Collection: Janis P. Stout papers | Archival Collections

Janis Pitts Stout (1939-) was an English professor and administrator at a number of research universities, most notably Rice University, Texas A & M, and Auburn University, from 1973 until her retirement in 2002. She produced three novels, compiled and edited a calendar based on the works of Willa Cather, and published six scholarly works, including Katherine Anne Porter: A Sense of the Times (1995). Dr. Stout's papers consist almost exclusively of material related to the research and publication of her 1995 book on Katherine Anne Porter. Included is correspondence regarding permissions from her book, a copy of the book proposal evaluation, other scholarly work on Katherine Anne Porter by Dr. Stout, and a portion of Dr. Stout's research notes. Some general correspondence related to Dr. Stout's book is also included.

Dates

1988-1997
Majority of material found within 1988-1997

Use and Access to Collection

This collection is open for research.

Duplication and Copyright Information

Photocopies of original materials may be provided for a fee and at the discretion of the curator. Please see our Duplication of Materials policy for more information. Queries regarding publication rights and copyright status of materials within this collection should be directed to the appropriate curator.

Extent

0.50 Linear Feet

Additional Description

Scope and Contents

The Papers of Janis P. Stout include materials dating from 1988 to 1997. The collection consists of correspondence, a book proposal evaluation, a scholarly paper, and research materials. The bulk of the material consists of correspondence related to the research and publication of Stout's Katherine Anne Porter: A Sense of the Times (1995). There are also research notes on acquaintances of Katherine Anne Porter and photocopies of primary research materials.

Biographical / Historical

Janis Pitts Stout was born in Fort Worth, Texas, in 1939. She graduated from Polytechnic High School in Fort Worth, married soon afterward, and became the mother of three sons before completing a B.A. (1966) and an M.A. (1968) in English at Lamar State University in Beaumont, Texas. After the birth of her fourth son, she entered the graduate program in English at Rice University, completing her doctoral degree there in 1973. She taught at Bryn Mawr College; Haverford College; Pennsylvania State University, Delaware County; Lamar State University; Rice University; and Texas A & M University before her retirement on January 31, 2002. Much of her career, however, was given to administration. She served at Rice University as Administrator of Graduate Programs, then Director of Graduate Programs, for ten years; as Associate Dean of Liberal Arts at Texas A & M from 1987 to 1992 and 1993 to 1994; as Interim Associate Dean of Liberal Arts at Auburn University from 1992 to 1993; and as Dean of Faculties and Associate Provost at Texas A & M from 1998 to 2002. In addition to numerous scholarly articles, Dr. Stout's publications include three novels: A Family Likeness (1982), Eighteen Holes (1984), Home Truth (1992) and six scholarly books: Sodoms in Eden (1976), The Journal Narrative in American Literature (1984), Strategies of Reticence (1990), Katherine Anne Porter: A Sense of the Times (1995), Through the Window, Out the Door: Women's Narratives of Departure (1998), and Willa Cather: The Writer and Her World (2000). She compiled and edited A Calendar of the Letters of Willa Cather (2002). She and her husband, Dr. Loren D. Lutes, now reside in Edgewood, New Mexico.

Arrangement

These materials have been divided into four series.

Series 1: Correspondence
Series 2: Book Proposal Evaluation
Series 3: Scholarly Work
Series 4: Research Materials

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

Janis P. Stout's papers from her work Katherine Anne Porter: A Sense of the Times (1995) came to the University of Maryland Libraries in January 2002 through purchase and donation.

Related Material

Materials related to the Stout Papers can be found in the Papers of Katherine Anne Porter, Special Collections, University of Maryland Libraries. Other related materials can be found at the following institutions, all of which were contacted by Stout during the course of her work on Katherine Anne Porter: A Sense of the Times: the Papers of Josephine Herbst, Robert Penn Warren, and Matthew Josephson at the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University; the William Van O'Connor Papers at the E. S. Bird Library, Syracuse University; the Papers of Ernestine Evans and Frank Tannenbaum at Butler Library, Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University; the Windham-Campbell Collection of Modern Literature at the Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, University of Georgia; the Dorothy Day Papers at Marquette University of Maryland; the Malcolm Cowley Papers at Newberry Library; the Ford Madox Ford Papers at Olin Library, Special Collections, Washington University; the Papers of Allen Tate at Princeton University Libraries, Rare Books and Special Collections; the Papers of Harry Ransom at the Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center, University of Texas at Austin; and the Papers of William Van O'Connor and Peggy Bacon at the Syracuse University Library.

Processing Information

Paper clips and staples were removed from the materials, and letters were removed from envelopes and flattened. All correspondence was placed in alphabetical order by correspondent or institution. A book proposal evaluation, scholarly work, and research materials were moved to separate series. All materials were re-housed in acid-free folders and boxes.

Administrative Information

Title: Guide to the Janis P. Stout Papers
Status: Completed
Author: Processed and guide compiled by Jessica Ford Cameron.
Date: 2002-05-01
Description rules: Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description: English
Script of description: Code for undetermined script
Language of description note: Finding aid written in English.

Library Details

Part of the Special Collections and University Archives

http://www.lib.umd.edu/special

Contact:
University of Maryland Libraries
Hornbake Library
4130 Campus Drive
College Park Maryland 20742
301-405-9212
askhornbake@umd.edu

Janis P. Stout papers

Dates

Use and Access to Collection

Duplication and Copyright Information

Extent

Additional Description

Scope and Contents

Biographical / Historical

Arrangement

Custodial History and Acquisition Information

Related Material

Processing Information

Administrative Information

Library Details

Library Details

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