"The Sphnix" yearbook, 1932

This collection consists of the papers of John A. Zeigler, Jr., poet, music philanthropist, and co-owner of the Book Basement bookstore in Charleston, S.C. The papers span the years 1755 to 2015 and include biographical materials; materials about the Book Basement, the bookstore Zeigler founded with Edwin Peacock; assorted writings including typescripts of poetry, plays, fiction, and nonfiction; materials relating to friendships with Prentiss Taylor, Roderick Quiroz, and Taylor’s friendship with Langston Hughes; correspondence; materials relating to the book and play Jeb & Dash: A Diary of Gay Life, 1918-1945; materials documenting Zeigler’s music philanthropy; photographs; materials relating to the Follin, Elfe, and Zeigler families; and writings and clippings by and about friends. Many of the materials have handwritten annotations by Mary Jo Potter, Zeigler’s niece, who donated the papers after Zeigler’s death.

Biographical materials document Zeigler’s education at The Citadel in Charleston, S.C., his service in the United States Navy during World War II, and birthday celebrations from the ages of 89 to 102. The papers also contain materials relating to the Follin, Elfe, and Zeigler families. Zeigler’s mother was an Elfe, and his maternal grandmother was a Follin. The Follin and Elfe materials make up the majority of the family papers, with a few materials relating to the Zeigler and Glover families. The Follins were Catholics who immigrated to Charleston from the French colony of Sainte-Domingue following the Haitian revolution. Follin family materials include daguerreotypes, cabinet cards, scrapbooks, marriage, birth, and death certificates in French, legal documents about the ownership of 9 College Street, and clippings. Elfe family materials include photographs, clippings, genealogical research, and information about the estate of Marguerite Elfe Erckmann. Zeigler family materials include writings by John A. Zeigler, Sr. and Virginia Marie Elfe Zeigler, and information on Zeigler family reunions.

Also included are writings by Zeigler including typescripts of Zeigler’s poetry books Alaska and Beyond and The Edwin Poems. There are also reviews and letters received about Alaska and Beyond, The Edwin Poems, and Edwin and John: A Personal History of the American South. There are also typescripts of an unpublished novel, plays, short stories, and poetry. There are also correspondence and clippings related to the writings included. Also included are materials relating to the Book Basement, the bookstore co-owned by Zeigler and Peacock. Book Basement materials include account books, correspondence, photographs, and clippings.

The papers also contain materials relating to Zeigler and Peacock’s friendship with lithographer Prentiss Taylor (1907-1991) and Taylor’s partner Roderick (Rod) Quiroz (1923-2011). These materials include clippings, photographs, and correspondence, notably letters and cards received by Taylor from author Langston Hughes and a card from Isham Perkins (“Dash” from Jeb & Dash) to Taylor and Quiroz.

Also included is correspondence with friends, notably New Zealand author Noel Virtue, relatives, and institutions about daily life and about Zeigler’s writings. There are also materials documenting Zeigler’s philanthropic activities in Charleston’s music scene, especially his sponsorship of music students at the College of Charleston. Materials include concert programs, photographs, and correspondence with students and professors, notably Enrique Graf, Eunjoo Yun, Lee-Chin Siow, and José Lemos. There are also photographs documenting Zeigler’s life in Washington, D.C., Zeigler and Peacock’s daily life and international travel.

The papers also include materials about the book and play Jeb & Dash: The Diary of a Gay Life, 1918-1945, in which Zeigler was fictionalized under the pseudonym Nicky Bowman. Jeb & Dash materials include letters received from author Ina Russell, playwright Michael Conley, and researcher Dean Alcorn, a copy of the play script, and photographs of Isham Perkins, aka “Dash.” There are also materials about author Carson McCullers, who was a close friend of Peacock and Zeigler. The materials include photographs of McCullers, letters received from the Carson McCullers Center for Writers and Musicians at Columbus State University in Columbus, Ga, and clippings. The papers also include letters, photographs, and poetry by former Book Basement employee and friend T.J. Worthington. There are also articles and clippings about Kenneth Dow, friend and historic restoration enthusiast. Zeigler also collected writings by friends including playwright Andrew Little, World War II veterans Julian Mixon Hayes and George Laycock, author Carlos L. Dews, and researchers Joseph Butwin and Dan Griffin.