William Krasner Papers

Collection

Identifier: MS-MS-ms065

Staff Only

The William Krasner Papers consists of manuscripts and editorial matter relating to novels by William Krasner. Included are heavily revised typescripts, a typescript setting copy with printer's notations, sample pages, and a mock-up of the front matter for Walk the Dark Streets, 6 items; typescripts with heavy revision, a typescript synopsis, and a typescript setting copy with notations of The Gambler, 4 items; autograph notes, a typescript synopsis, typescripts with light autograph revision, a mock-up of the front matter, and a typescript setting copy with notations of North of Welfare, 9 items; and typescript synopses, typescripts with heavy autograph revision, and a typescript setting copy with notations of The Stag Party, 4 items.

Dates

Creation: 1948-1957

Creator

Krasner, William, 1917-2003 (Person)

Conditions Governing Access

Open

Conditions Governing Use

Users of the collection must read and agree to abide by the rules and procedures set forth in the Materials Use Policies.

Providing access to materials does not constitute permission to publish or otherwise authorize use. All publication not covered by fair use or other exceptions is restricted to those who have permission of the copyright holder, which may or may not be Washington University.

If you wish to publish or license Special Collections materials, please contact Special Collections to inquire about copyright status at (314) 935-5495 or spec@wumail.wustl.edu. (Publish means quotation in whole or in part in seminar or term papers, theses or dissertations, journal articles, monographs, books, digital forms, photographs, images, dramatic presentations, transcriptions, or any other form prepared for a limited or general public.)

Extent

7.00 boxes

Additional Description

Biographical Information

William Krasner (June 8, 1917 – October 29, 2003) was an American writer, editor, and television producer. Born in St. Louis, Missouri, he began his writing career early by working on the literary magazine of Soldan High School alongside Tennessee Williams. During World War II, he served in the Army Air Corps in the South Pacific as a meteorologist. Following his discharge, he attended Columbia University on the GI Bill and earned a bachelor's degree in psychology. He then returned to St. Louis, where he wrote novels and worked for magazines.

His first novel Walk the Dark Streets (1949) was nominated for an Edgar Award and was adapted as an episode of the television series Studio One in Hollywood. Its main character, Sam Birge, would also appear in The Stag Party (1957), Death of a Minor Poet (1984) and Resort to Murder (1986). A fifth Sam Birge novel, entitled Opfer einer Razzia (Death the Dancer)(1991) was published only in German.

Krasner also published two realistic urban novels, The Gambler (1950) and North of Welfare (1954) and one work of historical fiction, Francis Parkman: Dakota Legend (1982). In 1955, he received an award for literature from the National Institute of Arts and Letters.

In addition to his fiction, Krasner produced an extensive non-fiction body of work. He was cofounder and editor of TransAction Magazine, a psychology magazine, and was later associate editor of Psychiatric Reporter. He co-wrote Drug Trip Abroad (1972), a groundbreaking work on drug addiction. He wrote reports for the U.S. government and for pharmaceutical companies, and helped write and edit the syndicated radio newscasts “One Moment Please,” which were delivered by local personality Mort Crim. He also wrote and produced television documentaries and a television drama about the Salem witch trials.