Novelist William Gaddis famously shunned the spotlight and dismissed attempts to tie his private life to his creative work. However, Gaddis also kept an archive that included both literary and personal papers, knowing researchers someday would be interested in both. 

The Valuable Dregs exhibition showcases some of the creative and scholarly work that has come from research in the William Gaddis Papers since Washington University Libraries acquired them in 2002.

This exhibition was organized by Modern Literature and Manuscripts Curator Joel Minor.