His 7th Grade Report Card | |
| Faulkner’s report card from the Oxford Graded Schools for the academic
year 1911-12.
According to Joseph Blotner’s Faulkner: A Biography, one of Faulkner’s classmates remembered him as “the laziest boy I ever saw. He was generally almost inert. ...he would do nothing but write and draw—drawings for his stories. He couldn’t help it. I don’t think he could have kept from writing. It was an obsession.” This obsession is clearly reflected on his report card with “Admirable” ratings in Writing and Drawing. Arithmetic and “Grammar and Language” did not fare as well. Faulkner himself said, “I never did like school and I stopped going to school as soon as I got big enough to play hooky and not be caught at it.” He later wrote in his novel The Town:
M.H.
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His Jacket | |
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This jacket was discarded by Faulkner on his last visit to Charlottesville
shortly before his death in 1962. An accomplished horseman, Faulkner rode
with the Farmington Hunt Club while living in Charlottesville. M.H.
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Photographs of Him at the University of Virginia | |
| Faulkner was Writer-In-Residence at the University of Virginia during the late
1950s and a lecturer and consultant until his death in July, 1962. M.H.
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Brick from His Post Office | |
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This brick was a part of the U. S. Post Office substation on the campus of the
University of Mississippi where William Faulkner served as postmaster from
1921-1924. He was said to have been fired from the position for neglect of
official duties on charges that included throwing mail in the garbage can,
allowing card playing in the post office, and writing a book during working
hours.
Alas, this provocative myth was disproved several years ago by Joan Crane, former Curator of American Literature in this Library. She identified three copies of the letter dismissing Faulkner from his position, and established that the account of the firing was a joke by Faulkner’s friends. A.S.
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His Pipe and Pipe Cleaners | |
| This Dunhill pipe and pipe cleaners are said to have belonged to William
Faulkner. The pipe is one of several that were removed from Faulkner’s
home after his death by his stepson, Malcolm Franklin. Franklin wrote in his
book Bitterweeds: Life with William Faulkner at Rowan Oak that pipe
cleaners were the only Christmas presents that Faulkner would accept from his
family. Faulkner’s gifts “ consisted of little bundles of pipe
cleaners, some in assorted colors, others snow-white. There were all kinds of
pipe cleaners in various bundles clinging precariously to the branches of the
tree, each with its little tag. There was one package of Dill pipe cleaners,
which Faulkner liked particulary...If he received any other gift he would
carefully take it to his office and there it would remain unopened.” M.H.
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His Badge as a Track Judge | |
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Numbered judge’s badge worn by William Faulkner to officiate
at a track
meet between the University of Virginia and the College of William and Mary,
pre-1962. M.H.
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His Typewriter | |
| Remington model typewriter used by William Faulkner while working and writing
at the University of Virginia. M.H.
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His First Play | |
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“The Marionettes” manuscript, 1920.
In 1920 William Faulkner while a student at the University of Mississippi wrote this one-act play for a drama club called “The Marionettes” of which he was a member. The play was never staged, but Faulkner hand-lettered, illustrated, and bound six copies. The illustrations are in the Art Nouveau style reminiscent of Aubrey Beardsley. The University of Virginia’s copy is one that was given by Faulkner to his friend, Ben Wasson, whose ownership signature is on the first blank leaf. M.H.
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His Manuscript of As I Lay Dying | |
| Faulkner began writing As I Lay Dying while working as a night watchman
in the power plant of the University of Mississippi. On 25 October 1929 he
wrote the title at the head of this sheet of paper before having written any
text. He completed the work in six weeks. Faulkner later noted about As I
Lay Dying:
M.H.
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