Photograph of Gary Cartwright by Bill Wittliff, 1988.
Acclaimed Texas journalist and author Gary Cartwright began donating his papers to the Southwestern Writers Collection/The Wittliff Collections in 1989.
The following is an inventory for the Gary Cartwright Addition, acquired from the Austin History Center in 2009. The inventory is also available as a PDF. The inventory for the Gary Cartwright Papers and additional accessions are available here.
Creator: Gary Cartwright
Title: Gary Cartwright Addition
Dates: 1963 - 1984
Abstract: The Gary Cartwright Addition spans 1969 - 1984 and includes materials related to two of Cartwright’s books, Blood Will Tell (1979), a chronicle of the murder trials of Fort Worth businessman Cullen Davis, and Dirty Dealing (1984), an account of drug smuggling, criminal trials, and the assassination of a federal judge in El Paso. Materials associated with Cartwright’s other literary productions include articles, manuscripts, research notes and subject files as well as various pieces of fiction, most of them unpublished. Included in the collection are some of Cartwright’s personal materials such as correspondence, printed material, and unlabeled photographs.
Identification: Collection 001A
Extent: 28 boxes (16 linear feet)
Language: English
Repository: Southwestern Writers Collection, The Wittliff Collections, Alkek Library, Texas State University-San Marcos
Gary Cartwright was born August 10, 1934 in Dallas, Texas, and raised in nearby Arlington. He received a B.A. in journalism and government from Texas Christian University in 1957. Cartwright reported the police beat for the Fort Worth Star-Telegram from 1956 until he was hired away in 1958 to the Fort Worth Press, where he joined Dan Jenkins and Bud Shrake in the sports department under legendary Texas sportswriter Blackie Sherrod. In 1960, Cartwright moved to the Dallas Times Herald as a sports reporter and in 1963 he joined the Dallas Morning News to write his own sports column. Cartwright's first book, a football novel entitled The Hundred Yard War, was published in 1967 at which point he left newspaper work to become a freelance writer. His work has appeared in The Texas Observer, Esquire, Saturday Review, Rolling Stone and Texas Monthly.
Cartwright has been associated with Texas Monthly magazine since its inception in 1973. His articles range over various topics--crime, notable Texans, Texas culture, travel, sports and international travel. A collection of his Texas Monthly articles can be found in Confessions of a Washed-up Sportswriter. The true-crime books Blood Will Tell and Dirty Dealing began as articles for Texas Monthly. In 1988, Cartwright had a heart attack that required quintuple-bypass surgery. A suggestion by Governor Ann Richards to document changes in his life since the injury led to his latest book, HeartWiseGuy.
Among the many honors Cartwright has received for his writing are the Texas Institute of Letters' Stanley Walker Award for Journalism for "The Endless Odyssey of Patrick Henry Polk" (Texas Monthly, May 1977) and the Press Club of Dallas Katie Award for Best Magazine News Story for "The Work of the Devil" (Texas Monthly, June 1989). Cartwright has written screenplays in collaboration with Edwin (Bud) Shrake, including J. W. Coop (1972) and Another Pair of Aces (CBS-TV, 1990).
Manuscripts, published newspaper and magazine articles, and research materials such as clippings, research notes, legal documents, other printed items, and audio tape make up this addition to the Gary Cartwright Collection. The addition covers his career from 1963 to 1984, concentrating on his work on various projects from 1976 to 1984. The materials are divided into four series: 1.) Blood Will Tell, 2.) Dirty Dealing, 3.) Other Literary Productions, and 4.) Personal Materials.
The most detailed and comprehensive portion of the research material for Blood Will Tell consists of clippings from several major Texas newspapers, chronicling the murder trials of Fort Worth business man Cullen Davis. Cartwright’s research notes are also extensive, but are not labeled and have not been sorted. Other research materials cover scattered subjects, and are not extensive. Several versions of the manuscript of the book are included, documenting revisions made during its production.
Material relating to Dirty Dealing is varied with a depth of the documentation. The series maintains one hundred and sixteen (116) subject files and file titles created by Cartwright, in their original order, each folder containing several types of material related to people and incidents covered in the book. Unfiled research materials have been filed according to subject. Several manuscript drafts of the book are included – some complete, but most undated and incomplete.
The third series consists of material relating to Cartwright’s other literary productions – both non-fiction newspaper and magazine and various pieces of primarily unpublished fiction, including short stories, novels, and screenplays. Subject files created and titled by Cartwright have been maintained, each containing a variety of materials. Some additional subject files have been created for journalistic work, arranged chronologically. Manuscripts included in this series are undated and frequently unidentified, and may be incomplete. Manuscripts are differentiated according to title or subject matter. Most of Cartwright’s notes are also unlabeled and unsorted.
