Identity elements
Level of description
Collection
Title
Tom Austin papers
Date(s)
- 1975-2022 (Creation)
Extent
11.04 linear feet (10 record storage cartons, 1 document case)
Name of creator
Biographical history
Thomas W. Austin was born in Bethesda, Maryland on December 7, 1955, and he graduated in 1978 from University of Miami with a Bachelor's Degree in Journalism/Communications. He began his journalism career mainly writing for the Miami Herald and the Miami, Broward, and Palm Beach Review newspapers from 1987 to 1991. From 1991 to 1996, he served as a regular columnist for the New Times, mainly authoring its Swelter column before he went on to write for Ocean Drive Magazine from 1996 to 2015. He also frequently contributed freelance articles for several popular nationwide magazines, such as US Magazine, USA Today, People Magazine, W, Interview magazine, Spanish Vogue, Travel & Leisure, Art & Antiquities, and the New York Times.
His articles mainly highlighted the Miami experience from an insider's perspective as he often wrote about the city's prolific nightlife and celebrity culture; its many civic scandals, local breaking news stories, and thriving businesses; and profiles on esteemed Miamians, such as Edie Beale of Grey Gardens. He continued to document the city's social scene right up until his death in 2022.
Content and structure elements
Scope and content
The Tom Austin papers include the published articles, research notes, manuscripts, drafts, correspondence, photographs, ephemera, clippings, and other materials collected and produced by the prolific Miami/South Beach writer, editor, and columnist, Tom Austin (1955-2022).
System of arrangement
This collection has been arranged into the following series:
Series I. Published articles (arranged alphabetically and chronologically by publication)
Series II. Article drafts and related research (includes article drafts, reporting materials, business correspondence, and prospective freelance work files)
Series III. Writings and manuscripts (includes book drafts, notes, play scripts, and outlines)
Series IV. Personal files (includes photographs, articles referencing Tom and his work, resumes, personal correspondence and fan letters, postcards, ephemera, clippings, business cards, and address books; also includes his ex-wife’s (Lisa Sheres') writings and awards from university)
Conditions of access and use elements
Conditions governing access
This collection is open for research, except for Box 11, which is restricted.
Physical access
Items from this collection are kept on-campus and may be requested from the first floor Kislak Center in the Otto G. Richter Library at University of Miami.
Technical access
Conditions governing reproduction
Tom Austin papers Finding Aid © 2023 University of Miami. All rights reserved. Permission to publish materials must be obtained in writing from the Head of Special Collections.
Languages of the material
- English
Scripts of the material
- Latin
Language and script notes
Finding aids
Acquisition and appraisal elements
Custodial history
Immediate source of acquisition
Appraisal, destruction and scheduling information
Accruals
Related materials elements
Existence and location of originals
Existence and location of copies
Related archival materials
The following books have been separated for cataloging:
o The best of 2006: The world’s greatest hotels, resorts, and spas, 2006 (features sections written by Tom Austin)
o Travel & Leisure: 100 greatest trips seventh edition, 2012 (features sections written by Tom Austin)
o So80s, 2003 (features commentary by Tom Austin)
o The last days of disco with cocktails at Petrossian afterwards, a novel by Whit Stillman, 2000
o The journal of decorative and propaganda arts: The American hotel, issue 25, 2005
Related descriptions
Notes element
Specialized notes
- Citation: Tom Austin papers, Special Collections, University of Miami Libraries, Coral Gables, Florida.
Alternative identifier(s)
Description control element
Rules or conventions
Sources used
Archivist's note
This collection was processed by Processing Archivist, Yvette Yurubi, February 2023.