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Humanities and Social Sciences Library > Collections > Manuscripts > Finding Aids > Farrar, Straus & Giroux, Inc. Records Series Descriptions
Series I. Author Files. The correspondence in Series I dates from ca. 1946 to ca. 1980 (the
only exception being the records of L.C. Page, which date from 1899
to 1986). The correspondents include authors, editors, other publishing
companies, literary agents, attorneys, distributors, reviewers, and
fans. In some cases, one can find correspondence from politicians or
other noteworthies acknowledging receipt of a complimentary copy of
a book or offering a promotional blurb. There are also newspaper and
magazine clippings containing reviews of or articles by the pertinent
author. The correspondence, usually of a businesslike and impersonal
nature, concerns royalties, reprint rights, promotional efforts, contract
negotiations, copy-editing, book design, foreign sales, and publication
dates. There are also readers' reports. The arrangement preserves the original filing system with only a
few minor exceptions. There are separate subseries for FSG, Hill & Wang
and L.C. Page authors. Within each of these subseries the files are
arranged alphabetically by name of author. For each author, there is
often a file of general correspondence. All correspondence concerning
an author which is not about a specific book is filed in these folders.
General correspondence is followed by folders pertaining to specific
titles, labeled with author's name followed by title. Eliot, T.S. General Under a given title, folders fall under the following headings and
in the following order: General: Items pertaining to the title which do
not fall under any of the following categories. Foreign: Items pertaining to possible sale of publication
rights of title to foreign countries. Publicity: Items relating to publicity and promotion
of the title including correspondence between the author and the Publicity
Department. Subsidiary: Items which concern submission of the
title to book clubs, reprint houses, magazines, newspapers, motion
picture companies, etc., as well as all correspondence leading to the
actual contract. In some cases, there are additional, self-explanatory categories
such as 'Film rights' or 'Legal'. The arrangement sometimes differs
from Farrar Straus's original system, however, in that if there is
only a very small amount of correspondence for a given author, all
of that correspondence might be placed in the 'General Correspondence'
folder. Following the folders arranged by personal name in each of the Author Files subseries are folders arranged by subject. The subject files include correspondence relating to series such as The City and Country Readers and The Metropolitan Opera Guild's Books for Children, books written by committees such as Amnesty International's Report on Torture and the Center for the Study of Democratic Institution's Anti-Ballistic Missile: Yes or No?, periodicals such as Art Directors Annual and Botteghe Oscure, and topics such as visual art.
As noted above, the correspondence concerns royalties, reprint rights,
promotional efforts, contract negotiations, copy-editing, book design,
foreign sales and publication dates. (Please note that Farrar, Straus & Giroux
author correspondence dating after 1980 is filed in Series VII-A.) Some of the highlights of the subseries include the following: Box 26 of the John Berryman files (boxes 26-29) contains letters
between Berryman and Robert Giroux documenting their long-lasting friendship.
These letters, more personal than most in the FSG collection, describe
the fruition of Berryman's literary projects, chronicle his hospitalizations,
and include detailed discussions concerning the publication of his
work. The T.S. Eliot files in boxes 97 and 98 contain many letters by Eliot
chronicling his health problems, public readings, and world travels.
Among the letters one can find Eliot's views on anti-Semitism and some
discussion of a collaboration with Igor Stravinsky which never came
to pass. The Wilhelm Reich files (Boxes 294-299) contain correspondence, much
of it with Mary Higgins, executor of the Reich estate, relating to
the battle to stop pirated editions of Reich's work (Box 294 October
1970 and Box 297, Invasion of Compulsory Sex Morality - Foreign),
the Food and Drug Administration's confiscation of Reich's books (General
correspondence; see also Legal Folder Box 297), and an account of Reich's
final days in prison (General correspondence). The Isaac Bashevis Singer files are extensive, reaching from box to 327 to box 337. Singer's letters to FSG editors, always warm and friendly, can be found throughout these files. Manuscripts with corrections in Singer's hand can be found in the General folders for In My Father's Court (Box 331) and Short Friday (Box 335). Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn's August 1914 files in Box 340 (General,
Foreign 1971-4) contain two detailed readers' reports on the English
translation of the novel. The folder marked "Synopsis" contains
an eighteen-page "Synopsis and Analysis" of the novel by
Michael Glenny. Other notable authors in subseries I-A include
Boxes 407 through 411 contain the subject files. Notable among them are a number of folders pertaining to Noonday Books covering such topics as rejected books, reprint inquiries, advertising and submissions. Box 411 contains subjects relating to Vision Books, publications for Catholic youth. Subseries I-B. Hill & Wang Authors. Correspondence concerning royalties, reprint rights, promotional
efforts, contract negotiations, copy-editing, book design, foreign
sales, and publication dates. (Please note that Hill & Wang author
correspondence dating after 1980 is filed in Series VII-B.) Some of the highlights of this subseries include the following: The Thich Nhat Hanh files in Box 447 contain a Vietnamese language
version (in Roman alphabet) of Vietnam: Lotus in a Sea of Fire (1960s,
Folder 1). Although printed in Paris, it might be identical to one
of the 100,000 copies illegally circulated in Saigon in the 1960s.
