Back to TopDescriptive Summary
- Repository
-
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Library. Southern Historical Collection.
- Creator
-
Faust, Rhoda K.
- Title
- Rhoda K. Faust Collection on John Kennedy Toole and Other Materials, 1925-2000
- Call Number
- 5315
- Language of Materials
- Materials in
English
- Extent
-
- Items: About 1000
- Linear Feet: 2.5
Abstract
Rhoda K. Faust owned and operated Maple Street Bookshop and Faust Publishing, both of New Orleans, La. Around 1979, Faust
befriended Thelma Toole, mother of author John Kennedy Toole (1937-1969). They, with help from author Walker Percy, succeeded
in convincing the Louisiana State University Press to publish John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces in 1980. Toole was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for the novel in 1981, eleven years after he had committed
suicide. Toole's first novel was was The Neon Bible, which he wrote at age 16. According to Rhoda K. Faust, Thelma Toole loaned Faust the manuscript of this earlier work and
granted her permission to publish it. Sometime around 1980, Thelma Toole demanded the return of the manuscript and denied
having given Faust permission to publish it. Faust filed suit claiming that Toole had entered into a verbal contract with
her. Courts in Louisiana failed to recognize the validity of the verbal contract.
Materials in the collection include scrapbooks compiled by Faust containing photocopies of letters, 1962-1963, from John Kennedy
Toole to his parents, and correspondence, 1963-1964, between Toole and publisher Robert Gottlieb of Simon and Schuster regarding
possible publication of Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces. Additional materials include correspondence and legal documents, 1980-1986, related to the lawsuit between Rhoda Faust and
Thelma Toole regarding publication rights to John Kennedy Toole's first novel, The Neon Bible; clippings related to John Kennedy Toole, Rhoda Faust, and the lawsuit; materials related to Faust's management of Maple
Street Bookshop and Faust Publishing; photographs of John Kennedy Toole, Thelma Toole, and Rhoda K. Faust; audiocassettes
and a videotape related to John Kennedy Toole and A Confederacy of Dunces; information regarding Toole's personal library; and three coffee mugs belonging to Toole. There is also correspondence with
Reid Mitchell, 1982-1985, about the possible publication of his manuscript, Carnivaltime; with Nancy Lemann, 1983-1985, relating to her role as editorial advisor to Faust Publishing; and with Craig Bebinger, who
wrote an article describing an incident at the Maple Street Bookshop.
Back to TopAdministrative Information
- Restrictions to Access
- This collection has restrictions to access. Please see details below or contact the Manuscripts Department for more information.
- Usage Restrictions
- Use of audiocassettes or videotapes may require production of listening or viewing copies.
- Acquisitions Information
- Purchased from Rhoda K. Faust of New Orleans, La., in February 2007; transferred from the Rare Book Collection, University
of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, in February 2007 (Acc. 100601).
- Processing Information
- Processed by: Noah Huffman, March 2007
- Encoded by: Noah Huffman, March 2007
- Preferred Citation
- [Identification of item], in the Rhoda K. Faust Collection on John Kennedy Toole and Other Materials #5315, Southern Historical
Collection, The Wilson Library, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
- Copyright Notice
- Copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright
law.
Back to TopOnline Catalog Headings
These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.
- Authors, American--20th century.
- Bebinger, Craig.
- Booksellers and bookselling.
- Faust, Rhoda K.
- Faust Publishing.
- Gottlieb, Robert, 1931-
- Lemann, Nancy.
- Maple Street Bookshop (New Orleans, La.)
- Mitchell, Reid.
- Mothers and sons--Louisiana--New Orleans.
- Mothers of authors.
- New Orleans (La.)--Intellectual life.
- Novelists, American--20th century.
- Publishers and publishing.
- Toole, John Kennedy, 1937-1969.
- Toole, John Kennedy, 1937-1969--Estate.
- Toole, John Kennedy, 1937-1969. A confederacy of dunces.
- Toole, John Kennedy, 1937-1969. The neon bible.
- Toole, Thelma.
Back to TopRelated Collections
Walker Percy Papers #4294, Southern Historical Collection, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
Back to TopBiographical/Historical Note
Rhoda K. Faust owned and operated Maple Street Bookshop and Faust Publishing, both of New Orleans, La. Around 1979, Faust
befriended Thelma Toole, mother of author John Kennedy Toole (1937-1969). Together Faust and Thelma Toole, with the help of
author Walker Percy, succeeded in convincing the Louisiana State University Press to publish John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces in 1980. Although John Kennedy Toole had committed suicide eleven years earlier in 1969, he was posthumously awarded the
Pulitzer Prize for Fiction for A Confederacy of Dunces in 1981. Before writing A Confederacy of Dunces in his late 20s, John Kennedy Toole had authored another novel, The Neon Bible, at age 16. According to Rhoda K. Faust, Toole's mother, Thelma Toole, loaned Faust the manuscript of this earlier work and
granted her permission to publish it. Sometime around 1980, the friendly relationship between Faust and Thelma Toole turned
sour, and Thelma Toole demanded the return of the manuscript and denied ever giving Faust permission to publish The Neon Bible. Faust filed suit against Thelma Toole claiming that Toole had entered into a verbal contract with her, which granted her
company, Faust Publishing, the right to publish The Neon Bible. Lower courts and appeals courts in Louisiana failed to recognize the validity of the verbal contract. The Neon Bible was finally published by Grove Press in 1989.
