PCL MS 152 Bill Pronzini Collection

Bill Pronzini, pulp aficionado and creator of the Nameless Detective series has been hailed by Publishers Weekly as “a master of the modern mystery.” Since becoming a professional writer in the late 1960s, he has published over sixty novels within the mystery/suspense and western genres, not to mention numerous short stories, anthologies and single-author collections which he edited or coedited. His collaboration with such authors as Jeffrey Wallmann, Michael Kurland, John Lutz, Barry N. Malzberg, Collin Wilcox, Jack Anderson, Martin H. Greenberg, Ed Gorman and of course Marcia Muller has kept pace with his own considerable output. Further references to Pronzini-Muller collaborations may be found in her collection, MS-112, at the Browne Popular Culture Library.

The Pronzini Collection dates from 1991 to the present. The only exceptions are reference cards for sold and unsold Pronzini writings, 1966-1977, and a 1987 manuscript for Son of Gun in Cheek. The collection contains manuscripts of his novels, short stories and other writings, as well as correspondence with his agent, publishers, editors, other writers and fans. Other files include interviews, articles, photos about Pronzini and book publicity. Audio book recordings are also found here. The California State Library Foundation owns the Pronzini literary archive from 1967 to 1991.

Bill Pronzini transferred his collection to the Browne Popular Culture Library, Bowling Green State University, in March 1997. The collection has no restrictions placed upon its use for scholarly purposes. Researchers are responsible for securing copyright permission when using all unpublished manuscripts and published works, whether authored by Bill Pronzini, Marcia Muller or by other writers whose work may be found in this collection.

This finding aid was prepared by Eric Honneffer in December 2005 and updated in May 2010.

Bill Pronzini was born April 13, 1943 in Petaluma, California. He attended junior college for two years and held a variety of jobs: newsstand clerk, sports reporter, salesman and civilian guard with the U.S. Marshall's office, among others, before becoming a professional writer in the late 1960s. His first novel, The Stalker, was published in 1971. He traveled in Europe and resided in Majorca and West Germany between 1970 and 1972. He married mystery writer Marcia Muller, his third wife, in 1992. They have successfully collaborated on novels, short stories, articles, reviews and co-edited anthologies.

Bill Pronzini has been awarded three Shamus Awards from the Private Eye Writers of America (PWA), including their Life Achievement Award in 1987. He has also received six Edgar nominations from the Mystery Writers of America. His work has been translated into at least eighteen languages and published in almost thirty countries.

The Bill Pronzini Collection of 14.5 cubic feet of literary manuscripts, correspondence and other files from 1991 to present, represents over a decade's worth of documentation from an almost forty-year writing career. Included are almost all manuscripts of Pronzini's “Nameless Detective” novels, non-series novels and short story collections from 1994 to present. Original manuscripts may be accompanied by editor's copies and galleys, which would assist researchers in studying the evolution of a Pronzini work on its way to publication. Numerous short story manuscripts are also found in the collection and may be accompanied by published copies. Discussion about particular works would be found under correspondence.

Those interested in Pronzini's collaborative projects since 1992, might wish to study the manuscripts among the short story collections, anthologies, and single author collections. Although some scattered correspondence is included with these manuscripts, researchers would certainly want to peruse Pronzini's correspondence with other writers, publishers and editors for more specific details about collaborative projects. The collection includes often detailed and lengthy correspondence between Pronzini and other authors about writing, collecting and remaining in print. In particular, his correspondence with a few former pulp writers offers insights into how many authors survived hard times writing for the pulps.

The introductions, prefaces, forwards and interviews offer a wealth of information about mystery/suspense and western fiction writing/writers and about Pronzini himself as an imaginative force and fan in their midst.

Pronzini's outgoing and general correspondence predominate. The latter group was refined into categories to both complement areas on which Pronzini concentrates his corresponding, as well as to assist researchers wishing to access specific topics of interest. There is certainly topic overlap among folders. The category bookselling was established since Pronzini, a book and pulp collector himself, assists others in search of hard-to-find materials within his field of collecting.

The miscellaneous correspondence includes letters pertaining to libraries, conventions, and book signings. Pronzini's correspondence documents his many collaborations with fellow writers, his views about publishing, his passion for mystery and suspense, pulps, western fiction and his determination that talented, often obscure, authors within these specialties get published and republished for future generations of readers.

Subject files include information about book signings, programs in which Pronzini participated, research inquiries, author obituaries and miscellaneous cards, notes and clippings. The collection is completed by audio recordings which include Pronzini's books on tape as well as interviews.

Those interested in researching published works by Bill Pronzini, donated by him to the Browne Popular Culture Library, should access the University Libraries catalog.  

Literary Manuscripts

Novel Manuscripts

1994 to present

Arranged chronologically

Include an author's draft, some editor's copies and some galleys. This varies from title to title. The novel manuscripts are broken into parts for ease of handling. A manuscript for Son of Gun in Cheek, a nonfiction work (1987), appears at the beginning of the novel manuscripts.

Short Story Manuscripts

1994 to present, n.d.

Arranged alphabetically by title

Short story manuscripts may be accompanied by a published copy and related correspondence.

Short Story Collections Authored or Co-authored by Pronzini

1996 to present

Arranged chronologically

Often includes author's drafts, photocopies of previously-published stories with introductions, some galleys, tables of contents, prefaces and other accompanying material. Co-authored collections are included here. Contents vary from title to title.

Short Story Anthologies Edited by Pronzini

1995 to present

Arranged chronologically

May include introductions to authors and stories featured, photocopies of previously published stories, tables of contents and correspondence. This varies from title to title. Co-editors sometimes participate.

Single Author Collections, Edited by Pronzini

1992 to present

Arranged chronologically

Titles can include original manuscripts, photocopies of published works, tables of contents, introductions, forwards, galleys and other documents. Of particular note is an original manuscript of William Campbell Gault's novel - Man Alone. Contents vary from title to title.

Other Manuscripts

1992 to present

Arranged by type of material, then chronologically

Types of material may include introductions, prefaces and forwards; articles; reviews. These can include original manuscripts, published copies and photocopies.

Correspondence

Correspondence

1991 to present

Arranged chronologically and then by type (outgoing, agent, publisher, general) General correspondence includes letters from other editors, writers, fan mail, book selling and buying and miscellaneous topics.

Subject Files

Subject Files

1991 to present

Arranged by topic

Includes interviews with Pronzini, articles about him, reviews of his work, publicity, catalogs, awards, book jacket designs and photographs.

Audio/Video Recordings

Audio Recordings

1991 to present

Arranged by format, then chronologically

Includes recordings of Pronzini's work as well as interviews

Box Numbering System

Boxes in the Pronzini Collection are numbered according to the following abbreviations:

C - Correspondence
M - Manuscripts - novels, short story manuscripts and other manuscripts