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Guide to the Jay McInerney Papers, 1971-1989

Guide to the Jay McInerney Papers,
1971-1989

Collection Number: 4666

Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
Cornell University Library

Contact Information:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections
2B Carl A. Kroch Library
Cornell University
Ithaca, NY 14853
(607) 255-3530
Fax: (607) 255-9524
rareref@cornell.edu
http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:
Phil McCray and Lisa Sasaki
Date completed:
October 1996

© 1998 Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library

DESCRIPTIVE SUMMARY

Title:
Jay McInerney papers, 1971-1989
Collection Number:
4666
Creator:
Jay McInerney
Quantity:
1.7 cubic ft.
Forms of Material:
Personal correspondence, professional and publishing correspondence, photographs, videocassettes and audiocassettes, fan mail, two scrapbooks, ephemeral items, and newsclippings.
Repository:
Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library
Abstract:
The Jay McInerney papers consist of personal correspondence, professional and publishing correspondence, photographs, and other papers relating chiefly to the publicity for his novel Bright Lights Big City.

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Jay McInerney is the author of Bright Lights Big City,Ransom, and other novels.
COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

The Jay McInerney papers consist of personal correspondence, professional and publishing correspondence, photographs, and other papers relating chiefly to the publicity for his novel Bright Lights Big City. The collection includes manuscripts of McInerney's other published and unpublished writing, and drafts and screenplay drafts of Bright Lights Big City. The collection also includes videocassettes and audiocassettes, fan mail, two scrapbooks (dissembled) that chronicle the personal life and professional and literary presence of Jay McInerney and Merry McInerney, ephemeral items, photographs, and newsclippings.
Personal papers include letters and notes from McInerney to his wife Merry; photographs of them and their wedding; material regarding travel, particularly in Africa; incidental diary fragments; and financial and business records. Correspondents include Raymond Carver and Tess Gallagher, McInerney's editor and friend Gary Fisketjon of Random House, and authors Richard Ford, Rust Hills, Paul Bowles, Julian Barnes, Tama Janowitz, Lorrie Moore, Tina Brown, Bill Buford, Gordon Lish, Tobias Wolff, and Mona Simpson.
SUBJECTS

Names:
McInerney, Jay
Carver, Raymond L.
Gallagher, Tess
Lish, Gordon
Moore, Lorrie
Simpson, Mona
Wolff, Tobias, 1945-
Bowles, Paul, 1910-
Brown, Tina
Buford, Bill
Barnes, Julian
Ford, Richard, 1944-
Janowitz, Tama
Hills, L. Rust
McInerney-Whiteford, Merry
Fisketjon, Gary

Subjects:
Novelists, American
Fiction--Stories, plots, etc.
Publicity
Publishers and publishing
Authors, American

Form and Genre Terms:
Scrapbooks
Photographs

Occupations:
Authors

INFORMATION FOR USERS

Restrictions on Use:
Authors retain literary rights.
Cite As:
Jay McInerney Papers, #4666. Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library.
SERIES LIST

Series I. Personal correspondence Box 1
Series II. Professional and publishing correspondence Box 2
Series III. Manuscripts Box 3
Series IV. Writings Box 4
Series V. Scrapbooks Boxes 5-6
Series V. Ephemera Boxes 7
Series VI. Videocassettes See Container List

