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Robert Gish Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MSS -645 -BC

Scope and Content

The Robert Gish papers contain book materials (notes, research, drafts, manuscripts, edited manuscripts, page proofs, galleys, and publicity) for most of Gish's published titles. In addition, there are copies of published reviews of his books. Drafts of short published works by Gish including articles, book reviews, chapter contributions, introductions, afterwards, a bibliography, interviews, columns, and poetry are also contained in the collection. Notes from numerous presentations and lectures as well as materials associated with Gish's work as a professor, outline his teaching career. Numerous articles, notes, multi-cultural newspapers, and research material reveal his interest in ethnic studies and minority concerns, specifically in the areas of Native American studies and Chicano/a studies as well as Western writers and the West generally. A series of materials on conferences illustrate Gish's involvement as both presenter and attendee. Articles about Robert Gish, awards, and recognitions are also included.

The correspondence section of the collection is arranged alphabetically and is comprised of letters from individuals, publishers, journals, and newspapers. There is a large volume of correspondence from Paul Horgan and Ray Young Bear (Native American writer and poet). The collection also includes drafts and writings by and about Ray Young Bear and the Mesquakie or Fox Indians. Notably, there is also a significant amount of manuscript material and correspondence relating to Harvey and Erna Fergusson, William Carlos Williams, and Jimmy Santiago Baca (Chicano writer and poet).

Oversized and audiovisual materials are at the end of the collection. Included are 45 cassette tapes ranging from interviews conducted by Gish to recordings of his radio presentations, as well as video recordings, including "Connecticut Profiles; Paul Horgan," 1979.

Dates

  • 1967-1999

Creator

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.

Biographical Information

Robert Franklin Gish, writer, teacher, and scholar, was born April 1, 1940. Raised in Albuquerque New Mexico, he graduated from Valley High School in 1958. At the University of New Mexico, Gish earned his B.A. in English and Philosophy in 1962, his M.A. in English and Secondary Education in 1967, and his Ph.D. in English in 1972.

Gish taught English at Valley High School in Albuquerque from 1962-1967. He spent one year as an instructor of English at UNM and two years as an instructor of English at the University of Northern Iowa before being appointed Associate Professor of English at the University of Northern Iowa in 1969. He held that post until 1979 when he was promoted to Professor of English. In 1976, he became an advisor and mentor for Native American student writer and poet, Ray Young Bear. Consequently, he became involved with the Mesquakie Indian tribe. A member of the Cherokee Nation of Oklahoma, Gish has long been involved in Native American issues.

In 1992, Gish accepted a position at California Polytechnic Institute as Professor of English and Ethnic Studies. As Director of the fledgling Ethnic Studies program at Cal Poly, he wrote numerous articles and presentations to promote the new program. He has taken part in many academic conferences as both presenter and attendee, and was heavily involved with the Midwestern Language Association conferences in 1978 and 1979. In addition, Gish has given many public lectures, readings, and radio interviews.

Gish's New Mexico upbringing has influenced his writing career. Main themes in his writings include the land, literature, and peoples of the West and Southwest. To date, he has 17 books to his credit with the most recent publication released in 1998. His books include several biographies, original works of fiction, short stories, poetry, and a collection of essays. He has contributed to multiple books in the form of chapters, introductions, and afterwards. Since 1969, he has had numerous scholarly articles and over 250 essay and book reviews published in such journals as The Western Historical Quarterly, as well as newspapers including the Los Angeles Times.

Extent

21 boxes (17.09 cu. ft.)

Related Material

Huning-Fergusson Family Papers Center for Southwest Research. University Libraries. University of New Mexico. Erna Fergusson Papers Center for Southwest Research. University Libraries. University of New Mexico. Harvey Butler Fergusson Papers Center for Southwest Research. University Libraries. University of New Mexico.

Separated Material

Photographs from the collection have been transferred to the Robert Gish Photograph Collection.

Master cassettes for tapes in Box 19 are stored in the CSWR vault.

See List of Books Transferred From the Collection after the contents list.

The following publications were transferred to the UNM University Libraries for cataloguing:

Gish, Robert. Dreams of Quivara: Stories in Search of the Golden West, 1998.

Gish, Robert. Bad Boys and Black Sheep: Fateful Tales from the West, 1996

Gish, Robert. Five Coastal Poems, 1996.

