John Hinsdale Thompson Collection of James Joyce Materials
mssThompsonj
The Huntington Library
March 2021
1151 Oxford Road
San Marino, California 91108
reference@huntington.org
Contributing Institution:
The Huntington Library
Title: John Hinsdale Thompson collection of James Joyce materials
Creator:
Thompson, John
Hinsdale
Identifier/Call Number: mssThompsonj
Physical Description:
2.42 Linear Feet
(2 boxes and 1 volume)
Date (inclusive): 1901-1973
Abstract: A collection of James Joyce material
assembled by John Hinsdale Thompson, American professor and bookseller. The collection
includes both original Joyce manuscripts and correspondence as well as correspondence
related to Joyce scholarship and collecting.
Language of Material: Materials are in
English.
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use by qualified researchers and by appointment. Please contact Reader Services at
the Huntington Library for more information.
RESTRICTED. Box 1 and volume 1: Available with curatorial approval. Requires extended
retrieval and delivery time.
Conditions Governing Use
The Huntington Library does not require that researchers request permission to quote from
or publish images of this material, nor does it charge fees for such activities. The
responsibility for identifying the copyright holder, if there is one, and obtaining
necessary permissions rests with the researcher.
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item]. John Hinsdale Thompson collection of James Joyce materials, The
Huntington Library, San Marino, California.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Purchased from Mrs. Jill Thompson Perkins, March 1974.
Biographical / Historical
John Hinsdale Thompson (1907-1973) was a Michigan bookseller and literature professor at
Stephens College, Missouri. Thompson had a strong interest in Irish novelist, poet and
literary critic James Joyce (1882-1941); he began collecting Joyce's manuscripts and limited
editions in the early 1930s. Thompson also corresponded with other scholars and booksellers
regarding Joyce and his works.
Scope and Contents
The collection contains original James Joyce material with additional material concerning
James Joyce scholarship and John Hinsdale Thompson's collecting of the James Joyce material.
The first series of the collection contains 73 original items (1901-1938, mssHM
41118-41190), either written by or about James Joyce and include: Joyce's translation of
Gerhart Hauptmann's Before sunrise; a corrected typescript of a portion of Penelope; and
various poems. Also included are autograph letters by Joyce to various recipients, and the
correspondence of Donald S. Friede concerning his publication and the copyright of Joyce's
Work in progress. The second series includes 169 items of supporting material (1939-1973)
which consists chiefly of correspondence between John Hinsdale Thompson, booksellers, and
other Joyce scholars; the majority of these letters are addressed to Thompson. Also contains
manuscripts, printer's material, printed material, and ephemera concerning Joyce
scholarship.
Processing Information
Processed by Huntington Library Staff in 1976-1977; in 2021, Gayle Richardson reprocessed
the collection, rehoused the material, and created the finding aid. This material was
formerly titled: John Hinsdale Thompson papers.
Arrangement
Organized in the following series: 1. James Joyce materials; 2. James Joyce scholarship
materials.
General
Individual call numbers included in the collection: mssHM 41118-41190.
Separated Materials
A group of 132 books written by and related to James Joyce were part of this acquisition;
the books were transferred to the Rare Books Department (438105-438238).
Related Materials
The manuscript mssHM 41122: "Ulysses: a portion of "Penelope" forms part of: duplicate
partial typescript of the first part of "Penelope" (18) episode for "Ulysses;" University of
Buffalo (mssV.B.16.a.ii).
Subjects and Indexing Terms
Authors, Irish -- 20th century
Collectors and collecting -- United States
Novelists, Irish -- 20th century
Letters (correspondence) -- 20th century
Manuscripts -- 20th century
Poems -- 20th century
Anderson, Chester G.
Beach, Sylvia
Borach, Georges, 1892-1934
Conner, Benjamin Howe, 1878-1953
Dalton, Jack, 1908-
Ellmann, Richard,
1918-1987
Friede, Donald
Gallup, Donald, 1913-2000
Glasheen, Adaline
Hart, Clive
Hauptmann, Gerhart,
1862-1946 -- Vor Sonnenaufgang
Hayes, Richard J., 1902-1976
Higginson, Fred H.
Hill, Creighton J.
Hodgart, Matthew John
Caldwell
Jolas, Eugène, 1894-1952
Jolas, M.
