Photo by Christine Crook
Note that there are several components to the Crook Papers -- First is the processed "Finding Aid" for Collection 060 containing 31 boxes, covering material donated by Ms. Crook prior to 2002. Since then, the Wittliff has received additional literary papers from Ms. Crook. The inventories for these additional donations are listed below the Finding Aid. Please scroll down to see the complete list of holdings for the Crook Papers.
A Guide to the Elizabeth Crook Papers
1984-2000
Collection 060
Descriptive Summary
Creator: Crook, Elizabeth
Title: Elizabeth Crook Papers
Dates: 1984-2000
Abstract: Research notes, annotated typescripts, correspondence, photographs, and newsclippings make up the Elizabeth Crook papers, and relate mainly to Crook’s novels of historical fiction, Raven’s Bride (1991), and Promised Lands: A Novel of the Texas Rebellion (1994). The collection is arranged into the following three series: Works, Mailing Lists, and Clippings.
Identification: Collection 060
Extent: 31 boxes (19 linear feet)
Language: Materials are written in English
Repository: Southwestern Writers Collection, Special Collections, Alkek Library, Texas State University-San Marcos
Biographical Sketch
Elizabeth Crook was born in 1960 in Nacogdoches and raised in San Marcos, Washington DC, where her father directed VISTA under Lyndon Baines Johnson, and Australia, where her father served as ambassador. Ms. Crook went on to Baylor University, and received her B.A. in English from Rice University.
In 1985, she began intensely researching what would become a lengthy article in the Southwestern Historical Quarterly (July, 1990), focused on the 1828 marriage of Tennessee governor Sam Houston and the 20 year old Eliza Allen. This article became the touchstone of her best-selling first novel, Raven’s Bride, published in 1991 by Doubleday. The 750 page manuscript was accepted by the publisher after fifteen publishing houses had rejected it; Crook’s soon-to-be editor at Doubleday, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis, called her personally to accept it. Award-winning journalist and author Bill Moyers writes that in Raven’s Bride, Crook “brought to life the great events of Texas past and turned them into a robust novel. The characters, the descriptions, and the drama are a panorama that only a fine historian or inspired novelist could handle to the reader’s delight, and Ms. Crook is both.”
In 1993, Ms. Crook was inducted into the Texas Institute of Letters. A year later, she published her second novel, Promised Lands: A Novel of the Texas Rebellion, also edited by Ms. Onassis at Doubleday. “At a time when war is sanitized, televised, and intellectualized, Crook’s most important contribution may be her reminder of the insanity and sheer waste of it all… Though she probably did not intend it that way, her account of the slaughter at Goliad is one of the most powerful anti-war statements I’ve read” (Joyce Slater, Houston Post).
Ms. Crook currently lives in Austin, with her husband, Marc Lewis, a professor of psychology at the University of Texas, and their son.
For more information about Elizabeth Crook visit her author website
Scope and Content Note
Research notes, annotated typescripts, correspondence, photographs, and newsclippings in the Elizabeth Crook papers range in date from 1984-2000, and relate mainly to Crook’s novels of historical fiction, Raven’s Bride (1991), and Promised Lands: A Novel of the Texas Rebellion (1994). Series include I. Works (1984-1994), II. Mailing Lists (n.d.), and III. Clippings (1990-2000).
Series Description
Series I: Works:
Subseries A: Raven’s Bride: This subseries includes extensive research files and many annotated typescripts of Crook’s first novel. The research files include clippings, handwritten notes, photographs, and correspondence with research assistant Eva B. Denning, of Gallatin, TN, 1984-90. The typescripts have been arranged in alphabetical order by the various working titles.
Subseries B: Promised Lands: This subseries includes research files and annotated typescripts of Crook’s second novel. The typescripts have been arranged in alphabetical order by the various working titles. Correspondence includes a letter from John Graves commenting on Promised Lands, editorial correspondence with Jackie Onassis, and correspondence regarding publicity. Also includes one black and white publicity photo of Crook by Dan Flores.
