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Papers of Albert Erskine, 1930-1999 Accession #13497, Special Collections, University of Virginia Library, Charlottesville, Va.
The Albert Erskine Papers were given to the University of Virginia Library by Marisa B. Erskine and Silvia F. Erskine, Redding, Connecticut on December 29, 2005.
Albert Russel Erskine, Jr. was born in Memphis, Tennessee on April 19, 1911, and received his bachelor's degree from Southwestern College in Memphis in 1932. He then enrolled in Vanderbilt University (1932-1933) and completed his course work for his Master's degree but did not complete his thesis until 1939. In between finishing his degree, Erskine ran a bookshop, "The Three Musketeers " in Memphis, until Robert Penn Warren helped him secure an academic position at the Louisiana State University English Department in the fall of 1934.
When The Southern Review began in July 1935, Albert Erskine was listed as the business manager but he played a much larger role in the magazine than that. He also served as an editorial assistant for the Louisiana State University Press while living in Baton Rouge. In 1940, Erskine left LSU for New Directions Publishing, Norfolk, Connecticut, where he remained for about a year until he moved to The Saturday Review of Literature as advertising manager in December 1941. He began his job with Doubleday, Doran and Company, Inc. shortly thereafter and was subsequently hired by Reynal and Hitchcock from October 1943 until February 1947, serving as director of production and design as well as being a member of the editorial department. Erskine was on the staff of Random House from 1947 until 1976, when he retired from full-time work. He did not retire completely until 1987. Some of the first authors that Erskine worked with at Random House included Karl Shapiro, Ralph Ellison, and Robert Penn Warren. He also did a lot of work with William Faulkner and authors writing about Faulkner, as well as many of the books by James Michener. From the late fifties until his death, Erskine was married to Marisa Bisi and they had one daughter Silvia. He had previously been married to Katherine Anne Porter (1938-1942) from whom he separated in 1940, and Peggy Griffin Anthony (1942-1951).
This collection consists of the editorial files of Random House editor Albert Erskine (1911-1993), ca. 1930-1999, ca. 10,500 items, 42 Hollinger boxes (ca. 17.5 linear feet) including correspondence with Random House staff and authors; editorial fact sheets and editorial notes; front and back flap copy for individual books; financial documents such as contracts, royalties, etc.; copies of articles, speeches, and book manuscripts by Random House authors; photographs of authors; reviews, advertising schedules, and publicity for book publications. Also present are some folders of personal correspondence, miscellaneous correspondence while on staff at Random House, and correspondence while Erskine was on the staff of The Southern Review in Louisiana.
This collection is arranged in four series: Series I: William Faulkner and Books concerning William Faulkner Editorial Files (Boxes 1-9); Series II: James A. Michener Editorial Files (Boxes 10-20); Series III: Miscellaneous Authors Editorial Files (Boxes 21-39); and Series IV: Personal Correspondence and Topical Files (Boxes 39-42). Within each series, folders are arranged alphabetically by folder heading, usually by the name of the author or correspondent and chronologically within each folder.
Included are: a copy of Contempo (Volume I, Number 17, 1932), "whole issue by William Faulkner"; typescript copy and the printed article "Mr. Acarius " by William Faulkner, with introduction by Joseph Blotner, published in The Saturday Evening Post (1965); and a copy of "Mississippi " by William Faulkner appearing in Holiday Magazine with an introduction by Malcolm Cowley [1961].
Authors include: Richard P. Adams, Warren Beck, H.H. Bell, Jr., Calvin S. Brown, Robert Cantwell, Jim Cleveland, Louis Cockran, Carvel Collins, Elizabeth M. Kerr, James B. Meriwether, and Rebecca Meriwether.
Authors include: Michael Millgate, Philip Momberger, Noel Polk, Lawrence Schwartz, Jean Stein, Olga W. Vickery, Hyatt H. Waggoner, Edward C. Wallace, Jr., and Robert Webking.
Includes photographs of the Barrett Room, a program for the exhibit "William Faulkner Man Working 1919-1959, " a Master List of William Faulkner Manuscripts and News Notes describing additions to the Faulkner material, and a copy of a 41 page fragment of a variant text for section 2 (June 2 1910) of The Sound and the Fury (see Mss 6271-al).
Much of the original correspondence of William Faulkner with Random House editors and staff was previously given to Special Collections under the accession 10280, etc. For the originals of the earlier Horace Liveright correspondence see MSS 8171, University of Virginia Special Collections.
Much of the original correspondence of William Faulkner with Random House editors and staff was previously given to Special Collections under the accession 10280, etc.
Much of the original correspondence of William Faulkner with Random House editors and staff was previously given to Special Collections under the accession 10280, etc.
Much of the original correspondence of William Faulkner with Random House editors and staff was previously given to Special Collections under the accession 10280, etc.
Much of the original correspondence of William Faulkner with Random House editors and staff was previously given to Special Collections under the accession 10280, etc.
Much of the original correspondence of William Faulkner with Random House editors and staff was previously given to Special Collections under the accession 10280, etc.
Much of the original correspondence of William Faulkner with Random House editors and staff was previously given to Special Collections under the accession 10280, etc.
James B. Meriwether's Marked Copy of the Printed Text.
Editorial Notes and Foreword by Faulkner (copy).
Correspondence, much of it about his proposed biography of Robert Penn Warren.
Correspondence.
Correspondence.
Correspondence.
Correspondence.
Miscellany, including blurbs for the book and several photographs of Faulkner and others, possibly used in the book.
Introduction for the Garland Facsimile Series.
Correspondence concerning an idea for a book on Faulkner aphorisms and folk witticisms.
Notes for possible corrections in Requiem for a Nun .
Discussion of his plan to combine Early Prose & Poetry with New Orleans Sketches in a single volume (1984) and the new Random House edition of Faulkner's Absalom, Absalom! Prepared by Noel Polk (1984)
Correspondence.
Includes a letter discussing Faulkner's death (August 9, 1962).
Correspondence and Editorial File.
Correspondence and Editorial File.
Essay Section, Manufacturing Schedule, and Table of Contents.
Speeches Section.
Introduction, Book Reviews and Public Letters Sections, and Corrected Pages.
Chapter on The Sound and the Fury with cuts and letter of explanation from [Robert Penn Warren].
Correspondence, including the plan for the book (January 24, 1963); contract with Random House (May 2, 1963); correspondence with Ben Glazebrook, Constable Publishers, about the book's publication in Great Britain (throughout 1963-1965).
Correspondence.
Editorial Notes and Book Production Information.
Reviews.
Correspondence, including contract information (September 23, 30; October 6, 1966).
Correspondence.
