Dawson Gaillard Papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: Collection 46

Staff Only

Scope and Contents

The Dawson Gaillard Papers consists primarily of the personal and professional writings of Mrs. Dawson Gaillard. These include her personal diaries from 1951 to 1985, research notes and manuscript drafts for her book on Dorothy L. Sayers, academic work and research papers written as a student and teacher, samples of her copyediting work from LSU Press, and a small amount of original fiction and poetry. Also included is research related to the 1927 murder trial of Ada LeBouef and Dr. Tom Dreher, including two audiocassette tapes of interviews conducted by Gaillard with Murphy Dreher, Tom Dreher’s nephew, and Mrs. Waleer Hamlin, the wife of Ada LeBouef’s lawyer.

Dates

Created: 1951-1985
Other: Majority of material found in 1971 – 1981
Other: Date acquired: 05/09/1986

Creator

Gaillard, Dawson (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Physical rights are retained by the J. Edgar and Louis S. Monroe Library, Loyola University New Orleans. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. Copyright Laws.

Biographical or Historical Information

Dawson Ann Forman Gaillard Keefe was born on September 25, 1938 in Marietta, Georgia and grew up in Monroe Parish, Louisiana. She attended Louisiana State University as an undergraduate and Tulane University as a postgraduate, receiving her Bachelor’s in Social Studies and English in 1959,and both a Master’s and Doctorate in English in 1965 and 1970, respectively. Gaillard served as a Loyola University New Orleans faculty member from 1968 to 1983, and as chairman of the university’s English Department from 1974 to 1977. Additionally, she worked as an editor the New Orleans Review from 1973 to 1979. Her work as an advertising manager from 1979 to 1981 included writing the copy for the advertisements and book jackets of “Confederacy of Dunces” and many other titles published by LSU Press. Gaillard authored a book entitled “Dorothy L. Sayers” on the English mystery writer of the same name and co-edited “Women and Men Together”, an anthology of short fiction. Her battle with multiple sclerosis contributed to her eventual departure from academic and professional life, and on October 1, 1985 she died in an accident at her home in Metairie, Louisiana. The annual Dawson Gaillard Writing Awards are held in her honor at Loyola University, recognizing student work in the categories of expository writing, creative non-fiction, poetry, fiction, and script.

Note written by Clifford, James C.

Extent

9.50 Linear Feet

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Arrangement Note

This collection has been arranged into five series, two of which have been further divided into subseries. The majority of original folder titles and contents have been preserved. A small number of blank and interfiled folders have been given titles based on their contents or location within a larger file. The arrangement scheme for the collection was imposed during processing in the absence of a usable original order.