Philip Furia collection

Collection

Identifier: M243

Staff Only
Not requestable

Scope and Content of the Collection

The Philip Furia collection, 1945, 2000-2003, 2008, primarily consists of research materials related to Furia’s writing of the Johnny Mercer biography, Skylark: The Life and Time of Johnny Mercer (New York, 2003). It contains recordings of interviews with Johnny Mercer’s family, friends, and colleagues, as well as interview transcripts, photographs, and recordings of various programs featuring Johnny Mercer. The majority of materials date from 2000 to 2002.

Dates

Creation: 1945, 2000-2003, 2008
Creation: Majority of material found within 2000-2002

Creator

Furia, Philip, 1943- (Person)

Restrictions on Access

Collection is open for research use.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Georgia State University is the owner of the physical collection and makes reproductions available for research, subject to the copyright law of the United States and item condition. Georgia State University may or may not own the rights to materials in the collection. It is the researcher's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and obtain permission from the copyright holder before publication, reproduction, or display of the materials beyond what is reasonable under copyright law. Researchers may quote selections from the collection under the fair use provision of copyright law.

Biographical Note

Philip George Furia was an American author and English literature professor. His writings focus on the lyricists of the Tin Pan Alley era.

Furia was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. In the early 1960s, he attended Oberlin College in Ohio, majoring in English. He graduated from Oberlin in 1965. Furia then attended the University of Chicago, receiving his Master of Arts in English and Creative Writing in 1966. And later attended the University of Iowa Writers' Workshop where he received his Master of Fine Arts in 1970. He received his PhD from the University of Iowa in 1970. In 1970, Furia started teaching at the University of Minnesota's Department of English.

After holding various positions with the University of Minnesota, Furia left the institution in 1996. He then worked for the University of North Carolina, Wilmington. During his tenure, he served in a variety of positions, such as chair of the Department of English, director of the Film Studies program, and more. He worked at the University of North Carolina, Wilmington until his death on April 3, 2019.

During his life, Furia authored and co-authored several works, including books, book chapters, articles, and other publications. A notable work of his is the first biography of Johnny Mercer, Skylark: The Life and Time of Johnny Mercer. Furia also presented a weeknight segment on WHQR's The Great American Songbook with Philip Furia. Along with Wendy and Gerald Fingerhut, Nancy King, Paul Albritton, David Williams, Jeannette Callison, Melvin Ezzel, Lynn O'Connell, Jack Sauer, and Robert Sherman, Furia was one of the founding members of the board of directors for Opera Wilmington.

Extent

0.4 Linear Feet (in 1 box)

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Abstract

The Philip Furia collection contains research materials used to create the Johnny Mercer biography, Skylark: The Life and Time of Johnny Mercer. It includes cassette tapes of interviews, transcriptions of interviews, and photographs. The majority of materials date from 2000 to 2002.