Finding aid for the Robert Valançay correspondence, 1921-1978
Finding aid prepared by Leslie Walker.
Descriptive Summary
Title: Robert Valançay correspondence
Date (inclusive): 1921-1978
Number: 950057
Creator/Collector:
Valançay, Robert
Physical Description:
3.0 linear feet
(5 boxes)
Repository:
The Getty Research Institute
Special Collections
1200 Getty Center Drive, Suite 1100
Los Angeles, California, 90049-1688
(310) 440-7390
Abstract: Collection comprises ca. 1600 letters (ca. 1921-ca. 1978) sent to Robert Valançay, the French poet and critic, from artists
and writers of the surrealist group. Twelve letters are from Valançay. The collection includes a translation in manuscript
by Valançay, 5 manuscripts by others, printed ephemera, and ca. 50 photographs, most presumably taken by Valançay.
Request Materials: Request access to the physical materials described in this inventory through the
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Language: Collection material is in
French
Biographical/Historical Note
Robert Valançay, born in 1903, was a poet, translator and literary critic who worked with and admired many of the artists
and poets of the surrealist group. His literary achievements are all the more remarkable as he held a "day job" with Shell,
translating as well as making documentary films for the company for many years.
In the thirties, he seems to have published at least two volumes of poetry
Flot et jusant and
Oiseau nitre; another collection,
Mots deserre-freins which assembled many of the early poems, appeared in 1972. However, Valançay seems to have been most appreciated and sought
after for his translations. Indeed, he was considered the official translator of Max Ernst and Hans Arp.
Administrative Information
Access
Open for use by qualified researchers.
Publication Rights
Preferred Citation
Robert Valançay correspondence, 1921-1978, Getty Research Institute, Research Library, Accession no. 950057.
http://hdl.handle.net/10020/cifa950057
Acquisition Information
Acquired 1995.
Scope and Content of Collection
Letters to and from Robert Valançay represent the personal and professional correspondence still in Valançay's possession
upon his death. They span a period of over 50 years from the 1920s to the 1970s and treat a wide variety of literary issues
that likewise concerned much of the French avant-garde. Among the prominent surrealist and Dada artists and poets who figure
in this archive are Hans Arp, Hans Bellmer, André Breton, Blaise Cendrars, René Char, Jean Crotti, Paul Eluard, Max Ernst,
Raoul Hausmann, Maurice Heine, Richard Huelsenbeck, Georges Hugnet, Marcel Jean, Guy Lévis, Mano, Pierre de Massot, Amédée
Ozenfant, Meret Oppenheim, Henri Parisot, Pastoureau, Roland Penrose, Man Ray, Hans Richter, Guy Rosey, André Salmon, Yves
Tanguy and Jacques Villon.
Valançay's activities can be divided into his poetic efforts and his work as a translator. As a young man, he seems to have
been involved with a group of Norman poets whose most famous member was a Charles Théophile Féret. The letters from Féret,
Charles Boulen, Fernand Fleuret, Napoléon Roinard are concerned with the promotion of Norman literature and they clearly consider
Valançay an ally in their campaign. This group of writers also encouraged Valançay's poetic aspirations, congratulating him
on the publication of various articles and volumes of poetry. By 1930, Valançay had made the acquaintance of many of the French
poets associated with surrealism. The collection includes letters from André Breton, Blaise Cendrars, René Char, Paul Eluard
and Georges Hugnet. Valançay was a close friend--they use the "tu" form of address--of both Eluard and Hugnet; the Hugnet
letters are particularly warm and express the anxiety of living in war-time Paris.
Valançay's interest in translation may have been ignited by his German teacher Maurice Boucher who was himself a poet and
translator. In the more than 60 letters that Boucher sent Valançay, we witness the development of his career. The correspondence
begins as a mentor relationship with Boucher offering encouragement and criticism--sometimes extremely technical--of Valançay's
poetic efforts and then, over time, changes into a cordial collegiality. As their translator, Valançay was a close friend
of Hans Arp, Max Ernst and Hans Bellmer and received a good deal of correspondence from all three men. The Bellmer letters
detail a very difficult period, the war years, in the life of their author, offering a vivid autobiographical account of Bellmer's
struggle to continue his artistic pursuits despite circumstances. The Ernst and Arp letters concern more professional issues
that occupied artist and translator alike.
