The North American Review records date from 1963 to 2019 and consist of materials related to the administration, publication, and distribution of the North American Review during that time period. The materials are primarily from the magazine’s publication at the University of Northern Iowa, with bulk dates spanning 1969 to the 1990s. The collection also includes some materials from the magazine’s publication at Cornell College in the 1960s. The materials are arranged into different series based on content type.

The Mockups / Copy series contains drafts and mockups of the magazine dating from July to October 1968, and from Fall 1970 to Winter 1973. These mockups are versions of the magazine that were not ready for publication but were used to generate ideas for an issue’s layout.

The Manuscripts series consists of typewritten manuscripts from contributing authors, some of which contain handwritten annotations and edits, that were accepted for publication by the North American Review. Types of writing include short stories, poems, essays, book reviews, and book-length works This series is arranged alphabetically by author last name. Manuscripts with unidentified authors are located at the end of the series.

Series 3, Correspondence, includes incoming and outgoing correspondence related to the North American Review’s activities and dates from 1963 to 1997. Correspondents include writers / authors whose works were accepted or rejected for publication; incoming and outgoing letters to and from Robert Dana at Cornell College; reader mail; subscribers; advertising the NAR’s revival; publishers; individuals at various universities and colleges; and more. Topics include subscriptions, NAR content, copyright, and contributors’ works / pieces. Throughout the correspondence series are letters related to NAR editor Robley Wilson, Jr.’s career and endeavors.

The final series consists of published issues of the North American Review. The collection contains a nearly complete run of the magazine from its first publication at the University of Northern Iowa in 1969 until 2014. A handful of issues date after 2014.

Materials donated in 2021 include assorted paperwork from throughout the NAR’s administration at the University of Northern Iowa and includes correspondence, a copy of the “Stalking” manuscript, written by Joyce Carole Oates; a 1969 bill of sale of the NAR from Cornell College to UNI, writing drafts, and more.

The collection also includes financial records, press releases and mailings, awards and grant information, and author biographical information and notes. Please see the collection inventory for a complete folder listing.

Also note that roughly a hundred or more floppy disks came with the collection. Since the library no longer has equipment to view these disks, their content is uncertain. However, the NAR requested authors to send material that had been accepted for publication on floppy disks, so it may be reasonably assumed that these, too, contain manuscripts. The artwork and author manuscripts are undated, but almost all fall within the dates of the editorship of Dr. Wilson from 1969-2000.