00720058