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Finding Aid for Edmund Wilson collection of papers, 1922-1978.

Guide to the Edmund Wilson collection of papers, 1922-1978

Berg Coll MSS Wilson
The Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature. New York Public Library. Room 320.
Fifth Avenue and 42nd Street
New York, NY 10018-2788
(212) 930-0802
brgref@nypl.org
http://nypl.org/research/chss/spe/brg/berg.html
Processed by:
Staff
Date Completed:
2006
Encoded By:
Lynn Lobash and Nina Schneider
Processed and encoded with the generous support of the Gladys Kreible Delmas Foundation.

©2006 The New York Public Library. Astor, Lenox and Tilden Foundations. All rights reserved.

Table of Contents

Descriptive Summary Table of Contents

Title
Edmund Wilson collection of papers, 1922-1978
Creator
Wilson, Edmund, 1895-1972.
Call Number
Berg Coll MSS Wilson
Size
424 items.
Repository
The New York Public Library.
The Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.New York, New York
Abstract
This is a synthetic collection consisting of typescripts, a manuscript, correspondence, and a portrait photograph.

Administration Information Table of Contents

Source

This is a synthetic collection, created from materials acquired through gift and purchase from various sources.

Custodial History

Some material was formerly owned by the publisher Harper & Row.

Access

Collection is restricted to qualified scholars and researchers through the Office of Special Collections, Room 316

Restrictions on Use

For permission to publish, contact the Curator, The Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of the item]. The Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature, The New York Public Library.

Biography Table of Contents

Edmund Wilson was an American novelist, poet, essayist, and literary critic.

Scope and Content Note Table of Contents

This is a synthetic collection consisting of typescripts, a manuscript, correspondence by and about the author, and a portrait photograph. The typescripts consist of an essay by the author, as well as drafts of a biography and an article about him by Alfred Kazin, Valdimir Nabokov, and Allen Tate. The manuscript is a review of the author's work by Wystan Hugh Auden. The correspondence consists of letters from the author, dated 1923 to 1971, to Sylvia Beach, Mary Maguire Colum, Anne Fremantle, Alfred Kazin, Samuel Menashe, Vladimir Nabokov, Frances Steloff, and others, as well as letters relating to the author, dated from 1922 to 1978, between various correspondents including Louise Bogan, Alfred Kazin, Harry Levin, John Wain, Elena Wilson, and others. There are letters to Wilson from Christian Gauss, Vera Nabokov, Vladimir Nabokov, Ernest J. Simmons, Sara Teasdale, Louis Untermeyer, Edward Weeks, Katharine S. White, Peter H. Salus, and Helen Woodward, dating from [1940] to 1971.

Container List Table of Contents

   
Manuscripts and Typescripts Table of Contents
   
Manuscripts and Typescripts written by Wilson Table of Contents
Manuscript box (Gotham) In: Gotham book mart, New York. We moderns. Folder 74     
[John Peale Bishop] Typescript of contribution to We moderns with the author's ms. corrections
n.d.
typescripts (emended)
( 1 p. )

Signed. Published in Gotham book mart catalog, no. 42, New York, 1940

   
Manuscripts and Typescripts relating to Wilson Table of Contents
Oversize (+) In his: Commonplace book, p. 144, 146, 148, 150, 152     
Auden, Wystan Hugh. [Review of To the Finland station, by Edmund Wilson] Holograph
n.d.
ms.
( 5 p. )
Cased     
Kazin, Alfred. A walker in the city. Earlier typescript (incomplete) with the author's ms. corrections. Dated "1st draft of Walker, written Jan. - 1947" Paginated 1-54, 1-62
1947 Jan.
typescripts (emended)
( 81 p. )
Cased     
Kazin, Alfred. A walker in the city. Early typescript (incomplete) with the author's ms. corrections
n.d.
typescripts (emended)
( 97 p. )

With folder inscribed on cover "Original draft"

