Learn how the Library’s Kerouac collections informed new editions of the iconic Beat writer’s work.

Registration for this event has sold out. A limited number of standby tickets may be available on the day of the event.

Jack Kerouac was perpetually at work, and was meticulous in the preservation and cataloging of his material. More than 50 years after his death, researchers and scholars continue to mine his vast archive, much of which is held at the Library’s Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature. Charles Shuttleworth, editor of several collections of Kerouac’s work, including Self-Portrait and The Buddhist Years, visits the Library to talk about his exploration of the Kerouac archive with a special focus on the papers housed in the Berg Collection.

To join | Please register for an In-Person Ticket. Doors will open around 1:30 PM. For free events, we generally overbook to ensure a full house. Priority will be given to those who have registered in advance, but registration does not guarantee admission. All registered seats are released shortly before start time, and seats may become available at that time. A standby line will form 30 minutes before the program.

ABOUT THE SPEAKERS

Charles Shuttleworth is senior editor of Sal Paradise Press, the publishing arm of the Jack Kerouac estate. He is the editor of three volumes of Kerouac's archival writings: Desolation Peak, published in 2022; Self-Portrait, which came out in July 2024 (co-edited with Paul Maher, Jr.); and The Buddhist Years, due out in October 2024, which focuses on writings from 1954–58, revealing how Kerouac’s study of Buddhism led to spiritual insights and colored his fiction. Shuttleworth has been teaching classes on Jack Kerouac and the Beat Generation for the past 30 years, currently at the Harker School in San Jose, CA.

READ THE BOOK:

• Borrow: NYPL Catalog


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ACCESSIBILITY

In-Person | You can request a free ASL (American Sign Language) interpretation or CART (Communication Access Real-Time Translation) captioning service by emailing your request at least two weeks in advance of the event: email accessibility@nypl.org or use this Gmail template. This venue is fully accessible to wheelchairs.

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Courtesy Charles Shuttleworth