Valançay received some 70 letters from Henri Parisot who edited
L'Age d'or and was associated with the publications
Fontaine,
Les Quatre Vents and
Les Cahiers du sud. Parisot solicited Valançay's help in preparing a volume of German poems translated into French, entitled
Anthologie de la poésie humoristique. The collection also includes Valançay's manuscript translations, presumably for this volume, of poems by Paul Celan, Heissenbüttel,
Erich Fried, Wilhelm Busch, Christian Morgenstern and Joachim Ringelnatz.
Apart from the aforementioned correspondence, there are interesting letters from other artists, critics and editors associated
with surrealism such as Marcel Jean, Francis Picabia, Raoul Hausmann, Maurice Heine, Guy Lévis, Pierre de Massot, Ozenfant,
Meret Oppenheim, Pastoureau, Yves Poupard-Lieussou, Raymond Queneau, Man Ray, Hans Richter, Guy Rosey, Yves Tanguy and Jacques
Villon. The Valançay letters also include a significant number of lesser known critics, editors and translators that, from
a social historian's point of view, potentially offer a valuable source for the reconstruction of this artistic and cultural
milieu.
The Valançay letters also contain about 50 photographs; most were presumably taken by Valançay. There are three pornographic
postcards which may have come from Paul Eluard's infamous collection. Finally, some 50 letters and cards, despite the best
efforts of the cataloguer, remain unidentified.
Arrangement note
The papers are organized in 2 series:
Series I. Letters received, 1921-1978;
Series II. Manuscripts and photographs, 1932-1978.
Indexing Terms
Subjects - Names
Valançay, Robert
Subjects - Topics
Surrealism
Genres and Forms of Material
Correspondence
Ephemera
Photographic prints
Photographs, Original
Contributors
Arp, Jean, 1887-1966
Bellmer, Hans, 1902-1975
Breton, André, 1896-1966
Eluard, Paul, 1895-1952
Ernst, Max, 1891-1976
Hausmann, Raoul, 1886-1971
Huelsenbeck, Richard, 1892-1974
Hugnet, Georges, 1906-1974
Man Ray, 1890-1976
Massot, Pierre de
Oppenheim, Meret, 1913-1985
Ozenfant, Amédée, 1886-1966
Parisot, Henri
Poupard-Lieussou, Y. (Yves)
Richter, Hans, 1888-1976
Tanguy, Yves, 1900-1955
Villon, Jacques, 1875-1963
Series I.
Letters received,
1921-1978
Physical Description:
ca. 1600 items
Scope and Content Note
Arranged alphabetically by correspondent, some of the letters are accompanied by ephemera. Twelve letters from Valançay are
included.
Box 1, Folder 1
Acker, Adolphe,
11 Aug 1970-9 Aug 1971
Scope and Content Note
3 handwritten letters.
Box 1, Folder 1
Adéma, Marcel,
7 Oct 1946-7 Oct 1949
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters.
Box 1, Folder 1
Aegertes, E.,
23 Oct 1929-7 Apr 1930
Scope and Content Note
3 handwritten letters.
Box 1, Folder 1
Aeramov, Georges
Scope and Content Note
Russian postcard.
Box 1, Folder 1
Albessard,
undated
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters.
Box 1, Folder 1
Altmann, Robert, 22 Apr 1960
Scope and Content Note
typed letter.
Box 1, Folder 1
Apollinaire, Jacqueline,
undated, ca. 1928
Scope and Content Note
5 handwritten letters, 2 autograph cards signed, 1 carte de visite signed. All are undated but from contents an approximate
date of 1928 can be deduced. She discusses plans for constructing a monument to her late husband and supplies bio-bibliographical
information for an edition of Guillaume Apollinaire's work.
Box 1, Folder 2
Arp, Hans,
1 Apr 1946-23 Oct 1959
Scope and Content Note
18 typed letters, 13 postcards signed and 7 telegrams. The letters mostly concern arranging eventual rendez-vous or rescheduling
them. Arp also discusses briefly his activities such as working on a book, articles and mentions that he attended the opening
of a Magnelli exhibition. The postcards are frequently witty and some have little collages by Arp.Joined: Typescript of "Danger
de Mort" dated 1953, an original lithograph by Arp made as a New Year's card and signed by Marguerite and Hans, 5 invitations
to Arp's exhibitions from 1946-1966, some newspaper clippings and an article by Marguerite Arp, "Arp as I knew him," read
at the Guggenheim Museum in May 1969.