Subseries C: Essays and Articles
Series II: Mailing Lists (n.d.): The mailing lists in this series include personal and business contacts, as well as lists for publicity purposes, such as newspaper lists.
Series III: Clippings (1990-2000): This series includes newsclippings, reviews, and select editorial correspondence, as maintained by Ms. Crook.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions: Open for research.
Preferred Citation: Elizabeth Crook Papers, Southwestern Writers Collection, Texas State University-San Marcos
Acquisition Information: Gift donated by Elizabeth Crook, 1995 and 2001.
Processing Information: Processed by Amanda York, 2001. Finding aid revised by Maggie DeBrecht, 2011
Note to Researchers: Contact the archivist for information about additional materials from this writer that have not yet been fully processed.
Container List
Series I: Works, 1984-1994
Raven’s Bride
Box Folder
Research
1 1-3 Allen, Eliza and family
2 1 Allen, Eliza and family-continued
2 2 Architecture
2 3 Bledsoe, Anthony
2 4 Boyers, Blackmore
2 5 Campbell, John B. / Cryer
2 6 Cantrell, Stephen / Cannon, Newton
2 7 Carroll, William
2 8 Customs
2 9 Douglass Family
2 10 Eaton, John H.
2 11 Fashions
2 12 Foster, Robert C.
2 13 Gallatin, TN
2 14 Grundy, Felix
3 1 Guild, Judge Jo. C.
3 2 Hall, William
3 3 Horse breeding
3 4 Hume, Rev. William
3 5 Jackson, Andrew
3 6 Lewis, William B.
3 7 Maps
3 8 Martin, Robert and Robert McEwen
3 9 McGregor, Gen. John
3 10 Morris, Eastin
3 11 Nashville
3 12 Overton, John
3 13 Peyton, Bailie
4 1 Polk, James
4 2 Saunders / Donelson
4 3 Shelby, Isaac
4 4 Simon, Monkey
4 5 Trousdale family
4 6 Tyree, Clayton
4 7 Williams, Willoughby
4 8 White, W. and G. B. Williams
Typescripts
“Notions of Honor”
5 1-3 Mary Beth’s manuscript (ca. 1984?)
5 4 Annotated typescript, n.d.
6 1-2 Annotated typescript, n.d.
“Runaway Scrape”
6 3 Annotated typescript, n.d., pages 1-284
6 4 Annotated typescript with bibliographic notes, n.d.
7 1-2 Annotated typescript with bibliographic notes, n.d.- continued
“Sam Houston and Eliza Allen”
7 3 Synopsis, with bibliographic notes, 47 pages
7 4 Synopsis, with bibliographic notes, 66 pages
7 5-6 Annotated typescript, n.d.
8 1 Annotated typescript, n.d.- continued
“Without a Stone”
8 2-4 Annotated typescript, revised 12/1986
9 1-3 Typescript, 1987
9 4-5 Typescript, n.d.
10 1 Typescript, n.d.- continued
10 2-4 Old version, n.d.
11 1-2 Annotated typescript, n.d.
11 3-5 Typescript, n.d.
12 1 Typescript, n.d.- continued
12 2-3 Typescript, n.d.
12 4 Typescript, n.d.
13 1-3 Typescript, n.d.- continued
13 4 Typescript, n.d.
Untitled
13 5 Typescript
13 6 Typescript fragment
14 1-3 Annotated draft, n.d.
14 4 Annotated draft, n.d.
15 1-3 Typescript, n.d.
15 4-5 Annotated draft, pencil and blue ink, n.d.
16 1-2 Annotated draft, pencil and blue ink, n.d.- continued
16 3-5 Annotated draft, n.d.
17 1-3 Annotated draft, n.d.
17 4 Annotated draft, n.d.
18 1-2 Annotated draft, n.d.
18 3 Typescript fragment, includes 1981 photo possibly of Crook
18 4 Annotated draft, n.d.
