Finding Aid for the Will Donaldson Collection of Material by Theodore Dreiser and Dreiseriana, 1922-1932
Processed by Manuscripts Division staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Caroline Cubé
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
Box 951575
Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
© 2002
The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Note
Finding Aid for the Will Donaldson Collection of Material by Theodore Dreiser and Dreiseriana, 1922-1932
Collection number: 659
UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
Los Angeles, CA
Contact Information
- Manuscripts Division
- UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
- Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
- Box 951575
- Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
- Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific
Time)
- Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
- URL: http://www.library.ucla.edu/libraries/special/scweb/
- Processed by:
- Manuscripts Division staff
- Encoded by:
- Caroline Cubé
- Text converted and initial container list EAD tagging by:
- Apex Data Services
- Online finding aid edited by:
- Josh Fiala, March 2003
© 2002 The Regents of the University of California. All rights reserved.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Will Donaldson Collection of Material by Theodore Dreiser and Dreiseriana,
Date (inclusive): 1922-1932
Collection number: 659
Creator: Donaldson, Will
Extent:
5 boxes (2.5 linear ft.)
Repository:
University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Department of Special Collections.
Los Angeles, California 90095-1575
Abstract: Theodore Herman Albert Dreiser (1871-1945) was an author whose publications include:
Sister Carrie (1900),
Jennie Gerhardt (1911),
The financier (1912),
The titan (1914),
Twelve men (1919), and
An American tragedy (1925). After 1925, he ventured into social commentary and political analysis. The collection contains letters, clippings,
photographs, films, manuscripts, and a scrapbook. There is a collection of Dreiser's printed work including first editions,
inscribed, and other significant editions.
Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Department
of Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.
Language:
English.
Administrative Information
Restrictions on Use and Reproduction
Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections. Literary rights, including
copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds
the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold
the copyright.
Restrictions on Access
COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Advance notice required for access.
Additional Physical Form Available
A copy of the original version of this online finding aid is available at the UCLA Department of Special Collections for in-house
consultation and may be obtained for a fee. Please contact:
- Public Services Division
- UCLA Library, Department of Special Collections
- Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library
- Box 951575
- Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575
- Telephone: 310/825-4988 (10:00 a.m. - 4:45 p.m., Pacific
Time)
- Email: spec-coll@library.ucla.edu
Provenance/Source of Acquisition
Gift of Mrs. Muriel Donaldson, 1955.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Will Donaldson Collection of Material by Theodore Dreiser and Dreiseriana (Collection 659). Department
of Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, University of California, Los Angeles.
Biography
Theodore Herman Albert Dreiser was born in Terre Haute, Indiana, on August 27, 1871; briefly attended the University of Indiana;
held a succession of newspaper and magazine jobs in Chicago, St. Louis, Pittsburgh, and New York; awarded the Merit Medal
for fiction by the American Academy of Arts and Letters, 1944; publications include:
Sister Carrie (1900),
Jennie Gerhardt (1911),
The financier (1912),
The titan (1914),
Twelve men (1919), and
An American tragedy (1925); after 1925, he ventured into social commentary and political analysis, joining the Communist Party shortly before
his death; died in Hollywood, California, on December 28, 1945.
Scope and Content
Collection contains material related to Dreiser's career as a writer. Includes letters, clippings, photographs, films, and
a scrapbook. Also contains manuscripts including his autobiography titled,
A book about myself. Additionally, there is a collection of Dreiser's printed work including first editions, inscribed, and other significant
editions. Also includes a small amount of material related to the career of Donaldson.
Indexing Terms
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Dreiser, Theodore, 1871-1945.
Authors, American--20th century--Archival resources.
Container List
Box 1
1
A book about myself.
Creator/Collector:
Dreiser, Theodore
Physical Description: 699 leaves. 28cm. Typescript (carbon) with holograph corrections and additions throughout.
Scope and Content Note
Original title, which is corrected, was A novel about myself. Together with a letter by Dreiser to Mr. Lange to whom Dreiser
sold the manuscript. What I am offering you is the only complete typewritten copy of the book with many marginal changes by
me--the copy from which the book was set up. This copy contains some chapters not in the book. They were struck out by me.
This letter is written from Los Angeles and dated September 22, 1922.
Note
Published by Boni & Liveright, 1922.
Box 1
2
The lost-Phoebe.
Creator/Collector:
Dreiser, Theodore
Physical Description: 52 leaves, 13 leaves irregularly numbered. 28cm. Holograph. In slip cover. Irregularly paginated, pp.1-12 are mounted, 12-21
not mounted, 22-34 mounted, 35-43 not mounted, 44-52 mounted. The irregular pages at end not mounted. The mounted pages have
many corrections, the unmounted pages none.
Scope and Content Note
With holograph note by Dreiser explaining that he recopied the mounted pages as the paper had begun to crumble. Published
The Century Magazine, 1916.