Back to TopCollection Overview
The collection is materials from New Orleans, La., bookseller and publisher Rhoda K. Faust, most of which relate to Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist John Kennedy Toole. Materials include scrapbooks compiled by Faust containing photocopies of letters, 1962-1963, from John Kennedy Toole to his parents, and correspondence,
1963-1964, between Toole and publisher Robert Gottlieb of Simon and Schuster regarding possible publication of Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces. Additional materials include correspondence and legal documents, 1980-1986, related to the lawsuit between Rhoda Faust and Thelma Toole regarding publication rights to John Kennedy Toole's first novel, The Neon Bible; clippings related to John Kennedy Toole, Rhoda Faust, and the lawsuit; materials related to Faust's management of Maple Street Bookshop and Faust Publishing; photographs of John Kennedy Toole, Thelma Toole, and Rhoda K. Faust; audiocassettes and a videotape related to John Kennedy Toole and
A Confederacy of Dunces; information regarding Toole's personal library; and three coffee mugs belonging to Toole. There is also correspondence with Reid Mitchell, 1982-1985, about the possible publication of his manuscript, Carnivaltime; with Nancy Lemann, 1983-1985, relating to her role as editorial advisor to Faust Publishing ; and with Craig Bebinger, who wrote an article describing an incident at the Maple Street Bookshop.
Back to TopArrangement of Collection
1. Rhoda K. Faust Scrapbook Pages, 1962-2000
2. Maple Street Bookshop and Faust Publishing, 1979-1985
3. John Kennedy Toole: Writings
4. Photographs and Negatives, circa 1950-1980
5. Audiocassettes and Videotapes, 1985-2000
6. Other Materials, 1925-1958
Back to TopItems Separated
Audiocassettes (C-5315/1-3)
Videotape (VT-5315/1)
Back to TopDetailed Description of the Collection
1. Rhoda K. Faust Scrapbook Pages, 1962-2000.
About 500 items.
Arrangement: Pages have been removed from scrapbooks, but original order is preserved.
Pages from four scrapbooks compiled by New Orleans bookseller and publisher Rhoda K. Faust include photocopies of letters,
1962-1963, from John Kennedy Toole in Puerto Rico to his parents; photocopies of correspondence, 1964-1966, between Toole
and publisher Robert Gottlieb of Simon and Schuster regarding possible publication of Toole's manuscript A Confederacy of Dunces; correspondence, 1979-1983, between Faust and Toole's mother, Thelma Toole; materials, 1980-1987, related to the lawsuit
between Faust and Thelma Toole regarding publication rights to The Neon Bible; and various clippings, 1978-2000, related to John Kennedy Toole and his novels, A Confederacy of Dunces and The Neon Bible, the lawsuit, and Rhoda K. Faust.
Folder
1
John Kennedy Toole letters, 1962-1966
Letters from Toole to his parents during his service in the United States Army as an English instructor in Puerto Rico. Toole
discusses his Puerto Rican students, the weather, his obsession with Marilyn Monroe, and his "creative writing." It was during Toole's service in Puerto Rico that he wrote the bulk of A Confederacy of Dunces. Also included is correspondence between Toole and publisher Robert Gottlieb of Simon and Schuster regarding possible publication
of Toole's manuscript. Ultimately, Gottlieb passed on Toole's manuscript of A Confederacy of Dunces, which was later awarded the Pulitzer Prize after it was published posthumously in 1980. In his letters to Toole, Gottlieb
notes that "there must be a point to everything in the book, a real point, not just amusingness that's forced to figure itself out."
Folder
2
Thelma Toole material, 1979-1980
Letters from Thelma Toole to Rhoda K. Faust, Walker Percy, and others regarding publication of A Confederacy of Dunces. Also included are "A Diversified Program of Piano Selections and Nostalgic Songs Dedicated to My Genius Son..." and other programs and guest lists for receptions held by Thelma Toole and Faust in honor of the book's publication.
Folder
3
Rhoda K. Faust versus Thelma Toole, 1979-1980
Correspondence and other materials related to a disagreement between Faust and Thelma Toole regarding publication rights to
The Neon Bible, a novel written by John Kennedy Toole when he was 16. Faust alleged that Thelma Toole entered into a verbal contract granting
her the right to publish the novel. In addition, Thelma Toole loaned Faust correspondence, books, and other items belonging
to her son, John Kennedy Toole. Thelma Toole denied the existence of the verbal contract and demanded that Faust return the
correspondence, manuscripts, books, and other items related to John Kennedy Toole.