19 1-3 Annotated draft, n.d.
20 1-3 Annotated draft, n.d.- continued
Raven’s Bride
21 1-4 Annotated typescript, n.d.
21 5 Typescript, n.d.
22 1-2 Typescript, n.d.- continued
22 3-5 Typescript, n.d.
23 1-2 Typescript, n.d.
23 3 Photocopied final proof
23 4 Afterword typescript, n.d.
23 5-6 Annotated page proofs (with blue notes)
24 1-2 Annotated galleys (with blue notes)
24 3 Annotated galley (photocopy)
24 4-5 Mock-up with typesetting annotations
25 1 Computer disks (6 5.5” floppy) “Sept-Oct. bound galleys”
25 2 Computer disks (6 5.5” floppy, 2 3.5” 1 Mb) chapter drafts
25 3 Dustjacket quotes from Liz Carpenter and James Michener
25 4 Book design correspondence and proposed illustrations (1989-1990)
25 5 Publicity correspondence (1990-1994)
25 6 Clippings (1990-1994)
Promised Lands, 1990-1994
25 7 Research notes and correspondence (1990 and n.d.)
Typescripts
25 8 Gates of the Presidio, annotated typescript
26 1 Gates of the Presidio, annotated typescript- continued
26 2-4 Goliad, n.d. (includes note from Crook to Harrigan)
26 5 Untitled, n.d.
27 1 Untitled, n.d.- continued
27 2-6 Promised Lands, annotated typescript, n.d.
27 7 Revisions after Jackie Onassis’ 1/20/1993 suggestions
28 1-2 Revisions after Jackie Onassis’ 1/20/1993 suggestions- continued
28 3 Clippings and reviews (1993-1994)
28 4 Correspondence
Essays and Articles, 1994-1995, n.d.
28 5 Remembering Jackie Onassis, My Editor (Publishers Weekly, June 27, 1994) typescripts.
Tribute to Mary Elizabeth Holdsworth Butt given by Elizabeth Crook on March 26, 1995,
typescript
Crossing Over (essay on Barton Springs), typescript, n.d.
Series II: Mailing Lists, n.d.
28 6 Mailing Lists
Series III: Clippings, 1990-2000
29 Photocopies (1990-2000)
30 Originals
31 Originals-continued
Accession 2003-086
5 Boxes of materials related to Elizabeth Crook’s novels The Raven’s Bride, Promised Lands, Dog Hill Diaries (unpublished, working title)
Box 1
Untitled annotated draft edited by Jan McInroy - pages 1-642 (3 f) (Dog Hill?)
Untitled annotated draft edited by Jan McInroy - pages 1-162 (1 f) (Dog Hill?)
Note to Elizabeth Crook from Jan McInroy dated 6/28/02 in reference to some changes made by editor (McInroy) in chapters 1-3
13 page “Style sheet” dated 7/29/02
1 green letter sized folder with various handwritten notes on both sides of cover (1 f)
Untitled annotated draft in no discernible order along with handwritten notes inserted between pages (5 f)
“Dog Hill” annotated typescript, slightly edited (5 f)
4 envelopes containing various handwritten unreadable notes, in no discernible order (4 f)
Box 2
“Dog Hill” annotated typescript, slightly edited along with handwritten notes inserted between pages (5 f)
“Goliad” slightly annotated typescript bound in two separate binders (2 f)
“Dog Hill Diaries” early edited partial draft (2 f)
“Raven’s Bride” clean complete typescript (1 f)
“Dog Hill Diaries” complete annotated typescript (4 f)
Box 3 contains materials in reference to “Promised Lands” (titles listed below are working titles)
- “The Runaway Scrape” annotated partial typescript (3 f)
- “The Gates of the Presidio” annotated complete typescript (1 f)
- “The Runaway Scrape” annotated incomplete draft (1 f)
- “The Blood is Strong” clean complete typescript (5 f)
- “Promised Lands” annotated complete typescript (edited by Elizabeth Crook before printing final copy) (4 f)
Box 4
1 envelope containing various handwritten unreadable notes, in no discernible order (1 f)
1 envelope containing partial annotated draft (Dog Hill?) (1 f)
“Dog Hill Diaries” incomplete clean typescript (2 f)
“Dog Hill Diaries” incomplete annotated typescript (some editing done by Elizabeth Crook’s mother) (1 f)
“Dog Hill Diaries” various annotated incomplete typescripts in no discernible order, some pages have handwritten page inserts between them (16 f)
Box 5
“Dog Hill Diaries” various annotated incomplete typescripts in no discernible order, some pages have handwritten page inserts between them (10 f)
7 drawings on tissue paper in reference to “Promised Lands” located in Unproc. Acc. Box# 769
Accession 2006-112
6 boxes (and one oversized map folder) of materials related to Elizabeth Crook’s writing career, subjects include Aunt Sister, Dress Code and The Night Journal. Also included one manuscript by Stephen Harrigan titled Challenger Park. Crook read drafts of the manuscript and provided reader comments.