Editorial Notes and Book Production Information, including the introduction, dust jacket, and profit and loss statements.
Permissions (1966-1967) and Reviews (1968).
Introduction for the Garland Facsimile Series.
Includes notes on Sanctuary (1978); a collation of the typescript setting copy of Absalom, Absalom against the first edition (June 15, 1981); and correspondence where Polk agrees to work with Random House on new corrected editions of Absalom, Absalom and The Sound and the Fury (September 27, 1982; December 7, 1982; August 28, 1984; March 22, 1985); and copies of his work appearing in The Southern Review (Fall 1982)
(See some references to later dates above.)
Correspondence, Fact Sheet, etc.
Editing Notes, Typescript Copies, and Research Material for Chapter 1.
Editing Notes for Chapters 2-4.
Editing Notes for Chapters 5-7.
Editing Notes for Chapters 8-9.
Editing Notes for Chapters 10-12.
"Fact and Fiction " Synopsis and Acknowledgments Editing Notes.
Edited Page Proofs of Front Matter and Chapters 1-3.
Edited Page Proofs of Chapters 4-5.
Edited Page Proofs of Chapter 8.
Manuscript of the Canadian Version, Chapter 8, which includes the MacKenzie River segment cut from the United States version.
Edited Page Proofs of Chapters 9-10.
Edited Page Proofs of Chapter 11.
Edited Page Proofs of Chapter 12.
Maps and Chapter Head Drawings.
Includes an article by Warren E. Thompson- "The Reality Behind Toko-Ri ."
This file includes the Book-of-the-Month club report on the book, the dust jacket, profit and loss statement, and a poster.
Includes a foreword by Michener and an undated contract for a possible biography of Michener by Kings.
Original Manuscript with red pencil corrections and penciled page number changes.
Includes miscellaneous financial information concerning Michener's books.
Book Outline and Production Material.
Includes progress report (August 31, 1969; March 1 and 24, 1970); the sale of the first serial right to The Ladies Home Journal (June 30, 1970); British version (November 16, 1970); Book-of-the-Month Club selection (November 11 and 17, 1970); German version (February 18, 1971); and the Fawcett paperback edition (May 8, 1972).
Editing Notes and Research Material.
Includes correspondence with Saxe Commins about becoming a Random House author while still employed at MacMillan and negotiations with President George P. Brett, Jr. for release from his contract.
Includes a letter from Michener while in Saigon, Viet Nam, which discusses the unsettled conditions there and his opinion of the review (attached to the letter) of The Floating World by Leslie A. Fiedler (July 24, 1955).
Includes letters from Erskine full of editing notes about the book (March-April 1959) and two references to a proposed visit from William Faulkner to go over his book, which was prevented by Faulkner's fall from his horse (March 21 and 27, 1959); problems with the names of Chinese characters and genealogical charts (March 31 and April 3 and 6, 1959).
This folder includes his plan for the book (April 29. 1966; and July 27, 1966); and a copy of the Book-of-the-Month Club report about Iberia written by Gilbert Highet and related material (December 19, 1967 and attached).
Discusses British publication (February 2, 1968 and attached); reader reaction to the book (August 1, 1968); and an explanation as to why the book was initially banned in Spain (April 26, 1969).
Correspondence concerning photographs by Robert Vavra.
Outline, Design and Production Materials.
Outline, Design and Production.
Serialization.
Includes an essay on "Why the Book Was Written " and some portions of typescript.
Campus Criticism and Michener's Rebuttal.
Correspondence, including Book-of-the-Month Club and Reader's Digest .
Editorial Changes and Corrections and Libel Review.
Photographs and Captions.
The Reader's Digest Reprint.
Book Production and Miscellany.
Correspondence concerning changes and corrections.
Permissions and Reviews.
Correspondence and Corrections.
Correspondence and Corrections.
"Leeteg, the Legend " and "Louis Becke, Adventurer and Writer " Chapters- Typed Manuscripts.
Novel abandoned following his heart attack.
Includes a letter from a man claiming copyrights to the word "sayonara" and Michener's rebuttal (November 6, 1953).
Cartography and Artwork Material.
This file includes an outline of the book (June 7, 1963); his progress with the novel and attendance at a seminar of American Jewish writers and critics held jointly with writers and critics from Israel (June 26, 1963); questions over which version of the Bible to quote in his novel (July 10, 1963 and attachments); concerns of Meyer Levin that Michener's book might compete with his own book in progress (August 21, 1963 and attached; August 25, 1963); completion of 15 of the 17 sections (December 5, 1963 and attached); and his request to add the manuscript to the insurance of Random House at his expense until the entire thing is safely delivered in the mail (April 9, 1964).
This folder includes the Book-of-the-Month Club report about The Source with Michener's note on its background (May 1965) and a group of corrections for the reprints in a separate insert, 1965-1967.
Concerns British publication.
Flap Copy, Editing Notes, Advertising, and Photographs.
Paperback Sale Figures and Fawcett Publications, Inc. - Correspondence.
Includes controversy with Rabbi Ephraim Oshry.
Typed Manuscript Copy (1 of 6 folders).
Typed Manuscript Copy (2 of 6 folders).
Typed Manuscript Copy (4 of 6 folders).
Typed Manuscript Copy (5 of 6 folders).
Typed Manuscript Copy (6 of 6 folders).
Includes editorial fact sheet, flap copy, and cartoon artwork.
Includes critique of manuscript (November 24, 1975), libel concerns, and Fawcett paperback edition.
Permissions, Changes, and Corrections.
Correspondence, Editorial Notes, Flap Copy, and Dust Jacket.
"Fact and Fiction " Synopsis and Editing Notes for Chapters 1-5.
Editing Notes for Chapters 6-8.
Editing Notes for Chapters 9-14.
Reviews.
The file includes editorial comments, reader's reports, author's explanation, and correspondence about his novels After Pentecost and On a Dark Night .
Editorial material, dust jackets, and reviews concerning On A Dark Night ; correspondence concerning Barbarians at the Gate (rejected by Random House), and his article "The Troilus as Thesis"(attached to September 20, 1963).
Correspondence and Editorial Material.
Articles by Brown.
Reviews.
Includes correspondence, flap copy and other editorial material, and reviews and comments about the book.
Contract Negotiations.
(Prepared for publication after Cerf's death by his wife, Phyllis Cerf Wagner and Albert Erskine )- Background and Financial Statements concerning Random House and the Modern Library (copies).
(Prepared for publication after Cerf's death by his wife, Phyllis Cerf Wagner and Albert Erskine )- Biographical Information and Correspondence, including his obituary for Horace Liveright (October 7, 1933).