Box 1, Folder 3
Arp-Hagenbach, Marquerite,
23 May 1946-11 Aug 1977
Scope and Content Note
18 handwritten letters, 15 typed letters, 1 letter written by Suzanne Feigel and signed by M. Arp, 24 postcards signed. Marguerite
acts as a kind of secretary for Arp, often writing in his place, "Arp me charge de..." It seems that Arp and Valançay are
in close collaboration, Valançay translating many of Arp's texts into French while Marguerite coordinates their efforts. However,
in 1951, Marguerite is at work on her own translation and asks Valançay for advice. Both she and Arp appreciate Valançay's
translation of Auguste Bolte with engravings by Ernst. After Arp's death in 1966, Marguerite continues the correspondence
with Valançay, discussing Arp's legacy as well as her own health problems.
Joined: The wedding announcement of Hans Arp and Marguerite Hagenbach's marriage and an invitation to Marguerite's 80th birthday
party.
Box 1, Folder 4
Arp, François,
5 Apr 1962-18 Jun 1969
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters, a typed letter and a carte de visite. Because of Marguerite's illness, François Arp takes charge of
his brother's correspondence.
Box 1, Folder 4
Arts Council of Great Britain,
17 Aug 1977-28 Apr 1978
Scope and Content Note
9 typed letters by Roland Penrose (1), Joanna Drew (2), and Richard Francis (6). All concern loans by Valançay for the exhibition
"Dada and Surrealism" in the Hayward Gallery London.
Box 1, Folder 4
Aubier, Fernand,
19 Jun 1941-28 May 1941
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters.
Box 1, Folder 4
Balascheff, Pierre,
28 Jun 1941-5 Jul 1941
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters and a signed postcard. These letters deal with the importance of Grabbe's play "Scherz, Satire Ironie
und tiefere Bedeutung."
Box 1, Folder 4
Baskind, Jacques,
1973-1977
Scope and Content Note
5 postcards.
Box 1, Folder 4
Begot, Jean Pierre,
undated
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters, wants to borrow
291.
Box 1, Folder 4
Béguin, Albert
Scope and Content Note
16 handwritten letters, 10 cards. While soliciting Béguin's advice about his translation of Grabbe, Valançay asks him to write
a preface. Béguin turns him down and encourages Valançay to write the preface himself - which he eventually did. There is
a discussion of literary magazines, Béguin's opinion of Valançay's poems Flot et jusant and Oiseau nitre, and Béguin supplies
Valançay with information about Lichtenberg and Novalis.
Box 1, Folder 4
Béhar, Henri
Scope and Content Note
1 typed letter, with minutes from Association pour l'étude du mouvement Dada.
Box 1, Folder 4
Bélias, Jean,
12 Oct 1971
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 1, Folder 5
Bellmer, Hans,
30 Nov 1935 - 13 Nov 1974
Scope and Content Note
31 handwritten letters. Many of the letters are written on pale pink paper and a few have a monogram - an H superimposed on
a B - in the upper left-hand corner. A fair portion of the letters are undated but contents allow for an approximate reconstruction
of their chronology. Joined: A photograph of the famous "poupée," 3 photograph-postcards presumable made by Bellmer, 6 invitations
to Bellmer's exhibitions.
Box 1, Folder 6
Berger, Pierre (See Périchard)
Box 1, Folder 6
Berggruen, Henri,
22 Feb 1954, 23 Mar 1954
Scope and Content Note
2 typed letters.
Box 1, Folder 6
Bergman, Alfred,
undated
Scope and Content Note
3 typed letters, 2 in German, one in French, concerning Valançay's translation of Grabbe.
Box 1, Folder 6
Berkstein, Sonia,
6 Jan 1933
Scope and Content Note
Card in German.
Box 1, Folder 6
Bern-Joffroy, André,
1973-1974
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters and a typed letter 8 Jan 1974 on Affaires Culturelles letterhead.
Box 1, Folder 6
Bertelé, René,
15 Mar 1945-14 Jan 1947
Scope and Content Note
3 handwritten letters and 5 typed letters. The letters concern the publication of Jacques Prévert's Paroles.
Box 1, Folder 6
Bezzola, N.,
1951
Scope and Content Note
New Year's card.