Cased     
Kazin, Alfred. A walker in the city. Later typescript with the author's ms. corrections. Bound
1951 May 8
typescripts (emended)
( 180 p. )
Cased     
Kazin, Alfred. A walker in the city. Final typescript (carbon) with the author's and Emund Wilson's ms. corrections. Paginated i-v, 1-155
n.d.
typescripts (emended)
( 160 p. )

Signed. Published, New York: Harcourt, Brace, 1951

Manuscript box     
Nabokov, Vladimir Vladimirovich. The strange case of Nabokov and Wilson. Typescript (carbon) of article with the author's ms. corrections. Written as letter to the editor of the New York Review of Books
n.d.
typescripts (emended)
( 4 p. )

With clipping of published version. Published in the New York Review of books, Aug. 26, 1965

Manuscript box (Gotham) In: Gotham book mart, New York. We moderns. Folder 70     
Tate, Allen. Edmund Wilson. Typescript of contribution to We Moderns
n.d.
typescripts
( 2 p. )

Signed. Enclosed in his ALS to Frances Steloff, Nov. 13, 1939. 1 p.; Published in Gotham Book Mart catalog, no. 42, New York, 1940

   
Correspondence Table of Contents
   
Outgoing Correspondence Table of Contents
Manuscript box     
Beach, Sylvia. TLS to. Relates to Adrienne Monnier's essay [Joyce's Ulysses and the French public] The humanism of Joyce
1931 May 18
corr. out
( 1 p. )
Manuscript box     
Colum, Mary Maguire. 1 ALS, 2 TLS to
1923 July 1 - 1927 May 18
corr. out
( 1 p.; 2 p.; 1 p. )
Manuscript box. In: Navokov, Vladimir. 7 TL (carbon), 6 TN (carbon), 4 telegrams (copy) to Encounter. Jan. 18, 1959-June 5, 1966. Folder 4     
Encounter. TL (copy) to
[n.d.]
corr. out
( 1 p. )
Manuscript box     
Fremantle, Anne. ALS to
1968 July 29
corr. out
( 2 p. )

With Anne Fremantle's ms. note on the verso of p. 2

Manuscript box     
Gordan, John D[ozier]. Postcard to
1941 Oct. 7
corr. out
( 1 card )
Manuscript box (Gotham)     
Hanlin, Frances Midner. AL (draft) to. Relates to Djuna Barnes
[1965? Oct.]
corr. out
( 1 leaf )

On the addressee's TLS to Wilson, Oct. 19 [1965]; with his ANS to Frances Steloff at head of page; with his: 16 ALS, 2 ANS, 13 postcards to F. Steloff. March 10, 1935-[Oct. 1965] Folder 6

Manuscript box     
Harper & bros. ALS to. Relates to Allan Ross Macdougall's edition of Edna St. Vincent Millay's letters
1952 May 8
corr. out
( 1 p. )

With two TL (carbon) to Wilson. From the files of Harper & Row, inc.

Manuscript box     
Kazin, Alfred. 25 ALS, 2 ANS, 7 TLS, 2 postcards, 1 Christmas card to
1942 Nov. 22 - 1970 Dec. 16
corr. out
( 37 letters in 8 folders )
Manuscript box     
Menashe, Samuel. TNS to
1957 May 15
corr. out
( 1 p. )
Manuscript box. In: Nabokov, Vladimir. 97 ALS (copies), 52 TLS (copies) to Edmund Wilson [Aug. 1940]-March 2, 1971. Folders 6, 23, 28     
Nabokov, Vera. 1 ALS, 1 ANS, 1 TLS to
1942 Nov. 7 - 1952 May 27
corr. out
( 3 letters )
Manuscript box. In: Nabokov, Vladimir. 97 ALS (copies), 52 TLS (copies) to Edmund Wilson [Aug. 1940]-March 2, 1971. 37 folders in 2 boxes     
Nabokov, Vladimir. 90 ALS, 13 ANS, 29 TLS, 5 postcards to
1940 Nov. 12 - 1971 Mar. 8
corr. out
( 137 letters in 37 folders )
Manuscript box     
Nelson, Howard. TNS to. Relates to Ernest Hemingway
1963 May 3
corr. out
( 1 p. )
Manuscript box     
Salus, Peter H. 1 TLS to
1971 July 19
corr. out
( 1 p. )