The fourth series consists of a small amount of personal material including correspondence, printed materials, and unlabeled photographs.
Administrative Information
Access Restrictions
None
Preferred Citation
Gary Cartwright Addition, Southwestern Writers Collection, Texas State University-San Marcos
Acquisition Information
Transferred from the Austin History Center in 2009.
Processing Information
Originally processed by Margaret Tufts and Warren Stricker for the Austin History Center (1980); Inventory revised by Alan Schaefer (2010).
Notes to Researchers
A large collection of Gary Cartwright’s papers form Southwestern Writers Collection 001.
Detailed Description of the Collection
Series I: Blood Will Tell
Box Folder
Clippings
1 1 1976
2 April - August 1977
3 September - October 1977
4 November - December 1977
5 February - August 13, 1978
6 August 21 - 31, 1978
7 September - October 1978
8 November 1978
9 December 1978
10 January 1979
11 February - March 1979
12 Undated
Notes (undated)
2 1 Unsorted notes
2 Unsorted notes
3 Unsorted notes
4 Unsorted notes
5 Unsorted notes
6 Unsorted notes
7 Unsorted notes
8 Unsorted notes
9 Unsorted notes
10 Unsorted notes
Legal Documents
3 1 Kenneth Davis, Sr. Will 1967, 1970
2 Wilborn Divorce, 1968
3 Davis Divorce, 1974, 1976, and undated
4 McCrory Affidavits, 1977
5 Nagra Tape Transcripts, 1978
6 Davis vs. Davis Lawsuit, 1974
Research Material
3 7 Ft. Worth (undated)
8 Ore Reserve Evaluation, Kendavis Inc., 1974
Photographs
3 9 Research photos (undated)
Correspondence
3 10 1977 – 1979
Publicity
3 11 Book Publicity, 1979
Editorial Notes
3 12 Notes (undated)
Manuscripts (undated)
3 13 Texas Monthly Articles
14 Part I pages 1-112
15 Part I pages 113 -207
16 Part II pages 1-133
4 1 Part II pages 134-253
2 Part II pages 1-133
3 Part II pages 134-253
4 Part II pages 200-299
5 Part II pages 300-421
6 Part II pages 200-299
7 Part II pages 300-421
5 1 Part III pages 422-525
2 Part III pages 526-652
3 Part III pages 1-125
4 Part III pages 126-218
5 Pages 1-84
6 Pages 85-192
7 Pages 193-279
6 1 Pages 1-72
2 Pages 73- 199
3 Pages 200- 275
4 Pages 276- 374
5 Pages 375- 453
6 Pages 454- 542
7 Pages 543- 652
8 Fragments
7 1 Galleys
2 Unbound book
Series II: Dirty Dealing
Author’s Subject Files (undated)
