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Humanities and Social Sciences Library > Collections > Manuscripts > Finding Aids Popular Publications, Inc. Records, c.1910-1995ContentsSummaryTitle: Popular Publications, Inc. Records, c.1910-1995 Size: 68.7 lin. ft. (41 cartons, 79 boxes) Source: Joel Frieman, Blazing Publications, Inc., 1984; Joel Frieman, Argosy Communications, Inc., 1995; Shirley M. Steeger, 1996 Access: Unrestricted; sound recordings unavailable until processed for research use Finding Aid: Compiled by John D. Stinson, April 1998. Description: Popular Publications, Inc., publisher of popular pulp magazines, was founded in New York City in 1930 by Henry Steeger. During the ensuing decade it became the largest publisher of pulp magazines in America. In 1942 the firm acquired the literary properties of the Frank A. Munsey Co. The records include correspondence of the Frank A. Munsey Co. and of Popular Publications, Inc. relating to copyright, literary and editorial matters; copyright registration records, index card files of authors; and canceled checks. Included also are papers relating to the Court of Last Resort of Argosy magazine including extensive correspondence between Henry Steeger and Erle Stanley Gardner; personal papers of Henry Steeger including his correspondence as president (and member) of the National Urban League; and correspondence of Blazing Publications, Inc. (later, Argosy Communications, Inc.), successor-in-interest to Popular Publications, Inc., relating to the publication of reprints in book format of popular fiction. Historical NotePopular Publications, Inc., a publisher of popular pulp magazines including detective, adventure, romance, and Western fiction, was founded in 1930 in New York City by Henry Steeger (1903- ), a Princeton graduate and former editor at Dell Publishing Co. Steeger remained the firm's president and publisher until its sale in 1972. During the decade of the 1930's, the golden age of pulp magazines, the firm was the largest publisher of popular pulp fiction in America. Its numerous publications included Dime Detective, Dime Mystery Magazine, Dime Western Magazine, Fifteen Love Stories, True Adventure, and Western Love Romances. In 1942 the firm acquired the copyrights to the properties of the Frank A. Munsey Co. including its immensely successful Argosy Magazine. From 1946 Steeger edited Argosy and co-founded with Erle Stanley Gardner its popular feature "Court of Last Resort" which sought to aid those whom it considered to be victims of miscarriages of justice. Steeger was also president of Fictioneers, Inc. (1939-58), All-Fiction Field, Inc. (1942-58), New Publications, Inc. (1936-60), Recreational Reading (1936-60), and Post Periodicals, Inc. (1936-60). After the dissolution of Popular Publications, Inc. in 1972, its literary properties were acquired Joel Frieman, vice president and director of publications of Blazing Publications, Inc. of Newark, New Jersey. As successor-in-interest to Popular Publications, Inc. Mr. Frieman has promoted the reprinting in book and paperback format of several authors of pulp magazine fiction including Ray Bradbury, Edgar Rice Burroughs, John Carroll Daly, Erle Stanley Gardner, Frederick Nebel, Hank Searles, and Rex Stout. In 1988 the corporate title of Blazing Publications, Inc. was changed to Argosy Communications, Inc. Arrangement NoteThe records are arranged into the following series: I. Correspondence Brief descriptions of the series follow below. Series DescriptionsI. Correspondence. (Containers #1-7). The correspondence (c.1914-77) is arranged into five sub-series: (1) Copyright Assignments and Permissions (c.1914-59), A-Z; There is also (following sub-series V.) a file of unsorted correspondence (to 1977). (1) The Copyright Assignments and Permissions Correspondence (1914-59), which is arranged alphabetically, is that of Alden H. Norton and Albert J. Gibney of Popular Publications, Inc.; and of Robert Hobart Davis and A.B. Gaunt of the Frank A. Munsey Co. The correspondence is interfiled in a single alphabetical sequence. The correspondence of Robert Hobart Davis and A.B. Gaunt relates mainly to literary and editorial matters. The correspondence is with authors, authors' agents, publishers, motion picture companies, and attorneys. Included are copies of assignments (issued by both organizations) giving the author's name, his pseudonym, title of property and date and issue of its first publication. (2) The Copyright Releases (Poems) consists of correspondence mainly of Robert Hobart Davis and A.B. Gaunt; (3) The Radio Rights and Syndication correspondence (c.1945-52) is that of Alden H. Norton and Kenneth S. White; (4) The "Court of Last Resort" correspondence (c.1948-53) is that of Henry Steeger and other members of the "Court" with prisoners whose cases the "Court" accepted, prison wardens, and judges. Included are case records consisting of memoranda, reports, transcripts of trial testimonies, photographs, and eleven sound recordings; (5) The Editorial/Permissions/Releases/Foreign Sales correspondence (c.1959-73) is mainly that of Alden H. Norton, Gil Paust, Leo F. Lucke, and Peter Gannett of Popular Publications, Inc. The correspondence is with authors, prospective authors, and with American and foreign magazine and book publishers. Correspondents include Achmed Addullah, Authors' Syndicate, Ltd., Clarence Gilmore Boggie, George H. Doran Co., Erle Stanley Gardner, Marshall W. Houts, Christopher Morley, Raymond C. Schindler, LeMoyne Snyder, Park Street, Jean Swick, Hunter S. Thompson, and Charles Hanson Towne. II. Copyright Registration Records. (Containers #7-13) The copyright registration records (1930's - 1960's) relate to publications of the Frank A. Munsey Co., Popular Publications, Inc., New Publications, Inc., Fictioneers, Inc., Recreational Reading, Inc., and All-Fiction Field, Inc. Included are official certificates of copyright registration and renewal issued by the Registrar of Copyrights. III. Index Card Files. (Containers #13-50) The index card files contain author and/or title indices for authors published by Frank A. Munsey Co. and Popular Publications, Inc. The type of information provided on the cards varies but includes name of author, title of article or manuscript, title and date of publication in which the manuscript or article was first published, and the amount paid. Some indices contain the author's pen name, the author's title, the published title, number of words, voucher date, control number, agent's name, statement on rights, and note on sale of rights. Included also are a few title indices for specific magazines. IV. Cancelled Checks. (Containers #51-73) The cancelled checks (1910-72) were issued by Popular Publications, Inc., Frank A. Munsey Co., All-Fiction Field, Inc., Fictioneers, Inc., Recreational Reading, Inc., and New Publications, Inc. Most of the checks are annotated (above the endorsement line) with the title of the literary property, and the kinds of rights transferred (i.e., serial, North-American, etc.). V. Unsorted Records. (Containers #74-75) The unsorted records are of the Frank A. Munsey Co. and Popular Publications, Inc. VI. Pen and Ink Drawings. (Container #76) The pen and ink drawings or sketches with overlays represent illustrations which were published in Argosy magazine. VII. Personal Papers of Henry Steeger. (Container #77-80) The personal papers of Henry Steeger which are unsorted contain Steeger's correspondence as president of the National Urban League; and printed and near-printed ephemera issued by the League. There is also some correspondence relating to Steeger's real estate investments and to his presidency of Popular Publications, Inc. Included are a few letters to Steeger from Whitney Young, Jr. VIII. Additional Records. [95M28] (Containers #81-84) These additional records consist of the following: (1) Additions to Series I. consisting of Copyright Assignments and Permissions correspondence (1911-76) mainly of Robert Hobart Davis and A. B. Gaunt of the Frank A. Munsey Co.; and of Alden H. Norton and of Henry Steeger of Popular Publications, Inc. The correspondence, which is arranged alphabetically in a single sequence, is with authors, literary agents, publishers, and attorneys. Included are assignments and agreements. Correspondents include Robert Ames Bennett, Louis Joseph Vance and Ben Ames Williams. There is also a separate file of correspondence (1941-42, 1957) concerning complaints of plagiary brought by Popular Publications, Inc. against prospective writers; and miscellaneous papers; (2) Copyright Assignments and Publications file (1979-92) of Blazing Publications, Inc., and of Argosy Communications, Inc. [the corporate title of Blazing Publications, Inc. was changed in 1988 to Argosy Communications, Inc.]