David C. Berry, Jr. Papers
Scope and Contents
The David C. Berry Jr. papers include the poet’s personal and professional correspondence starting in the mid-1960s (Boxes 1-7). Not only does the correspondence contain information on his service in Vietnam as well as on his relationships with family members and friends, but it also reveals many of Berry’s poetic inspirations and his methodology for composition. The collection houses correspondence from such noted individuals as comedian Mack Dryden, Canadian journalist John Bentley Mays, Mississippi Senator Trent Lott, and poet and author James Dickey.
Documents are located in box 7, including newspaper articles on Berry as well as a grant application, a 2009 vita, and funeral sermons. Boxes 7-47 contain drafts of Berry’s work, which includes the Diary of a Pre-Famous Poet, the Creek Book Materials, and poems on marriage, divorce, Vietnam, cancer, and religion. Boxes 48-62 are comprised of published materials. Box 63 has computerized drafts and a VCR tape, and Box 64 contains photographs. Boxes 64-65 include drafts and a final copy of “Quintains, Including Motorhead the Biography,” which Berry worked on from 2018-2020. A folder of oversized materials contains various oversized correspondence and posters.
Dates
- Creation: circa 1965
- Creation: 1965-2020
Creator
- Berry, D. C., Jr. (David Chapman), 1942- (Teacher, 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
David Chapman Berry, Jr. was born in Vicksburg, Mississippi on July 23, 1942 to David Berry, Sr. and Annette Hays Berry. After finishing a double major in mathematics and biology at Bob Jones University in 1964, Berry attended Delta State University in Cleveland, Mississippi for pre-med courses and classes in creative writing and English literature. While there, Berry married Terri Stoutenborough in the summer of 1965, and the couple moved to Flint, Michigan where he was employed at General Motors. Graduating from DSU in 1966 and turning down medical school, he was drafted into the Vietnam War as a medic in the summer of 1966. His poetry on Vietnam is published as Saigon Cemetery (1972), but Berry himself wryly admits that he “made all that up during lunch breaks before taking a nap” (Few par. 5). He received a doctorate in English from the University of Tennessee in 1973 with the dissertation “Orphic and Narcissistic Themes in James Dickey” (Box 13). Berry and Stoutenborough divorced after having a son—David C. Berry, III—and he would marry Ann Bryan and later Sarah Adele Rawls in 1985, with whom another son, Hays, was born in September 1986. Berry taught creative writing and poetry courses at the University of Southern Mississippi from 1972 until 2004.
Berry’s interest in poetry began in the ninth grade, when he would write out of boredom while in church. Since the 1960s, Berry has consistently kept a poetic diary entitled “Diary of a Pre-Famous Poet,” which is housed in this collection. According to lifelong friend Dan Drew, Berry “had begun keeping a log, or journal, of various experiences, almost as a voyeur of the human condition, and . . . he wrote . . . the impressions that observed phenomena had upon him. It was as though Berry had discovered that his life was a canvas, and that he was enjoying letting the paint of experience hit him, then giving expression of this in words and opinions” (Drew par. 20). This journal details his relationships with colleagues and friends, as well as served as the source for many of his other works, such as A Week on the Chunky and Chickasawhay (2009).
Berry writes about his surroundings through the lens of his own experiences, and his poetry is thus personal and reflective. A Week on the Chunky and Chickasawhay details a solo trip he made in August 1982 and is reminiscent of Henry David Thoreau’s A Week on the Concord and Merrimack Rivers. Berry has also written extensively on the themes of marriage, love, divorce, religion, and his struggles with cancer. Motorhead: The Biography, a series of quintains Berry worked on from 2018-2020, details the life, sickness, and death of his cat.
Berry’s publications in scholarly journals and books are extensive, and the books of poetry he as published include:
Saigon Cemetery, 1972
Jawbone: Portraits of Contemporary Poets, 1978
Divorce Boxing, by D. C. Berry, 1998
The Vietnam Ecclesiastes, 1945-1975, 2007
Hamlet Off Stage, 2009
A Week on the Chunky and Chickasawhay, 2009
Yes, Cancer French Kisses, 2017
As an instructor at the University of Southern Mississippi, Berry was held in high esteem by both colleagues and students. He was the recipient of three Excellence in Teaching awards, and he was also a Charles W. Moorman Distinguished Professor in the Humanities. Following his retirement, Berry moved to Oxford, Mississippi.
Extent
32.95 Cubic Feet : MC2/D5
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The David C. Berry, Jr. Papers include the correspondence, drafted writings, and publications of USM professor and poet David C. Berry. This collection would be of particular interest to researchers focusing on the writing process or studying university professorships and family life in the late twentieth and early twenty-first centuries. Topics in Berry’s poetry include the Vietnam War, marriage, divorce, and religion.
Arrangement
The materials in the collection were organized by subject, grouping items by organization (correspondence, drafted writings, published writings, etc.).
Provenance
Donated by David C. Berry, Jr. in 2004, 2018, and 2020.
