In his heyday, William Manchester wrote for up to 50 hours at a time, tirelessly chronicling such notable subjects as JFK’s assassination and the lives and work of Douglas MacArthur and Winston Churchill. Now, the former Wesleyan history professor’s handwritten notes and personal correspondences are on display in the east wing of Olin Library. The exhibit’s highlights include Manchester’s musings in a letter from Okinawa written during his service in WWII, a handwritten letter from Jackie Kennedy, and a typed correspondence from President Lyndon B. Johnson recounting his personal interactions with JFK just before his fatal trip to Dallas. History buffs and aspiring writers have until March 15th to see the exhibit and should direct their questions to its curator, Leith Johnson (ljohnson@wesleyan.edu).
For further information, check out Olivia Bartlett’s article on Manchester and the exhibit in the Wesleyan Connection.