Organized into seven series: (1) John Kennedy Toole, (2) A confederacy of dunces, (3) The neon Bible, (4) John D. Toole, Jr. (father), (5) Thelma Ducoing Toole, (6) Garvy/Ducoing family, (7) Walker Percy.

Oversize boxes and folders contain miscellaneous framed photographs or large books. Most items in the oversized boxes are cross-referenced in another box.

Arranged numerically, the collection consists of 22 boxes, 3 volumes, 2 oversize boxes, and a copy of the novel A Confederacy of Dunces, autographed by his mother Thelma Ducoing Toole. It is 18 linear feet.

Abbreviations used throughout the inventory:

JKT: John Kennedy Toole

TDT: Thelma Ducoing Toole

COD: Confederacy of Dunces

NB: Neon Bible

LSUP: Louisiana State University Press

CHMM: Curtis, Hyde, Mooney, McEachin (Attorneys)

Date Acquired: 00/00/1980. More info below under Accruals.

Subjects: Authors, American -- 20th century., Ducoing family., Gottlieb, Robert, 1931-, Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, La.). Press., Percy, Walker, 1916-1990., Toole, John D., Toole, John Kennedy, 1937-1969., Toole, Thelma.

Forms of Material: Clippings (information artifacts), Correspondence., Manuscripts (document genre), Typescripts.

Languages: English, French, Spanish;Castilian

Scope and Contents of the Materials

The collection primarily consists of the personal and literary papers of John Kennedy Toole, including unbound manuscripts and typescripts, correspondence, pamphlets, drawings, photographs, music, and posters. There is a considerable amount of memorabilia that his mother, Thelma Ducoing Toole, kept concerning her son, including his baby cup and his undergraduate honors thesis. John Kennedy Toole's correspondence with Robert Gottlieb, his first editor as well as letters illustrating the process of getting A Confederacy of Dunces published are in this collection. There are also large numbers of reviews and articles about Toole and his works. The papers and personal belongings of his parents, John D. Toole and Thelma Ducoing Toole, can also be found in the collection.

Biographical Note

John Kennedy Toole, posthumous winner of the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction in 1981, was born in New Orleans on December 17, 1937. After skipping several grades, he finished high school at the age of sixteen. He graduated Phi Beta Kappa with Honors in English at Tulane University in 1958. He received his master's degree in 1959 from Columbia University, and taught at Hunter College. He was drafted in 1962 and stationed with the Army in San Juan, Puerto Rico, where he continued to teach English and wrote A Confederacy of Dunces. Upon returning to New Orleans, he unsuccessfully attempted to have his manuscript published; he taught at Dominican College and in 1968 enrolled in graduate school at Tulane University to work on his doctorate. In 1969, he asphyxiated himself in his car in Biloxi, Mississippi. The novel was ultimately published by Louisiana State University Press in 1980 after his mother, Thelma Ducoing Toole, approached novelist Walker Percy with the manuscript. A Confederacy of Dunces won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, as well as the Louisiana Literary Award. A musical production based on the novel premiered at LSU in 1984. Toole was also the author of The Neon Bible, which he wrote at age sixteen.

Subject/Index Terms

Authors, American -- 20th century.
Ducoing family.
Gottlieb, Robert, 1931-
Louisiana State University (Baton Rouge, La.). Press.
Percy, Walker, 1916-1990.
Toole, John D.
Toole, John Kennedy, 1937-1969.
Toole, Thelma.

Administrative Information

Repository: Louisiana Research Collection

Accruals: Additional materials added between 1984 and 1998.

Alternate Extent Statement: 18 linear feet

Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public. Portions of the collection may not be duplicated.

Use Restrictions: Physical rights are retained by the Louisiana Research Collection. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws. The estate of Walker Percy retains all literary rights to his work, including the correspondence from him in this collection. The Manuscripts Department will not provide researchers with photocopies of documents created by Walker Percy. Permission to use the restricted portions of this collection must be obtained from the estate of Walker Percy.

Acquisition Source: Donated by John Kennedy Toole's mother, Thelma Ducoing Toole, her estate, and heirs between 1980 and 1990.

Acquisition Method: Gift.

Preferred Citation: John Kennedy Toole Papers, Manuscripts Collection 740, Louisiana Research Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans LA 70118.

Processing Information: Collection processed between 1980 and 1990.

