Wittliff Collections mourns passing of literary giant Cormac McCarthy

Inside TXST

Jayme Blaschke | June 13, 2023

Pulitzer Prize-winning author Cormac McCarthy died June 13 at his home in Santa Fe, New Mexico, at the age of 89.

The Wittliff Collections at Texas State University acquired McCarthy’s archives in 2007, opening the collection to researchers in 2009.  

“We at the Wittliff Collections were deeply saddened to learn of Cormac McCarthy’s passing. He is a literary immortal and his work will live on through his revered books,” said Steven L. Davis, literary curator with The Wittliff Collections. “More than 15 years ago, Cormac entrusted us to care for his archives. A group of our staff arrived at his home in Santa Fe and we will never forget how warmly he greeted us, sharing coffee and conversation before we packed up his papers to bring to Texas State University.

“Since acquiring the archive, we’ve made his literary papers available to hundreds of researchers from around the globe – including many Texas State students,” Davis said. “We’ve seen dozens of books, dissertations and articles published using the extensive McCarthy archives at The Wittliff, all of which further our understanding of McCarthy’s unique literary achievements. McCarthy will go down in history as one of America’s most influential writers.

“We offer our condolences to the McCarthy family at this sad time.”

Author of such acclaimed novels as Blood Meridian and No Country for Old Men, Cormac McCarthy was awarded the Pulitzer in 2007 for The Road. In Jan. 2023, The Wittliff announced the acquisition of a series of extraordinary audio interviews made by journalist Richard B. Woodward. The interviews date from 1992, when McCarthy, then a little-known author, was set to publish his sixth novel, All the Pretty Horses. Woodward flew to El Paso and over the next few days, recorded his conversations with McCarthy during long interview sessions at local restaurants.

The fully processed collection stands at almost 100 boxes and includes correspondence, notes, hand-written and typed drafts, setting copies, proofs and other materials documenting McCarthy’s career. For more information, visit www.thewittliffcollections.txst.edu.