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 5: JKT correspondence, military paperwork, personal items, and photographs, 1937-1981

Box 5 contains miscellaneous items.

Folder 1: Miscellaneous items: "Big Chief" writing tablet

Unused "Big Chief" writing tablet.

Blank composition book, on front: "Record Book John Toole 1963 Mom: Please Don't Touch" and same on back but 63 is crossed out and replaced with 66.

Folder 2: Miscellaneous items: New Orleans Magazine cover featuring JKT, 1981 December

Original cover from New Orleans Magazine, featuring "JKT: Remembrances on His Birthday."

Folder 3: Miscellaneous items: The Tulane Hullaballoo [sic]

Yearbook is located in Oversized Box 1.

Folder 4: Miscellaneous items: Photocopied page from high school yearbook

Photocopied page from high school yearbook where JKT was voted "Most Intelligent"; complete yearbook can be found in Oversized Box 1.

Folder 5: Miscellaneous items: JKT personal library list with annotations on whether there are notes written in the books; condition of books, and whether the books are signed [probably compiled by Rhoda Faust].

Folder 6: Miscellaneous items: Pulitzer Prize, 1981 April 13

Bound certificate of the Pulitzer Prize (similar to a diploma).

Folder 7: Miscellaneous items: Drawing: "Big Boy"

Drawing is located in Oversized Box 1.

Folder 8: Miscellaneous items: Essay contest certificate

Certificate is located in Oversized Box 1.

Folder 9: Photographs: Infant photo, infant photo with five images

Both photos are located in Oversize Box 1.

Folder 10: Photographs: Infant photos

Eighteen photos as infant [some are candid photos that include other people and some are professional portraits].

Folder 11: Photographs: Childhood photos

Photo which states: "To Aunt [illegible] from Kenny 1941 April 9."

Photo with note from TDT, which states: "This picture of my eleven-year old son was inserted in the Sunday Times-Picayune 1938 to advertise the Junior League's production of 'Mystery at the Old Fort.' Charles Gray of Tulane University's speech department was the director. He selected my son because of his outstanding ability." [Date must be wrong because JKT was born in 1937]

Photo with note from TDT, which states: "This picture was taken in the finale of a spring recital of the Lakeview School of Speech and Dramatic Art, of which I was director. Ken, then twelve years old, interpreted Eleanor C. Donnelly's 'Gaulherto's Victory.' Ken's resonant, far-projecting voice, dramatic flair, and stage presence brought warm praise from the audience."

Three photos with notes on back. One with note on back: "John Geiser and JKT on the first day at school Webster Street near Coliseum circa 1943, September 1942." One with note on back: "(Geiser) John III and Ken Toole First day of school 1943." One with note on back: "John II and Kennedy Toole First day of school 1943."

Nineteen other photos.

Folder 12: Photographs: Teenage photos

Photo with note on back: "In sixteenth year, when he entered Fortier High, and wrote 'The Neon Bible.'"

Envelope with the same note as above written on outside and smaller version of above photo.

Fifteen other photos.

Folder 13: Photographs: Adult photos

Ten photos of scenery, plus negatives.

One photo (enlargement) in Folder #2 of original smaller version: one inscribed with "on the Gulf Coast. The picture is a record of his height and brawny physique."

Six photos [possibly of Puerto Rico].

Development envelope. 1958 December 1. V. Toole. States "Ten snapshots and twelve negatives" - no photos.

Folder 14: Photographs: Adult photos

Twenty-nine photos.

Note with no attached photo: "This picture was taken when Ken was an English instructor at St. Mary's Dominican College."

1980 August 19. Photo with note that states: "Photograph of My Genius - Son, John Kennedy Toole, from His Mother, Thelma Ducoing Toole, to Dear John Geiser III."

1979 November 6. Note with no attached photo that states: "Dear Martha and Les, This handsome picture of my son is sent to you for what you are doing for him. I'll keep you informed of the legal process. Sincerely, Thelma."

Folder 15: Photographs: Army photos

Fourteen photos (loose).

Ten photo prints in mini-album.

Folder 16: Personal items: Baby book

Complete baby book.

Folder 17: Personal items: The Subterraneans

Book: The Subterraneans by Jack Kerouac with Ken Toole's name and Columbia University address.

Tulane University Special Collections