OFFUTT, CHRIS, 1958-
Chris Offutt papers, circa 1980-2015

Restrictions on Access

Special restrictions apply: Use copies have not been made for audiovisual material in this collection. Researchers must contact the Rose Library at least two weeks in advance for access to these items. Collection restrictions, copyright limitations, or technical complications may hinder the Rose Library's ability to provide access to audiovisual material.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

All requests subject to limitations noted in departmental policies on reproduction.

Source

Gift, 2015

Citation

[after identification of item(s)], Chris Offutt papers, Stuart A. Rose Stuart A. Rose Manuscript, Archives, and Rare Book Library, Emory University.

Processing

Arranged and described at the box level by Laura Starratt and Carrie Hintz, November 2015.

Biographical Note

Christopher John Offutt (b. August 24, 1958), American writer, was born in Lexington, Kentucky, and grew up in Rowan County in the Appalachian Mountain foothills of eastern Kentucky. His father was Andrew J. Offutt, American science fiction and fantasy author, who also wrote hundreds of erotic novels under pennames such as John Cleve, Jeff Douglas, Farrah Fawkes, Baxter Giles, J. X. Williams, and Turk Winter. Offutt attended Morehead State University and graduated with a degree in theater and a minor in English. He later attended the Iowa Writers' Workshop.

Offutt is most widely known for his short stories and novels, but he has also published two memoirs and nonfiction articles. His works include Kentucky Straight (1992); The Same River Twice (1993); The Good Brother (1997); Out of the Woods (1999); Moscow, Idaho, originally published in Granta 54: Best of Young American Novelists; and No Heroes: A Memoir of Coming Home (2002). He also wrote short stories and articles, including "My Dad, the Pornographer," for the New York Times Magazine in 2015, as well as screenplays for television series including True Blood, Weeds, and Treme.

Offutt also held positions as a faculty member at the Iowa Writers' Workshop, the University of Montana (Missoula, Montana), the University of New Mexico (Albuquerque, New Mexico), Grinnell College (Grinnell, Iowa), Morehead State University (Morehead, Kentucky), Mercer University (Macon, Georgia), and the University of Mississippi (Oxford, Mississippi). He has been honored by the Lannan Foundation, Guggenheim Foundation, the American Academy of Arts and Letters, and the National Endowment for the Arts. He received a Whiting Award in both Fiction and Nonfiction, and in 1996, Offutt was named one of the twenty best young American fiction writers by Granta magazine.

Scope and Content Note

The collection consists of the papers of American writer, Chris Offutt and contains writings, journals, correspondence, and juvenilia. Writings include manuscripts and typescript screenplays of his works including Good Brother, Hit Monkey, Kentucky Straight, Out of the Woods, Star Wheel Bridge, "My Father the Pornographer," No Heroes, Same River, Tough Trade, Treme, Hard to Hit, Further Proof, and True Blood as well as research for these works. There are journals (circa 1980s-2011) and juvenilia, including writings and drawings and a small amount of correspondence. Also included are a number of promotional posters for his novels.

Arrangement Note

Arranged by record type