(Prepared for publication after Cerf's death by his wife, Phyllis Cerf Wagner and Albert Erskine )- Correspondence, editorial notes, outline of the book, draft of the editors' note about how the book came into being, and index to the book.
(Prepared for publication after Cerf's death by his wife, Phyllis Cerf Wagner and Albert Erskine )- Correspondence, editorial notes, additional outlines of the book and drafts of the editors' note about how the book came into being, dust jacket, book excerpt, and a photograph of the Cerf family.
(Prepared for publication after Cerf's death by his wife, Phyllis Cerf Wagner and Albert Erskine)- Reviews.
Correspondence and Typed Manuscript (Copy), an unsolicited manuscript refused by Random House.
Includes letters responding to the pre-publication copy of The Invisible Man from Bernie Wolfe (May 10, 1951); Langston Hughes (January 15, February 6 and Mar 13, 1952); William Carlos Williams (March 22, 30 and April 4, 1952); Max Berking (April 5, 1952); Anton Myrer (April 5, 1952); Carl Van Vechten (March 19, 1952); Stanley Hyman (April 7, 1952); Granville Hicks (April 7, 1952); Peter F. Drucker (April 9, 1952); Frances McFa[dden ?] (April 12, 1952); Saul Bellows (April 12, 1952); Dr. Karl Menninger (April 22, 1952); Donat O'Donnell (April 28, 1952); Paul Bixler (April 29, 1952); and Jean [Stafford] (n.d.). All 1952 lettes are filed together in a yellow insert folder under January 15, 1952.
Includes various proposals from persons seeking screen rights to The Invisible Man ; a tentative table of contents for Shadow and Act (November 12, 1963); and his letter supporting Erskine's nomination to The Century Club (April 26, 1965)
Includes letters from Fanny Ellison to Marissa Erskine about several home improvements (January 15 and July 6, 1979); contract for Ellison's new book of essays (November 10, 1983); and a copy of his draft letter to Erskine Caldwell, discussing his reaction to the play version of Tobacco Road which he saw in New York in 1936 (September 16, 1983)
Includes "Flying Home, ""In a Strange Country, ""King of the Bingo Game, " and "Mr. Toussaint. "
Speeches, Lectures, etc., including the National Book Award Speech; "Ralph Ellison: Selections from 'My Life and Yours'; ""What These Children Are Like; ""Remembering Richard Wright; ""On Initiation Rites and Power: Ralph Ellison Speaks at West Point; " and "Bearden. "
Correspondence, including Senators Clifford P. Case, Thomas F. Eagleton, George McGovern, John V. Tunney, Stewart L. Udall, and Harrison A. Williams, Jr.; also includes United Nations Secretary-General U. Thant.
Editorial Notes, Reviews and Book Production Material.
Concerns his book The UAW and Walter Reuther (1949) and his complaint about his recent treatment at Random House (1958).
Concerns a proposed biography of Johns Hopkins.
Concerning a new edition with Harry Levin and other scholars.
Correspondence with Bennett Cerf (Copies) concerning the United States publication of the book.
Correspondence with Jack P. Dalton.
Editorial Explanations concerning the setting and pagination problems, with related articles.
Correspondence and Photographs.
Editorial Notes, Reviews, and Book Production Material.
Editorial Notes and Book Production Material.
Including her perspective on Afghanistan as the first woman to teach provincial boys in Afghanistan (February 7, 1963); her visit to Kabul (August 16, 1965); copy of a letter from Howard Larsen, who was mentioned in her book (September 1, 1965); the effect of the India-Pakistan War on her research and her work while in Kabul (September 14, 1965, which is attached to September 29, 1965; September 29, 1965; October 4, 1965; November 12, 1965, December 18 and 28, 1965); and her discussion concerning Cormac McCarthy's book The Orchard Keeper (August 7, 1966).
Editorial Notes and Book Production Material.
Editorial Notes and Book Production Material (undated) and Reviews (1964-1965).
Includes his boredom with his current lover and his preference for writing books as opposed to television and plays (August 18, 1955); his plan to write Clair de Lune about Debussy as his next book (October 7, 1955); his difficulty with his agent, Curtis Brown, over selling the movie rights to Beyond Desire and his attempts to interest various studios in the book (October 13, 1955; December 10 and 15, 1955); praise for the work of John O'Hara (December 20, 1955); reconciliation with his agent, Curtis Brown (January 30, 1956); the ending if his affair should be soon (April 6, 1956); editorial fact sheet for Clair de Lune (May 2, 1962); working on his book, The Private Life of Mona Lisa and request for reversion of rights to his previous books (March 18, 1972; April 3, 1974 and November 5, 1974); Random House not interested in The Private Life of Mona Lisa (December 2, 1974); and his death in December 1976 (December 8, 1977).
Includes a letter of gratitude for all the work by Erskine and Frank Taylor on Under the Volcano while at Reynal & Hitchcock and his return from his visit to New York (March 22, 1947); mention of Ultramarine and Lunar Caustic ([April 24, 1947] and May 3, 1947); snapshots of Margerie and Malcolm Lowry with an outline of his future work, "The book is three books: 1. Dark as the Grave Wherein my Friend is Laid. Which deals with our search for the original of Dr. Vigil to whom I was known as The Maker of Tragedies, and finding he had been murdered after drinking muchissimos mescalitos. 2. Eridanaus - a lyrical interlude, or intermezzo, taking place in Canada, and ending in a conflagration. 3. La Mordida, of which the book Under the Volcano itself is the villain, and ending in 'triumph,' so to say." (September 23, 1947); Erskine's criticism and concerns about La Mordida (March 21, 1952); snapshots of Lowry (August 15, 1953); reference to Lowry's hospitalization in a letter from Dave Markson (April 30, 1956); a letter from Margerie Lowry concerning his unfinished novel and her plans to finish it when she recovered from his death (July 14, 1957); and letters from Marie D. Moore of Harold Matson Company concerning the work of Margerie Lowry preparing Malcolm Lowry manuscripts for publication (November 15, 1957 through August 7, 1958)
Concerns the detailed discussion of the text of Under the Volcano in preparation for publication at Reynal & Hitchcock.
Dust Jacket Designs, Reviews, and Author's Response to Editorial Notes by Erskine.
Chronicles his progress on the book.
Editorial Material and Reviews.
Reviews.
Includes problems with getting a visa for his English wife, Anne DeLisle (September 6, 1967); Erskine's work in getting sponsors for the Guggenheim application (October 1 and December 17, 1968); letters from Robie Macauley (May 27, 1971) and Gordon Lish (October 26, 1970, attached to February 25, 1971; another October 26, 1970; November 20, 1970); and letters from John Gallagher as the agent for McCarthy (December 14, 1971, March 1, 1972).
