Manuscript Collection

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Identifier

Accession 1092

Inclusive Dates

1847, 1851, 1865, 1879, 1910s-2004, 2007 (Bulk: 1943-1999)

Restrictions

Open under the rules and regulations of the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections

Collection Size

71,000 pieces and 802 volumes; 34.25 linear feet

Language

English;

Historical Note

Matt Christopher (1917-1997) was a prolific author of children’s books having written over 100 books as well as over 300 short stories and articles. Matt was gifted athletically and excelled in every sport as a young man and this love of sports steered him toward sports as the major theme in most of his writings. He even played professional baseball with the Smith Falls Beavers of Ontario, Canada, an affiliate of the Class C Can-Am League in 1937. Matt was the author of several mystery novels, action and adventures, as well as the “Chuck White” comic strip adventure series inTreasure Chest magazine. He also wrote screenplays geared to toward a grownup audience and even wrote some poetry. Matt Christopher also published works under the pseudonym Frederic Martin.

Scope and Content Note

The Matt Christopher Papers consist of published manuscripts, published short stories (1943-1994) (drafts, synopses, plot outlines, and magazines, comics, and newspapers with articles and short stories), galleys (1954-1990s), leather bound author’s editions (1954-1991), and publisher’s editions of Matt Christopher’s children’s books (1954-2004). The collection contains many unpublished manuscripts and drafts outside the children’s book field (1954-1997), unpublished poems (1938-1993), unpublished screenplays (1940-1997), and unpublished short stories (1954-1997). Also included are taped (audio and video) interviews of Matt Christopher, as well as, puzzles for children (1988-1992), research materials and notes (1954-1997), sports rule-books (1954-1995), and writing guides (1909-1995), personal (1949-1997) and business correspondence (1952-2002), contract agreements (1952-1993), royalty statements (1954-1999), and biographical information (1917-2004), memorabilia (personalized baseball bat, framed pictures and award certificates, etc.), fan mail (1964-1999) and his personal book collection (1847-1995) (some signed by authors).

Additional Notes

Matt Christopher also published works under the pseudonym Frederic Martin.

Provenance

The Matt Christopher Papers were deposited with the Louise Pettus Archives & Special Collections on March 7, 2003 and September 24, 2003 by The Matt Christopher Family Trust.

Keywords

Sports; Athletics; Author; Writer; Fiction; Fantasy; Mystery; Children’s Literature; Catholicism;

Copyright

For information concerning copyright please contact the Louise Pettus Archives and Special Collections at Winthrop University.

Matt Christopher Papers - Accession 1092

LC Subject Headings

Christopher, Matt, 1917-1997--Archives; Authors, American--20th century--Archives; Children’s literature, American--Authorship

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