Joyce, James, 1882-1941 --
Ulysses
Joyce, James, 1882-1941 --
Work in progress
Joyce, Nora Barnacle,
1884-1951
Léon, Paul L. (Paul
Léopoldovitch), 1893-1942?
Mathews, Elkin, 1851-1921
Mayo, Robert D. (Robert
Donald), 1910-1998
Paul, Elliot, 1891-1958
Peery, William Wallace,
1910-1964
Rodker, John, 1894-1955
Scholes, Robert,
1929-
Schuman, Henry
Schwartz, Jacob
Shaw, Leroy R. (Leroy Robert),
1923-
Slocum, John J.
Solberg, Thorvald,
1852-1949
Spoerri, James Fuller, 1899-1969
Staley, Thomas F.
Stein, Jess M.
Tindall, William York, 1903-1981
Weaver, Harriet Shaw
James Joyce materials
1901-1938
Physical Description: 2.0 Linear
Feet(1 box and 1 volume)
Scope and Contents
Material includes mssHM 41117-41190; the manuscripts and letters are written by James
Joyce unless otherwise noted. The Donald S. Friede material consists mainly of
typewritten carbon copies which are brittle and fragile, with some damage but no loss of
text.
Arrangement
Material is arranged chronologically.
Volume 1
"Before Sunrise:" translation of Gerhart Hauptmann's Vor
Sonnanaufgang
HM 41118
1901 July 23
Scope and Contents
Autograph manuscript signed in a small black oil-cloth-covered notebook.
Box 1, Folder 1
Chamber Music HM 41119
1901-1903
Scope and Contents
Autograph manuscript signed in a small black oil-cloth-covered notebook.
Box 1, Folder 2
"Come out to where the youth is met…:" poem HM 41120
1904
Scope and Contents
Autograph manuscript signed in a small black oil-cloth-covered notebook.
Box 1, Folder 3
Postcard to Elkin Mathews HM 41178
1907 September 9
Scope and Contents
Autograph manuscript signed in a small black oil-cloth-covered notebook.
Box 1, Folder 4
Letter to John Rodker HM 41179
1920 August 13
Scope and Contents
Paris, France.
Box 1, Folder 5
Letter to John Rodker HM 41180
1920 September 6
Scope and Contents
Paris, France.
Box 1, Folder 6
Letter to John Rodker HM 41181
1920 September 29
Scope and Contents
Paris, France.
Box 1, Folder 7
Letter to John Rodker HM 41182
1920 October 2
Scope and Contents
Paris, France.
Box 1, Folder 8
Letter to John Rodker HM 41183
1920 November 10
Scope and Contents
Paris, France.
Box 1, Folder 9
Ulysses: a portion of Penelope HM 41122
1921
Scope and Contents
Typewritten, purple carbon copy, with corrections and additions on all pages in ink
by Joyce and notes by the printer in pencil. The 20 pages are numbered 1-12, 14,
17-18, 21, 23-26, these pages fill the gaps of the typescript at the University of
Buffalo (mssV.B.16.a.ii).
Box 1, Folder 10
Maria McDonald Jolas letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41169
1927 January 31
Scope and Contents
Paris, France.
Box 1, Folder 11
Donald S. Friede cablegram to Sylvia Beach HM 41132
1927 June 20
Box 1, Folder 12
Donald S. Friede letter to Sylvia Beach HM 41133
1927 September 8
Box 1, Folder 13
Creighton J. Hill letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41152
1927 November 11
Scope and Contents
Wellesley, Massachusetts. Includes a transcription of a cablegram from Elliot Paul,
November 11, 1927.
Box 1, Folder 14
Creighton J. Hill letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41153
1927 November 15
Scope and Contents
Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Box 1, Folder 15
Creighton J. Hill letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41154
1927 November 17
Scope and Contents
Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Box 1, Folder 16
Donald S. Friede cablegram to Elliot Paul HM 41143
1927 December 14
Box 1, Folder 17
Donald S. Friede letter to Creighton J. Hill HM 41134
1927 December 17
Box 1, Folder 18
Creighton J. Hill letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41155
1927 December 23
Scope and Contents
Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Box 1, Folder 19
Creighton J. Hill letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41156
1927 December 27
Scope and Contents
Wellesley, Massachusetts. Includes transcription of cablegram from Elliot Paul to
Creighton J. Hill, December 27?, 1927.
