Book design

The Monograph series includes research notes, typed manuscripts, galley proofs, printed materials, correspondence, and other materials chronicling Graves’ literary contributions from his earliest short stories to his more recent essays and memoir. Materials from all of his books are included. Many of these materials were annotated by Graves with personal comments when he donated the materials to Bill Wittliff.

Manuscript materials relating to the books Graves is credited as writing or co-writing make up the first series. Materials are arranged alphabetically by book title. Of particular interest in the files pertaining to his first book Goodbye to a River are photographs taken by Graves during his trip down the Brazos River, the plate proofs of the first edition, and two printed articles written before the publication of the book. There are also drafts of his second book, Hard Scrabble, and his 2004 memoir, Myself and Strangers. The materials relating to From a Limestone Ledge have to do with the publication of the book itself; materials relating to the essays that were previously published in Texas Monthly are in the following sub-series. Likewise, materials under Blue and Some Other Dogs, The Last Running, and Self-Portrait, With Birds have to do with the book versions of these writings, not the original versions, which can be found in the next sub-series.