CONTAINER LIST
Date
Description
Box
Folder
or
Item No.
Series I. Personal correspondence
1971-1985
Correspondence from Raymond Carver to Jay McInerney
 1 1
Letter: February 10, 1971
 1 1
Letter: December 17, 1980
 1 1
Letter: July 23, 1981
 1 1
Letter: January 13, 1983
 1 1
Letter: July 7, 1983
 1 1
Letter: July 15, 1983
 1 1
Postcard: July 19, 1983
 1 1
Letter: July, 1983
 1 1
Letter: March 28, 1984
 1 1
Postcard: May 24, 1984
 1 1
Postcard: June 21, 1985
 1 1
Letter: July 7, 1985
 1 1
1971-1985
Photocopies of correspondence from Carver to McInerney--Letters only
 1 2
1981-1986
Correspondence from Tess Gallagher to McInerney
 1 3
Letter: June 4, 1981
 1 3
Letter: October 20, 1982
 1 3
Postcard: January 13, 1983
 1 3
Letter: August 11, 1983
 1 3
Postcard: 1983
 1 3
Letter: 1984
 1 3
Letter: January 21, 1985
 1 3
Letter: March 24, 1986
 1 3
Poem: 1986
 1 3
1982-1989
Correspondence from McInerney to Merry (Reymond) McInerney
 1 4
n.d.
Correspondence from McInerney to Merry McInerney
 1 5
1982-1986
Correspondence from Gary L. Fisketjon to McInerney
 1 6
1987
Note with photograph of wine bottles and annotation from Julian Barnes to McInerney
 1 7
1985
Letter from Tina Brown to McInerney
 1 8
1985
Letter from Tina Brown to McInerney
 1 9
1984
Letters from Bill Buford to McInerney
 1 10
1983-1986
Correspondence from Richard Ford to McInerney including one letter from McInerney to Ford never sent
 1 11
1986
Letter from Rust Hills to McInerney
 1 12
n.d.
Letter from Tama Janowitz to McInerney
 1 13
1982-1986
Letters from Gordon Lish to McInerney
 1 14
1982-1986
Letters from Lorrie Moore to McInerney
 1 15
n.d.
Letters from Mona Simpson to McInerney
 1 16
n.d.
Letters from Tobias Wolff to McInerney
 1 17
1984-1987
Miscellaneous correspondence
 1 18
1986
Postcards from McInerney never sent
 1 19
Series II. Professional and publishing correspondence
1980-1985
Professional and publishing correspondence
 2 1
1985
Professional and publishing correspondence
 2 2
1985
Professional and publishing correspondence
 2 3
1986
Professional and publishing correspondence
 2 4
1986
Professional and publishing correspondence
 2 5
1987-1988
Professional and publishing correspondence
 2 6
n.d.
Professional and publishing correspondence
 2 7
n.d.
Notes
 2 8
n.d.
Notebook with notes
 2 9
1985-1986
Miscellaneous material regarding trip to Africa with Sobek's International Explorers Society
 2 10
1985
Notes
 2 11
"Notes: Paul Bowles 1985, Tangier (for Vanity Fair piece)"
1988
Good Help by Allan Gurganus with dedication from author to McInerney
 2 12
1981-1986
Paolo Barozzi miscellany
 2 13
Note from McInerney, Peggy Guggenheim: Una donna, una collezione, Venezia by Barozzi with personal dedication from author to McInerney, "Peggy Guggenheim Remembered" by Barozzi
1984
Draft of the play After Hours by Joseph Minion with note from McInerney
 2 14
1985-1988
Miscellaneous
 2 15
Newspaper article, complimentary drink passes, slide, tour information
1986-1989
Miscellaneous
 2 16
Business cards, addresses and phone numbers, newspaper clippings, notes, American Express credit card
Series III. Manuscripts
n.d.
Notes
 3 1
n.d
Revised second draft of Bright Lights, Big City with Michael Ulick's notes
 3 2
n.d.
Draft of screenplay of Bright Lights--Version 1
 3 3
n.d.
Draft of screenplay of Bright Lights--Version 2
 3 4
n.d.
Draft of screenplay of Bright Lights--Version 3
 3 5
n.d.
Draft of screenplay of Bright Lights--Version 4
 3 6
n.d.
Additional copy of Version 4
 3 7
n.d.
Early draft of Paint It Black, unpublished screenplay
 3 8
n.d.
Early draft of Paint It Black
 3 9
n.d.
First draft and early notes of Paint It Black
 3 10
1987
Manuscript of I-Land Manhattan in Monologue by Sonia Pilcer
 3 11
Series IV. Writings
1884
"The Real Tad Allagash"
 4 1
First draft--originally entitled "Allagash on the Hudson," rejection letter from Mademoiselle
n.d.
"The Real Tad Allagash"
 4 2
n.d.
Chapters from an unpublished novel
 4 3
n.d.
"Sympathy"
 4 3
n.d.
"Sympathy"
 4 4
n.d.
Criticism on "The Nuclear Age" by Tim O'Brien
 4 5
n.d.
Pages 8-11 of unknown story
 4 6
n.d.
"Instant Tinsel"
 4 7
n.d.
"Where They Be Smoke"
 4 8
First and second drafts
1986-1987
"Smoke"
 4 9
Letters of rejection and acceptance, two drafts of "Smoke," The Atlantic Report author profile, photocopy of article revisions
1985
"Bowles Galleys"
 4 10
Letter from Vanity Fair, photocopy of article revisions
n.d.
"Deadly Hazards, Minor Hassles"
 4 11
n.d.
"A Sentimental Education"
 4 12
1987
"Reunion"
 4 13
Two drafts, photocopies of article revisions from Esquire
n.d.
"Fear of Dancing"
 4 14
Two copies, original article in Esquire
n.d.
Introduction to Manhattan Transfer
 4 15
n.d.
Speeches
 4 16
n.d.
Interview
 4 17
Series V. Scrapbooks
1982-1984
Miscellaneous
 5 1
Letters of congratulation, miscellaneous publishing letters, letters regarding "Amanda" and "IT'S 6 AM, DO YOU KNOW WHERE YOU ARE"
1984
Miscellaneous
 5 2
Newspaper clippings, publicity photo, book jacket, miscellaneous publishing letters
1984-1985
Miscellaneous
 5 3
Newspaper clippings, photo of bookstore, miscellaneous letters
1984
Photocopies and original newspaper clippings
 5 4
1984-1985
Photocopies of newspaper clippings
 5 5
1986
Fan mail
 5 6
1985-1987
Fan mail
 5 7
1985-1987
Fan mail
 5 8
1985-1986
Fan mail
 5 9
1979-1986
Letters received, clippings, Syracuse University administrative papers
 6 1
1983-1986
Negatives and photographs, wedding photographs, publicity photographs, a letter
 6 2
c. 1985
Letters, invitation list, McInerney resume
 6 3
1984-1985
Proposal from Playboy, publicity
 6 4
c. 1985
Publicity
 6 5-8
Series VI. Ephemera
7
Sunglasses worn by Michael J. Fox, Bright Lights, Big City t-shirt, photos of McInerney and Merry, flyers, book jackets, newspaper and magazine clippings; audiocassettes: German feature on McInerney and Bret Easton Ellis, and "Why I am Not Moving to Hollywood" by McInerney; McInerney interviews with Paul Bowles
Series VII. Videocassettes
"I Minimalisti"
 V-343
"Bright Lights Big City," Jay McInerney Interviews 4/22/88
 V-343