Includes McCarthy's detailed discussion of his book (attached to letter, October 9, 1962); in-depth editorial notes and questions posed by the editors for McCarthy to answer (attached to letter, October 9, 1962; November 14, 1963; June 2, 17 and 25, 1964); and a reference to his editorial work on a new edition of The Sound and the Fury by William Faulkner (March 4, 1964)
Includes a photograph of McCarthy (October 1964).
Includes the appraisal of the book by Malcolm Cowley (January 26, 1965).
Includes correspondence and material about his receipt of the William Faulkner Foundation Award for notable first novel for 1965 (February 16, March 1, 3, 9, and 14, April 4, 1966) and a Rockefeller Foundation Grant (March 22, June 3 and July 5, 1966).
Reviews.
Includes editing notes (December 22, 1967); an interview in the Maryville-Alcoa Times (February 26, 1971); and reviews (1968-1969, filed at September 29, 1968)
Typescript Copy, with a letter from Erskine possibly about the play (October 15, 1986).
Chiefly reviews (1978-1979, 1989) but also including suggestions from Erskine on ways to improve the book (May 27, 1977); a letter from Shelby Foote (February 10, 1979) with a copy of his letter to the literary editor of the Memphis Press-Scimitar defending McCarthy's book Suttree against a harsh review in the paper
Early Draft of the novel with the title "Harrogate and the Flittermouses. "
Concerns the publication of The Complete Stories of Herman Melville edited by Jay Leyda and the possible contents of a Modern Library Herman Melville edition.
Correspondence.
Editorial Material and Book Production Material.
Includes a letter from George Garrett about his former student, Mewshaw (September 26, 1968, attached to a memo dated Oct 14th) and about his own book (March 13, 1969); analysis of an early draft by Steven Aronson (attached to May 20, 1969); Erskine's suggestions about the book (June 18 and October 8, 1969); and Mewshaw's response to both Aronson and Erskine's suggestions (July 10, 1969); and the opinion of William Styron about the book (copy, November 1, 1970)
Editorial and Book Production Material and Reviews.
Includes "Act of Faith, ""Golden Anniversary, ""Last of the Beats, " and "Summer Rain " and the poem, "Mother and the Wheelchair. "
Includes a synopsis of the book (August 3, 1971); and testimonial letters from Paul Bowles (copy September 30, 1973); George Garrett (attached to January 15, 1974); and Maxine Kumin (January 7, 1974).
Correspondence, including testimonial letters from Anthony Burgess ([November 22], 1971); Walker Percy (March 11, 1972); Robert Penn Warren (copy, December 2, 1971); George Garrett (copy, December 22, 1971).
Editorial and Book Production Material and Reviews, including photographs of Michael Mewshaw, one by Ann Senior for the dust jacket (with letter, July 28, [1971?]).
Includes proposal for a Faulkner handbook (September 2, 1966).
Editorial Notes, Synopsis, Book Production Material and Reviews.
Articles, Reviews, and Obituaries concerning O'Hara and his work.
Includes both copies and originals, mentioning Hellbox (copy April 20, 1947); A Rage to Live (copy, [1949]); From the Terrace and Ourselves to Know (copy, [1958]); letter about being a father of an only daughter (April 21, 1960); list of stories to be included in The Hat on the Bed (May 4, 1963); a photograph of O'Hara's "rolling stock," his antique or classic cars (December 16, 1965); photograph of O'Hara by Alden Whitman, possibly for a dust jacket (November 14, 1967); questions about a car, a Lozier, which O'Hara uses in his latest novel Lovey Childs (September 1, 1969); thanks for helping organize the texts for O'Hara's funeral and memorial service from his daughter, Wylie Holahan (May 21, 1970 and [1970]); letter from Shelby Foote urging Random to publish a big omnibus edition of O'Hara stories (copy, February 23, 1983); and directions and a map to the O'Hara residence (n.d.).
Includes earlier financial and legal documents.
Research material left grouped as found.
Research material left grouped as found.
Arranged alphabetically by book title, including Appointment in Samaria , Elizabeth Appleton , The Ewings , The Instrument , The Lockwood Concern , Lovey Childs , and Ten North Frederick .
"Introduction " by Albert Erskine.
Forewords by O'Hara, Dust Jackets, and Editorial Notes.
Print Versions, arranged alphabetically by title.
Chiefly Typescript Versions with Editorial Markings, arranged alphabetically by title.
Chiefly Typescript Versions with Editorial Markings, arranged alphabetically by title.
Chiefly correspondence and editorial material.
Dust Jackets and Reviews.
Editorial and Book Production Material.
Correspondence, Publicity and Miscellany.
Editorial and Book Production Material.
Includes correspondence about his lawsuit over a psychiatry article that mentioned his "suicide" (March 20 and April 1, 1975).
Includes Erskine's suggestions about the book (March 13 and May 1, 1963).
Editorial and Book Production Material, including a review in The Hollins Critic (December 1964); correspondence continues with 1964, editorial material, etc. is 1963.
Includes a letter from Evalyn Katz on Shapiro's behalf, asking about how to get copyright to his poems (March 17, 1942); a critique of Person, Place and Thing by Allan Tate in the form of a letter (1943); research on copyright assignments (January 22, Mar 18, and May 27, 1953 and attached); and the publication by the University of Nebraska Press of the Montgomery Lecture on Contemporary Civilization given by Shapiro (May 27, June 5 and 9, 1953)
Includes a discussion his idea for a book on the American Jew, involving the concept of "mystery" which resulted from his recent lecture on "the Jewish writer in America" given as a sermon in a synagogue (February 18, 1955). Eventually this was published in poetry form as Poems of a Jew .
Concerns the development of Poems of a Jew (September 18, 1956; April 1, 1957 and attached; May 4, 6, October 21, 23, and 31, 1957); questions about the assignment of copyright for poems used in Poems of a Jew (1958 and attached); and mention of Charles E. Feinberg, Detroit, Michigan, who collects his papers (July 21 and 25, 1958).
Includes his participation in the Ward Lucas Lecture Series, Carleton College, Northfield, Minnesota (March 30 and May 28, 1964); his separation from Evalyn (attached, January 13, 1966); and Random Houses' refusal of the first draft of his novel, Edsel (November 9, 1966).
Includes more discussion on a re-worked version of Edsel, including reader's reports (October 3, 17 and 19, 1968; January 14, February 3, 12, and April 2, 1969); a prospectus for a textbook tentatively called Major Poetics (June 28, 1975); the death of Teri Kovach (July 21, 1982).