Box 1, Folder 20
Creighton J. Hill letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41157
1927 December
Scope and Contents
In pencil.
Box 1, Folder 21
Pomes Penyeach HM 41121
1927
Scope and Contents
Includes: a manuscript which consists of ten of thirteen poems and the title page,
with typescripts; autograph manuscript of seven poems on eight oblong sheets of paper;
also, dated and numbered typescripts of all thirteen poems with some duplicates.
Box 1, Folder 22
Van Rees Press to Donald S. Friede HM 41177
1927-1928
Scope and Contents
New York, New York. Bills for the composition and printing of "Work in Progress Part
I."
Box 1, Folder 23
Donald S. Friede letter to Creighton J. Hill HM 41135
1928 January 3
Box 1, Folder 24
Donald S. Friede letter to Creighton J. Hill HM 41136
1928 January 3
Scope and Contents
Slightly damaged, with no loss of text.
Box 1, Folder 25
A. A. Jacobs letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41167
1928 January 5
Box 1, Folder 26
Elliot Paul telegram to Donald S. Friede HM 41173
1928 January 6
Scope and Contents
Paris, France.
Box 1, Folder 27
Donald S. Friede letter to Creighton J. Hill HM 41137
1928 January 7
Box 1, Folder 28
Creighton J. Hill letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41158
1928 January 9
Scope and Contents
Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Box 1, Folder 29
Donald S. Friede letter to Register of Copyrights, Library of
Congress
HM 41144
1928 January 10
Box 1, Folder 30
Benjamin Howe Conner letter HM 41131
1928 January 25
Scope and Contents
Paris, France. Contemporary copy; originally enclosed in: Sylvia Beach to Donald S.
Friede, January 30, 1928.
Box 1, Folder 31
Sylvia Beach letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41124
1928 January 30
Scope and Contents
Paris, France. Originally enclosed: Benjamin Howe Conner to James Joyce, January 25,
1928, now cataloged separately.
Box 1, Folder 32
Boni and Liveright, Inc. Publishers agreement to publish a new unnamed work
or "Work In Progress" by James Joyce
HM 41125
1928 January
Scope and Contents
Two carbon copies enclosed, unsigned by either party; second copy is torn in
half.
Box 1, Folder 33
Donald S. Friede letter to Register of Copyrights, Library of
Congress
HM 41145
1928 February 3
Box 1, Folder 34
William L. Brown, Assistant Register of Copyrights, letter to Donald S.
Friede
HM 41126
1928 February 4
Scope and Contents
Washington, D.C., with envelope.
Box 1, Folder 35
Creighton J. Hill letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41159
1928 February 6
Scope and Contents
Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Box 1, Folder 36
Donald S. Friede letter to Register of Copyrights, Library of
Congress
HM 41146a
1928 February 7
Box 1, Folder 37
Donald S. Friede letter to Register of Copyrights, Library of
Congress
HM 41146b
1928 February 7
Scope and Contents
Damaged.
Box 1, Folder 38
Donald S. Friede letter to Register of Copyrights, Library of
Congress
HM 41147
1928 February 8
Box 1, Folder 39
Copyright Office, Library of Congress, letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41175
1928 February 9
Scope and Contents
Washington, D.C., signed by Thorvald Solberg.
Box 1, Folder 40
Donald S. Friede letter to Register of Copyrights, Library of
Congress
HM 41148
1928 February 10
Box 1, Folder 41
Eugene Jolas cablegram to Creighton J. Hill HM 41168
1928 February 12
Scope and Contents
Originally enclosed in: Creighton J. Hill to Donald S. Friede, February 13, 1928, now
cataloged separately.
Box 1, Folder 42
Creighton J. Hill letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41160
1928 February 13
Scope and Contents
Wellesley, Massachusetts. Originally enclosed: cablegram from Eugene Jolas to
Creighton J. Hill, February 12, 1928, now cataloged separately.
Box 1, Folder 43
William L. Brown, Assistant Register of Copyrights, letter to Donald S.
Friede
HM 41127
1928 February 16
Scope and Contents
Washington, D.C.
Box 1, Folder 44
Creighton J. Hill letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41161
1928 February 16
Scope and Contents
Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Box 1, Folder 45
Creighton J. Hill letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41162
1928 February 16
Scope and Contents
Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Box 1, Folder 46
Donald S. Friede letter HM 41140
1928 February 17
Scope and Contents
New York, New York; witnessed by Alice Freud, with second carbon copy.