Folder 2 of the above contains a rare art edition of Hanh's Tho
Viet Nam. The Richard Leakey files in boxes 461 and 462 contain
photocopies of passages from Darwin's The Origin of Species which
have been heavily marked by Leakey in preparation for his abridged
and annotated edition of the book. Other notable authors in this subseries include:
Correspondence concerning royalties, reprint rights, promotional
efforts, contract negotiations, copy-editing, book design, foreign
sales, and publication dates. Some of the highlights of the subseries
include the following: Box 499 contains a handwritten letter ca. 1900 by Gabriele d'Annunzio
in French to 'Monsieur Page editeur' protesting unauthorized translations
of his novel Le Feu. Boxes 500 through 502 contain numerous files on Lucy Maud Montgomery's Anne
of Green Gables and Eleanor Porter's Pollyanna. Most
of the correspondence relates to subsidiary and foreign rights although
the folder marked "Pollyanna: 1915-80" in box 501 contains
a letter from Porter discussing possible titles for the book eventually
known as Pollyanna Grows Up. The subject files in boxes 503 through 505 are almost wholly devoted
to correspondence with companies including publishers, periodicals
and literary agencies. Series II. Robert Giroux Office Files. The correspondence in Series II dates from 1955 to 1992. The correspondence
consists mostly of letters to and from Giroux with other related correspondence.
While much of the correspondence concerns Giroux's work in publishing,
many letters also reflect Giroux's personal interests and friendships.
There are many letters to and from such authors as Robert Lowell, Elizabeth
Hardwick, T.S. Eliot and Jean Stafford. Subseries II-A. Chronological Correspondence The files in this subseries reflect many of Giroux's personal interests,
such as opera and film; his travels; and his many social engagements
with such people as T.S. and Valerie Eliot, Robert Lowell and Elizabeth
Hardwick. The letters in these files are more personal in nature than
those in much of the FSG collection. They cover such topics as Giroux's
feelings about his move to Farrar, Straus & Cudahy; plans for dinner
and opera engagements; Giroux's cooperative efforts with the Carl Sandburg
Oral History Project; membership in Phi Beta Kappa and the Century
Club; personal matters with family members; articles on Giroux; and
occasional letters from readers grateful for a particular title. Highlights of this subseries include: A letter from Giroux to Rock Hudson (Box 506, Folder "1957")
congratulating him on his performance in the film A Farewell to
Arms and insisting that he will someday be "one of the great
Hamlets." Folder "1970" of the same box contains a letter
from John L'Heureux explaining his motivations for leaving the priesthood. Box 507, folder "1971" contains correspondence from Elizabeth
Hardwick to Giroux concerning her financial difficulties and plans
for legal separation from her husband Robert Lowell. Box 510, folder "Jan.-June 1982" contains correspondence
from Frankie Edith Kerouac-Parker, Jack Kerouac's first wife, informing
Giroux of her possession of many books annotated by Kerouac and of
her desire to meet Giroux. The arrangement preserves the original filing system. Subseries II-B. Subject Correspondence The files in this subseries reflect many of Giroux's diverse interests
and activities including opera; film; Phi Beta Kappa; the Century Club;
Columbia University, Giroux's alma mater; lectures given; awards received;
Shakespeare; and Thomas Merton. Notable items in this subseries include: Box 513 contains a folder of correspondence concerning The Book Known as Q, Giroux's historical and exegetical inquiry into Shakespeare's sonnets. Box 515 contains two folders devoted to the history of Farrar, Straus, & Giroux. The same box and the following contain several folders of letters concerning the Thomas Merton Trust. Box 517 contains folders documenting Giroux's involvement in the Pulitzer Prize nomination and selection process. Subseries II-C. Giroux Office Files: Tracers The subseries consists of carbon copies and photocopies of letters
from Giroux and his administrative assistants to authors, literary
agents, and publishers. These letters provide a running chronicle of
the day-to-day concerns of a modern publishing company. The topics
include translation agreements, prospective employees and interns,
manuscripts submitted for possible publication, evaluations of requests
to quote from FSG authors, and negotiation of contractual terms. Typical
examples of topics include discussions of arrangements for Akira Kurosawa
