"This is not that kind of library.
This is another kind of library."
— Richard Brautigan, The Abortion: An Historical Romance 1966
Mission
Archive and curate unpublished analogue and digital books by unknown, but aspiring, writers.
Preserve the voices that might otherwise go unheard in the literary world, creating a permanent home for works outside the commercial publishing industry.
Celebrate the diversity of human expression through a collection that spans all genres, subjects, and styles, regardless of mainstream appeal or commercial viability.
Our Purpose
The Brautigan Library exists to preserve and celebrate the voices that might otherwise go unheard. We believe every story deserves a home, regardless of commercial viability or mainstream appeal.
In the spirit of Richard Brautigan's vision, we welcome manuscripts across all genres, subjects, and styles. Our collection stands as a testament to the diversity of human expression and the enduring power of the written word.
Preserve
Safeguarding unpublished works for future generations
Celebrate
Honoring the creative spirit of aspiring writers
Share
Making unique literary voices accessible to all
The Story Begins...
In his 1971 novel, The Abortion: An Historical Romance 1966, American author Richard Brautigan (1935-1984) described a library for books outside the interests of the commercial publishing industry.
There were no rules about subjects, or quality of writing. Authors were free to place their books wherever they liked on the library's shelves.
Although no one could visit the library and read their books, the authors seemed happy that their visions and voices were collected and preserved.
From Fiction to Reality
Inspired by Brautigan's vision, Todd Lockwood, of Burlington, Vermont, started The Brautigan Library in 1990, encouraging submissions of unpublished manuscripts, and opening the doors to visitors interested to browse or read them.
Unable to sustain operations on donations and volunteer librarians, the original Brautigan Library was closed in 2005 and its collection of manuscripts placed in storage.
In 2010, The Brautigan Library and its contents were moved to Vancouver, Washington, where it is open for visitors at the Clark County Historical Museum.
The Collections
The Brautigan Library features three collections of unpublished manuscripts and literary artifacts, each with its own story to tell.
Original Collection
More than three hundred unpublished analogue manuscripts, submitted by their authors, 1990-1996.
Digital Collection
A growing number of unpublished digital manuscripts submitted since 2013 by authors keen to share their writing with others.
The Mayonnaise System
All manuscripts are cataloged using The Mayonnaise System, an organizational system developed specifically for The Brautigan Library.
LOV.1992.005
In the first iteration of The Brautigan Library, category sections of the library's shelves were marked by mayonnaise jars. This practice stopped after several jars of mayonnaise were dropped to the floor and broken.
The Mayonnaise System borrows its name from the last chapter of Brautigan's best-known novel, Trout Fishing in America.
Categories of The Mayonnaise System
Explore More
Frequently Asked Questions
Answers to common questions about The Brautigan Library, its collections, and how to engage with it.
Original Collection Catalog
Browse information for each manuscript in this analogue collection, including registration dates, author information, and synopses.
Digital Collection Catalog
Discover information for each manuscript in this growing digital collection, including samples from the beginnings.
Submit Your Manuscript
You can submit your unpublished manuscripts, in .PDF format, to The Brautigan Library and become part of this unique literary collection.
The Keeper of Stories
The Brautigan Library is curated and cared for by Brautigan scholar John F. Barber, who developed and curates American Dust, the renowned online resource about Richard Brautigan, his life and works.
Barber published two books, Richard Brautigan: An Annotated Bibliography and Richard Brautigan: Essays on the Writings and Life, and several essays about Brautigan.
Barber convenes with the faculty of The Creative Media & Digital Culture program at Washington State University Vancouver, Vancouver, Washington, USA.
The Inspiration
Richard Gary Brautigan
Richard Gary Brautigan (1935-1984) was a 20th Century American writer whose novels, stories, and poetry are often cited as the best to depict the zeitgeist of the counterculture in San Francisco, California, during the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Born in Tacoma, Washington, Brautigan spent his childhood in Washington and Oregon. He moved to San Francisco in 1956 where he rose to international prominence with the publication of his novel Trout Fishing in America (1967), his collection of poetry, The Pill Versus the Springhill Mine Disaster (1968) and his collection of stories, Revenge of the Lawn (1971).
Although Brautigan died in 1984, his legacy continues as writers, readers, artists, musicians, and others find inspiration and insight in his works while scholars and researchers find his work central to any study of The Sixties.
American Dust
Learn more about Richard Brautigan at American Dust, the preeminent resource for information about the life and writings of Brautigan, developed and maintained by John Barber.
Join the Collection
Have an unpublished manuscript? Add your voice to this unique literary experiment and become part of The Brautigan Library's growing collection.
Submit Your Manuscript