Title: Willard Motley papers
Inclusive Dates: 1948-1965
Bulk Dates: 1957-1963

Creators:

• Motley, Willard, 1909-1965

• Haydn, Hiram, 1907-1973

• Loomis, Robert D. (Robert Duane), 1926-2020

• Random House (Firm)

Unique Identifier: MS 129

Quantity:

• 1.7 Linear Feet
• 4 letter document boxes

Repository:

University of Wisconsin-Madison. Department of Special Collections

Abstract:

The papers of Willard Motley, an African-American author from Chicago, Illinois, best known for his novels, "Knock on Any Door" (1947) and "Let No Man Write My Epitaph" (1958). Included are professional and personal correspondence, working notes, manuscripts, and book reviews. The bulk of the collection contains correspondence with Motley and his editor for "Let No Man Write My Epitaph" as well as five years worth of correspondence with Motley's literary agents. Additional correspondence with notable figures such as Lil Armstrong and Langston Hughes, also included.

Language: English , Spanish; Castilian .

URL to cite for this finding aid: http://digital.library.wisc.edu/1711.dl/wiarchives.uw-sc-ms129

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Willard Motley was born on July 14, 1909 in Chicago, Illinois. He grew up in Englewood, a predominantly white neighborhood at the time. At age 13, Motley began his writing a weekly children's column in the "Chicago Defender" under the pseudonym, 'Bud Billiken'. Motley considered attending the University of Wisconsin after graduating from high shcool, however was unable to due to financial limitations. Instead, Motley spent several years travelling the country working odd jobs and writing before returning to Chicago in 1939. He moved out of his family's Englewood home into an apartment in the Maxwell Street neighborhood, a diverse but poverty-stricken area. During this time, Motley helped fund the Hull-House Magazine where he published short fiction stories. In 1940 Motley became a part of the WPA Federal Writer's Project.

Motley spent several years researching Chicago's prisons, reform schools, and neighborhoods and interviewing those who had experienced them. This culminated in Motley's first novel, "Knock on Any Door" (1947). It was an immediate success, selling 47,000 copies in the first three weeks. Set in Chicago, it told the story of Nick Romano, the son of Italian immigrants, who faces numerous hardships such as poverty and petty crime, culminating in being accused of the murder of a policeman. The novel was applauded for its naturalistic portrayal of life in the Chicago slums and it was turned into a movie in 1949 starring Humphrey Bogart.

His later novels did not achieve the success of his first. He published his second novel, "We Fished All Night" in 1951. Motley later moved to Mexico City in 1952 where he lived for the rest of his life. A third novel, "Let No Man Write My Epitaph", was published in 1958 as a sequel to "Knock on Any Door".

Motley finished the manuscript for his fourth novel, "Let Noon Be Fair", several weeks prior to his death. He died on March 4, 1965. His final novel was published posthumously in 1966.

This collection consists largely of correspondence but also includes working notes, manuscripts, book reviews, essays, and newspaper clippings. Correspondence includes letters between Motley and Hiram Haydn, his editor for "Let No Man Write My Epitaph", and between Motley and his literary agents, Elizabeth McKee and Mavis McIntosh. Also included are working notes for aborted projects.

Shelved with collection is "The Willard Motley Papers at the University of Wisconsin," by Jerome Klinkowitz, James Giles, John T. O'Brien in Resources for American literary study, v. 2, no. 2 (Autumn 1972), pp. 218-269. The article provides an item-level description of the collection.

The original order of collection has been maintained where possible. Folder descriptions and order of the collection were established by Willard Motley.

Collection materials may be subject to laws governing rights. Researchers are solely responsible for determining the rights status of the materials they use. Permission may be required for some uses such as publication or reproduction.

This collection includes no known access restrictions.

Gifts from Willard Motley, 1964 and from the Estate of Willard Motley, 1966.

Willard Motley papers, Department of Special Collections, Memorial Library, University of Wisconsin-Madison.

American literature -- African American authorsAfrican Americans -- History -- 20th century -- SourcesLiterary agents -- CorrespondenceGays -- United States -- History -- 20th century -- SourcesMexico -- Social life and customs -- 20th century