Sources
David C. Berry Jr. Papers, Historical Manuscripts, Special Collections, The University of Southern Mississippi Libraries.
“Email Interview with Dan Drew, a friend of David Chapman Berry’s since Childhood.” From Dan Drew. To Megan Few.
Few, Megan. “An Interview with David Berry.” Mississippi Writers and Musicians. https://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/mississippi-writers/david-chapman-berry.
Few, Megan. “David C. Berry: A Biography.” Mississippi Writers and Musicians. https://www.mswritersandmusicians.com/mississippi-writers/david-chapman-berry.
Photograph Log
M523-002 David C. Berry, Jr., posing with hat 3.5 x 5 B &W undated
M523-003 David Berry at desk with typewriter, photo reel 8 x 10 B & W undated
M523-004 David Berry and typewriter, photo from reel 5 x 8 B & W undated
M523-005 David Berry and typewriter, photo from reel 5 x 8 B & W undated
M523-006 David Berry and typewriter, three photos from reel 2.5 x 7.75 B & W undated
M523-007 David Berry and typewriter, three photos from reel 2.5 x 7.5 B & W undated
M523-008 David Berry and typewriter, two photos from reel 2.75 x 4.75 B & W undated
M523-009 David Berry and typewriter, photo from reel 2.5 x 2.75 B & W undated
M523-010 David Berry and typewriter, photo from reel 2.5 x 2.75 B & W undated
M523-011 David Berry and typewriter, photo from reel 2.75 x 2.75 B & W undated
M523-012 David Berry and typewriter, photo from reel 2.5 x 2.75 B & W undated
M523-013 David Berry and typewriter, photo from reel 2.5 x 3 B & W undated
M523-014 David Berry and typewriter, photo from reel 2.5 x 2.75 B & W undated
M523-015 David Berry and typewriter, photo from reel 2.5 x 2.75 B & W undated
M523-016 David Berry and typewriter, photo from reel 2.25 x 2.5 B & W undated
M523-017 David Berry and typewriter, photo from reel 2.5 x 2.75 B & W undated
M523-018 David Berry and typewriter, photo from reel 1.5 x 2 B & W undated
M523-019 David Berry, third from left in stage production of “Arsenic and Old Lace” 4.5 x 7.5 B & W 1960
M523-020 David Berry smoking a pipe outside 8 x 10 B &W 1970s
M523-021 David Berry standing outside Cook Library 8 x 10 B & W 1970s
M523-022 David Berry lighting a pipe in his office 3.25 x 4.25 Color Winter 1971
M523-023 David Berry, sketch with pencil 8 x 10.75 B & W ca. 1972
M523-024 Terri Berry holding a flower 8 x 10 B & W Fall 1972
M523-025 Unidentified woman in Dr. Berry’s office 8 x 10 B & W ca. 1974
M523-026 Unidentified woman in Dr. Berry’s office, wearing hat 8 x 10 B & W ca. 1974
M523-027 David Berry and unidentified woman washing dishes 8 x 10 B & W ca. 1974
M523-028 Unidentified woman holding kitten 8 x 10 B & W ca. 1974
M523-029 David Berry and unidentified woman on truck 3.5 x 5 Color Summer 1976
M523-030 David Berry and unidentified woman on truck 3.5 x 5 Color Summer 1976
M523-031 David Berry and unidentified woman at Ademaro’s Bar, Unica, Cortona, Italy, Taken by Roger Johnson, Jr. 5 x 7 Color Summer 1977
M523-032 Snowy view of Cortona, Italy; On reverse – Officio e automobile del professore, translates as office and car of the professor 4 x 6 Color ca. 1977
M523-033 Snowy view of Cortona, Italy 4 x 6 Color ca. 1977
M523-034 David Berry with Elna in front of microphone 4 x 6 Color 1983
M523-035 David Berry and unidentified woman on couch in Gulf Shores, Alabama 4 x 6 Color Easter 1983 M523-036 David Berry on right of unidentified group standing on pier 3.5 x 4.5 Color 1983
M523-037 David Berry on right of unidentified group standing on pier 3.5 x 4.5 Color 1983
M523-038 Unidentified group standing on pier 3.5 x 4.5 Color 1983
M523-039 David Berry on the track at the Neshoba County Fair 3.5 x 5 Color July 23, 1983
M523-040 David C. Berry portrait 8 x 10 B & W Fall 1983
M523-041 David Berry with group of children, Virginia Beach 4 x 6 Color 1984
M523-042 David Berry seated in chair and writing, Virginia Beach 4 x 6 Color 1984
M523-043 On reverse: “Marsha – Dated her in what ’81 or ‘82” 3.5 x 5 Color 1980s
M523-044 David Berry holding baby Hays Berry 3.5 x 4.25 Color October 1986
M523-045 David Berry headshot 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-046 David Berry headshot 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-047 David Berry headshot 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-048 David Berry headshot 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-049 David Berry headshot 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-050 David Berry headshot 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-051 David Berry headshot 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-052 David Berry headshot 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-053 David Berry headshot 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-054 David Berry headshot 3.5 x 5 B & W undated