Box 1, Folder 6
Bibliographisches Institut AG,
5 Dec 1941
Scope and Content Note
Typed letter in German.
Box 1, Folder 6
Billy, André,
1927, 1931, undated
Scope and Content Note
4 handwritten letters from 5 Feb 1927 to 30 Sep 1931 and a typed letter, undated.
Box 1, Folder 6
Binet, Catherine,
1975-1976
Scope and Content Note
Letters (1975), and an invitation from 1976.
Box 1, Folder 6
Black, Jacob & Nicole, 12 July 1965
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 1, Folder 6
Bobon, Daniel, 1965
Scope and Content Note
2 typed letters, 7 Aug and 5 Apr 1965.
Box 1, Folder 6
Boers, F.,
8 Mar 1946
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 1, Folder 6
Bonmariage, Sylvain,
undated
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters.
Box 1, Folder 6
Bonnard, S.C.,
1932
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters, 18 May and 22 Jun 1932.
Box 1, Folder 6
Borderie, Roger,
1975
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters 9 Aug and 2 Aug 1975 ask Valançay to correct some errors.
Box 1, Folder 6
Benoit, Pierre, André,
undated
Scope and Content Note
4 handwritten letters.
Box 1, Folder 6
Bosmans, André
Scope and Content Note
Postcard.
Box 1, Folder 7
Boucher, Maurice,
16 Aug 1921-30 Jan 1976
Scope and Content Note
60 handwritten letters, 5 typed letters and 16 cards, the letters are relatively short. Boucher, a specialist in German literature
and poet himself, seems to have been Valançay's teacher. The correspondence begins as a kind of mentor relationship with Boucher
offering criticism and encouragement of Valançay's poetry and then changes to a cordial collegiality. The two men discuss
the work, among others, of Stefan George, Lichtenberg, Mallarmé and Hubert Eulenberg.
Box 1, Folder 7
Boulen, Charles,
11 Oct 1928-12 Jun 1933
Scope and Content Note
34 handwritten letters and 3 newspaper clippings. Boulen describes himself as the "poète cultivateur de Saint-Maclou-de-Folleville."
As with Théret and Roinard, Boulen is an enthusiastic proponent of Norman poetry and much of the correspondence concerns the
promotion and commemoration of his friends and colleagues. He also appreciates Valançay's poetic efforts, congratulating him
on
Flot et jusant.
Box 1, Folder 8
Braque, M.,
17 Nov 1930
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 1, Folder 8
Breker, Arno,
23 Jan 1931-22 May 1942
Scope and Content Note
12 handwritten letters and 12 postcards in French (many are undated). Breker discusses his projects with Valançay who had
written a positive review of an early exhibition. Throughout the early thirties, they seem to be on very cordial terms. On
the rare occasion when Breker does mention the political turmoil gripping Germany during this period, he says that he hopes
"things will work themselves out."
Box 1, Folder 8
Breton, André,
23 Feb 1923-24 Apr 1947
Scope and Content Note
6 handwritten letters. Both a professional and cordial exchange between two poets who seem to share similar interests in art
and politics.
Box 1, Folder 8
Brun, Jean,
12 Aug 1946, undated
Scope and Content Note
3 letters and a carte-de-visite in which Brun refers to himself as "Professeur de Pataphysique." In the letters, Brun discusses
his friend Bellmer, mentioning the latter's troubles, and solicits Valançay's assistance.
Box 1, Folder 8
Brunius, Jacques,
28 Mar 1938, 27 Apr 1938
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters.
Box 1, Folder 8
Brylinsky, Albert,
22 Dec 1942-19 Nov 1947
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters.
Box 1, Folder 8
Bufé, Henry,
21 Oct 1958
Scope and Content Note
1 typed letter in German.
Box 1, Folder 8
Buffet-Picabia, Gabrielle,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 1, Folder 8
Caumont, Jacques
Scope and Content Note
handwritten letters 4/26/1977.
Box 1, Folder 8
Cendrars, Blaise,
7 Dec 1949
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten thank-you note on H. Matarasso stationary.
Box 1, Folder 8
Char, René,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter: Char will miss a meeting with Valançay and apologizes.
Box 1, Folder 8
Charon, A,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter: congratulations on Valançay's marriage.
Box 1, Folder 8
Clarac-Serou, Max,
27 Dec 1950
Scope and Content Note
1 typed letter.