. This file consists of correspondence of Joel Frieman as vice president and director of publishing of Blazing Publications, Inc., successor-in-interest to Popular Publications, Inc. with publishers, literary agents, attorneys, and copyright owners, relative to reprints in book format of stories originally published by the Frank A. Munsey Co. and by Popular Publications, Inc. The files relate to reprints of fiction by Ray Bradbury, Edgar Rice Burroughs, John Carroll Daly, Erle Stanley Gardner, Frederick Nebel, Hank Searles, and Rex Stout. The Rex Stout file includes correspondence with John J. McAleer relative to the writing of forwards and introductions to reprinted stories by Rex Stout. The Ray Bradbury file includes copies of correspondence (1952) between Ray Bradbury and Alden H. Norton. Included also are copies of assignments, agreements, and a few royalty statements; and photocopies of published stories by Erle Stanley Gardner and Rex Stout. IX. Additional Records. [96M33 and 96M43] (Containers #85-119) These additional records are arranged into four series: A. Correspondence of Henry Steeger as President of Popular Publications,
Inc.; The records are described in sequence below. A. The correspondence (1941-81) of Henry Steeger is arranged chronologically in the period 1949-62, 1969-71, and alphabetically by year for the intervening period (1963-68). The correspondence relates mainly to the publication of Argosy magazine although correspondence of a more general nature is also present. The correspondence is with writers, editors, publishers, legal counsel, friends, associates and others. Included is correspondence from writers proposing travel articles and adventure stories; from congressmen (1960) regarding American servicemen allegedly held prisoner by Communist China; and from governors, congressmen and distillers responding to an article on the illegal traffic in liquor published in Argosy (February 1956). Included is an original typescript draft by General Frank L. Howley of his article "Eisenhower's Tragic Mistake Not Taking Berlin" published in Argosy (July 1971). The correspondence is sparse in the period 1949-56. From 1972 Steeger's correspondence relates to various matters including the history of pulp magazine publishing, his presidency of Steeco Publications (which published Tennis U.S.A.), his chairmanship of the speakers' committee of the Dutch Treat Club; and to other personal affairs. Present also (following the alph./chrono series) is Steeger's correspondence as chairman of the development council of Wilberforce University; and correspondence relative to the publication of his book You Can Remake America. Other correspondents include: Bennett Cerf (12/30/58, 1/15/59, 1/23/59, 2/3/59, 10/2/59); Harold J. Cruickshank (5/14/59, 6/22/59, 6/29/59, 11/19/59, 11/30/59, 1/9/61, 1/12/61, 1/18/61, 10/20/62, 11/2/62, 11/20/62, 11/28/62, 1964, 1967, 12/2/69, 2/17/70, 3/2/70, 7/10/71, 6/25/74, 7/4/77); Nuri Eren (1960) Temple Fielding (11/12/58, 1962, 3/28/69, 4/21/69); Frank L. Harvey (5/14/60, 5/18/60); Frank L. Howley (11/10/70, 5/21/71, 6/21/71); Henry Jordan (1/6/59, 8/21/59, 8/30/59, 12/12/59, 12/27/59); Lowell Thomas (12/12/58, 8/6/59, 10/19/59, 6/21/61, 1964, 1966, 1967, 12/4/69, 12/24/69, 7/26/76, 7/27/76, 9/1/76, 9/20/76, 9/29/76, 10/14/76, 12/3/76, 3/14/77, 3/18/81) Peter Throckmorton (10/22/60), and Walt Wiggins (3/1/60). B. The Miscellaneous papers, which are arranged topically, include editorial memoranda, press releases, speeches by Steeger, and printed ephemera; and papers relating to Argosy including a master list of "Honest Abe" columns (by Steeger), a profile of the magazine, reader surveys, and papers relating to the Watchdog for Justice department. C. The Court of Last Resort records are arranged into four sub-series: D. The papers relating to the National Urban League consist of correspondence (1962-68), arranged chronologically, of Henry Steeger as president (and member) of the League; and a topical file of miscellaneous papers including memoranda, minutes, press releases, speeches and printed ephemera. The correspondence includes letters from (and to) Whitney Young, Jr. Container List
Melanie A. Yolles |