Includes difficulties with Bernard Geis, publisher of Edsel (September 15, 1971 and attached; and November 4, 1971; with a review of Edsel, November 28, 1971).
Editorial and Book Production Materials.
Typed Manuscript of a Play.
Includes concerns by the lawyers of Random House over the possibility of libel (May 15, 1967, and attached); notice of his marriage to Teri Kovach (August 7, 1967); and her letter about finances which asks for an advance from Random House (September 29, 1968).
Editorial and Book Production Materials and Reviews.
Page Proofs, Dust Jacket, and Printed Poems which were included in the book.
Author's Notes, Chronology of Events, Postscript, List of Materials Used in the Book and Related.
Editorial and Book Production Materials and Reviews.
Editorial Notes.
Articles by Kassouf.
Editorial and Book Production Materials.
Editorial and Book Production Materials. Corrections and Changes.
Editorial and Book Production Materials. Corrections and Changes.
Annotated Typescript with letters from Erskine (July 7, 1975) and Warren (July 21, 1975).
Envelopes (empty) addressed in his hand to Albert Erskine, numbered 1-6.
Editorial Notes.
Page proof of Editor's Note by Albert Erskine. Eudora Welty-Correspondence (general correspondence not pertaining to one of her books published by Random House has been placed in Series IV, Box 42; correspondence just about the production of her books is in this series).
There are also many references to this book in her correspondence file in Box 42.
There are also some references to this book in her correspondence file in Box 42.
Includes Welty's concerns over the remaindering of her book and its not being back-listed in Random's catalog (1973, throughout)
Editorial and Book Production Material and Reviews.
Editorial and Book Production Material.
Includes: R.P. Adams, Samuel Hopkins Adams, William H. Amos, and Robert C. Axtmann.
Includes Isabel Bailey (permission to use letters from Katherine Anne Porter to Erskine in Letters of Katherine Anne Porter , 1989-1990); John Bainbridge; Howard Baker (praise for Erskine's work with his book, Introduction to Tragedy , while at the LSU Press, 1939); calling card of Luigi Barzini; Anne Baxter (her visit to London and thanks for a book of poems, 1958); Warren Beck; Saul Bellow (requests several books for his Britannica article reviewing the year in literature, 1962); Robert L. Bernstein; Tom Bethell; R.P. Blackmur (his poem printed in The Southern Review , 1937); Henning Branner (proposal for an automobile book, 1962); William Brinkley (reference in his letter and editorial fact sheet concerning his book, The Fun House , 1959 and 1961); Paul Brooks; and John Burt.
Includes a newsy letter about persons connected to The Southern Review and the Louisiana State University just after Erskine left for a new job (February 28, [1941?]); personal correspondence with the Erskine family and a memorial service program for Edith Brooks.
Includes several articles by him.
Includes letters about the publication of The Philosophy of Literary Form: Studies in Symbolic Action , Louisiana State University Press (1940); and the relative success of his earlier books (December 21, 19390.
Includes John Carr; Frank Cayce; Bennett Cerf (social telegram, 1966); James Cerruti; Jac Chambliss; David M. Clay; Mr. Cleary; Florence Codman (translation of Paul Valery's essay, July 1, 1938); Peggy Cole (difficulties with her writing and application for Guggenheim Fellowship,1951-1952); Marta Cohn; George Core; Richard Hauer Costa; W.T. Couch (advice for Erskine about the publishing world, July 29, 1940); Malcolm Cowley (reference to the bombing of Pearl Harbor and questions about the progress of his book, The Dry Season , December 7, 1941); Joan Crane; Ollinger Crenshaw; Richard Curry; and Thomas W. Cutrer (requests permission to quote letters from Erskine about The Southern Review (1983).
Family friend from Memphis, Tennessee, who writes news about his mother and sister.
Includes Jack Dalton; Silvio D'Amico; James H. Daughdrill, Jr.; George Bindley Davidson; Gustav Davidson; A. Grove Day; Douglas Day; Bonamy Dobree; Dean Donaldson; Scott and Wylie Doughty; and Donald P. Duclos.
Faculty advisor from Vanderbilt, who writes about Erskine's thesis concerning Marxist criticism (1937-1939).
Includes Arieh Eilan; Leslie A. Fieldler; Irving Fiske; John Gould Fletcher (lists his complaints against The Southern Review and its treatment of him, January 22, 1938); Edmund Fuller; and Robert G. Fuller.
Includes Rabbi Israel J. Gerber; Dr. Marvin H. Gewirtz; Rabbi Roland B. Gittelsohn; U.N. Representative Goldberg (invitation); Howard B. Gotlieb; Julie Grau (with explanatory note by Julian [Pace?]); Gerald J. Gross; and Annick Le Guerer.
Personal letters about her trip to Hollywood, California.
Chiefly about asking Erskine to serve as a member of the editorial panel of the Papers of the Arkansas Philological Association 80th birthday tribute to Robert Penn Warren (1984-1986); and a copy of Grimshaw's "Texas Voices Presentation on Texas " the novel by James A. Michener (April 14, 1986 attached).
Includes: Robert L. Hagin; David A. Hallman (anecdotes concerning Andrew Lytle); S.I. Hayakawa (encloses a speech, "Mass Media and Family Communications " by Hayakawa, 1968); John P. Hayes (biographer of James A. Michener); Richard L. Helburn; John Hersey (copy of letter to Hersey about large print books, September 3, 1969; and personal note July 2, 1992); Regina Lawrence Hersh; James Hinkle (concerning glossaries for each of William Faulkner's books); Robert Hanks Hivnor; Glenn Hodges; H.R. Holzner; Ann Hulbert; J.T. Hunter; and Henry Hurt.
Includes: William Inge; Edward J. Irwin; Willis D. Jacobs; Marc Jaffe; David Jarovsky ( "The First Stage of Michurinism " attached; George Jessel; John K. Jessup; Albert M. Johnson, Librarian of Southwestern at Memphis; Warren R. Johnston; Willmoore Kendall; Greta Kilburn-Meurs; and Bertha Krantz (personal letter, n.d.)
Includes: Mildred Layne; Roger Leclere; Nathan F. Leopold; Jay [Leyda]; John Longley; Zoe Lyon; Andrew Lytle (describes his work and life routines at the Cornsilk Farm (August 22, 1935), writes that he will end his association with The Sewanee Review with the fall issue to allow more time for his own work (August 1, 1943), and arranges to meet Erskine and his wife (March 10, 1945); Joshua Manning; Martin Manulis (interest in books for use in motion pictures and films); Dr. Peter M. Marcuse; Linton Massey; Mildred Marmur; B.C. McClure; Ken McCormick; Lawrence Menkin; George Milburn (comments on The Southern Review , August 20, 1935, his thankfulness that Robert Penn Warren has accepted his story for the Fall issue and appreciation for his encouragement, September 2, 1935, and explanation for why he needed payment as soon as possible (November 12, 1935).
