Conditions Governing Use

Permission to publish or reproduce is required from the copyright holder. Copyright is retained by Tom Andrews' Estate. For more information, please contact the West Virginia and Regional History Center.

Conditions Governing Access

No special access restriction applies.

Preferred Citation

[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Tom Andrews Papers, A&M 4209, West Virginia and Regional History Center, West Virginia University Libraries, Morgantown, West Virginia.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gifts of Andrews, Alice, 2016 October 26 and 2023 February 07.

Biographical / Historical

Thomas Chester "Tom" Andrews (April 30, 1961 – July 18, 2001) was an American poet who grew up in Charleston, West Virginia with his parents, Ray and Alice Andrews, and an older brother, John, who died at age 16 in 1980. When Andrews was 11, he got into the Guinness Book of World Records by clapping for over 14 hours.

He graduated from George Washington High School (Charleston, WV) in 1979. He studied at Oberlin College during his senior year in college, and graduated from Hope College with a B.A. (1984). While at Hope he studied under Jack Ridl and developed his love of poetry. He then graduated from the University of Virginia with an M.F.A. in Creative Writing (1987). He went on to lecture at the University of Michigan (1987-1988), taught at Ohio University (ca. 1991-1996), then served as Faculty at Purdue University (1996-?). In 1999, he won a Poetry Fellowship to the American Academy in Rome.

Prior to being diagnosed with hemophilia, Tom developed a great interest in motorcycles. While his diagnosis meant he shouldn't continue to ride, he maintained his interest, he co-founded and edited the online magazine/forum "Beginner Bikes."

He wrote and edited many books of poetry; his works include:

His awards include a 1993 Iowa Poetry Prize for The Hemophiliac's Motorcycle , a 1989 National Poetry Series Award for Brother's Country , and a 2001 Guggenheim Fellowship.

Andrews died in England as a result of complications from thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura. At the time of his death, Tom was an Adjunct Professor of Creative Writing with Warren Wilson College and was affianced to Alice Paterakis. He had previously been married to Carrie Andrews.

Scope and Contents

This collection documents mostly the adult life and work of Tom Andrews. His papers also include materials collected by Tom's family after his death, such as tributes from friends and colleagues, as well as works of Tom's that were published posthumously.

There are 5 series, with some overlap between the series.

Correspondence (1980s-2000s) includes emails, letters, and more on a variety of topics.

Personal Material (1972-2013) includes, photos, Tom's CV, information on his illness, and other miscellaneous material.

Subjects (1972-2006) includes folders for specific events and jobs, such as Tom's handclapping, his teaching materials, American Academy in Rome materials, and more.

Tributes (1972-2006) includes memorials, tributes, condolences, and more.

Works (1983-2003) includes Tom's writings, both published works and some that may be unpublished, and notes.

The addendum of 2023 February 7 includes a scrapbook compiled by Tom Andrews's family after his death in 2001 that catalogs some of his personal and career accomplishments.

Arrangement

For the most part, folders retain their original collations of material. Foldering and the order of the folders mostly represents the original order of the materials.

Subjects and Indexing Terms

• Andrews, Alice
• Poets and poetry.
• Poets, American -- West Virginia