Finding Aid Revision History: Finding aid collection record input to Archon by student worker Connor Deegan in 2009. Finding aid revised by Susie Scifres Kuilan in 2005. Finding aid information entered in Archon by LAC Group in 2011. Revised by LAC Group 6/24/11.

Other Note: OCLC Number: 236103515

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: JKT correspondence, military paperwork, personal items, and photographs, 1955-1967],
[Box 2: JKT correspondence, military paperwork, personal items, and photographs, 1955-1959],
[Box 3: JKT correspondence, military paperwork, personal items, and photographs, 1938-1968],
[Box 4: JKT correspondence, military paperwork, personal items, and photographs, 1944-1999],
[Box 5: JKT correspondence, military paperwork, personal items, and photographs, 1937-1981],
[Box 6: Unpublished manuscripts, COD manuscripts [Restricted]],
[Box 7: Unpublished manuscripts, COD manuscripts [Restricted]],
[Box 8: Unpublished manuscripts, COD manuscripts [Restricted]],
[Box 9: Collateral printed materials for COD, 1978-1982],
[Box 10: Collateral printed materials for COD, 1978-1990],
[Box 11: NB materials, JDT personal items, and TDT correspondence through 1981 February],
[Box 12: TDT correspondence and personal items, 1981 March-1984 February],
[Box 13: TDT correspondence and personal items, 1984 March-1987 March; 1920-1984.],
[Box 14: TDT correspondence and personal items, 1929-1983],
[Box 15: JKT notebooks],
[Box 16: JKT notebooks],
[Box 17: TDT and family photographs],
[Box 18: TDT personal items],
[Box 19: TDT personal items],
[Box 20: TDT personal items],
[Box 21: Garvey/Ducoing family and Walker Percy items],
[Box 22: Margaret (Dolly Ducoing) Garvey postcard collection and child's items],
[Box 23: Additional typescripts],
[Volume 1: JKT personal materials: Achievement scrapbook],
[Volume 2: Scrapbook with photographs],
[Volume 3: COD signed by Thelma to John Geiser, 1981 June 14],
[Oversize box 1: Oversized collection],
[Oversize box 2: Oversized collection],
[Oversize box 3: Photo album],
[Oversize folder 1],
[All]

Box 9: Collateral printed materials for COD, 1978-1982

Box 9 contains a 1st edition of COD owned by the library along with much of the collateral printed materials concerning COD such as reviews, advertisements, and press releases. Items relating to various conferences and seminars that have focused on COD or JKT are also included in this box.

Folder 1: COD: Hardback 1st edition

1980 April 24. A Confederacy of Dunces. Baton Rouge and London: Louisiana State University Press, 1980. Hardback; 1st edition with jacket. Inscribed, "Appreciation to Dear John [Geiser] from John Kennedy Toole's mother, Thelma Ducoing Toole."

Folder 2: COD: Audio cassette

Audio cassette read by Arte Johnson produced by Dove Books on Tape.

Folder 3: COD: Collateral printed material, Louisiana Literary Award

1980 April 24. Press release. Produced by the Louisiana Library Association (LLA).

1981 April 8. Copy of speech given by unknown committee member. Awards the Louisiana Library Association award to COD.

1980 May 29. Copy of speech or paper by Charles W. Harrington. Titled "The Louisiana Literary Award, a 30-Year View."

Folder 4: COD: Collateral printed material, United States reviews

Mostly copies.

1980 October. American Spectator. By Rhoda Koenig.

1980 August 24. Anniston Star. By Barbara Hodge Hall: "Toole's Confederacy of Dunces: A 'Masterpiece' Found too Late."

1980 September 7. Asheville Citizen-Times. By Tony Brown: "An Unlikely Hero Takes Reader on a Bizarre Tour."

1980 June 29 and 1980 July 26. Atlanta Constitution (2 copies) .By Michelle Green: "Dunces Come Alive in 'Confederacy.'"

1980 June 15. Atlanta Journal Constitution. By Paul Darcy Boles: "Fine Finish Can't Redeem Reilly's Repetition."

1980 October. Atlanta Magazine. By Thomas Cook. "The Thudding of a Big, Dull Drum."

1980 November 27. Azalea City News and Review (Mobile). By Eugene Walter: "From the Louisiana State University Press: Rays of New Orleans Madness."

1980 July 13. Baltimore News American. By Jonathan Yardley: "The Life and Times of Ignatius J. Reilly."

Baltimore Sun. 1980 May 25. By Robert Michael Green: "A Mad Genius Takes On The Modern World In A Newly-Found Comic Classic."

