Abstract
This collection is unprocessed. See Access Note for more information. The John Irsfeld Professional Papers [UNPROCESSED] (approximately 1970-2010) consist of materials documenting the career of novelist and former English professor John H. Irsfeld. The papers include published and unpublished creative works, correspondence, and research files pertaining to Irsfeld’s literary career, as well as teaching materials and correspondence from his time as an English professor and administrator at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
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Scope and Contents Note
This collection is unprocessed. See Access Note for more information. The John Irsfeld Professional Papers [UNPROCESSED] (approximately 1970-2010) consist of materials documenting the career of novelist and former English professor John H. Irsfeld. The papers include published and unpublished creative works, correspondence, and research files pertaining to Irsfeld’s literary career, as well as teaching materials and correspondence from his time as an English professor and administrator at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV).
Access Note
The materials in this collection are unprocessed. Advanced notice is required for access. Please contact Special Collections and Archives for more information.
Publication Rights
This material is made available to facilitate private study, scholarship, or research. Material in this collection may be protected by copyright, trademark, privacy, publicity rights, or other interests not owned by UNLV. Users are responsible for determining whether permissions are necessary from rights owners for any intended use and for obtaining all required permissions. Please contact UNLV Special Collections and Archives (special.collections@unlv.edu) for additional information.
Biographical / Historical Note
Novelist and former English professor John H. Irsfeld was born on December 2, 1937 and grew up in Mineral Wells, Texas. After receiving his Bachelor of Arts in 1959 from the University of Texas at Austin, he taught high school Spanish and English in Calallen, Texas. From 1961 to 1964, Irsfeld served in the United States Army. After his military service, Irsfeld returned to UT-Austin, where he completed his Master of Arts in 1966 and Ph.D in 1969, studying English and American literature.
Irsfeld joined the English Department faculty at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) in 1969 and became full professor in 1977. He served as the Chair of the English Department from 1977 to 1984, and again from 2000 to 2004. Irsfeld held many other administrative positions within the university, including serving as Deputy to UNLV President Robert Maxson from 1987 to 1990 and as Vice President from 1990 to 1994.
In addition to his teaching and administrative career, Irsfeld was a novelist and contributing writer to many Las Vegas, Nevada and Texas publications. His published novels include Little Kingdoms, Coming Through, Rats Alley, and Radio Elvis and Other Stories. John Irsfeld retired from UNLV in 2011 with Professor Emeritus status, and as of 2025, resides in his home state of Texas.
Source:
Nevada Writers Hall of Fame. "John H. Irsfeld." Accessed November 26, 2025. https://library.unr.edu/nevada-writers-hall-of-fame/john-h-irsfeld
Preferred Citation
John Irsfeld Professional Papers [UNPROCESSED], approximately 1970-2010. MS-01223. Special Collections and Archives, University Libraries, University of Nevada, Las Vegas. Las Vegas, Nevada.
Processing Note
These records are unprocessed. In 2025, Landon Paljusaj accessioned the collection and created a rough box-level inventory of the materials. No other work has been performed on the materials. Future additions to this collection are anticipated.
Administrative Information
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Appraisal Note
Acquired by Sarah Quigley, Director, as part of UNLV Special Collections and Archives holdings on literature in Las Vegas, Nevada and the history of UNLV.
Additions
Further additions to this collection are anticipated.