Wallace Stegner Exhibit

Writing from History

A Literary Life Rooted in Partnership

Writing was infused into every facet of Stenger’s life. In 1934 he married Mary Stuart Page. Their 59 year marriage prompted author Arthur Schlesinger to write that the couple shared a “personal literary partnership of singular facility.”

The 1940s and 50s were rich in Stegner’s writings, including the non-fiction books Mormon Country and One Nation, in addition to Second Growth, a combination of three stories set in a fictional New Hampshire village, and The Preacher and the Slave, a biographical novel based on the life of Joe Hill, a legendary musician and union organizer who was later executed in Utah in 1915. At this time he would also produce Beyond the Hundredth Meridian: John Wesley Powell and the Second Opening of the West. A piece considered by many to be Stegner’s greatest work of non-fiction.

 
A formal black-and-white group portrait of twelve men and one woman, seated and standing, in an elegant office setting. 
A teacher gestures with a long stick while explaining a concept to engaged students in a classroom setting. Blackboard writings are visible. 
 
 
A man in a textured suit jacket and tie, arms crossed, stands against a neutral background, exuding a confident demeanor. 
A black and white portrait of a man with stylish, wavy hair, wearing a collared shirt, with a blurred face obscuring his identity. 
A man stands confidently outdoors, wearing a light-colored suit and bow tie, surrounded by lush greenery and historical architecture. 
A man with gray hair sits outdoors, resting his chin on clenched fists, conveying a sense of contemplation. 
A man stands against a wooden fence with one arm resting on a leafy shrub, in a sunlit outdoor setting. Black and white photo. 
 
Three figures in winter clothing pose in snowy surroundings, with a small dog at their feet. A vintage, monochrome photograph. 
 
 
 
 
 
 

 

 
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 Last Modified 4/29/25