to visit the U.S., a recommendation for Tom Wolfe to be admitted into
the Century Association, a letter of recommendation endorsing a student
for admittance into Kenyon College, arrangements for Walker Percy's
memorial service, and a letter to the The New York Times Book Review disputing
the Shakespearean authorship of a poem. Some of the more salient points of interest in this subseries are
as follows: In box 518, the folders "January 1985 - September 1986" contain
correspondence concerning translations of works by Marguerite Yourcenar
such as Comme L'Eau Qui Coule and preparations for the publication
of her biography of Yukio Mishima. Folders "July 1985 - September
1986" contain discussion both of Alice Miller's Pictures of
a Childhood and Danilo Kis's Hourglass. Folder "October
- December 1986" contains letters concerning plans to publish The
Collected Prose of Robert Lowell edited by Giroux. The folder
marked "July 1990" in box 519 contains a lengthy manuscript
by Robert J. Bijl. Series III. Book Manuscripts (microfilm) This series consists of microfilmed copies of book manuscripts written
mostly, but not exclusively, by Farrar, Straus & Giroux authors
c1973-c1986, including Carlos Fuentes, Knut Hamsun, Paul Horgan, Czeslaw
Milosz, Flannery O'Connor, Derek Walcott, Edmund Wilson and Tom Wolfe.
The microfilms were made for FSG, and presumably the original manuscripts
were returned to the author or destroyed. Manuscripts in this series include both typescripts and published
versions of books including editions published by companies other than
Farrar, Straus & Giroux. Some manuscripts consist of stories and
articles taken from such magazines as Esquire and The
New Yorker collected together for creating anthologies. Most typescript
manuscripts contain either editorial remarks or author's handwritten
corrections ranging from small adjustments in wording to extensive
revisions. In a few cases, there are books that were not originally
published by FSG but were perhaps being considered for possible republication. Notable features of this series include letters, lectures, stories,
interviews and book reviews of Flannery O'Connor. These include many
letters of a personal nature to "Maryat" (Reel 75), an interview
conducted by Betsy Locheridge (Reel 74) and numerous typescripts of
O'Connor's lectures on Catholicism, fiction and the South delivered
at various educational institutions (Reels 74 and 76). Reels 172 through 179 contain lengthy passages from Edmund Wilson's Journals often
in Wilson's own hand. Reels 173 and 175 are of special interest since
magazine and newspaper articles, sketches, calendar entries, advertisements,
maps and telegrams are often interspersed among Wilson's journal entries. Series IV. Photographs. This series consists of photographs removed from Series I and II.
They are typically portraits of authors and illustrations used in books. Series V. Audiotapes. This series consists of five tape recordings of public readings and
personal conversation by John Berryman and one recording of poetry
read by Brian Patten, all dating from the late 1960s. Most of the Berryman
readings are selections from The Dream Songs. Berryman provides
brief commentaries on some of the poems, their symbolism and the life
circumstances that gave rise to them and even emotionally charged evaluations
of their worth such as "wonderful," "beautiful," and "junk." He
also provides some anecdotes which he associates with several poems,
for example, the experience of reading a certain poem for BBC television.
There is also a discussion of Berryman's travels in and impressions
of Calcutta. While the Berryman recordings are generally of high quality, some
appear to be incomplete and abruptly interrupted. During one brief
portion of one of the tapes, one hears different recordings simultaneously.
Even though the contents of this brief part are comprehensible, listening
may be difficult. Nonetheless, most of the recordings are in fine condition. There is also a brief recording of Brian Patten reading three poems
from his book To the Hurrying Man. (See box 471 for correspondence
relating to this title.) Series VI. Catalogs and Other Bound Volumes.Subseries VI-A. contains books and periodicals removed from Series I. Subseries VI-B. contains catalogs of Farrar, Straus & Giroux and its divisions. Series VII. Post-1980 Author Files.Subseries VII-A continues the Farrar, Straus & Giroux author files of subseries I-A. Subseries VII-B continues the Hill & Wang author files of subseries I-B. Forward to FSG Records. Container List |