Guide to the Beverly Coyle Papers, circa 1800-2016 (bulk 1952-2016)

Collection Summary

Biographical Note

Beverly Jones Coyle was born August 2, 1946, in Miami, Florida, a fifth generation Floridian, and daughter of a pastor at North Miami Beach Methodist Church. Coyle is known for her literary criticism, short stories, and novels. After receiving a B.A. from Florida State University (1968) and a Ph.D. from the University of Nebraska (1974), Beverly Coyle taught English at the University of Newcastle, Australia (1974-1976) and Vassar College, New York (1977-2002). The Kneeling Bus was Coyle's first work of fiction, and was based on family anecdotes inspired by Florida life in Boynton Beach, Fernandina Beach, Jacksonville and Venice-Nokomis.

Coyle's novels include : The Kneeling Bus (Ticknor & Fields, 1990); In Troubled Waters (Ticknor & Fields, 1993) and Taken In (Penguin Books, 1998). Dramatic works include : Parallel Lives (2009); The Smoking Gun (2008); In Our own Voice (2003). Scholarly publications include: Secretaries of the Moon: The Letters of Wallace Stevens and Jose Rodriquez Feo, co-edited with Alan Filreis, Duke University Press, 1986; An Anchorage of Thought: The Study of Aphorism in Wallace Stevens' Poetry, Ann Arbor: UMI Research Press, 1983. Additional publications include: The Pride and The Shame, Forum: The Magazine of the Florida Humanities Council, Fall/Winter 1993; Taking Martha With Me, Grand Street, Summer 1986; A Thought to be Rehearsed: Study of Aphorism in Wallace Stevens Poetry, Publications of the Modern Language Association, March 1976.

Scope and Content Note

The majority of the collection contains manuscripts and typescripts, many in draft form, including character and plot development notations handwritten by the author, as well as correspondence, both professional and personal. Writings include a collection of essays from Coyle's college years. Notebooks document Coyle's own coursework as a student during the 1960s.

Manuscript files of dramatic works contain scripts, research notes, correspondence, musical scores, and some publicity. Subject files include documentation of grant proposals, book tour logistics, and reference and research notes for works in progress. Teaching files contain handwritten notes, typescript lecture notes, and mimeographed class handouts.

Personal and professional files contain correspondence with publishers, editors, and peers. These files also contain documentation of the author's management of her writing career, including press clippings, pitch letters for works in progress, publishing contracts and general publicity logistics.

Extensive personal and family correspondence document Coyle's professional career and family history containing feedback, insights and support from family members and friends. Professional correspondence includes letters from Holly Stevens, daughter of Wallace Stevens, Meryl Streep, regarding a screenplay of In Troubled Waters, and letters from fellow writers and artists including Ann Imbrie, Ruth Eller, Daniel Pinkwater, and Kevin Cawley.

Photographic prints primarily document family history, Florida locales, and some professional documentation including publicity photography. Audio visual material also includes audio recordings of selected dramatic works, and interviews with the author.

Access and Use

Encoding Information

Encoded by Laura Streett, 2019. Updated by Emma Gronbeck, August 2024.

Administrative Information