Special Collections & Archives

Archibald Randolph Ammons (1926-2001) was a poet and professor. His work has been compared to the romantic poets Henry David Thoreau and Ralph Waldo Emerson. This collection consists of nine untitled watercolor paintings dated 1977-1979 painted by A.R. Ammons.

Emily Wilson is an author and poet that predominantly worked in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. She retained a strong friendship with poet A.R. Ammons that lasted for 30 years until Ammons' death in 2001. This collection includes Wilson's correspondence, Ammons' written work, newspaper clippings, publications, research materials, book drafts, and photographs of Ammons' personal life and artwork.

Wake Forest University's Oral History Project was undertaken by retired professor A. Lewis Aycock at the request of President James Ralph Scales. From 1970-1977, Aycock interviewed alumni, retired faculty and staff, and family members of former professors. Materials in this collection include correspondence and research, interview transcripts, biographical materials, and writings and speeches. Project finances and some of Aycock's personal materials are also included.

Dr. Thomas F. Gossett was a Professor of English at Wake Forest. Dr. Louise Y. Gossett was a professor of English at Salem College. The Thomas F. and Louise Gossett Papers consist primarily of reviews and articles on A.R. Ammons and Flannery O'Connor collected by the Gossetts from various newspapers and periodicals. There are a few photographs of O'Connor and photocopied correspondence. There are a few letters from Ammons to the Gossetts, submissions to and issues of The Nickelodeon, and audio recordings of Ammons reading his poetry. Also included are research notes by the Gossetts on O'Connor and Ammons. The papers include Thomas F. Gossett's research notes and bibliographies for his two books, and .