Correspondence- L through M continues with: Arthur Miller (apologizes for not answering Erskine's phone call but notes he has finished a screenplay that he had worked on for a year, July 11, 1950); John A. Miller; F.T. Mitchell; Nancy Mitford; Samuel Holton Monk and Wanda Caton Monk (references to The Southern Review and Erskine's marriage, 1937-1938); Ray Morgan; Edita Morris (attempt to recover her book of short stories Birth of an Old Lady which she had loaned to his wife (September 5, 1940); and Wright Morris (humorous discussion of cars, March 19, 1948).
Includes postal cards with chess moves indicated (1948); reader's critique of two books of his poems (March 15, 1949; April 3, 1950); reference to his "dirty old first novel" [ The Melodramatists? ] (January 13, 1949; July 23, 1951); comments about his new book of poems ([ Guide to the Ruins? ] June 6, 1949); difficulties in writing a novel when occupied by a full-time job (December 16, 1950); and a copy of his poem, "Central Park " (n.d.)
Includes Harriet Owsley; Robert Pack; Gordon Parks; Roberta Parnell; Timothy Pember (questions about his contract and reprint of The Needle's Eye since Reynal and Hitchcock were absorbed by Harcourt and Brace (January 13, 1948); Brooks Peters; Richard Poirier; Guy Ponce de Leon; Edward Post; and Raymond Queneau.
Says that the "specials" arrived safely and asks him to keep 10 for them in New York and send the rest (November 4, 1933); asks him to send a copy of Ah, Wilderness to the enclosed address and tells Commins that Gene is doing a lot of work on Days Without End (November 8, 1933); but not to expect it too soon (November 11, 1933); difficulties with O'Neill's ex-wife and money (November 11, 1933); request for an extra page left in the make up of Ah Wilderness for a dedication to Nathan ([1933]); promises that Gene will sign Commin's copy of Ah, Wilderness while in New York (post October18, 1933); discusses the process of typing of Days Without End and asks that when "completed please return to us- the original with cuts and revisions- as this is Gene's working copy" ([1934]); "Gene says to set no type up on 'D.W.E.' until he arrives in New York & talks things over with Random House. - This publication will be weeks later than the production of the play - it must be.- Whether book sellers like it or not." ([1934]); and a letter explaining the circumstances of giving de Palo permission to sell one of O'Neill's scenarios for a silent movie (n.d.)
Porter writes that she wishes she could contribute to The Southern Review at least four times a year but it is impossible to promise, mentions her new book of short stories published by Harcourt, Brace and Company, and discusses her story "Pale Horse and Pale Rider " due for the October number, "But when I tell you that it is the story of my own death and resurrection, maybe you will understand that it is not so easy to do. I am trying to remember, and then to transpose it outside of my personal experience; and what happened to me was not so important as my feeling about something that happened to some one else;" She also praises the appearance of the magazine, " The Southern Review is beautiful to look at, comfortable to hold and stimulating to read. Energy with control, speed with good direction, these seem to me its proper attributes" (August 20, 1935); and post card photograph of Katherine Anne Porter playing a piano in Paris, France (December 1935).
When Porter and her husband return to the United States, she writes that she is "gone to the country to an inn [Water Wheel Tavern, Doylestown, Pennsylvania], and begun rounding up all those stories I have been promising myself. . ." She also describes the changes to "Pale Horse, Pale Rider, " "It is going to be very long, a nouvelle. I need more space here of late. There is more to tell than is possible to get into a short story. It may be as much as fifteen thousand words. All five stories will be as long as that. . . Now what will you do? Is that too much for your magazine? I cannot make it shorter." (October 31, 1936); She continues, " "Pale Horse, Pale Rider " is the most stubborn piece of work I ever attempted. I have put it aside and have written two other stories "Noon Wine, " which I promised long ago to Henry Schuman, and "Old Mortality ". . . It is the story of a romantic unhappy love affair, a family story which a little girl patches together for herself. When she is grown, she meets another character in the drama, a survivor who was an enemy of the principals in the story, and the girl hears another side of it, and in the end is no nearer the truth than she was before. . ." She also describes her work day and ends with "I am having a wonderful time of it, very happy" and her hopes that her story will not be too late for the next number (November 16, 1936).
She further apologizes for her delay in sending one of her story to The Southern Review and eventually sends "Old Mortality " which is the first story in her upcoming book (December 3 and 15, 1936). Porter asks to read the proof of "Old Mortality " to correct several flaws that bother her and confesses that "The much-promised Pale Horse Pale Rider is not written yet; but I wrote three stories, sixty-two thousand words in all, in just twenty-one days. So I expect to take a long breath, and do the next two at about the same speed" (January 13, 1937). She asks for an idea about how much her story will pay because of an household emergency coming up and comments about the danger of flooding for New Orleans, "Do you suppose it is possible that nothing will ever be done to control those monstrous rivers? The Rhine, which in medieval times used regularly to over-flood the country, has been under control for hundreds of years, from source to sea. . . they are horrible and stupid and wasteful, our floods, it seems to me this government is positively Chinese in its disregard of human life and property. . . (January 28, 1937); She mentions a fellowship awarded to her by the Book-of-the-Month Club which means she does not have to be paid right away for her story (February 2, 1937).