Detailed list of items along with their corresponding Box and Folder numbers listed below:
BOX # 763 of the Unprocessed Accessions
* Aunt Sister
Drafts written for Texas Monthly article – highly annotated drafts, clean typed drafts, handwritten notes, f. 1
* Dress Code
Drafts written for Texas Monthly article, August 2004 – highly annotated drafts, various handwritten notes, typed drafts, few pages of correspondence, f. 2 & 3
* Hannah’s Noctuary
First draft which later became The Night Journal – various notes and random annotated pages of manuscript in no discernible order, f. 4 - 11
* Nasa Road One by Stephen Harrigan, eventually became Challenger Park
Copy of typed manuscript along with comments by Elizabeth Crook (other comments were given by phone and in person), f. 12
BOX # 764 of the Unprocessed Accessions
* The Night Journal
Heavily annotated typed manuscript with added notes from both Steve Harrigan and Elizabeth Crook, f. 1 - 3
* The Noctuary
Annotated typed early draft, with added editing notes, for Crook’s previous agent, The Rafael Sagalyn Agency, f. 4 - 6
* The Night Journal
Annotated typed final copy edited draft for Viking Penguin, May 2005, f. 7 – 12
Typed manuscript with few revisions for Gail, Crook’s agent, f. 13 & 14
BOX # 765 of the Unprocessed Accessions
* The Night Journal
Typed manuscript with few revisions for Gail, Crook’s agent, f. 1 (Cont’d from BOX # 764)
Typed manuscript with revisions suggested by her editor, through correspondence, for Viking December 2004 – February 2005, f. 2 – 4
Annotated typed manuscript, edited by Eleanor Crook (Elizabeth Crook’s mother) prior to be being sent to the publisher, f. 5 – 7
Galley proof pages copy sent to Crook by by Alessandra, editor assistant at Viking Publishers, f. 8 – 10
Typed manuscript edited by Molly Stern (Crook’s editor), along with mss. is a 4 page letter from Stern to Crook, f. 11 & 12
Annotated typed manuscript with revisions made for Gail Hochman, Crook’s agent, f. 13
BOX # 766 of the Unprocessed Accessions
* The Night Journal
Annotated typed manuscript with revisions made for Gail Hochman, Crook’s agent, f. 1 (Cont’d from BOX # 765)
Annotated typed draft, f. 2 – 4
* The Noctuary
Typed draft edited by Judy Reed, Archeologist at Pecos National Monument, f. 5 – 7
* The Night Journal
Annotated typed manuscript, edited by Steve Harrigan, f. 8 – 10
Annotated typed draft, f. 11 – 12
BOX # 767 of the Unprocessed Accessions
* The Night Journal
Annotated typed draft, f. 1 (Cont’d from BOX # 766)
* Miscellaneous materials, f. 2
Copy of prologue, correspondence, various handwritten notes, copy of review published in the Austin Chronicle, small spiral notebook paper containing notes written by Crook from her agent regarding an early version of the Night Journal, 5 compact discs used as backup files The Night Journal, notes from Charlie Meeks (San Marcos Culligan Man) used for Crooks’ book regarding a character named Meg whose career was a water quality expert, correspondence to/from Jane Graves, miscellaneous scraps of editing notes used for The Night Journal, excerpt from The Night Journal describing the train wreck scene, and one letter from Crook to Connie describing donation made on 6/2/2006
