Erskine Caldwell Letters to Jac L. Tharpe

Dr. Jac L. Tharpe was born in Maynardville, Tennessee on January 7, 1928 and received his B.A and M.A from the University of Tennessee. Dr. Tharpe would then go on to receive his doctorate from Harvard University in 1965. Before he became faculty at the University of Southern Mississippi in 1970, Dr. Tharpe taught English and American Literature at the University of Alaska from 1964-1965. From 1967-1970, Dr. Tharpe was an English professor and chairman of the Division of Literature and Languages at Hiram Scott College.

While Dr. Tharpe was at the University of Southern Mississippi he taught a diverse range of classes in undergraduate courses in advanced composition, American Literature and special studies in Honors College. Dr. Tharpe’s graduate courses were just as diverse, his courses included courses in American literature, German novel, Russian novel, picaresque novel, literary youth and Honors Colloquia. Some of his works include John Barth: The Comic Sublimity of Paradox, Elvis: Images and Fancies, and Frost: Centennial Essays. Dr. Tharpe also produced works about Walker Percy, Tennessee Williams and Erksine Caldwell. Dr. Tharpe passed away on June 29, 1985. This collection would be of interest to researchers interested in literature and the works of faculty from the University of Southern Mississippi.