She writes concerning the good news that her French translator, Marcelle Sibon, was not killed by the Germans as she had heard and that she is translating all three of her books to be brought out in Paris during the next year. She also asks if Erskine thinks that Angel in the Forest by Marguerite Young (which she praises highly) would be a good book to translate into French. She also discusses her plan to get certain books by really good writers translated for Europe, "They deserve something better than Steinbeck and Saroyan." Her health has also improved a great deal with the use of penicillin (August 11, 1945). She replies to Erskine's account of Marguerite Young's behavior and her friendship with Sally Benson with dismay and shares a full gossipy letter about some of her social occasions in Santa Monica, California, including her dinner with the Clifford Odets, "other guests Charlie Chaplin with Oona O'Neill perfectly round with her second baby at nineteen. Theodore Dreiser and his nice wife, twenty-five years younger than he. A horrible little man who composes music for Odets' pictures. . . another pleasant young pair, the woman a daughter of Stelle Adler, also pregnant. The pregnant ones knitted on blue booties and blankets, Chaplin did dances to jazz mostly with his backsides, ridiculing American popular music, and God knows some of it is bad enough- but also everything else. I sat and listened to that dirty little leper insult this country and everything in it for a good while, and then took my leave before I slapped his face. . ." She also briefly mentions Richard Hale, Hart Crane, Richard Hagemann, Charlie Brackett, Harpo Marx, Billy Wilder, John O'Hara, George Haight and other people who were friends or friends of friends. She also revealed her fee of two thousand dollars for every week she works (October 16, 1945); thanks him for sending her two of Isabel Bailly's records, the only ones that she did not have and discusses other music that she loves (February 17, 1946); has sold "South Hill " in [Saratoga Springs?] to George Willison and has purchased her own "mountain" where she intends to build a house (April 9, 1946); discusses music, her future visit to Monroe's, George Lyne's farewell party, and her nephew, Paul (April 22, 1946); her thwarted plans for visiting with Cleanth and Tinkum Brooks and John Palmer, while in New Orleans and Sewanee, and her return by train to Santa Monica, California, while ill; She also writes in detail about her visit with William Wyler and his wife, Margaret Tallichet, where they discussed taking "Old Mortality " for a picture; mentions Under the Volcano ; the publishing business; her flower garden; the four hundred dollar fee that Louisiana State University paid her for one night's appearance after ignoring her the two years she lived in Baton Rouge; and being comfortable with her age, "I like my age, and it's a fact you never reach the place you set out for, but continually are on the way, with all sorts of plans and unfinished business and the most endless hopes (May 18, 1947); questions about the locations of her manuscripts of which collectors are expressing interest, her confusion over the Modern Library contract for Flowering Judas and Pale Horse, Pale Rider , and her calendar full of dates for speaking engagements (March 14 and 25, 1949); and a reference to her refusal to sign an Oath of Allegiance "as instinctively as I would upchuck poison" (February 5, 1951). Folder also include photographs of Katherine Anne Porter by George Platt Lynes (n.d.) and snapshots of Porter with animals or gardening (1937-1938).
Includes Rose and Manson Radford (card only); Professor T.N. Ramswamy; Ayn Rand (editorial fact sheet concerning For the New Intellectual and reader's report concerning Atlas Shrugged only); John Crowe Ransom discusses the details of publishing an issue of The Kenyon Review with pieces from a joint symposium with The Southern Review , sending the work of Allen Tate, Morton D. Zabel, Joe Horrell, Thomas and John Crowe Ransom to Erskine for editing (September 3, 7, and 28, n.y.); John F. Rea; Leonard E. Read; Henri-Francois Rey; and Carl and Vivien Rowan.
Includes: Aline B. Saarinen; Dr. Grant Sanger, Century Association; John Sanford; Mrs. F.K. Schneider; Mark Schorer; Budd Schulberg; Frederick L. Schuman letters and his article "Liberalism and Communism Reconsidered, " which is very fragile (1937); Leo W. Schwarz; Robert Ian Scott; Joseph L. Segimont; Mark Sloane; Charles Smith; Daniel Smythe; [Minter?] Somerville; George Spencer; Theodore Spencer concerning opportunities at Harvard (1940); Margaret Stark; Francis Steegmuller; Roger Starr; Rafael Steinberg; Fred E. Suits; Walter Sullivan; Stanley Sultan; Paul Summers; and Peter Swiggart
William R. Satterfield, personal friend who writes about his impending visit to Louisiana and enjoyment of same (November 26 and December 12, 1934); an anecdote about Huey Long in the Senate (May 23, 1935); describes a local shooting in [Memphis ?] which he visits on weekends (January 23, 1935); move to New York City (March 5, 1936; January 24, 1938); concerns about the draft (March 22, 1941); war-time assignment and military life at Fort Sill, Oklahoma, in Battery Headquarters (April 11, 22, 1942); move to Fort Bragg, North Carolina after officer school (November 28, [1942?]); service "somewhere in France" (February 11, 1944); and in Germany (May 18, 1945)
Asks for advice about her contract with Harcourt, Brace and Company, which mentions publishing Children Are Bored on Sunday ([two letters both seemingly in January 1953]); a carbon with Erskine's advice to wait to do anything until she returns from her trip to St. Thomas on February 19th (January 14, 1953); and comments about divorce, friends in common and television (August 20, 1954).
Includes Maria Louisa Taglienti; Audrey L. Taylor; Peter Taylor submits a story to The Southern Review (May 25, 1940); John B. Tigrett; R. Emmett Tyrrell, Jr.; Laurence Urdang; Horst Wagenfuhr; Daniel Walden; Armitage Watkins; Floyd C. Watkins; George Weller; Glenway Wescott (asks if it is possible to purchase reprints of his article on Katherine Anne Porter (July 7, 24, 1939); Richard Wilbur (September 9, 1987); and Bernard Wolfe (August 19, 1954 and December 12, 1961 and attached).
All to do with his work for The Southern Review , including a telegram and letter about his article for The Southern Review and his request for a proof of the article to send to England for publication in November (September 11, 1936); explains his delay in sending his article by his illness and suggests that they reform the review department, "Review only the best books and merely list the bad in the back? I don't really like to be rude even to H. Mumford Jones, but how in hell can he be written about otherwise?" (June 22, 1937); notifies him that Katherine Anne [Porter] will come back home with them from Olivet, Michigan, on August 7th for a long visit at Benfolly, Clarksville, Tennessee and is willing to have Scribner's send unbound sheets for his Selected Poems if he wants to do anything with it in the Fall issue (July 30, 1937); feels unable to write any reviews about the author [John ?] Dollard (August 14 and September 24, 1937); asks Erskine if he can have the subscriber and contributor lists for The Southern Review to use to form a subscriber list for a possible publication of a "series of modern poets- The Chapel Hill Poets- six a year, three in the fall, three in the spring" (April 2, 1939); relates the results of his campaign to publicize The Southern Review in Georgia, where it was not well-known, comments about George Stevens and his statement that "A clique magazine can't hope to have circulation" and acknowledgement that Katherine Anne Porter's book had just arrived (April 10, 1939); asks if Erskine and Katherine Anne will come to see them and that Red Warren will be there for a few days (July 6, 1939); has talked to Joe Brandt, head of the Princeton University Press, about possible job openings for Erskine, in the book publishing world. Brandt asks to see some of his book-designing work and that he attend the Association of University Presses meeting; Tate also asks about the date that the forms will be locked for the Hardy issue (April 22 and August 5, 1940); suggests that Erskine contact Henry Church, the editor of the French quarterly, Mesures , if the Louisiana State University Press would be interested in helping him continue publishing the magazine in the United States (July 17, 1940); and an undated letter mentioning Randall Jarrell, [Yvor ?] Winters, [Howard?] Baker, and John Crowe Ransom.