* Miscellaneous materials, f. 3
One advanced uncorrected proof copy of The Night Journal and one blue spiral notebook, which accompanies the oversized handwritten calendar, both referencing the Texas Revolution
BOX # 768 of the Unprocessed Accessions
Two empty cardboard boxes with various handwritten notes and doodles made by Crook
OVERSIZED MAP FOLDER IN 705 AL Mapcase dr. 20
One oversized handwritten calendar, which accompanies blue spiral notebook, both referencing the Texas Revolution
Accession 2015-062
BOX 1994
(1 of 10)
1994 1 Correspondence – letters to/from Jane Graves, Eric Nordstrom, Bill Moyers, Tim O’Brien, Ann Richards
1994 2 Photocopies of correspondence with Jacqueline Onassis Kennedy
1994 3 “Raising a Texan”
“Where I’m From” published in Texas Monthly, June 2010.
1994 4 Print out titled “Our House”
1994 5 Emails with Karen Rodeman re: “Our House”
1994 6 Emails with Karen Rodeman, drafts, notes
1994 7 Emails, loose note pages, drafts
1994 8 Offprints of “Where I’m From” as well as “Aunt Sister” which was published in Texas Monthly,
May 2004
Raven’s Bride
1994 9 Excerpts sent to Steve Harrigan – print outs and handwritten
1994 10 Draft sent to Steve Harrigan –corrections
1994 11-12 “Honor and Empire” print out draft sent to Steve Harrigan.
1994 13 Box that housed “Honor and Empire”
1994 14 Promised Land - Draft sent to Steve Harrigan –few corrections
1994 15 Writings by Steve Harrigan – corrected draft of Remember Ben Clayton
BOX 1995
(2 of 10)
Night Journal
1995 1-4 Notebooks
Subject Files [titles in parentheses are from the original folders]
1995 5 “Catalogs”
1995 6 “Croquet and Athletics”
1995 7 “Dishes and Water”
1995 8 “Dog Hill Diaries – Corresp”
1995 9 “Landscape
1995 10 “Las Vegas, Montezuma”
1995 11 “Maps”
1995 12 “Mormon – Mt. Valley”
1995 13-15 “Pecos”
1995 16 “Railroads”
1995 17 “Salinger” [print out of Salinger v. Random House]
1995 18 “Santa Fe”
1995 19 “Terrerro”
1995 20 “Texas Voices and Visions”
1995 21 “Tuberculosis”
1995 22 “Wildlife and Fishing”
BOX 1996
(3 of 10)
Monday, Monday [working titles: Tempera, Painted Over, Lizard Mountain, Forty Years After Monday]
1996 1 Research notebooks
Research Files [titles in parentheses are from the original folders]
1996 2 “Devil’s Sinkhole”
1996 3 “Alpine and Area”
1996 4 “Art”
1996 5 “August 1, 1966” [date of the Tower shooting at UT. Included is the August 12, 1966 Life
Magazine “Tower Sniper”.” Also included is Time Magazine August 12, 1966 with
Whitman on the cover, and Shelton Williams’ Summer of ‘66]
1996 6 “Brackenridge Scene”
1996 7 “Chapter 2”
1996 8 “Dates”
1996 9 “Diaries”
1996 10 “Discarded and Used”
1996 11 “Home of the Holy Infancy”
1996 12 “Jack Stone”
1996 13 “Jacqueline Hadley”
1996 14 “Maddox Hadley,” “McDonald Observatory,” “Nicholas”
1996 15 “Rodeo”
1996 16 Space Program
1996 17 Student Activism
1996 18 “Viet Nam”
1996 19-21 “Notes and drafts for Painted Over early draft” (1-3 of 6)
