Larry McMurtry's honored literary center rejuvenates his native Texas township
In the heart of Archer City, Texas, a significant transformation is underway. The old Ford dealership, once a bustling automotive hub, has been reborn as the Larry McMurtry Literary Center.
The celebrated Western writer, Larry McMurtry, aspired to turn Archer City into one of America's great book centers. His dream has now become a reality, thanks to the efforts of George Getschow, the center's executive director, and a dedicated team of volunteers.
McMurtry's bookshop, Booked Up, was the center of Getschow's literary universe. After McMurtry's passing in 2021, Booked Up temporarily closed its doors. However, it has now reopened, housing the Larry McMurtry Literary Center.
The center, which opens on weekends and periodically hosts retreats for writers, aspires to keep McMurtry's passion for books alive and promote literary tourism. The building requires significant repairs, including new heating and air conditioning, plumbing, and a roof. The plan for the repaired building includes an apartment for visiting writers and a lecture space for public events.
The collection at Booked Up today holds more than 80,000 titles, having shrunk from over 400,000 titles after a major auction in 2012. Volunteers dusting off books have found rare first printings of books by authors like William Faulkner, Dylan Thomas, and Ernest Hemingway.
The merchants of Archer City are delighted with the revival of Booked Up. Jenny Schroeder, a volunteer coordinator at the center and an Archer City native, notes that McMurtry grew up on the McMurtry Ranch and worked as a cowboy, highlighting his connection to the ranching tradition of the town.
McMurtry wrote 50 fiction and nonfiction books, including the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Lonesome Dove, which also garnered seven Emmys for the TV miniseries. His work often contrasted the reality of life in Archer City with the myth of the cowboy life, a perspective shared by Sherry Kafka Wagner, a friend and supporter of the literary center.
The financing for the reopening of the Larry McMurtry Literary Center was secured by McMurtry himself. Chip and Joanna Gaines, known for their HGTV show "Fixer Upper" and their Magnolia brand, bought the remaining collection of books from Booked Up to stock their new upscale hotel in Waco.
The directors of the Larry McMurtry Literary Center aim to rival Rowan Oak and the National Steinbeck Center. By celebrating the life of the mind, as McMurtry did throughout his life, they are reviving Archer City's literary legacy and offering a unique literary experience to visitors.
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