Folder
4
Rhoda K. Faust versus Thelma Toole, 1981-1982
Includes letters from Thelma Toole to Rhoda Faust and other members of the Toole family, letters from Thelma Toole's attorneys,
and letters from various publishers to Rhoda Faust regarding The Neon Bible.
Folder
5
Rhoda K. Faust versus Thelma Toole, 1983-1985
Correspondence regarding legal matters, court documents, and a copy of Thelma Toole's will. Also included is a chronology
of conversations between Faust and Toole compiled by Faust.
Folder
6
Rhoda K. Faust versus Thelma Toole: Depositions, 1985
Depositions of Rhoda K. Faust and Chris Pecot, 21 May 1985.
Folder
7-8
Rhoda K. Faust versus Thelma Toole, 1985-1986
Correspondence between Faust and her attorney Brian Begue and related court documents.
Folder
9
Rhoda K. Faust versus Thelma Toole, 1986
Documents related to Faust's appeal to the 4th Circuit Court of Appeals, Louisiana. Also included is correspondence regarding
negotiations by Faust Publishing and Grove Press to publish The Neon Bible.
Folder
10
Sample Publishing Agreements, 1988
Folder
11-17
Clippings, 1978-2000
Clippings of articles related to John Kennedy Toole, A Confederacy of Dunces, The Neon Bible, Rhoda Faust, Faust Publishing, and Walker Percy.
Folder
18
Rhoda K. Faust: Notes
Handwritten notes of Rhoda K. Faust regarding the trial, publication of The Neon Bible, and other topics.
Back to Top
2. Maple Street Bookshop and Faust Publishing, 1979-1985.
About 400 items.
Arrangement: chronological.
Correspondence and other materials related to Rhoda Faust's management of the Maple Street Bookshop and Faust Publishing,
both of New Orleans, La. Correspondence concerns the possible publication of John Kennedy Toole's first novel, The Neon Bible; selection of additional items for publication; financial matters; and the sale of John Kennedy Toole's personal library.
Folder
19
Proposals for a Book Publishing Company, 1979-1981
Folder
20
A Confederacy of Dunces, 1980
Publicity, accounts of expenses, and invitation letters related to an autograph and release party held by Rhoda Faust and
Thelma Toole to celebrate the publication of John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces.
Folder
21
Faust Publishing: Correspondence, 1981-1985
Folder
22
John Kennedy Toole's Library, 1981
A list of books belonging to John Kennedy Toole given to Rhoda Faust by Thelma Toole. The list includes Faust's asking price
for each book and notes on condition, annotations, and signatures. There are also letters from individuals and organizations
interested in purchasing the Toole library.
Folder
23
Reid Mitchell: Letters to Rhoda K. Faust, 1982-1985
Letters from author Reid Mitchell mostly concern the possible publication of his manuscript, Carnivaltime.
Folder
24
Nancy Lemann: Letters to Rhoda K. Faust, circa 1983-1985
Nancy Lemann served as an editorial advisor to Faust Publishing. Correspondence concerns the publishing company, the merits
of Toole's novel The Neon Bible, and her experiences in New York City. Also included is an article by Lemann titled "Down the Nile".
Folder
25
Craig Bebinger: "The Opportunist," 1996
Includes correspondence and an article by Bebinger titled "The Opportunist" that describes an incident in Faust's Maple Street Bookshop.
Back to Top
3. John Kennedy Toole Writings.
3 items.
Typescript copies of John Kennedy Toole's Ignatius Reilly and The Neon Bible.
Folder
26-30
Ignatius Reilly, 1977
A 480-page typescript of John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces with the alternate title Ignatius Reilly.
Folder
31-32
The Neon Bible
Two typescripts of John Kennedy Toole's first novel, The Neon Bible.
Back to Top
4. Photographs and Negatives, circa 1950-1980.
15 items.
Photographs and negatives of John Kennedy Toole, Thelma Toole, and Rhoda K. Faust.
Image Folder
P-5315/1
Photographs and negatives, circa 1950-1980
Back to Top
5. Audiocassettes and Videotapes, 1985-2000.
4 items.
Video and audio related to John Kennedy Toole and A Confederacy of Dunces.
Audiocassette
C-5315/1
Arthur Ducoing and Rhoda K. Faust, 1985
Audiocassette
C-5315/2
"A Confederacy of Dunces: Happy Twentieth," 2000
From the Tennessee Williams/New Orleans Literary Festival.
Audiocassette
C-5315/3
"A Confederacy of Dunces," Melissa Gray, Morning Edition, National Public Radio, 16 August 2000
Videotape
VT-5315/1
"Pulitzer Author"
Back to Top
6. Other Materials, 1925-1958.
4 items.
Items given to Rhoda Faust by Thelma Toole include a large Tulane University mug belonging to John Kennedy Toole dated 1958
and inscribed with the name "Ken," two small coffee mugs owned by Toole featuring images of birds, and a 1925 medal presented to Thelma Toole by the Southern
Association Amateur Athletic Union in recognition of her performance in the 220 yard relay and 60 yard hurdles.
Box
5
Other Materials, 1925-1958
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