Baton Rouge Magazine. 1980 December. By Joel Gardner: "Giant's Wings."

1980 July 13. The Blade (Toledo, Ohio). By Edward White: "Genial Eccentricity: Lunacy, Farce Abound in Sardonic Novel."

1980 November-December. Bloomsbury Review. By Michael O'Connell: "Observations of an Outcast."

1980 June 1. Booklist.

1980 June 5. Boston Globe. By Margaret Manning: "From New Orleans A Posthumous Novel."

1981. Britannica Book of the Year. "Literature" page 508 (brief mention).

1980 May 25. Charlotte Observer. By Harry Middleton: "Confederacy of Dunces: A Bungling Life-Hater Wreaks Insane Order."

1980 May 11. Chicago Sun Times. By Harry Middleton: "Ignatius J. Reilly, Heroic Superslob."

1980 June 29. Chicago Tribune. By Stephen E. Rubin: "Behind the Cover: The Saga of a Rejected Novelist."

1980 June 29. Chicago Tribune Book Review. By Shirley Ann Grau: "Slapstick Tragedy From A Writer Rescued By Percy."

1980 August 10. Clarion Ledger. By Linda Sanders: "J.K. Toole's Novel Not A Book To Miss."

1981 January. Concise Book Review. "A Confederacy of Dunces."

1981 June. Concise Book Reviews.

1981 January. The Cresset (Valparaiso University). By Rick Barton.

1981 April 3. Daily Illini (University of Illinois) By Larry Doyle: "Tragic Laughter: Toole Handles Fictional Reality, but not real life."

1980 May 11. Dallas Morning News. By Lee Milazzo: "Ignatius Reilly: Slob, Philosopher, Genius."

1980 September 28. Dayton Daily News. By Frank Hoffman: "Don Quizote Battles Modern Windmills."

1980 October 26. Des Moines Sunday Register. By Rhonda Dickey: "Genius versus Dunces."

1980 August 7. ELECTRICity. By Ira Einhorn: 'Dunces.'

1980 November 23. El Paso Times. By James Stowe: "'A Confederacy of Dunces.'"

1980 April 28. Figaro. By Harry Middleton: "A Bittersweet Tale Of New Orleans."

1980 July 13. Fort Worth Star Telegram. By Larry Oliver: "Waging War on Absolutely Everything."

1980 October 23. Enterprise - Metro. By Judy Pennington: "A Confederacy of Dunces."

1980 June. Graffito. By Michael Konvicka.

1980 November 2. Grand Junction Daily Sentinel (Colorado). By Stu McConnell: "Books: French Farce Carried By The Rantings Of Ignatius J. Reilly."

1980 May 11. Greensboro Daily News (North Carolina). By Malcolm Jones: "Ignatius J. Reilly, Gargantuan Hero."

1980 June 8. Gwinett Daily News. By Elliott Brack: "'Dunces' Spins Classic Tale."

1981 May 1. Hollywood Reporter. By Tony Shepherd.

1980 September 14. Honolulu Sunday Star-Bulletin and Advertiser. By John Hanchette: "A Great Rumbling Farce."

1980 November 30. Houston Chronicle. By Michael Heskett: "Discovered: An Amuk Aquinas In Falstaff's Clothing."

1981 March. Houston City. By Jan Reid: "Quixotic Curmudgeon."

1980 June. Ingram Bookseller. By Lynn Phifer.

1980 December 23. InterCom Communications. By Mark Walpole: "Walpole's Been Reading A Confederacy of Dunces."

1981 September 28. The Jewish Civic Press. "A Confederacy of Dunces."

1980 March 15. Kirkus Reviews.

Summer 1980. Knoxville Lifestyle. By Richard Elman: "Cover to Cover: Knoxville Lifestyle's Monthly Book Review."

1978 April 15-21. Lagniappe. By Walter Isaacson. Reviews the excerpts of COD printed in The New Orleans Review, Volume 5.4.

[undated]. [Lagniappe]. By W. Kenneth Holditch: "Confederacy of Dunces: A Happy Hilarious New Orleans Novel."

1980 August 27. Las Vegas Review-Journal. Associated Press (AP) wire story: "Success Came Too Late."

1980 October 19. Lincoln Journal and Star. By Bart Becker: "Posthumous Hit."

1980 February 1. Library Journal.

1980 March. Library Journal. By Anneliese Schwarzer.

1980 November 9. Los Angeles Times Book Review. By Kenneth John Atchity: "The Fictional Five: of Life and Death, Eloquence and Silence."

