Carl Van Vechten papers, 1833-1965, bulk (1920-1940)

Links

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• View PDF finding aid (101.56 KB)

Creator

Van Vechten, Carl, 1880-1964.

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division

Extent

• 156.3 linear feet (208 boxes, 339 v.).

Access Restrictions

Restricted access; Manuscripts and Archives Division; Permit must be requested at the division indicated.

Microfilm must be used in lieu of originals when available.

Some typescripts are restricted due to fragile condition; photocopies must be used in lieu of originals.

Scope/Contents Note

Papers reflect Van Vechten's social life and professional career as a writer, photographer and patron of the arts; they also document Van Vechten's literary and artistic circle of friends and colleagues. An avid collector, Van Vechten retained the letters of prominent individuals who corresponded with him including Ralph Barton, James BranchCabell, Arthur Davidson Ficke, F. Scott Fitzgerald, DonaldGallup, Langston Hughes, Edward Jablonski, Klaus Jonas, James Weldon Johnson, Mabel Dodge Luhan, Bruce Kellner, Saul Mauriber, H. L. Mencken, Georgia O'Keeffe, Alfred Stieglitz, Florine Stettheimer, and Henrietta Stettheimer.Papers are also rich in Van Vechten's photographs of prominent individuals, and in 19th century photographs of his family in Iowa. Multiple editions of Van Vechten's monographs and the monographs of others add to the diversity of the papers. Many of the monographs have been autographed by the author.

Biographical/Historical Note

Carl Van Vechten (1880-1964) was a writer, promoter of African-American artists during the Harlem Renaissance, patron of the arts, and photographer. After he graduated from the University of Chicago in 1930, he entered upon a career as a reporter for newspapers that included The American in Chicago and within a few years The New York Times. At the latter he served as an overseas correspondent in Paris and subsequently as an assistant tothe music critic Richard Aldrich in New York City. Van Vechten moved to New York City in 1906 with his first wifeAnna Elizabeth Snyder, a teacher. After his divorce in 1912, Van Vechten met and married the stage actress Fania Marinoff. Marinoff made her stage debut at the age of eight in a stock company, and eventually developed a successful stage career. Van Vechten's novels include The Blind-Bow Boy, Interpreters and Interpretations, Nigger Heaven, Peter Whiffle, Tiger By the Tail, and The TattooedCountess. Van Vechten promoted the careers of many authors' works by writing introductions to their monographs. In his second successful career as a photographer, he had the opportunity to photograph, and tohave himself photographed, with many literary figures, stage and screen stars and others.

Controlled Access Terms

• Van Vechten, Carl, 1880-1964.
• Van Vechten family.
• American literature -- 20th century.
• New York (N.Y.) -- Description and travel.
• New York (N.Y.) -- Social life and customs.
• Photographs.
• Authors.

Additional Creator Names

• Barton, Ralph, 1891-1931.
• Cabell, James Branch, 1879-1958.
• Ficke, Arthur Davidson.
• Fitzgerald, F. Scott (Francis Scott), 1896-1940.
• Gallup, Donald Clifford, 1913-
• Hughes, Langston, 1902-1967.
• Jablonski, Edward.
• Jonas, Klaus.
• Johnson, James Weldon, 1871-1938.
• Luhan, Mabel Dodge, 1879-1962.
• Kellner, Bruce.
• Marinoff, Fania.
• Mauriber, Saul.
• Mencken, H. L. (Henry Louis), 1880-1956.
• O'Keeffe, Georgia, 1887-1986.
• Stieglitz, Alfred, 1864-1946.
• Stettheimer, Florine, 1871-1944.
• Stettheimer, Henrietta.