Frank Taylor, fellow editor at Reynal & Hitchcock and Random House, whose letters are all dated after he left Random House and went to work as a producer at MGM in Hollywood. Taylor sends a telegram about his first assignment, a "boomerang-like documentary" with a Harvard background (December 4, 1948); reports on his work at MGM, with the script for Murder at Harvard being troublesome due to a writer problem but the screenplay outlines for Tender is the Night progressing very well (February 25, 1949); Erskine writes to Taylor (carbon) that he likes Ben Maddow's book, enjoyed the script for the Harvard movie that Jim Agee brought to him but recommends cutting the Prologue (April 29, 1949); long letter in which he discusses Robert Penn Warren's concern over his current novel [ World Enough and Time ?], the trouble with Warren's wife, Cinina, and her alcoholism and unpleasantness, Warren's desire for Erskine to fly out and help him revise his manuscript, and Joe Beach's course at Harvard on the American novel and his desire to publish a book of poems (June 9, 1949); the completion of his picture with Richard Brooks doing the final script, a visit by Pier [Pasinetti ?], the success of Warren's film [ All the King's Men ], conflicting reports of Cinina Warren's health, and a letter from Malcolm about his new masterpiece (January 3, 1950); next hopes to do Rickshaw Boy in China with Ben Maddow doing the script (January 31, 1950); wants to know if Random House is interested in a book by Henry Dreyfuss on industrial design and talks about his new film based on The Case of the Journeying Boy (June 26, 1950); discusses his work with the Huntington Hartford Foundation project for artists in residence (July 11, 1950); his move to Twentieth Century-Fox Film Corporation, the interest of Elizabeth Wecter in Robert Penn Warren, the decision of Pier [Pasinetti] to move to Italy, inquiry about Ralph Ellison, more about the Huntington Hartford Foundation project, and the poor health of Jim Agee who worked night and day for weeks on The African Queen for a pittance (March 21, 1951)
Chiefly personal letters from friends, a few of which discuss The Southern Review .
Includes a detailed letter about her short story writing, "I was very glad to have an opinion on the long story- the first criticism I'd had- and to be confirmed in my present belief that it is not good because its parts are separately developed and artificially joined together, and it never was one single, whole story. I believe it is impossible for me to accomplish a long story yet- I can work so far only on scenes or certain combinations of characters or events which can be presented through the time limit & space limit of a short story, some form that does not have t be interrupted and broken up and organized according to more spacious & relaxed demands." She continues, "I've spent all day Sunday trying to pluck the short stories back out of the novelette and get them the way they belong." She also explains why she removed her short story "Old Mr. Genada " from her collection temporarily, due to rumors that the story was based on an actual individual living in Jackson, Mississippi (November 12, 1939).
Other later letters discuss: interest in her publishing problems (March 27, 1959; August 5, 1965); her pleasure at the appearance of her book, including the limited edition, [ Losing Battles ] and concern over Marisa's health ([February 4] and March 2 and 10, April 15, 1970); the display about her book at the Mississippi Arts Festival (April 22, [1970?]); mentions receiving the MacDowell Colony medal for the year (June 29, 1970); her photograph book as her next project (October 7, 1970); encloses her letter to the editor and explains her embarrassment and outrage at the refusal of a local restaurant to serve her two college guests due to their long hair and relates their unpleasant experiences as college students at Tougaloo College, Mississippi as well (October 17, 1970); details about her photograph book (April 30, 1971); and her enjoyment of her visit to Westport, Connecticut, and the Shenandoah Valley and the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia (June 12, 1972).
Welty also relates a funny anecdote about the annual Pilgrimage of the Daughters of the Confederacy to "Beauvoir, " the Jefferson Davis home in Biloxi, Mississippi and two requests for talks, one at the Museum of Modern Art and the other on the program of the Willa Cather Centennial (March 12, 1973); discusses her work on her collection of non-fiction and discusses Joseph Blotner's book on William Faulkner (March 30, 1974; September 29, October 18 and 29,1976); her opinion of Midnight Oil by V.S. Pritchett, "among the best autobiographical books I ever read. Honest, penetrating, selective to the purpose and beautifully written- I love his mind" and a visit from Joe Blotner (Labor Day, 1974); and her musical "The Robber Bridegroom " (September 29, 1976).
Includes the following topics: Welty's work on her book The Eye of the Story and her review of [ The Selected Letters of William Faulkner ?] (January 25 and June 7, 1977, n.d.); her essay on Anton Chekhov and more work on The Eye of the Story (June 13, July 5 and 18, 1977); the interest of Harcourt Brace Jovanovich in publishing a book of Eudora Welty's collected stories (March 14, 1979); news of her letter from William Faulkner being sold to the University of Virginia without her knowledge and her desire to have it returned to her, which was done (December 14, 1979, and attached); description of the work of John Maxwell and Tom Dupree on a presentation of William Faulkner based on his letters, etc. (September 22, 1980); and a description of seeing Cleanth Brooks at the "Faulkner circus at Oxford" while they were both being steered from event to event in the hot sun and news that "Jim Meriwether has purchased the cemetery lot next to Faulkner's grave, for himself. (Is there annotation after death?)" ([August 7, 1987]). There are also several undated letters, basically thank you letters for the hospitality of the Erskine family.
Includes Sukeyoshi Yamamoto; Norma Youngberg; Robert Zion; and Morton D. Zabel ( The Southern Review issue on Thomas Hardy (January 9, 1940; February 29, 1940, which also mentions how good a writer Katherine Anne Porter really is; May 13, 1940; June 8, 1940; and mention of Porter going to Yaddo (May 12, 1940; May 13, June 8, 1940; July 12, 1940).
Includes rental contract (1937); invitation to the Krewe of Proteus (1937); print of Joseph Stalin (1938); carbon copy of a letter from the faculty of Louisiana State University to Tom W. Dutton, President of the Louisiana State University Alumni Federation about regaining the confidence of the people (July 6, 1939); first day cover of George Eastman stamp (1954); Carole Lowenstein print of a T.S. Eliot quote (1979); calling card for Mrs. Frederick Worthen Bradley, Jr. (n.d.) and a limerick (n.d.).
Concerns arrangements for Erskine to take over the running of New Directions while Laughlin is in service.
Chiefly articles, but including a brief history of the "Villard House "(1956).
Copy of magazine with annotated layout notes by Paul Johnston, and three letters from Johnston to Erskine concerning the design of the magazine (June 3, July 11, and August 1, 1935).
Letter which takes issue with a letter from Van Wyck Brooks to Time , recommending anti-German bonfires, with subsequent reader responses to Erskine's letter.