Also, 1 TL (carbon) from Peter H. Salus to Edmund Wilson, July 9, 1971. 1 p.; 1 TL (carbon) of related correspondence to the Festschrift for W. H. Auden

Manuscript box (Gotham)     
Steloff, Frances. 16 ALS, 2 ANS, 13 postcards to
1938 Mar. 10 - [1965 Oct.]
corr. out
( 31 letters in 6 folders )

With 9 TL (carbon) replies; also his "Here are some rarities in modern books" and his description of coin collection. Two holographs, undated. 1 p. each; In folder 6 his: AL (draft) to Frances Midner Hanlin [Oct. 1965?] 1 l.

Manuscript box (Gotham) In: Gotham book mart, New York. We moderns. Folder 74     
Steloff, Frances. ALS, postcard to
1939 Sept. 28; 1939 Oct. 6
corr. out
( 1 p.; 1 card )

Letter encloses clipping of the writer's review of Nathanel West's The day of the locust

Manuscript box (Gotham) In: Dos Passos, John. 10 ALS, 5 TLS...to Frances Steloff, 1940-1967. Folder 3     
Steloff, Frances. ANS to
[1965 Dec.]
corr. out
( 1 p. )

On publisher's prospectus with ANS by John Dos Passos to Steloff

Manuscript box (Nabokov)     
[White], Katherine. TL (carbon) to. Relates to Vladimir Nabokov
1947 Nov. 12
corr. out
( 3 p. )
   
Incoming Correspondence Table of Contents
Manuscript box. In: Nabokov, Vladimir. 97 ALS (copies), 52 TLS (copies) to Wilson. [Aug., 1940] - Mar. 2, 1971. Folder 14     
Gauss, Christian. TLS to Wilson
1946 Feb. 15
in. corr.
( 1 p. )
Manuscript box. In: Nabokov, Vladimir. 97 ALS (copies), 52 TLS (copies) to Wilson. [Aug., 1940] - Mar. 2, 1971. Folders 22, 31, 36     
Nabokov, Vera. TL (carbon), TLS (copy), TNS (carbon) to Wilson
1950 Apr. 8 - 1959 June 30
in. corr.
( 3 letters )
Manuscript box     
Nabokov, Vladimir Vladimirovich. 97 ALS (copies), 52 TLS (copies) to Wilson
[1940 Aug.] - 1971 Mar. 2
in. corr.
( 149 letters in 37 folders in 2 boxes )

Accompanied by: Wilson, Edmund. 90 ALS, 13 ANS, 29 TLS, 5 postcards to Vladimir Nabokov. Nov. 12, 1940-March 8, 1971. 37 folders in 2 boxes; with Als, ANS, TLS to Vera Nabokov. Nov. 7, 1942-May 27, 1952. Folders 6, 23, 28; etc.

Manuscript box     
Salus, Peter H. 1 TL (carbon) to Wilson
1971 July 9
in. corr.
( 1 p. )

With: Wilson, Edmund. TLS to Peter H. Salus. July 19, 1971. 1 p.; TL (carbon) or related correspondence. Relates to the Festschrift for W. H. Auden

