COLUMBIA, S.C. — A literary treasure trove from the creator of iconic crime mysteries such as “The Maltese Falcon” and “The Thin Man” is finding a home at the University of South Carolina.

University officials say it is the largest compendium known to exist of letters, photos, publications and books by the late Dashiell Hammett. It will be available to scholars and students within a year.

Hammett was a high-school dropout who popularized detective fiction in the 1920s and 1930s with stories of gritty gumshoes and wily dames. Scholars argue his work elevated crime stories to literary masterpieces.

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