Box 1, Folder 8
Clarez, Maring,
9 Mar 1931
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 1, Folder 8
Club Shell,
1974
Scope and Content Note
Cinquantenaire.
Box 1, Folder 8
Coillot
Scope and Content Note
handwritten letters 10/19/1942.
Box 1, Folder 8
Congrès International des Ecrivains Pour la Défense de la Culture
Scope and Content Note
TLS 6/8/1935.
Box 1, Folder 8
Copperie, Adrien,
1931-1932
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters. Discussion of poems for
Demain, Valançay is obviously a contributor.
Box 1, Folder 8
Cournot, Michel,
undated
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters.
Box 1, Folder 8
Courter, P.J.,
1 Feb 1964
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 1, Folder 8
Couvert, Roger,
1973, 1974
Scope and Content Note
2 letters..
Box 1, Folder 8
Crotti, Jean,
28 Feb 1928-25 Mar 1953
Scope and Content Note
4 handwritten letters. Affectionate letters in which Crotti thanks Valançay for an article the latter wrote; Crotti asks Valançay
to collaborate on a project; Crotti sends condolence upon the death of Valançay's wife.
Box 1, Folder 8
Deffoux, Leon,
25 Jun 1931
Scope and Content Note
Card.
Box 1, Folder 8
Delaunay, Robert,
25 Jul 1932
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 1, Folder 8
Demaison, André,
2 Nov 1929
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 1, Folder 8
Divernois, Henri,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 1, Folder 8
Divoire, Fernard,
9 Jun 1926
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter with letterhead from L'Intransigent.
Box 1, Folder 8
Dollfus, Charles,
15 Feb 1960
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 1, Folder 8
Dorgelès, Roland,
1 Jan 1931
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 1, Folder 8
Doucet, Jacques
Scope and Content Note
"Etat des Périodiques de la Bibliothèque Jacques Doucet."
Box 1, Folder 8
Drouin, René,
undated
Scope and Content Note
2 letters.
Box 1, Folder 8
Du Flou, Maurice,
1947-1948
Scope and Content Note
3 handwritten letters. He is re-editing de Sade and Apollinaire and seeks Valançay's advice.
Box 1, Folder 8
Duby, Henri, Louis,
24 Aug 1928
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 1, Folder 8
EDICORE ,
4 Dec 1961
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter, signature unidentified.
Box 1, Folder 8
Editions Pierre Belfond, 5 Apr 1969
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 1, Folder 8
Editions Gallimard,
21 Feb 1969
Scope and Content Note
1 typed letter. They turn down Valançay's offer for Unica Zurn's notebooks.
Box 1, Folder 8
Editions Stendal et Cie,
29 Jul 1935
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter, signature is unidentified.
Box 1, Folder 9
Eigenchenck, Athée,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter. A school teacher who solicits Valançay's thoughts on poetry and requests an autobiographical notice.
Box 1, Folder 9
Elton, Arthur,
1950-1952, 1955
Scope and Content Note
5 handwritten letters and a Christmas card.
Box 1, Folder 9
Eluard, Paul,
3 Apr 1933-22 Jul 1942
Scope and Content Note
25 handwritten letters. For the most part, this correspondence contains short messages and lettres pneumatiques concerning
meetings, the purchase of books, translations, exchange of photographs and frequent mention of Eluard's declining health.
Box 1, Folder 9
Ernst, Max,
16 Oct 1960-10 Apr 1973
Scope and Content Note
4 letters and 4 cards (two are of Ernst's paintings). Ernst attempts to supply Valançay with information on a Arcus Troll
who was apparently associated with "Elf Scharfrichter." Discussion of a lithograph made by Ernst for Schwitter's "Auguste
Bolte." Ernst expresses his annoyance at the behavior of a M. Belfond in relation to the publication of "Rire." With a translation
of Christian Morgenstern's poem "Clôture" by Ernst.
Box 1, Folder 9
Etiemble,
1964
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters.
Box 1, Folder 9
Eulenberg, Herbert,
1927-1928
Scope and Content Note
2 letters and 2 postcards in German. The letters concern Valançay's translation of Eulenberg's plays
Alles um Geld and plans for a translation of
Schattenbilder. With 3 letters from Eulenberg's son Till.
Box 1, Folder 9
Fanido,
1973-1974
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter and postcard.