7 3 Ardmore
4 Steve Peter’s DEA File
5 “Agency of Fear” Notes, Ross Perot
6 Riojas – Alan Brown
7 Kenny Croucher (George Taylor, etc.) and Columbus Air Force bust
8 Merchiondo / Mafia
9 Chagra Murder - Wallace / White Trials, Pena - Gisbson, Weiser, Rodriguez
10 Bandido Angle
8 1 Drug Abuse Act of 1970
2 Wallace / White Murder Trial
3 Caballero, Gordy and Dihora, Estrada Contempt, Judge Wood / Goldstein file
4 Renteria Case, JoAnn Wardy Interview
5 Peter Brock File - “A”
6 George Hough
7 The Mob, Rackets, Dope, etc.
8 Smuggling / El Paso Smuggling Investigation
9 More Smuggling, Drugs, Gambling, Mafia, etc.
10 Unlabeled file
11 Malcolm and Miscellaneous Info and Chit Chat
12 High Times Story
13 Detective Files - Kerr
14 Historical - Syrian-Lebanese, El Paso and Mexico
15 Joe Chagra
16 Jimmy Chagra “A” File
17 Sandy and Patty
18 Lee’s Proposed Lawsuit - Oteri and Weinberg - also American Lawyer, Killings
of Dope Lawyers
19 JoAnne Chagra
20 Vivian Chagra
21 Patsy de la Torre
9 1 Jim Salome
2 Doris Sipes
3 Jack Stricklin
4 Donna Johnson
5 Mama Chagra
6 D. Clark Hughes (Judge)
7 The Frenchman
8 Vic Apodaca
9 Rick de la Torre
10 Peter Krutshewski (Blake)
11 Don Fertel
12 Sib Abraham
13 Dee Ann Croucher
14 Judge Bean – Court of Inquiry into Lee’s Murder
15 Clarence Moyers
16 Marty Houltin
17 Wayne Wendell (Windle)
18 Liz
19 Jimmy’s Letter from Levenworth
20 Lee Chagra
21 El Paso Police Inquiry into Lee’s Murder
22 Jimmy Chagra Trial (file 1)
23 Jimmy Chagra Trial (file 2)
24 Jimmy Chagra Trial (file 3)
25 Henry Wallace’s Testimony – Jimmy Chagra Trial
10 1 Cross Examination of Henry Wallace
2 Jimmy Chagra Trial, Chagra Defense
3 Defense Lawyer interviews
4 Jimmy Chagra’s Jacksonville Trial
5 Oscar Goodman
6 Tom Sharp, Harrelson Profile, etc
7 #1 Wood Trial, September - October
8 #2 Wood Trial, Harrelson, Jo Ann, Liz, November
9 # San Antonio Trial, Defense
10 FBI Notes / Summaries
11 Affadavit for Search, Tapes
12 Joe Chagra 1982
13 Chagra 1982
14 El Paso 1982
15 Wood Indictment and Follow-up 1982
16 Pretrial
11 1 Wood Investigation 1982
2 Work Notes / Part II / Riojas - Grand Jury
3 Jahn’s
4 Tapes / Defense Strategy
5 Wood Murder - Second Anniversary with Calendar of Events
6 Harreslon - Profiles, etc.
7 Chagra 1981
8 Chagra - Bates
9 Grand Jury
10 Grand Jury - Harrelson, January – May 1981
11 Grand Jury, May - Decmber 1981
12 1980 Special Federal Grand Jury, I, Wood – Kerr
13 Grand Jury 1980, II, Harrelson
14 Sante Barrio - DEA
15 Tape Transcripts, part 1
12 1 Tape Transcripts, part 2
2 DEA Agents, J.T. Robinson
3 Jamie Boyd
4 Judge Woods (Jolidon)
5 Judge Woods
6 Peter Brock “B”
7 Boston
8 Joe Renteria Trial I (also see Joe Chagra file)
9 Joe Renteria Trial II
10 Stricklin Case and Judge Wood
13 1 IRS Clips
2 EP Law Day Speech
3 Miscellaneous Drug Busts
4 John Pickney III
5 James Kerr
6 Jimmy Chagra 1981
7 Wood - Godde Lawsuit
8 Mrs. Wood
9 Ruby Rheinhardt Letter - Tom Slick - Wood Case
10 Chagra Publicity
11 Unlabelled Manuscript
12 Jimmy’s Austin Trial – Manuscript
13 Jerry Ray James
14 Maps
15 Chagra – Story Draft
16 Guiberson
17 Documents to Lawyers
14 1 Wood Murder Follow – up 1979 – 1980
2 Jimmy Chagra Trial – Austin
3 Niel Nichols Case I
4 Niel Nichols Case II
Research Material
14 5 Federal Committee on Government Operations: June 1975 Hearings / Federal
Drug Enforcement
15 1 Federal Committee on Government Operations: July 1976 Interim Report /
Federal Narcotics Enforcement
2 Committee on Government Operations: January 1977 Illicit Traffic in
Weapons and Drugs across the U.S./Mexico Border
3 Court and Legal Documents, Wood Investigation 1980-1981
4 Court and Legal Documents, Wood Investigation 1982-1983
5 FBI Documents, 1979-1981
6 Wood Assassination Evidence (notebook photocopy)
7 Clippings/Chagra
8 Clippings/Rockport
9 Jury List
Notes
15 10 Chronology
11 Unlabelled
Manuscripts (undated)
16 1 Pages 1-104
2 Pages 105-191, afterword
3 Pages 1-104