Manuscript box. In: Nabokov, Vladimir. 97 ALS (copies), 52 TLS (copies) to Edmund Wilson. [Aug. 1940] - March 2, 1971. Folder 27     
Simmons, Ernest J. 2 TLS to Wilson
1952 Jan. 30; 1952 Feb. 5
in. corr.
( 2 p. each )
Manuscript box     
Teasdale, Sara. ALS to [Edmund?] Wilson. Relates to Marcel Proust
1928 Mar. 15
in. corr.
( 1 leaf )
Manuscript box (Wilson, E.)     
Untermeyer, Louis. TL (carbon) to Wilson
1962 Aug. 29
in. corr.
( 1 p. )
Manuscript box. In: Nabokov, Vladimir. 97 ALS (copies), 52 TLS (copies) to Edmund Wilson. [Aug. 1940] - March 2, 1971. Folder 10     
Weeks, Edward. TLS to Wilson
1944 June 30
in. corr.
( 1 p. )
Manuscript box. In: Nabokov, Vladimir. 4 ALS (copy), TLS, 27 TLS (copy), 160 TL (carbon), 15 TNS (copy), 49 TN (carbon), etc. ... to The New Yorker. June 18, 1942-Feb. 6, 1970. Folder 2     
White, Katharine S. TLS to Wilson
1944 Jan. 11
in. corr.
( 1 p. )
Manuscript box (Sinclair, U.)     
Woodward, Helen (Rosen). TL (copy?) to [Wilson]. Relates to William E. Woodward and Upton Sinclair
[n.d.]
in. corr.
( 1 p. )

Came with Upton Sinclair's correspondence with William E. Woodward

   
Related Correspondence Table of Contents
Manuscript box (Gotham) In: Gotham book mart, New York. We moderns. Folder 80     
Bogan, Louise. TLS to Frances Steloff. Addressed to Kay Steele. Declines to write appreciation of Edmund Wilson for publication in We moderns, Gotham book mart catalog no. 42, New York, 1940
1939 Oct. 10
related corr.
( 1 p. )
Manuscript box     
Kazin, Alfred. TL, TLS to Harry Levin. Relates to Edmund Wilson
1977 Oct. 21; 1978 Jan. 3
related corr.
( 1 p. each )
Manuscript box     
Levin, Harry. 3 ALS, 2 TLS to Alfred Kazin. Relates to Edmund Wilson
1969 Mar. 17 - 1978 Jan. 12
related corr.
( 5 letters )
Manuscript box     
Levin, Harry. TLS (photocopy) to William A. Koshland. Relates to Edmund Wilson
1977 Dec. 20
related corr.
( 1 p. )

With ANS from Martha Kaplan to Alfred Kazin. Postmarked Dec. 29, 1977. 1 p.

Manuscript box (Rukeyser)     
New Republic, New York. 1 TL, 4 TN to Muriel Rukeyser.
1932 Feb. 24 - 1934 June 29
related corr.
( 5 letters in 1 folder )

Signed Edmund Wilson, Malcolm Cowley, Frederic Ridgeley Torrance, Lawrence Brosin, B. E. Bettins respectively

Manuscript box     
Rascoe, Burton. TLS to Howard Irving Young. Mentions Rupert Hughes and Edmund Wilson
1922 Jan. 3
related corr.
( 2 p. )
Manuscript box     
Wain, John. 2 ALS, 8 TLS, 1 TLS (photocopy, circular), 1 TL (photocopy, circular), 1 TNS, to Alfred Kazin. Relates to Edmund Wilson
1975 Dec. 27 - 1978 June 3
related corr.
( 12 letters in 3 folders )
Manuscript box (Wilson)     
Wilson, Elena. 4 TLS to Alfred Kazin. Writer is the widow of Edmund Wilson
1974 Feb. 6 - 1977 Nov. 3
related corr.
( 4 letters )
   
Portraits Table of Contents
Manuscript box     
Photograph of Edmund Wilson with Alfred Kazin and Aaron Copeland. 20 x 25 cm.
[1964]
portraits
( 1 item )

With photograph of Alfred Kazin and Aaron Copeland, inscribed on verso in Kazin's hand "MacDowell Colony, 1964. Presentation of MacDonald medal to Edmund Wilson." 13 x 18 cm.

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