Box 1, Folder 9
Fauchois, René,
2 Jul 1930
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 1, Folder 9
Fequet et Baudier,
1969
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter and 2 New Year's cards, including a wood-cut engraving by Arp.
Box 1, Folder 9
Féret, Ch. Th.,
1927-1929
Scope and Content Note
10 handwritten letters (small aerograms). Féret, a poet from Normandy, discusses various questions concerning poetry with
the young Valançay. It seems that they were introduced by Fernand Fleuret and share many mutual friends such as Napoléon Roinard
and Paul Eluard. Féret congratulates Valançay on a well written article.
Box 1, Folder 9
Ferry, Jean,
1971, undated
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters. Ferry thanks Valançay for making a gift to him of the latter's translation of Unica Zurn's memoirs
and Kubin's work.
Box 1, Folder 9
Feuillets Inutiles
Scope and Content Note
Invitation.
Box 1, Folder 9
Filipacchi,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1handwritten letter.
Box 1, Folder 9
Fiumi, Lionello,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter. He received Valançay's
Flot et Jusant and will write about it in the Italian press.
Box 1, Folder 9
Flaire, V, de,
1977
Scope and Content Note
1 letter and a postcard.
Box 1, Folder 9
Fleuret, Fernand,
undated
Scope and Content Note
8 letters and 5 postcards. A friendly correspondence that concerns mutual interests in the arts, mentions Billy, Apollinaire,
Dufy, Féret and discusses Valançay's poems and translations.
Box 1, Folder 9
Flouquet, Pierre Louis,
1931-1932
Scope and Content Note
3 postcards that concern Flouquet's journal and Valançay's offer to help distribute it.
Box 1, Folder 9
Forster, L.W.,
19 Nov 1932
Scope and Content Note
1 typed letter.
Box 2, Folder 1
Frick, Louis de Gonzague,
6 Jan 1929-27 May 1934
Scope and Content Note
24 handwritten letters and 9 postcards. Some are on letterhead: "La Bourgogne d'Or," "La Forêt," "Lectures pour tous" and
"Amis de 1914." In Frick's usual grandiloquent style, he congratulates and encourages Valançay's poetic efforts. He also reports
on the lives and activities of his avant-garde friends.
Box 2, Folder 1
Fuchs,
7 Jul 1964
Scope and Content Note
1 typed letter.
Box 2, Folder 2
Gallimard, Librairie,
29 Dec 1934-5 Oct 1971
Scope and Content Note
8 typed letters. Signed by Walter Mehring, Catherine von Bülow, U. Karvelis and Catherine Gradwohl.
Box 2, Folder 2
Gance, Abel,
16 Mar 1931
Scope and Content Note
1 typed letter. Thanks Valançay for his positive review of Gance's books.
Box 2, Folder 2
Gaspard, Jean,
undated
Scope and Content Note
Card.
Box 2, Folder 2
Gaudfroy, M.H,
1951
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 2, Folder 2
Giroud, Michel,
1975-1976
Scope and Content Note
2 letters. Publisher of Projectoire wants to publish something by Kurt Schwitters.
Box 2, Folder 2
Glotz, René,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 2, Folder 2
Goll, Iwan,
14 Jul 1930
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 2, Folder 2
Gueigan, Bernard,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter. He would like to obtain the Apollinaire record.
Box 2, Folder 2
Gueré, A.,
1955-1957
Scope and Content Note
3 handwritten letters.
Box 2, Folder 2
Guillaume, Louis,
1965-1971
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters and 4 cards. With two poems "En Trois Coups d'Aile" and "Noir Comme La Mer."
Box 2, Folder 2
Harivel, John, Le, 1964-1977
Scope and Content Note
Letters. Harivel also worked for Shell and the two men seem to have shared a close relationship - Harivel uses the "tu" form
of address when writing to Valançay. Harivel sometimes signs his letters either "Jean" or "le petit Jerry."
Box 2, Folder 2
Harrossowitz, Otto,
2 Apr 1941
Scope and Content Note
1 typed letter in German.
Box 2, Folder 2
Hausmann, Herta,
11 Feb 1975
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter concerning the death of Bellmer.
Box 2, Folder 2
Hausmann, Raoul,
1957
Scope and Content Note
4 handwritten lettersasking if Valançay would do a final revision of his
Courrier Dada. Valançay eventually declines. With a typed manuscript of "Synthetisches Cine der Malerei" dated 1918.