Box 1, Folder 47
Donald S. Friede letter to Register of Copyrights, Library of
Congress
HM 41149
1928 February 17
Box 1, Folder 48
Copyright Office, Library of Congress, letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41176
1928 February 24
Scope and Contents
Washington, D.C. Printed form, filled in.
Box 1, Folder 49
Creighton J. Hill letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41163
1928 February 25
Scope and Contents
Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Box 1, Folder 50
Donald S. Friede letter to Creighton J. Hill HM 41138
1928 February 29
Box 1, Folder 51
Donald S. Friede letter HM 41141
1928 February 29
Box 1, Folder 52
Creighton J. Hill telegram to Donald S. Friede HM 41164
1928 February 29
Box 1, Folder 53
Antoinette Leger letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41172
1928 March 1
Scope and Contents
Also enclosed: receipt for registered letter.
Box 1, Folder 54
Creighton J. Hill letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41165
1928 March 2
Scope and Contents
Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Box 1, Folder 55
Elliot Paul letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41174
1928 March 8
Scope and Contents
Paris, France, with envelope.
Box 1, Folder 56
Donald S. Friede letter to Register of Copyrights, Library of
Congress
HM 41150
1928 March 14
Scope and Contents
New York, New York.
Box 1, Folder 57
Creighton J. Hill letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41166
1928 March 16
Scope and Contents
Wellesley, Massachusetts.
Box 1, Folder 58
Donald S. Friede letter to Creighton J. Hill HM 41139
1928 March 19
Scope and Contents
New York, New York.
Box 1, Folder 59
Chadbourne, Stanchfield and Levy letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41129
1928 March 20
Scope and Contents
New York, New York.
Box 1, Folder 60
Cablegram to Donald S. Friede HM 41171
1928 March 20
Scope and Contents
Paris, France.
Box 1, Folder 61
Chadbourne, Stanchfield and Levy letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41130
1928 March 28
Scope and Contents
New York, New York.
Box 1, Folder 62
Letter to John Rodker HM 41184
1928 March 29
Scope and Contents
Rouen, France, with envelope.
Box 1, Folder 63
Card to John Rodker HM 41185
1928 April 12
Scope and Contents
Paris, France.
Box 1, Folder 64
Donald S. Friede letter to Chadbourne, Stanchfield and Levy HM 41151
1928 May 22
Scope and Contents
Addressed to Mr. Roth, written by Friede for the firm Covivi, Friede, Inc.
Box 1, Folder 65
Chadbourne, Stanchfield and Levy letter to Covivi, Friede, Inc. HM 41128
1928 June 25
Scope and Contents
New York, New York.
Box 1, Folder 66
Donald S. Friede List of persons to receive a copy of "Work in Progress Part
I"
HM 41142
1928
Scope and Contents
In pencil.
Box 1, Folder 67
Maria McDonald Jolas letter to Donald S. Friede HM 41170
approximately 1928
Scope and Contents
Louisville, Kentucky.
Box 1, Folder 68
Letter to Jacob Schwartz HM 41186
1929 August 18
Scope and Contents
London, England. Includes two envelopes addressed to Jacob Schwartz postmarked,
August 19, 1929.
Box 1, Folder 69
Nora Barnacle Joyce letter to Jacob Schwartz HM 41187
1930 June 11
Scope and Contents
Zürich, Switzerland, with envelope. Originally enclosed: Report on James Joyce's
eyes…, June 1930, now cataloged separately.
Box 1, Folder 70
Georges Borach Report on James Joyce's eyes after an operation HM 41188
1920 June
Scope and Contents
Zürich, Switzerland. Originally enclosed in: Nora Barnacle Joyce to Jacob Schwartz,
June 11, 1930, now cataloged separately.
Box 1, Folder 71
Paul Léopold Léon letter to John Hinsdale Thompson HM 41189
1935 March 8
Scope and Contents
Paris, France, with envelope.
Box 1, Folder 72
Paul Léopold Léon letter to John Hinsdale Thompson HM 41190
1936 November 4
Scope and Contents
Paris, France, with envelope.
