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On the Road Scroll on Display

Visitors can see the scroll of Kerouac's classic novel

By Rob Quinn, Newser Staff

Posted Mar 9, 2008 6:30 PM CDT

(Newser) – Beat lovers can check out the manuscript of Jack Kerouac's classic novel On the Road at the University of Texas, where it is displayed complete with scribbles and scratch outs. A long glass case allows visitors to view about a third of the book, which was written uninterrupted in a 120-foot scroll. "When Kerouac talked about the scroll, he talked about it mimicking the shape of road," a Texas curator Molly Schwartzburg said.

"The acts of travel and writing were directly connected for him." The names of traveling companions Neal Cassady and William Burroughs, changed for publication in 1957, remain intact in the original manuscript. "This feels like a missing link that will give visitors a feeling of all the stages of the novel," Schwartzburg told the Daily Texan.

[Images (7)]

[Videos (1)]

Spectators view a 60 foot section of the 120 foot "On the Road" scroll. (Getty Images)

Jack Kerouac reads at the Seven Arts Cafe, New York City, 1959. (Magnum Photos)

William S. Burroughs, a Beat Generation associate of Jack Kerouac, had his name changed to "Old Bull Lee" when "On the Road" was published. His name appears on the 120-foot original scroll of the book,... (Archive Photos)

A visitor examines the first draft of Jack Kerouac's iconic book "On the Road." (Getty Images)

Not wanting to stop the flow of his writing to feed paper into the typewriter, Jack Kerouac taped rolls of paper together and typed "On the Road" in marathon, free-flowing sessions. The original manuscript... (KRT Photos)

Author Jack Kerouac laughs during a 1967 visit to the home of a friend in Lowell, Mass. The original scroll of the iconic Beat Generation author's "On the Road" is on display at the University of Texas.... (Associated Press)

Notes to deceased author Jack Kerouac are posted on the wall at the "On The Road" exhibition. (Associated Press)

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On the Road Scroll on Display