A Guide to the Theodore Dreiser Collection, 1917-1937 Theodore Dreiser Collection 6220-h

A Guide to the Theodore Dreiser Collection, 1917-1937

A Collection in the
Clifton Waller Barrett Library
The Special Collections Department
Accession Number 6220-h

Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
USA
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Reference Request Form: https://small.lib.virginia.edu/reference-request/
URL: http://small.library.virginia.edu/

Funding: Web version of the finding aid funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Processed by: Special Collections Department

Repository

Special Collections, University of Virginia Library

Accession number

6220-h

Title

Theodore Dreiser Collection, 1917-1937

Physical Characteristics

This collection consists of 23 items.

Language

English

Administrative Information

Access Restrictions

There are no restrictions.

Use Restrictions

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred Citation

Theodore Dreiser Collection, Accession #6220-h, Special Collections Dept., University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.

Contents List

Letters

Theodore Dreiser, New York, to [Ralph H.] Holmes, The Times , Detroit, Michigan 1917 Dec 24

ALS, 3 p.

Thanks him for clippings, letter; offers to print them; mentions essay, Dreiser's role as reporter; other clippings.
Theodore Dreiser, New York, to Ralph H. Holmes, Detroit 1918 Nov 14

ALS, 1 p.

Writes that he will be glad to see him again; asks him to call; promises to find telephone list.
Theodore Dreiser, Los Angeles, to Ralph H. Holmes 1920 Apr 25

ALS, 2 p.

Thanks him for 4 clippings; asserts that clipping services rarely do better than 30% on notices; believes examinations of book will be interesting; mentions book, possibility of leaving New York for the summer.
Theodore Dreiser to Ralph H. Holmes 1926 Mar 3

ALS, 1 p.

Thanks him for note and clipping; smiles at him bawling out loud in the silence of his room; sympathizes with humane response; mentions moving the hardened newspaperman and critic.
Theodore Dreiser, New York, to Ralph H. Holmes, Detroit 1929 Feb 15

TLS, 1 p.

[Includes autograph and postscript; mentions Kraft, possible dramatization of Sister Carrie , John Howard Lawson, Pantomime Ballet in Detroit; committee of 100 to invite Soviet Ballet to America; asks what Detroit names he needs.]
Theodore Dreiser, New York, to Ralph H. Holmes, Detroit 1929 Feb 25

TLS, 2 p.

Discusses plan to bring Russian ballet company to America; mentions Otto Kahn's donation of $25,000, assistance of Donald Freeman and Frank Crowishield; encloses copy of proposal for corporation to control money and movements of the tour; declines presidency of company; asks him to approach donors in Detroit; discusses Russian government and publicity of tour.
Theodore Dreiser to Ralph H. Holmes 1929 Feb 26

ALS, 1 p.

Thinks he should have these, but no publicity should happen yet.
Theodore Dreiser to Ralph H. Holmes 1929 Mar 21

ALS, 2 p.

Thanks him for tips; mentions sending someone to Detroit, musical director, engagements in Detroit, Cleveland, and Buffalo; encloses letters showing how things stand financially; writes that $100,000 has been pledged; intends to let him know when Russian authoritative news is released.
Theodore Dreiser, New York, to Ralph H. Holmes, Detroit 1929 May 13

TLS, 1 p.

Thanks him for outline of proposed dramatization of Sister Carrie ; likes idea of 2 stages; believes a producer other than Kraft will undertake the project; thanks him for comments on An American Tragedy trial; believes Massachusetts law is likely to be changed.
Theodore Dreiser, New York, to Ralph H. Holmes 1929 Jul 31

Telegram, 1 p.

Discusses contract with Leah Salisbury, which he has not signed; asks him to straighten her out.
Theodore Dreiser, New York, to Ralph H. Holmes, Detroit 1929 Aug 17

TLS, 1 p.

Plans to grant him 4 months exclusive dramatizing privilege from August 1 December 1, 1929; plans to extend his share of 45% of American stage royalties and 1/6 of all screen and talkie rights to English speaking countries; wishes to retain rights in foreign language field; mentions case of Sister Carrie .
Theodore Dreiser to Ralph H. Holmes 1930 Feb 10

ALS, 2 p.

Believes Sister Carrie manuscript has possibilities, except for scene 5, which is hopeless; mentions Hurstwood, antique Broadway machinery, lighting, sequence of scenes, and photographs of house.
Theodore Dreiser to Ralph H. Holmes 1930 Mar 5

TLS, 1 p.

Writes that 4 people have examined Sister Carrie manuscript; lists that 2 stage idea is not good, the play is 3 hours long, and other criticisms; believes he is already committed to Miss Salisbury and cannot let Elizabeth Marbury have a hand in production of Sister Carrie ; asks him to talk to Marbury because she believes play will fail in present form.
Theodore Dreiser, Tuscon, to Ralph H. Holmes, Detroit 1930 Mar 28

ALS, 2 p.

Writes that bronchitis drove him to Tuscon; awaits revised version; hopes to be back in New York in May; thanks him for enclosed snapshot of Dreiser.
Theodore Dreiser to Ralph H. Holmes 1930 Jul 29

ALS, 2 p.

Sends manuscripts for Sister Carrie , apart from last version which is with Elizabeth Marbury; thinks last 3-4 pages should be doctored, as ending is very important; mentions several producers.
Theodore Dreiser to Ralph H. Holmes 1930 Aug 23

TLS, 1 p.

Plans to see Laringer if he is in city and presents himself; reports Elizabeth Marbury has consulted producers and response is adverse; relates her criticisms, which he intends to send a copy of some day.
Theodore Dreiser, Mt. Kisco, New York, to Ralph H. Holmes, Detroit 1932 Oct 4

TLS, 1 p.

Encloses slip and publisher's announcement to explain [ The American Spectator ], edited by George Jean Nathan, Ernest Boyd, James Branch Cabell, and himself; discusses editorial goals, monthly payment of $.01 a word with 1500 words as maximum and 500 as minimum; offers to convince others if he get s document that convinces him.
Theodore Dreiser, Mt. Kisco, New York, to Ralph H. Holmes, Detroit 1935 Nov 26

TLS, 1 p.

Thanks him for letter; expresses pleasure in doing something for Tobacco Road ; plans to be in Mt. Kisco through winter.
Theodore Dreiser, Mt. Kisco, to Ralph H. Holmes, Detroit 1936 Sep 18

TLS, 1 p.

Writes that he tried to get in touch with him, but could not find him; hopes not to miss him in New York.
Theodore Dreiser, New York, to Ralph H. Holmes, Detroit 1937 Oct 14

ALS, 1 p.

Plans to be in New York for time being; gives time he will be available.
Theodore Dreiser, New York, to Ralph H. Holmes, Detroit 1937 Nov 1

TLS, 1 p.

Acknowledges receipt of telegram; writes that he called hotel and would like to have seen him to go over various matters; asks when he can find him.

Miscellaneous

Advertising circular for play, The Hand of the Potter ca. 1919

Circular

Gives history of the four-act tragedy; includes reviews pro and con.
Clipping of 5 poems from New York Evening Post Literary Review 1924 Dec 20

Clipping

Includes: "The Tower," "The Poet," "In a Country Graveyard," "The Hidden God," and "A New Day."