mnsss448 Annis Pratt Papers, 1954-2005 Finding Aid Finding aid prepared by Burd Schlessinger. Sophia Smith Collection
Smith College Northampton, MA
2008

Sophia Smith Collection. All rights reserved.

 Finding aid exported into EAD from InMagic DB/Textworks 7.01. Encoded by Margaret Jessup. June 17, 2008 Finding aid written in English. Collection Overview Pratt, Annis Annis Pratt Papers1954-2005 MS 491 7 boxes (5 linear ft.) English Sophia Smith Collection
Smith College Northampton, MA
Author; Poet; Political activist; Professor, English. The Annis Pratt Papers contain diaries; writings; class notes from Smith College and the University of Wisconsin; published and unpublished poetry; correspondence; records of the Women's Caucus of Modern Languages; and materials pertaining to Pratt's participation in the Smith Centennial Project and to her involvement in the her 35th Smith reunion. Biographical Note

Annis Vilas Pratt earned her A.B. from Smith College (1958), her M.A. from the University of Wisconsin (1959), and her Ph.D. from Columbia University (1965). Her dissertation topic was the early prose of Dylan Thomas. After completing her Ph.D., Pratt taught English literature at Emory University from 1965 to 1967, at Spelman College from 1967 to 1970, and at the University of Wisconsin at Madison from 1971 until her retirement in 1990. Her prose and poetry have been published widely in books, articles, and professional journals, and she is often invited to read and review the work of other writers. Pratt has received numerous fellowships, grants and awards for her work, and frequently delivers lectures and presents papers to literary associations and conferences. She has also been actively involved in the National Organization for Women, the Women's Caucus of Modern Languages, and the National Women's Studies Association.

 Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Annis Pratt Papers contain diaries (photocopies), and essays and class notes from Pratt's years as a Smith College student and as a M.A. student at the University of Wisconsin; her teaching career at University of Wisconsin; published and unpublished poetry and prose writings; correspondence home from Smith, from travels in Europe, and from UW; materials related to Pratt's participation in the Smith Centennial Project and her involvement in the her 35th Smith reunion; and records of the Women's Caucus of Modern Languages, and the Madison, Wisconsin branch of the National Organization for Women. Also included are materials pertaining to Pratt's advocacy for women's rights in academia, specifically regarding tenure. Writings and related materials include correspondence, contracts, notes, and drafts pertaining to her books, The Early Prose of Dylan Thomas (1965) and Dancing With Goddesses (1994), as well as drafts of short stories and an unpublished novel, The Marshlanders; articles, essays, and sermons written by Pratt in her position as lay minister for Prairie Unitarian Fellowship; as well as writings by others.

[NOTE: The contents list for this collection is not online. Contact the Sophia Smith Collection if you would like one sent to you.]

The papers are open to research according to the regulations of the Sophia Smith Collection.

This collection has not been fully processed and therefore may be difficult to use.

The material in this collection may be protected by copyright. It is the responsibility of the researcher to identify and satisfy the holders of all copyrights for permission to publish reproductions or quotations beyond "fair use." Permission must also be obtained from the Sophia Smith Collection as owners of the physical property.

 Preferred Citation

Please use the following format when citing materials from this collection:

Annis Pratt Papers, Sophia Smith Collection, Smith College, Northampton, Mass.

Periodic additions to collection are expected and may not be reflected in this record.

The papers were donated to the Sophia Smith Collection by Annis Pratt in 2003.

Processed by Burd Schlessinger, 2003.

Pratt, Annis Authors, American--20th century--Biography--Sources College teachers--United States--Biography--Sources Journalists--United States--20th century--Biography--Sources Poets, American--20th century--Biography--Sources Smith College--Students--History--Sources University of Wisconsin--Madison--Faculty--History Women authors, American--20th century--Biography--Sources Women poets, American--20th century--Biography--Sources