Louisiana Life. [undated]. By Paul F. Stahls, Jr.: "Books."

Louisville Times. 1980 July 12. By Chris Wohlwend: "Here's A Novel Of Excess That Needed A Good Editor."

1981 May 14. Lutcher News Examiner (Louisiana). By Irving Ward-Stelnman: "Jambalaya."

1981. Magill's Literary Annuals. By Carolyn Wilkerson Bell: "A Confederacy of Dunces."

1980 August 31. Memphis Commercial Appeal. By Thomas Fox: "A Lion In The Streets."

1980 July 20. Miami Herald. By Jonathan Yardley: "Reincarnation Of A Posthumous Novel."

1980 July 13. Minneapolis Tribune. By Matthew Brennan: "Extraordinary Farce-Comedy."

1981 January 20. Minnesota Daily. By Clark Miller: "A Confederacy of Dunces" and Richard Hoops: "The Best Books of 1980."

[undated]. Minnesota Daily (Final Edition). By Kim Lacy Rogers: "Fiction: A Confederacy of Dunces."

Morning Journal (Longview, Texas). 1981 April 19. By Jim Cullen: "'Dunces' Delivers New Orleans Satire."

1980 August 9. Nashville Banner. By Robert Holladay: "Toole's Biting Satire Indicts Modern, Unspiritual Society."

1981 May 10. Natchitoches Times. By Irving Ward-Steinman: "Louisiana Book Shelf."

1981 June 26. National Review. By David Evanier: "Behometh."

1981 June. New Age. "The Seditious '60s."

Fall 1982. New Letters. By L.G. Harvey.

[undated]. New Orleans Review. By Lloyd M. Daigrepont: "Ignatius Reilly and The Confederacy of Dunces."

1980 May 10. New Orleans States-Item. By William Holditch: "A Confederacy of Dunces: A Happy Hilarious New Orleans Novel."

1980 July 19. New Republic. By Phelps Gay: "Brief Review."

1980 June 16. New York Magazine. By James Wolcott: "Shrieks and Kvetches."

1980 June 22. New York Times Book Review. By Alan Friedman: "A Sad and Funny Story."

1980 June 5. Newsday. By Nina King.

1980 May 26. Newsweek. By Jean Strouse: "New Orleans Falstaff."

1980 June. New West. By Grover Lewis: "A Confederacy of Dunces."

1980 June 23. People. "A Confederacy of Dunces."

1980 May 25. Philadelphia Inquirer. By Harry Middleton: "He Left Us a Fat Freak For a Hero."

1980 October 5. Providence Sunday Journal. By Caryn Fuoroli: "Southern Tale Is Funny, Affecting: Genius Menaced By Dunces."

1980 April 11. Publisher's Weekly.

1981 May 27. Punch. By Lynton Lesserday: "Toole's Trade."

1980 August 3. St. Louis Globe Dispatch. By Harry James Cargas: "This Book Is Dangerous To Your Decorum."

1981 April 19. St. Petersburg Times. By Kelly Scott: "Madhouse Novel Spins Around Wheel of Fortune."

1981 October 14. San Francisco Progress. By Cornelia P. Hunt: "Unforgettable Prize-Winner."

1980 November-December. San Francisco Review of Books. By Marcel Sauvage: "Notes."

1980 October. Southern World. By David Kirby.

Winter 1981. The Southern Quarterly. By Cherly McAllister Saunders.

1980 October. Spectator. By Michale McFee: "Of Dunces and Feasts, Legends and Poetry."

1980 June 22. The Tennessean. By Robert Watt.

1980 June 2. Time. By Paul Gray: "Rumblings."

1980 June 1. The Times-Picayune. By Thomas Bonner, Jr.: "Lunacy and Chaos Take Over In Zany New Orleans Story."

[undated]. Washington Post. By Stephen Goodwin.

July. Washington Star. By Jonathan Yardley: "A Posthumous Protege Proves Himself Worthy of Direct Comparison."

1980 July 13. Reprint/retitled of Washington Star. By Jonathan Yardley: "Dunces: Marvelous Lively Novel."

1981 August 6. Waycross Journal-Herald (Georgia). By David Shields: "Confederacy of Dunces Called Very Good Book."

1980 November. West Coast Review of Books. By DLS: "A Confederacy of Dunces."

[undated]. Atlanta. By Gene-Gabriel Moore: "A Genius in The French Quarter." Pages 88 and 90 but is not complete.