Box 2, Folder 2
Heine, Maurice,
1934-1938
Scope and Content Note
9 handwritten letters. Heine, one of the founding editors of
Minotaure, complains to Valançay about the amount of time that the publication demands. He is also working on an edition of Sade's
120 Days. A few of the letters deal with arranging a meeting between the two men.
Box 2, Folder 2
Henry, Ruth,
ca. 1968-1976
Scope and Content Note
16 letters, 10 cards and telegram - most are undated. Most of the letters are written in extreme haste asking for Valançay's
advice on questions of translation or finding a particular citation. Valançay and Ruth collaborated on various translations.
Box 2, Folder 3
Herboulot,
undated
Scope and Content Note
Card.
Box 2, Folder 3
Huelsenbeck, Richard,
1949-1953
Scope and Content Note
10 letters in German. With 2 letters from Beate Huelsenbeck.
Box 2, Folder 3
Hugnet, Georges,
1937-1942
Scope and Content Note
8 handwritten letters and 4 postcards. An intimate and friendly correspondence, Hugnet solicits Valançay's contribution of
poetry and translation for
Contre-Attaque, a journal that he edits. Hugnet alludes to the difficulties of living in occupied Paris and expresses his concern about
Max Ernst who, as a German citizen, was interned and prosecuted by the Gestapo.
Box 2, Folder 3
Hugues, Jean,
1965, 1977
Scope and Content Note
3 letters.
Box 2, Folder 3
Hyde, Jacqueline,
27 Nov 1973
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 2, Folder 3
Institute for the Arts, Rice University,
1971
Scope and Content Note
1 letter.
Box 2, Folder 3
Kerr, Bobby,
1962
Scope and Content Note
1 letter.
Box 2, Folder 3
Jacob, Black,
1965
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 2, Folder 3
Jaguer, Edouard,
1950
Scope and Content Note
Typed letter concerns the new journal
Rixes and the urgent need for a translation.
Box 2, Folder 3
Janis, Sidney,
1945, 1953-1962
Scope and Content Note
3 letters, 4 invitations and 3 New Year's cards.
Box 2, Folder 3
Jean, Marcel,
1950-1979
Scope and Content Note
6 letters, 29 cards and postcards, and 4 New Year's cards. Most of the cards are from holiday trips, written in a charming,
humorous and intimate style.
Box 2, Folder 3
Jouglet, René,
1928-1929
Scope and Content Note
4 handwritten letters with letterhead from
Les Editions des Portiques.
Box 2, Folder 3
Jouty, Michel,
11 Feb 1975
Scope and Content Note
New Year's card.
Box 2, Folder 4
Kandinsky, Nina,
1948
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters.
Box 2, Folder 4
Klee-Palyi, Flora,
1933-1950
Scope and Content Note
10 letters, 3 postcards.
Box 2, Folder 4
Kleinfilm-foto,
1939
Scope and Content Note
1 letter in German.
Box 2, Folder 4
Koehlers, K. F.,
1942
Scope and Content Note
1 letter in German.
Box 2, Folder 4
Kolney, Fernand,
1929, 1931
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters.
Box 2, Folder 4
La Polémique,
1927
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 2, Folder 4
Lachévrel, Frédéric,
1929-1930
Scope and Content Note
5 handwritten letters and 3 cartes-de-visite.
Box 2, Folder 4
Lartigue, Jean,
1949
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter, letterhead "Cahier Du Sud."
Box 2, Folder 4
Le Club français du livre,
1949
Scope and Content Note
1 letter, concerns a translation.
Box 2, Folder 4
Le Surréalisme Permanent
Scope and Content Note
Table of contents.
Box 2, Folder 4
LeFebvre,
1966, 1971
Scope and Content Note
2 letters.
Box 2, Folder 4
Lévis-Mano, Guy,
1936
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter, agrees to publish a manuscript by Valançay in Editons GLM.
Box 2, Folder 4
Librairie La Hune,
1932-1949
Scope and Content Note
8 letters. The first few letters concern Valançay's contribution to
La Hune.
Box 2, Folder 4
Librairie Matin Flinker,
11 Jun 1963
Scope and Content Note
Invitation.
Box 2, Folder 4
Loliée, Bernard,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1 letter.
Box 2, Folder 4
Louys, R.,
18 Jan 1949
Scope and Content Note
1 letter on
Cahiers du Sud stationary.