Gish, Robert. When Coyote Howls: A Lavaland Fable, 1994.

Gish, Robert. Retold Native American Myths, 1994.

Gish, Robert. First Horses: Stories of the New West, 1993.

Gish, Robert. Songs of My Hunter Heart: A Western Kinship, 1994.

Gish, Robert. William Carlos Williams: A Study of the Short Fiction, 1989.

Gish, Robert. Frontiers End: The Life and Literature of Harvey Fergusson, 1988.

Gish, Robert. Paul Horgan, 1983.

Gish, Robert. Hamlin Garland: the Far West, 1976.

Gish, Robert. Coyote Byways.

Lummis, Charles Fletcher. Pueblo Indian Folk Stories, 1992.

Huser, Verne, ed. Voices from a Sacred Place, 1998.

Horgan, Paul. The Centuries of Santa Fe, 1994.

Bruchac, Joseph. No Borders, 1999.

Haslam, Gerald W. Hawk Flights: Visions of the West, 1983.

Haslam, Gerald W. The Horned Toad, 1995.

Coates, Lawrence. Blossom Festival, University of Nevada Press, n.d..

English Literature in Transition, Vol. 15, No. 4, 1972.

Hawai'i Review, Vol. 16, No. 2, 1992.

Siyo, Vol. 1, No. 1, 1993.

Osiyo, Vol. 2, No. 1, n.d.

Osiyo, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1997.

Osiyo, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1997.

Osiyo, Vol. 4, No. 1, 1998.

Osiyo, Vol. 5, 1999.

Higher Education Exchange, 1995, 1996.

The Annals of Iowa, Vol. 53, No. 3, 1994.

Pi?on Review, Winter 1989.

Revista Xhisme Arte, No. 7, 1981.

List of Books Transferred From the Collection

The following publications were transferred to the UNM University Libraries for cataloguing:

Gish, Robert. Dreams of Quivara: Stories in Search of the Golden West, 1998.

Gish, Robert. Bad Boys and Black Sheep: Fateful Tales from the West, 1996

Gish, Robert. Five Coastal Poems, 1996.

Gish, Robert. When Coyote Howls: A Lavaland Fable, 1994.

Gish, Robert. Retold Native American Myths, 1994.

Gish, Robert. First Horses: Stories of the New West, 1993.

Gish, Robert. Songs of My Hunter Heart: A Western Kinship, 1994.

Gish, Robert. William Carlos Williams: A Study of the Short Fiction, 1989.

Gish, Robert. Frontiers End: The Life and Literature of Harvey Fergusson, 1988.

Gish, Robert. Paul Horgan, 1983.

Gish, Robert. Hamlin Garland: the Far West, 1976.

Gish, Robert. Coyote Byways.

Lummis, Charles Fletcher. Pueblo Indian Folk Stories, 1992.

Huser, Verne, ed. Voices from a Sacred Place, 1998.

Horgan, Paul. The Centuries of Santa Fe, 1994.

Bruchac, Joseph. No Borders, 1999.

Haslam, Gerald W. Hawk Flights: Visions of the West, 1983.

Haslam, Gerald W. The Horned Toad, 1995.

Coates, Lawrence. Blossom Festival, University of Nevada Press, n.d..

English Literature in Transition, Vol. 15, No. 4, 1972.

Hawai'i Review, Vol. 16, No. 2, 1992.

Siyo, Vol. 1, No. 1, 1993.

Osiyo, Vol. 2, No. 1, n.d.

Osiyo, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1997.

Osiyo, Vol. 3, No. 1, 1997.

Osiyo, Vol. 4, No. 1, 1998.

Osiyo, Vol. 5, 1999.

Higher Education Exchange, 1995, 1996.

The Annals of Iowa, Vol. 53, No. 3, 1994.

Pi?on Review, Winter 1989.

Revista Xhisme Arte, No. 7, 1981.

Processing Information

Inquire with reference staff for access to unprocessed addition - 9 boxes, B3-13B.

Creator

Title
Finding Aid of the Robert Gish Papers, 1967-1999
Status
For Approval
Author
Processed by Brenna Lissoway, Dennis Trujillo.
Date
©2000
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 645 BC::Robert Gish Papers)//EN" "nmu1mss645bc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
  • Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451