1983 December 30. Typed review from unknown source. By Frank Galati.

1981 May. Ingram Paperback Advance.

1978 July 2. Unknown source. Typescript that reviews the excerpts of COD published in The New Orleans Review, Volume 5.4 (1978).

[undated]. Review by John W. Ferstel, USL from unknown source. Reviews Gravity and Grace in the Novel A Confederacy of Dunces by Robert Coles.

Unknown source and date. By Clarence Petersen: "Paperbacks."

[undated]. Unknown source. By W. Kenneth Holditch: "Books." Reviews the excerpts of COD printed in The New Orleans Review, Volume 5.4.

[undated]. Unknown source. By Joseph E. Reihl: "Behind Toole's Local Color Lurks Strong Social Criticism."

Folder 5: COD: Collateral printed materials, foreign reviews, unknown origin

Brückenbaurer. 1982 April 9. By Jürg Moser: "Rettung Der Menschheit Misslungen: Genie Gestorben."

El Noticiero Universal. 1982 September 2. By Monroe K. Spears: "Un Joven Escritor Suicida."

London Observer. 1981 May 31. By Anthony Burgess: "Mad Knight of New Orleans."

London Times. 1981 June 4. By Andrew Sinclair: "Fiction."

Times Literary Supplement. 1980 July 18. By Richard Brown: "Tacky Vocations."

Times Literary Supplement. 1981 June 12. By Harold Beaver: "Appearance of Genius."

Worcester Sunday Telegram. 1980 October 5. By Allen H. Peacock.

Typed and translated excerpts from various French reviews.

Handwritten review of the German Translation. 1982 April 19. Signed [illegible].

Unknown German source. [undated]. By unknown author: "Eine Sache der Verdauung."

Folder 6: COD: Collateral printed materials, advertisements

Various ads advertising COD.

Folder 7: COD: Collateral printed materials, postcards

Five postcards advertising COD.

Maple Street Book Shop, New Orleans, Louisiana. Invitation to COD party. April 24.

COD postcard with typed correspondence about publication history of COD by Arthur Ducoing.

Folder 8: COD: Collateral printed materials, catalogs

Spring 1980. Louisiana State University Press catalog.

Spring 1981. Grove Press catalog.

Spring/Summer 1982. Louisiana State University Press catalog.

Folder 9: COD: Collateral printed materials, readings and programs

Brandeis University Nation Women's Committee, New Orleans Chapter Bulletin. Reading Program 1981.

1981 November 17. Program for "A Symposium on John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces" by Delta Epsilon Sigma Honor Sorority.

1983 April 14-16. Program: "Conference on Christianity and Literature." Montreat, North Carolina. Paper given by Paul Linnehan, Jesuit High School, titled "The Religious Element in John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces" [appears out of place in this folder].

Folder 10: COD: Collateral printed materials, critical analyses

"The Consolation of Illusion: John Kennedy Toole's "A Confederacy of Dunces" by Richard F. Patterson and Thomas Sauret with note from TDT "Dear John, 16 copies if you please. Thanks. Thelma Toole" with envelope postmarked 1983 January 10.

Copy of letter to Drs. Patterson and Sauret from TDT, 1983 January 10.

"Batman and Ignatius J. Reilly in COD" by Edward C. Reilly in Notes on Contemporary Literature Volume 12 (1982): 10-11 and typescript longer version titled: "'The Green Cap Mother, In Person, Live': John Kennedy Toole's A Confederacy of Dunces and Isolation."

Folder 11: COD: Collateral printed materials, magazines and newspapers with articles on JKT

Spring 1981. Tulanian. Cover story with excerpts and 2 articles on COD.

1984 September 28. Tulane Hullabaloo. Cover story.

The New Orleans Review 5.4 (1978): 291-303.

1981 December. New Orleans. Interview with TDT page 74.

Acadiana Profile 9.1 (1981): 20-26 (2 articles) by Trent Angers.

1981 August/September: 6-9. Louisiana State University Alumni News. One article plus brief excerpt.

1986 June. Saturday Review. By Valerie Martin: "Publish the Perished" page 46.

1981 July. St. Mary's Dominican College Alumnae Association Bulletin. Cover story.

Applause: A Publication of the New Orleans Public Schools 4.11 (1981): 1-2.

Driftwood (University of New Orleans) 25.12 (1982 November): 2.

Tulane University Special Collections