BOX 1997
(4 of 10)
1997 1-3 “Notes and drafts for Painted Over early draft” (4-6 of 6)
1997 4 Spiral notebook
1997 5 Spiral notebook, small notepad, loose notes, email from Jeff Long
1997 6 “Notes about Andy’s job”
1997 7 Notes – “Tempera”
1997 8 Notes in manila envelope
1997 9 Loose note pages
1997 10 Notes in blue folder
1997 11-12 “Random notes and drafts, Painted Over”
1997 13-14 “Random notes from Painted Over”
1997 15-16 “Random notes for revision of Painted Over”
BOX 1998
(5 of 10)
1998 1-6 “Drafts and scraps for Painted Over”
1998 7-8 “Hiding in Tempera.” Heavily annotated draft, with notes from Steve Harrigan
1998 9 Outline
1998 10-14 Fragments (1-5 of 8)
BOX 1999
(6 of 10)
1999 1-3 Fragments (6-8 of 8)
1999 4 Loose note pages
1999 5 Fragments in manila envelopes
1999 6 Fragments, pp 331-394
1999 7 Fragments, “Painted Over,” February 2009
1999 8-9 “Painted Over” early draft with email from Gail Hochman. Originally housed in grey box.
1999 10-11 “Painted Over,” heavily corrected draft
BOX 2000
(7 of 10)
2000 1-3 “Painted Over,” draft with post-it notes
2000 4-6 Draft, pages out of order
2000 7 “Panted Over,” draft, 141 pages
2000 8-10 “Painted Over,” corrected draft from blue folder
2000 11-12 Corrected draft with additional notes
BOX 2001
(8 of 10)
2001 1-2 “Painted Over,” lightly corrected draft, 2012
2001 3-4 “Painted Over,” heavily annotated draft
2001 5-6 “Forty Years From Monday,” corrected draft
2001 7-8 “Forty Years From Monday,” corrected draft
2001 9-10 “Forty Years from Monday,” July 23, 2013 “Last corrections before sending to Sarah C.” Includes a
note page with possible title suggestions
2001 11-12 “Monday, Monday” Draft with cover sheet with “Forty Years from Monday” crossed out and
replaced with “Monday, Monday”
BOX 2002
(9 of 10)
2002 1-2 Draft, copyedited, October 4, 2013. Includes notes from Tobi Haslett
2002 3-4 Page proofs with corrections
2002 5 Page proofs, “second pass, dupe set,” December 31, 2013
2002 6-7 “Forty Years” Steve’s [Harrigan] comments – early”
2002 8 “Painted Over” draft “with Steve’s note on next to final draft before sending to Sarah last time”
2002 9 “Painted Over” draft with Steve Harrigan comments
2002 10-11 “Monday, Monday” “Steve’s Notes”
BOX 2003
(10 of 10)
2003 1-2 “Painted Over” with Crook and Harrigan notes, Includes an email from Harrigan in folder 2
2003 3-4 Draft with comments by Sarah Crichton, includes email print out, August 19, 2013
2003 5 Emails and comments from Jeff Long, Paul Schirmer, Timothy McBride, Noel Crook, and Gail
Hochman
2003 6 “Some emails from and to Paul Schirmer about Tempera,” 2009
2003 7-10 Email printouts to and from Tim McBride
2003 11 Publicity, interview, webpage print outs
2003 12 “Bella Online” interview with Elizabeth Crook
Mapcase Dr. 20 Original drawings by Ben Livingston of the maps for frontispiece for Promised Land
Items for Backlog:
Monday, Monday – Advanced reader’s copy, softcover, signed by Crook
Monday, Monday – Hardcover first edition, signed by Crook
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