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This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held in the Wilson Library at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in our reading room, and not digitally available through the World Wide Web. See the Duplication Policy section for more information.
Size | 1.0 feet of linear shelf space (approximately 25 items) |
Abstract | Bland Simpson was born in 1948 and grew up in Elizabeth City and Chapel Hill, N.C. He is a lecturer in creative writing in the English Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Beginning in 1987, he served as the pianist for the Red Clay Ramblers, a critically acclaimed North Carolina-based music group. Simpson collaborated on several theatrical presentations and authored several books. The collection consists of materials chiefly relating to Simpson's writings. An edited manuscript of The Great Dismal: A Carolinian's Swamp Memoir (UNC Press, 1990) is included along with materials gathered in researching the book, which discusses the Great Dismal Swamp that stretches from Elizabeth City, N.C., across the Virginia border nearly to Portsmouth, Va. The author's galleys and a manuscript copy of Simpson's novel about country music, Heart of the Country (Seaview/Putnam, 1983), are included. The collection also contains an early draft from 1977, an undated draft, and page proofs of Simpson's non-fiction novel The Mystery of Beautiful Nell Cropsey (UNC Press, 1993), an Elizabeth City, N.C., legend. There are also promotional materials from the musical King Mackerel and the Blues Are Running. |
Creator | Simpson, Bland. |
Curatorial Unit | Southern Historical Collection |
Language | English. |
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Bland Simpson was born in Elizabeth City, N.C., in 1948 and lived there until he moved to Chapel Hill, N.C., when he was ten. Simpson attended the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and later moved to New York City to be close to the music business.
Simpson released one album before he moved back to Chapel Hill and began performing with a band known as the Southern States Fidelity Choir. Simpson collaborated with fellow band member, Jim Wann, to create the off-Broadway hit Diamond Studs, a musical about the life and death of Jesse James. Since 1987, he has been the pianist for the North Carolina-based band called the Red Clay Ramblers. He is a lecturer in creative writing in the English Department at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and, along with several theatrical collaborations, has authored several books.
Back to TopThe collection consists of materials relating to the writing of three books and a small amount of other material. An edited manuscript copy of The Great Dismal: A Carolinian's Swamp Memoir is included along with materials generated in the process of researching the book. A manuscript copy and the author's galleys of Simpson's novel, Heart of the Country, are included. Finally, a manuscript copy marked "early 1977 draft" of Simpson's non-fiction novel, The Mystery of Beautiful Nell Cropsey, is included along with an undated manuscript and page proofs and promotional materials from the musical King Mackerel and the Blues Are Running.
Note that the original titles of audio tapes included in the research materials relating to The Great Dismal have been preserved and that the tapes are listed in chronological order.
Back to TopThe collection consists of materials relating to the writing of three books and a small amount of other material. An edited manuscript copy of The Great Dismal: A Carolinian's Swamp Memoir is included along with materials generated in the process of researching the book. A manuscript copy and the author's galleys of Simpson's novel, Heart of the Country, are included. Finally, a manuscript copy marked "early 1977 draft" of Simpson's non-fiction novel, The Mystery of Beautiful Nell Cropsey, is included along with an undated manuscript and page proofs and promotional materials from the musical King Mackerel and the Blues Are Running.
Note that the original titles of audio tapes included in the research materials relating to The Great Dismal have been preserved and that the tapes are listed in chronological order.
Items separated include pictures (PF-4755/1-2) and audiocassettes (C-4755/1-13).
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