Box [89129982468]   1   folder 0.5	[Identity list of correspondents (partial), created by Motley]
Box [89129982468]   1   folder 13	L. Letters [out of chronological order], 1958-1963
Box [89129982468]   1   folder 1	A. Notes to Felix [Pollak]
Box [89129982468]   1   folder 2	B. Letters to Mexico when in New York..., 1957
Box [89129982468]   1   folder 3	C. Correspondence with H. Haydn Concerning Let No Man..., 1957-1959
Box [89129982468]   1   folder 4	[Correspondence with Conroy]
Box [89129982468]   1   folder 5	D. Correspondence - Random House, Jean Ennis 1958-1959
Box [89129982468]   1   folder 6	E. Correspondence - Agents: McIntosh-McKee, 1958
Box [89129982468]   1   folder 7	F. Correspondence - Agents: McIntosh-McKee, 1959
Box [89129982468]   1   folder 8	G. Correspondence - Agents: McIntosh-McKee, 1960
Box [89129982468]   1   folder 9	H. Correspondence - Agents: McIntosh-McKee, 1961
Box [89129982468]   1   folder 10	I. Correspondence - Agents: McIntosh-McKee, 1962
Box [89129982468]   1   folder 11	J. Letters , 1959
Box [89129982468]   1   folder 12	K. Letters, 1960
Box [89129982468]   1   folder 14	M. Letters, 1961
Box [89129982500]   2   folder 1	N. Letters, 1962
Box [89129982500]   2   folder 2	O. Letters, 1963
Box [89129982500]   2   folder 3	P. Letters, 1965
Box [89129982500]   2   folder 4	Q. Miscellaneous, 1948-1961,  (bulk 1951-1955)
Box [89129982500]   2   folder 5	R. Bob Loomis/My Editor, 1959-1961
Box [89129982500]   2   folder 6	S. Peter Israel/Will Motley, 1962-1963
Box [89129982500]   2   folder 7	T. HO Book (unorganized, taken from envelope) (1 of 4)
Box [89129982500]   2   folder 8	T. HO Book (unorganized, taken from envelope) (2 of 4)
Box [89129982500]   2   folder 9	T. HO Book (unorganized, taken from envelope) (3 of 4)
Box [89129982500]   2   folder 10	T. HO Book (unorganized, taken from envelope) (4 of 4)
Box [89129982500]   2   folder 11	U. Bill Goodwill Letters, 1950-1959
Box [89129982500]   2   folder 12	V. Letter to Time Magazine, 1963
Box [89129982500]   2   folder 13	W. Some Thoughts on Color (1 of 4), 1963
Box [89129982500]   2   folder 14	W. Some Thoughts on Color (2 of 4), 1963
Box [89129982500]   2   folder 15	W. Some Thoughts on Color (3 of 4), 1963
Box [89129982500]   2   folder 16	W. Some Thoughts on Color (4 of 4), 1963
Box [89129988002]   3   folder 1	X. Miscellaneous, 1963
Box [89129988002]   3   folder 2	Y. Book Reviews. Other Writings of Short Length
Box [89129988002]   3   folder 3	AA. Reviews of 'Let No Man Write My Epitaph'
Box [89129988002]   3   folder 4	BB. Movie Clippings: 'Let No Man Write My Epitaph'
Box [89129988002]   3   folder 5	CC. Essay: Willard Motley's Poetical Element, 1957
Box [89129988002]   3   folder 6	DD. Notebooks
Box [89129988002]   3   folder 7	EE. Notes, General: Hold
Box [89129988002]   3   folder 8	FF. Material - General
Box [89129988002]   3   folder 9	GG. Experimental Novel
Box [89129988002]   3   folder 10	HH. Remember Me To Mama (New Material)
Box [89129988002]   3   folder 11	II. Rosemary for Remembrance
Box [89129988002]   3   folder 12	JJ. Short Stories
Box [89129988002]   3   folder 13	KK. Romanos
Box [89129988002]   3   folder 14	LL. Play Technique
Box [89129988002]   3   folder 15	MM. Life of Christ/HO Book Correspondence with Elizabeth [McKee]
Box [89129988002]   3   folder 16	NN. Wisconsin Univ. Memorial Library Requirements, 1959-1961
Box [89129988002]   3   folder 17	PP. Bullfight Novel/'Moment of Truth'
Box [89129988010]   4   folder 1	QQ. Titles, Quotes, Names
Box [89129988010]   4   folder 2	RR. Hildago Material
Box [89129988010]   4   folder 3	SS. Rights and Permissions
Box [89129988010]   4   folder 4	TT. 'We Fished All Night': Book Reviews
Box [89129988010]   4   folder 5	UU. 'We Fished All Night': Book Reviews
Box [89129988010]   4   folder 6	VV. The Father (with photocopy of note on original folder)
Box [89129988010]   4   folder 7	WW. 'Sometimes in September'
Box [89129988010]   4   folder 8	XX. Notes/Musical
Box [89129988010]   4   folder 9	YY. Musical
Box [89129988010]   4   folder 10	[Miscellaneous Articles about Motley]