William J. Jones French Literature Collection

The William J. Jones Collection was established in the early 1960s by Frederic C. St. Aubyn (b. 1921 - d. 2004), a 1943 graduate of Missouri State University. St. Aubyn established the collection as a memorial to his friend and classmate, William J. Jones, who died in World War II. The collection focuses on the literary works of Arthur Rimbaud (b. 1854 - d. 1891) and Michael Butor (b. 1926). The collection also contains materials regarding Stephane Mallarme and general works on French literature and literary criticism.

The collection contains over 2,000 items including monographs, anthologies, and articles written by Rimbaud and Butor (and translations of the works in numerous languages) and works about Rimbaud and Butor such as bibliographies, biographies, essays, critiques, and reviews. The collection also holds photographs, films, musical recordings, and hundreds of newspaper and article clippings regarding the two authors and French literature in general.

Materials in the collection can be accessed through the university’s online catalog.

The collection also has two comprehensive catalogs, the first printed in 1965, the second in 1986. Both catalogs are available for use in Special Collections and Archives. Copies of the catalogs are also available for purchase; contact Special Collections and Archives for more information.