Box 1, Folder 73
Sylvia Beach letter to Raphael King HM 41123
1938 January 29
Scope and Contents
Paris, France.
James Joyce scholarship materials
1939-1973
Physical Description: .42 Linear
Feet(1 box)
Scope and Contents
The material includes correspondence, manuscripts, printed material, ephemera, and
envelopes. The letters are written by or addressed to John Hinsdale Thompson unless
otherwise noted.
Arrangement
Material is arranged alphabetically.
Box 2, Folder 1
Chester Grant Anderson letter
1956 March 12
Box 2, Folder 2
Argus Books letter
1947 August 14
Box 2, Folder 3
Charles Burgers letter
1952 November 11
Box 2, Folder 4
Jack P. Dalton manuscripts and letters
1963-1968
Box 2, Folder 5
Richard Ellmann manuscripts, letters and printed material
1954-1964
Box 2, Folder 6
Donald Clifford Gallup letters
1950-1951
Box 2, Folder 7
Adaline Glasheen letter and printed material
1954 September 11
Box 2, Folder 8
Clive Hart letters
1958-1973
Box 2, Folder 9
Richard J. Hayes Notes on Anna Livia Plurabelle
before 1973
Scope and Contents
This is a negative photostat.
Box 2, Folder 10
Fred Hall Higginson Notes on "Finnegan's Wake"
approximately 1955
Box 2, Folder 11
Fred Hall Higginson manuscripts, letters, and printed material
1951-1969
Box 2, Folder 12
Matthew John Caldwell Hodgart letters
1952-1953
Box 2, Folder 13
Alexandra Mason letter
1966 January 18
Box 2, Folder 15
William Peery letter to Pierre Montminny
1951 July 25
Box 2, Folder 16
R. F. Roberts letters
1939-1943
Scope and Contents
The letters are signed "Doc."
Box 2, Folder 17
Robert Edward Scholes letters and printed material
1959
Box 2, Folder 18
Henry Schuman card
1939 April 26
Box 2, Folder 19
Leroy Robert Shaw letter
1956 December 6
Box 2, Folder 20
John Jermain Slocum manuscripts, letters, and cards
1939-1970
Box 2, Folder 21
James Fuller Spoerri letters and card
1948-1950
Box 2, Folder 22
Thomas Fabian Staley letter and printed material
1965 September 13
Box 2, Folder 23
Jess Stein letters
1952-1956
Box 2, Folder 24
John Orley Allen Tate letter
1947 November 6
Box 2, Folder 25
Harvey Taylor letter
approximately 1940
Box 2, Folder 26
Miscellaneous cards and ephemera
approximately 1950
Box 2, Folder 27
Miscellaneous notes on James Joyce
before 1973
Scope and Contents
With envelopes.
Box 2, Folder 28
Miscellaneous notes
before 1973
Box 2, Folder 29
Notes, etc., on the "Cloacal Obsession" in Joyce
before 1973
Box 2, Folder 30
Notes on "Finnegan's Wake"
before 1973
Box 2, Folder 31
Notes on "Ulysses"
before 1973
Box 2, Folder 32
Letters to Richard Ellmann
1959-1964
Box 2, Folder 33
Letter to Matthew John Caldwell Hodgart
1953 August 4
Box 2, Folder 34
Letter to Robert Mayo
1957 March 10
Box 2, Folder 35
Letter to Jill (Thompson) Perkins
1967 July 4
Box 2, Folder 36
Letters to Thomas Fabian Staley
1965
Box 2, Folder 37
Letters to William York Tindall
1953
Box 2, Folder 38
Letter to Elizabeth Vaudrin
1959 October 8
Box 2, Folder 39
William York Tindall letters and printed material
1952-1957
Box 2, Folder 40
Robert Vosper letter
1953 November 24
Box 2, Folder 41
Harriet Shaw Weaver Catalogue of manuscripts of "Finnegan's Wake"
before 1961
Scope and Contents
This is a negative photostat of her typescript.
Box 2, Folder 42
Harriet Shaw Weaver letter and photocopy with J. H. Thompson's
note
1957 May 16
Box 2, Folder 43
Miscellaneous printed material on James Joyce
before 1973
Box 2, Folder 44
Harry F. Marks miscellaneous printed material concerning James
Joyce
before 1973
Box 2, Folder 45
John Jermain Slocum miscellaneous printed material
before 1973