M523-055 David Berry headshot 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-056 David Berry headshot 3.5 x 5 B & W undated
M523-057 David Berry seated 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-058 David Berry seated 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-059 David Berry seated 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-060 David Berry seated 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-061 David Berry seated 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-062 David Berry seated 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-063 David Berry seated 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-064 David Berry seated 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-065 David Berry seated 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-066 David Berry seated 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-067 David Berry seated 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-068 David Berry seated with sunglasses 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-069 David Berry seated with sunglasses 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-070 David Berry seated with sunglasses 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-071 David Berry seated with sunglasses 4 x 6 B & W undated
M523-072 Margaret C. Mays; Photograph from letter from John Bentley Mays, June 24, 1974 3.75 x 5 B & W 1970s
M523-073 Richard Handler posing by nude portrait of himself in gallery; Photograph from letter from John Bentley Mays, June 24, 1974 3.5 x 5 B & W 1970s
M523-074 John Bentley Mays; Photograph from letter from John Bentley Mays, June 24, 1974 3.5 x 5 B & W 1970s
M523-075 Virgin Mary Prayer Card; Image from letter from John Bentley Mays, June 24, 1974 2.25 x 4 Color 1970s
M523-076 John Bentley Mays; Photograph from letter from John Bentley Mays, June 24, 1974 1.25 x 1.25 B & W ca. 1974
M523-077 John Bentley Mays; Photograph from letter from John Bentley Mays, June 24, 1974 3.75 x 4.75 B & W 1970s
M523-078 Victor Townsley; Photograph from letter from John Bentley Mays, June 24, 1974 3.5 x 5 B & W April 27, 1974
M523-079 Sarah de Sackville-South; Photograph from letter from John Bentley Mays, June 24, 1974 3.5 x 5 B & W 1970s
M523-080 Unidentified woman in kitchen 3.5 x 5 Color 1977
M523-081 Les Wright in baseball uniform, age 7 3.5 x 4.5 Color undated
M523-082 Dottie Swindle sitting on park bench 3.5 x 5 Color 1979
M523-083 David Berry with Dottie Swindle and two children sitting on park bench 3.5 x 5 Color 1979
M523-084 Dottie Swindle reading newspaper on couch 3.5 x 5 Color 1979
M523-085 Dottie Swindle and children on couch 3.5 x 5 Color 1979
M523-086 Dottie Swindle 3.5 x 5 Color 1979
M523-087 Daniel Drew and bike in front of Pacific Ocean; Photograph from letter written September 12, 1981 3.5 x 3.5 Color 1981
M523-088 Daniel Drew and bike in front of Pacific Ocean; Photograph from letter written September 12, 1981 3.5 x 3.5 Color 1981
M523-089 Drew’s bike with the Pacific Ocean; Photograph from letter written September 12, 1981 3.5 x 3.5 Color 1981
M523-090 Cliff overlooking Pacific Ocean; Photograph from letter written September 12, 1981 3.5 x 3.5 Color 1981
M523-091 Signed poster of Mack Dryden and Jamie Alcroft 8 x 10 B & W 1981
M523-092 Unidentified student, Greenwood High, 1958-1959 2.25 x 3 B & W 1958-1959
M523-093 Unidentified student 2.25 x 3.25 B & W October 1984
M523-094 Hays Berry, thirteen days old 3.5 x 4.25 Color October 23, 1986
M523-095 Dan and Jan Drew with newborn baby 3.5 x 5 Color March 1990
M523-096 Unidentified woman 2.25 x 3.25 Color undated
M523-097 Unidentified man with woman 2.5 x 3.5 B & W undated
M523-098 Unidentified man 3.5 x 5 B & W undated
M523-099 Crane 3.5 x 5 Color ca. 1985
M523-100 Crane 3.5 x 5 Color ca. 1985
M523-101 Dan Drew standing at the Avenue Des Champs-Elysees in Paris 4 x 6 Color 1987
M523-102 Dan and Jan Drew on honeymoon 3.5 x 5 Color ca. 1989
M523-103 Jacqueline Adele Drew, baby 4 x 6 Color April 1990
M523-104 Jacqueline Adele Drew, baby, Walnut Creek, California 4 x 6 Color April 1990
M523-105 Tom Wolfe 5 x 7 B & W ca. 1980
M523-106 Group playing tennis 3.5 x 5 Color ca. 1983
M523-107 Group canoeing on the Buffalo River 3.5 x 5 Color ca. 1983
M523-108 Unidentified woman boating on the Tennessee 3.5 x 5 Color ca. 1983
M523-109 John Clemson 4 x 5 B & W undated
Subject
- Title
- David C. Berry, Jr. Papers
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Collection processed and finding aid written & revised by Jonathan Puckett
- Date
- April 24, 2019; Revised 25 February 2020
- 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