Box 1
3
Letter to Philip Barry. April 25, 1925.
Creator/Collector:
Dreiser, Theodore
Physical Description: 27 cm. Holograph, signed.
Box 1
4
Letter to Perriton Maxwell. June 13, 1927.
Creator/Collector:
Dreiser, Theodore
Physical Description: 27 cm. Holograph, signed.
Scope and Content Note
Answer to query What makes a perfect play?
Box 2
5
The Dreiser Scrapbook, 1931-1943.
Scope and Content Note
Clippings relating to the life and literary career of Theodore Dreiser. 30 cm. The main bulk of the clippings are dated 1932.
Note
Assembled by Will Donaldson.
Box 2
6
American tragedy. Motion picture version. Stills, publicity material.
Physical Description: 23 items.
Box 2
7
Pictures. Photographs and films.
Physical Description: 18 pictures, 13 films. In envelope.
Scope and Content Note
Envelope marked Dreiseriana. Terre Haute views 1932-- pictures of the Dreiser homes and localities visited by him and described
in Hoosier Holiday taken by Will Donaldson. Photo of portrait of Dreiser owned by Mencken.
Note
Gift of Donald S. Friede.
Box 2
8
Loose leaf notebook. [about 1932].
Physical Description: 22cm. Typewritten and holograph.
Scope and Content Note
4 typescript pages with bibliographical information. At end some anecdotes regarding Dreiser's life.
Box 2
9
Book reviews, publicity, dealer's catalogues referring to Theodore Dreiser.
Physical Description: 1 folder.
Box 2
10
Scottsboro case.
Physical Description: 6 items.
Scope and Content Note
Publicity material relating to the Scottsboro case. Theodore Dreiser's speech on the Scottsboro case at Town Hall, Friday
Evening June 5, 1931.
Box 3
11
Correspondence with Will Donaldson, 1931.
Physical Description: 3 items.
Scope and Content Note
Various people to Mr. Donaldson
re collecting material on Dreiser.
12
Contempo. January 10 and February 1, 1933.
Scope and Content Note
American Spectator, vol.1 no.1-11. 1932-33.
Oversize Box 5
13
Wax-statuette of Theodore Dreiser.
Creator/Collector:
Hidalgo, Luis, 1901-
Physical Description: 25cm; with wooden stand 28cm.
Box 3
14
Caricature of Dreiser.
Creator/Collector:
Cotton, William Henry
Note
Removed from frame, March 1, 1958.
Box 3
15
Clippings and printed material relating to the career of Wil Donaldson, collector of Dreiser.
Creator/Collector:
Donaldson, Wil
Box 3
16
Dreiser, Theodore. Letters to Kelly James E., March 3, 1925-October 1926.
Physical Description: 4 items.
Box 3
17
Portrait of Dreiser.
Creator/Collector:
White, Margaret C.
Physical Description: Pencil sketch, 27.5 × 14.5.
Box 3
18
Letter to Frank Graham Moorhead. New York.
April 26, 1909.
Creator/Collector:
Dreiser, Theodore
Physical Description: Typescript, signed.
Scope and Content Note
Letterhead Delineator, stating he would be interested in articles on certain subjects.
Note
Gift of Jo and Flo Swerling.
Box 3
19
Letter to Sam Slingsby. New York, May 8, 1934.
Creator/Collector:
Dreiser, Theodore
Physical Description: Typescript, signed.
Scope and Content Note
Referring Mr. Slingsby to passages from his autogiographical works. Gift of Jo and Flo Swerling.
Box 3
20
Letters to Carlyle West. New York, 1933.
Creator/Collector:
Dreiser, Theodore
Physical Description: 2 items. Typescript, signed.
Note
Mr. West lived in Toronto, Canada.
Box 3
21
In the matter of Commonwealth
vs. Donald S. Friede, April 16-18, 1929 ... [a case regarding obscenity in Dreiser's
An American Tragedy].
Creator/Collector:
Commonwealth of Massachusetts ... Superior Court ...
Physical Description: 174 leaves. Typescript (carbon).
Note
Gift of Donald S. Friede.
Box 3
22
Commonwealth
vs. Donald S. Friede. Brief for the defendant... no.13 of 1930. With this is bound: Commonwealth
vs. Donald S. Friede. Suffolk, May 27, 1930.
Creator/Collector:
Supreme Judicial Court ...
Physical Description: 15pp. Printed and 5 leaves. Typescript (carbon).
Scope and Content Note
Both these relate to the case involving
An American Tragedy.
Note
Gift of Donald S. Friede.
Box 4
23
Plaster cast of hand from sculpture by Edgardo Simone of Theodore Dreiser.
Creator/Collector:
Simone, Edgardo, 1890-
Physical Description: 24cm.
Note
Gift of Dr. Vera Dreiser.
