Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
The permission of Alexandra Ripley is required for
access to the collection, copying, and all quotations.
Use Restrictions
See the
University of Virginia Library’s use policy.
Preferred Citation
Alexandra Ripley Papers, Accession #10624-h , Special
Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library,
Charlottesville, Va.
Acquisition Information
This collection was loaned to the Library by Alexandra
Ripley, Keswick, Virginia, on December 1, 1992.
Arrangement
Manuscripts of the book
Scarlettby Alexandra Ripley
comprise the first series. Also included is a Dove Audio
typescript of
Charleston, a talk to
booksellers in Atlanta by Ripley, and various writing
assignments and notes for a night class with Richard Coleman
in Charleston, South Carolina by Alexandra Ripley.
The second series consists of miscellaneous and research
files, including fan mail; correspondence with her agents,
publisher, and friends; the American Booksellers Association
Convention in New York City; the promotional tour for Editions
Belfond, France;
Gone With the Wind Forum,
Richmond, Virginia; the
Lifeexcerpt from
Scarlett, with autograph
corrections and changes (1991 Jun);
Lifephotographs of Alexandra
Ripley by Lynn Johnson [1988]; newsclippings and articles
about
Scarlett; publicity and press
releases; photographs and postcards; cassette recordings;
promotional material for
Scarlett; and research
material, including books used in research and copies of
Scarlettand
Gone With The Wind.
The correspondence file contains a draft of Ripley's letter
to the Atlanta representatives of the Mitchell estate
concerning the story line for
Scarlett. The letter defends
her choice of Ireland in the novel as an outlet for the
explosive nature of Scarlett as presented by Mitchell in
Gone With The Wind. Ripley
contends that Margaret Mitchell effectively closed the
familiar scenes of Atlanta, Tara, and Charleston to Scarlett.
Ireland provides a largely unknown historical setting that has
a rich mythology but which is also violent and stormy enough
to furnish a suitable backdrop for the character of Scarlett
(1987 Oct 9); a draft of a letter from Ripley to her lawyer in
New York, Bob Youdelman, about her difficulties with her agent
William Morris, and asking for advice (1988 Feb 27); and two
notes from Barbara Mertz about the success of
Scarlettand the progress of her
next Amelia book (ca. 1992 Jan 1) and auction plans (Fall
1992).