4 Pages 105-191, afterword
5 Pages 1-31
6 Pages 85-204
7 Pages 205-331
17 1 Pages 332-407
2 Pages 408-472
3 Pages 473-548, 551-565
4 Pages 1-107
5 Pages 1-72
6 Pages 1-31
7 Pages 1-55
8 Pages 1-32
18 1 Part II, Pages -147 (missing pages)
2 Pages 1-21, 1-45, 36-56, 60-67, 173-179, 22-39, and inserts
3 Pages 11-43
4 Pages 230-271
5 Pages 36-45, 60-99, 107-117
6 Pages 270-271, 309-310, 258-280
7 Pages 428-548 (missing pages)
8 Pages 1-105
9 Pages 106 - 196
19 1 Pages 197-269
2 Pages 272-344
3 Pages 345-449
4 Pages 450-518
5 Pages 519-590
6 Pages 591-696
7 Pages 1-105
8 Pages 106-190
9 Pages 191-269
10 Pages 272-344
20 1 Pages 345-424
2 Pages 425-491
3 Pages 492-570
4 Pages 571-696
5 Original manuscript, pages 1-72
6 Original manuscript, pages 73-142A
7 Original manuscript, pages 142B-219
8 Original manuscript, pages 220-298A
9 Original manuscript, pages 299-382
10 Original manuscript, pages 383-466
21 1 Original manuscript, pages 467 -532
2 Original manuscript, pages 533-608
3 Original manuscript, pages 609-696A
4 Unedited manuscript, pages 1-91
5 Unedited manuscript, pages 92-161
6 Unedited manuscript, pages 162-228
7 Unedited manuscript, pages 229-296
8 Unedited manuscript, pages 297-370
9 Unedited manuscript, pages 371-447
10 Unedited manuscript, pages 448-516
11 Unedited manuscript, pages 517-578
Series III: Other Literary Productions
Box Folder
Author’s Subject Files (undated)
22 1 Candy
2 Chronology, Dirty Dealing
3 Adventures in Moving
4 Jay J. Armes
5 Cullen Davis
6 Racehorse Haynes
7 Priscilla Davis
8 OU/Texas Inside Sports
9 Delbert McClinton
10 Epilogue – Blood Will Tell
11 Ranger Story
12 Darrell Royal
13 Welfare Story
14 TV Guide Story (Local TV, San Antonio)
15 Texas/OU Weekend
16 Colonial (Golf Tournament)
23 1 Private Investigation File
2 Outward Bound
3 Border Towns
4 Houston Police
5 Truckin’
Research Materials (undated)
23 6 Jack Favor
7 JFK assassination
24 1 Pit Dogs
2 Southwestern Bell
3 Fort Worth Press
4 Austin-Drug Dealers
5 Marijuana Smuggling (Court Document)
6 Clippings
Published Articles
24 7 1963-1967
8 1968-1969
9 1970-1974 and undated
Manuscripts (undated) - Non-fiction
24 10 Newspaper columns
11 Fort Worth Press
12 Jack Ruby
13 Craig Morton
14 Texas Governor’s Race
15 Pit Dogs
16 Busted
17 Untitled
Manuscripts (undated) - Fiction
24 18 “They Are Tearing Down All the Old Houses”
19 “This Is A Recording”
20 “Outlaws” pages 1-50
25 1 “Outlaws” pages 50A-118
2 “Outlaws” pages 119-171
3 “Outlaws” pages 172-239
4 “Outlaws” pages 240-267
5 Untitled “Diggs” 1 of 6
6 Untitled “Diggs” 2 of 6
7 Untitled “Diggs” 3 of 6
8 Untitled “Diggs” 4 of 6
9 Untitled “Diggs” 5 of 6
26 1 Untitled “Diggs” 6/6
2 Untitled (Paul Syler)
3 “The Scammer”
4 Untitled (Austin Drug Dealers-Script), 1 of 2
5 Untitled (Austin Drug Dealers-Script), 2 of 2
6 Untitled (Dark Pearls), 1 of 3
7 Untitled (Dark Pearls), 2 of 3
8 Untitled (Dark Pearls), 3 of 3
27 1 Untitled (Billy Roy Ford)
2 Untitled (New Dynamo City)
3 Untitled (Black Jack Spain)
4 Untitled (Ansel Gregg-Script)
5 Unidentified manuscripts
Poetry
27 6 Poems
Essays
27 7 On Playwrighting
Notes (undated)
27 8 Unidentified notes, 1 of 2
9 Unidentified notes, 2 of 2
10 Kennedy Assassination / Jack Ruby
Correspondence
27 11 1968-1969, 1974-1975, 1983 and undated
Legal Documents
27 12 Contracts 1968, 1975
Book Reviews
27 13 The Hundred Yard War and Thin Ice
Series IV: Personal Materials
Box Folder
Correspondence
28 1 1964, 1971, 1973-1975, 1978 and undated
Financial Documents
28 2 Check from Columbia
Printed Material
28 3 BMI Application
4 Cards
Photographs (undated)
28 5 Prints (unlabelled)
6 Slides (unlabelled)
Scrapbook Material
28 7 Undated material
Audio Recordings (undated)
28 8 Tapes (3 cassettes, 1 reel)
Separated Material
28 9 Texas Monthly, March 1977 and March 1978; Atlantic Monthly, March 1975;
Book Digest, October 1979; Poster - Texas Ranger (Allee 1930 - 1970)
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