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Wyrick and Company records

 Collection
Identifier: Mss 0228

Collection Overview

Assorted materials including publisher files, office files, author correspondence files, layout and design materials, publishing and production files, and other records of the Charleston, South Carolina-based publisher Wyrick and Company Publishers. The collection contains many author files consisting of contracts, correspondence, financial records, drafts, editorial notes, and other documents regarding the work of specific authors. Notable authors who published with Wyrick and Company include biographer and Charleston figure of interest Dawn Langley Simmons, former South Carolina congressman and governor Mark Sanford, linguist Richard Lederer, bestselling fiction writer Patricia Cornwell, watercolor artist Mary Whyte, interior designer James Farmer, and photographer Jack Leigh. Other authors include local and regional restauranteurs, photographers, gardeners, and novelists. The office files of the company contain general correspondence, printing contracts, financials, catalogs, publishing guidelines, press/marketing, manuscript logs, and documents related to film rights and licensing. Publishing and production files contain mostly computer disks of layout and design materials and drafts of specific works. Also present are photographs, slides, and negatives of authors; illustrations, proofs and mock-ups of for publications; manuscript submissions; a few advanced reader copies; and computer disks containing further information about specific works. There are also clippings and photocopies of newspaper columns written by Richard Lederer and by Charles "Pete" Wyrick. The audiovisual materials are mostly VHS/U-Matic tapes of TV spots and interviews with various authors published by the company as well as computer disks of the company's yearly catalogs. Scattered DVDs and cassette tapes contain more of the same. The oversize folder consists of unfolded dust jackets as well as some publicity posters and proofs/mock-ups.

Dates

  • Creation: 1971-2016

Creator

Language of Material

Materials in English.

Access Restrictions

This collection has been minimally processed, but is open for research.

Copyright Notice

The nature of the College of Charleston's archival holdings means that copyright or other information about restrictions may be difficult or even impossible to determine despite reasonable efforts. Special Collections claims only physical ownership of most archival materials.

The materials from our collections are made available for use in research, teaching, and private study, pursuant to U.S. copyright law. The user must assume full responsibility for any use of the materials, including but not limited to, infringement of copyright and publication rights of reproduced materials. Any materials used for academic research or otherwise should be fully credited with the source.

Historical Note

Wyrick and Company was a Charleston, South Carolina, publication house that operated from 1986 to 2017. Founded by editor and publisher Charles L. ("Pete") Wyrick Jr., it was acquired in 2005 by Gibbs Smith. The company's focus was on the culture and arts of the South, especially South Carolina.Notable authors who published with Wyrick and Company include biographer and Charleston figure of interest Dawn Langley Simmons, former South Carolina congressman and governor Mark Sanford, linguist Richard Lederer, bestselling fiction writer Patricia Cornwell, watercolor artist Mary Whyte, interior designer James Farmer, and photographer Jack Leigh. Other authors include local and regional restaurateurs, photographers, gardeners, and novelists.

Extent

18.5 linear feet (15 cartons, 3 flat boxes, 2 oversize boxes, 1 slim document box, 1 oversize folder)

Abstract

Assorted materials including publisher files, office files, author correspondence files, publishing and production files, layout and design materials, and other records of the Charleston, South Carolina-based publisher Wyrick and Company Publishers.

Collection Arrangement

Materials are described at the box level.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

Special Collections cannot provide access to all media formats in Box 13-15 Publishing and production files, 1989-2005 due to lack of required hardware.

Acquisitions Information

Materials donated in 2018 and 2020 by Charles L. Wyrick Jr. and Constance H. Wyrick.

Processing Information

Processed by Lauren Bickel, February 2023.

Title
Inventory of the Wyrick and Company Records, 1971-2016
Status
Completed
Author
Processed by: Lauren Bickel finding aid created by: Lauren Bickel
Date
2023
Description rules
Dacs
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin

Repository Details

Part of the Special Collections Repository

Contact:
Special Collections
College of Charleston Libraries
66 George Street
Charleston South Carolina 29424
(843) 953-8016
(843) 953-6319 (Fax)