Noel Polk Collection
Scope and Contents
This collection contains Noel Polk’s correspondence, teaching documents, grant related documents, and other miscellaneous papers. Much of the collection is related to Polk’s scholarly work on the writings of William Faulkner and other southern writers, but also included are personal correspondence and university related materials. The materials date primarily to the years 1975-1998.
Dates
- 1973-1999
Creator
- Polk, Noel, 1943-2012 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Noncirculating; available for research.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection may be protected from unauthorized copying by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code).
Biographical / Historical
Noel Polk was born in Picayune, Mississippi on February 23, 1943. He received his PhD from University of South Carolina in 1970, and went on to be professor the University of Southern Mississippi, where he taught English Literature and was editor of the Southern Quarterly. He later worked as a professor at Mississippi State University, where he edited the Mississippi Quarterly.
His scholarly work earned him praise throughout his career, particularly his work on southern literature. Polk was considered the top Faulkner scholar of his generation and did a great deal to promote and explain the work of William Faulkner, but also was recognized for scholarly work on writers like Eudora Welty and Robert Penn Warren. Over the course of his career, Noel Polk shared correspondence with literature teachers and experts all over the world. He passed away in August, 2012.
Extent
7 Cubic Feet
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
In 1999, English professor Noel Polk left to McCain Library and Archives many documents, namely correspondence related to his work as an English professor and researcher. Topics such as academia, William Faulkner, Eudora Welty, southern literature, and Natchez before 1830 are covered.
Provenance
Donated by Noel Polk in 1999.
- American literature -- Southern States. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Certificates. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Clippings (Books, newspapers, etc.). Subject Source: TGM II, Genre and physical characteristic terms
- Essay. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Faulkner, William, 1897-1962
- Letter. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Manuscript. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Natchez (Miss.). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Newsletters. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Photographs. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Polk, Noel, 1943-2012
- Records (Documents). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Résumés (Employment). Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- University of Southern Mississippi -- Faculty. Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Welty, Eudora, 1909-2001
- Title
- Noel Polk Collection
- Author
- Andrew Rhodes.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the Historical Manuscripts and Photographs Repository
118 College Drive - 5148
Hattiesburg MS 39406-0001
601.266.4345
