Collection Guide
Collection Title:
Collection Number:
Get Items:
Vanguard Press. Dr. Seuss files.
MSS 0657
View entire collection guide
Search this collection
Table of contents
Creator:
Vanguard Press
Title: Vanguard Press. Dr. Seuss files.,
Date (inclusive): 1937 - 1985
Extent:
0.20 linear feet
(1 archives box)
Abstract: The Vanguard Press publishing files are related to distribution rights for THE 500 HATS OF BARTHOLOMEW CUBBINS and TO THINK
THAT I SAW IT ON MULBERRY STREET by Dr. Seuss (Theodor Seuss Geisel). Largely a correspondence (1968-1985) between Vanguard
Press and Grolier Enterprises, the files also contain material related to soft-bound distribution rights with Scholastic Magazines
Incorporated, and potential arrangements with Bantam Books Incorporated, Random House, and Xerox Education Publications.
The files include copies of the original contracts between Theodor Geisel and Vanguard Press (1937-1938), drafts of agreements
and contracts with Grolier and Scholastic, drafts of agreement letters to be signed by Geisel, notes and memoranda for telephone
contacts and negotiations with Grolier and others, royalty reports, and photocopies of advance payment checks. The files
are arranged chronologically.
Repository:
University of California, San Diego. Geisel Library. Mandeville Special Collections Library.
La Jolla, California 92093-0175
Collection number: MSS 0657
Language of Material:
Collection materials in English
Collection is open for research.
Not Available
Vanguard Press. Dr. Seuss files., MSS 0657. Mandeville Special Collections Library, UCSD.
Publication rights are held by the creator of the collection.
Scope and Content of Collection
The Vanguard Press publishing files contain mainly correspondence and memoranda regarding distribution rights for Theodor
Seuss Geisel's first two books, TO THINK THAT I SAW IT ON MULBERRY STREET (1937) and THE 500 HATS OF BARTHOLOMEW CUBBINS (1938).
The files contain contracts and correspondence regarding the hard-bound book distribution rights, via their juvenile book
club distribution network, with Grolier Enterprises. The files also contain drafts of contracts and memoranda regarding negotiations
with Scholastic Magazines, the world's largest publisher of children's books, for the soft-cover distribution rights which
Scholastic distributed via school-based book clubs and direct-to-home sales to children.
The files contain copies of Geisel's original contracts (1937-1938) with Vanguard; contracts between Vanguard and Grolier
(1968-1985) for the hard-bound distribution rights; contracts between Vanguard and Scholastic (1976) for the soft-bound distribution
rights; multiple typescript drafts of agreement letters to be signed by Geisel; negotiation memoranda and correspondence by
Evelyn Shrifte, longtime president of Vanguard, (many sent to "HNS," possibly Herbert N. Shrifte, Evelyn's brother, who worked
for the book trade bindery, H. Wolff Book Manufacturing Co.), seeking advice regarding the contracts and negotiation tactics
to imploy with Grolier, Scholastic, Bantam Books, Xerox Education Publications (publisher of the in-school "WEEKLY READER")
and other publishers; correspondence with the Pepper and Pepper law firm; multiple annotated drafts of a contract with Scholastic;
and royalty reports from both Scholastic (1976-1979) and Grolier (1972, 1975, 1977-1985). Also included is correspondence
from Thomas Woll, Shrifte's nephew, who worked for Vanguard trying to negotiate an agreement with Bantam. Vanguard Press
was purchased by Random House in 1986 and its archives are located at Columbia University. The files are arranged chronologically.
The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.
Vanguard Press -- Archives
Geisel, Theodor Seuss, 1904-1991, -- correspondent
Geisel, Theodor Seuss, 1904-1991. -- 500 hats of Bartholomew Cubbins
Geisel, Theodor Seuss, 1904-1991. -- And to think that I saw it on Mulberry Street
Grolier Enterprises, -- correspondent