Writer Thomas McGuane is greeted by guests at a reception to celebrate the donation of his materials to the Montana State University Library's Archives and Special Collections on Monday, Nov. 13, 2023 in Bozeman.
MSU photo by Colter Peterson.

BOZEMAN — A collection of materials from the Montana-based writer Thomas McGuane is now available for the public to view at Montana State University’s Library.

The collection, which is available for researchers and members of the community to view and use in the MSU Library’s Archives and Special Collections, includes notes, drafts and manuscripts of his short fiction, novels, essays and screenplays written since the 1980s. The collection features both published and unpublished works, as well as correspondence with friends, family and publishers, including with the writer Jim Harrison.

“This is a major addition to our collections of regional writers, as well as an important component of our renowned trout and salmonid collections," said Jodi Allison-Bunnell, head of Archives and Special Collections. “The acquisition is the result of many years of effort from trout and salmonid librarian James Thull, and the availability is thanks to the efforts and skill of archivist Heather Mulliner.”

McGuane has written 10 novels, including the National Book Award-nominated “Ninety-Two in the Shade,” as well as six nonfiction essay collections and two short-story collections. McGuane is also a frequent contributor to The New Yorker magazine. His latest book is “Cloudbursts: Collected and New Stories.” His screenplays include “Rancho Deluxe” and “92 in the Shade.”

His work has won numerous awards, including the Rosenthal Award of the American Academy and Institute of Arts and Letters, and it has been anthologized in the “Best American Stories,” “Best American Essays” and “Best American Sporting Essays” collections. He is a member of the American Academy of Arts and Letters.

Doralyn Rossmann, dean of the library, honored McGuane earlier this week with the first-ever Award for Excellence in Service to the MSU Library. The award is given to recognize the advancement of scholarship and access to unique, quality materials. It is inspired by the philanthropy and advocacy of Bud Lilly, who founded the Trout and Salmonid Collection.

“It is fitting that (Lilly’s) friend, Tom McGuane, be the first recipient of this award,” Rossmann said. “While Tom has been a great advocate and supporter of our trout and salmonid initiative, the donation of his papers and materials will allow students and scholars to learn about the writing process, explore his writing style across multiple formats – from screen to short story to novel – and potentially inspire future generations of writers.” 

The MSU Library’s Archives and Special Collections has more than 800 collections, including ones related to Montana agriculture and ranching, Montana engineering and architecture, Montana history, MSU history, Native Americans in Montana, regional writers, trout and salmonids, and the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem. Appointments to research in the collections can be made at www.lib.montana.edu/archives/, and an exhibit on McGuane and his work is available during any of the library’s open hours through the end of the year.

Other recent donations to Archives and Special Collections include collections from Ivan Doig; filmmaker and writerJohn Heminway; artists Bob and Gennie DeWeese; noted wildlife researcher and conservationist Frank Cooper Craighead Jr.; Mike Clark, who served as head of the Greater Yellowstone Coalition; and the papers of conservationist Joe Gutkoski. More information is online at lib.montana.edu/archives/.

Montana residents and MSU students, faculty and staff may borrow materials from the MSU Library, and the public is welcome to visit the library. To learn more, visit lib.montana.edu/.