Gass’s standing among his generation’s most highly-regarded writers is unquestioned. He also was close friends with many of them, such as William Gaddis, Stanley Elkin and Donald Barthelme. He would often participate in co-interviews, panels and other activities with these esteemed writers, as well as others, and he has written many introductions and dedications praising them and their works.

The Special Collections contains numerous drafts and recordings of these introductions, in the Wiliam H. Gass Papers, the International Writers Center Archive and the Modern Literature Recorded Multimedia Collection.

Joseph Campbell Introduction

Draft of Joseph Campbell introduction, undated

Typescript draft of an introduction for Donald Barthelme

Draft of an introduction for Donald Barthelme, undated

Stanley Elkin Introduction, March 10, 1985

Draft of Stanley Elkin introduction, March 10, 1985

Introductions to John Barth

Drafts of two John Barth introductions, April 12, 1987 and undated

Toni Morrison Introduction

Draft of Toni Morrison introduction for a River Styx reading, March 21, 1991

William H. Gass and William Gaddis: The Writer and Religion Conference

Audio recordings of Gass introducing William Gaddis and of Gaddis speaking at The Writer and Religion Conference, October 23, 1994. Use Firefox for best results.

Gass Introduction of David Foster Wallace

Audio recording of Gass introducing David Foster Wallace at an International Writers Center reading, December 19, 1997. Use Firefox for best results.