Box 2, Folder 4
Lubies, H.,
30 Mar 1936
Scope and Content Note
TLS 3/30/36.
Box 2, Folder 4
Malet, Leo,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 2, Folder 4
Malkine, Malkine,
undated
Scope and Content Note
2 letters.
Box 2, Folder 4
Mangaut, Raymond,
1934
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter and a card.
Box 2, Folder 5
Marc, Fernand,
1929-1934
Scope and Content Note
42 letters and 14 postcards (some by his wife Gabrielle). Marc, director of
Sagesse, publishes Valançay's poetry and does not hesitate to offer constructive criticism. As time passes, they become close friends.
Box 2, Folder 5
Marchand, Jean, José,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1 typed letter.
Box 2, Folder 5
Marcoussis,
1927
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 2, Folder 5
Maret, Jacques,
undated
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters.
Box 2, Folder 5
Mariol, Henri,
1926-1928
Scope and Content Note
Le Progrès du Nord, 5 handwritten letters.
Box 2, Folder 5
Mason, Bill,
1952-1977
Scope and Content Note
15 letters and 10 New Years cards. Mason also works for Shell and is currently working on a film about the history of the
automobile. Mason's letters are warm and affectionate.
Box 2, Folder 5
Massot, Pierre de,
1932
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter and a postcard.
Box 2, Folder 5
Matarasso, Henri,
1952, 1954
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters.
Box 2, Folder 5
Mathiez, F.T.,
1928
Scope and Content Note
1 letter.
Box 2, Folder 6
Maublanc, Jean-Daniel,
1941, 1964
Scope and Content Note
3 letters.
Box 2, Folder 6
Mauer, Leo,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1handwritten letter.
Box 2, Folder 6
Maury, Imprimeries,
1962
Scope and Content Note
7 letters.
Box 2, Folder 6
McLaughlin, Nuala,
1962
Scope and Content Note
1 letter.
Box 2, Folder 6
Mehring, Walter,
1969
Scope and Content Note
New Years card.
Box 2, Folder 6
Meilland, René,
1956
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 2, Folder 6
Messinger, Sylvie,
1971
Scope and Content Note
card.
Box 2, Folder 6
Meyer, André,
1943-1949
Scope and Content Note
10 handwritten letters and 3 carte-de-visite. Meyer, a German scholar, is enthusiastic about Valançay's translation of Grabbe's
"Scherz, Satire und Ironie."
Box 2, Folder 6
Michelet, Victor-Emile,
1927-1937
Scope and Content Note
3 handwritten letters.
Box 2, Folder 6
Mock, Jean-Yves,
1953-1970
Scope and Content Note
12 handwritten letters and 3 cards. Mock manages the Hanover gallery in London and keeps Valançay informed about the exhibitions,
occasionally asking for assistance with translations.
Box 2, Folder 6
Monod, Pierre,
1971
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 2, Folder 6
Morel, A. et Cie,
1964
Scope and Content Note
1 letter.
Box 2, Folder 6
Morel, Robert,
1966
Scope and Content Note
1 letter.
Box 2, Folder 6
Morse, Walter,
1935-1940
Scope and Content Note
5 handwritten letters and 3 cards.
Box 2, Folder 6
Moza, André,
1931-1932
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters.
Box 2, Folder 7
Neergaarde, Beate,
ca. 1951
Scope and Content Note
3 letters.
Box 2, Folder 7
Noll, Marcel,
1927-1928
Scope and Content Note
2 letters.
Box 2, Folder 7
Normanville, Peter, de,
1950, 1952, undated
Scope and Content Note
5 handwritten letters and 2 cards.
Box 2, Folder 7
O'Connoll, Aidan,
1962-1965
Scope and Content Note
7 letters. O'Connoll works for Shell-Bern and met Valançay during the latter's visit to Dublin. Valançay asks O'Connoll for
a copy of Dylan Thomas's poems. Their correspondence is personal and chatty; O'Connoll repeatedly invites Valançay and his
wife to Ireland.
Box 2, Folder 7
Obaldia, René de,
1971
Scope and Content Note
Card.
Box 2, Folder 7
Oppenheim, Meret,
1970-1983
Scope and Content Note
13 handwritten letters and 15 cards. Oppenheim thanks Valançay for a translation - presumably "Rêves du cosmos" - that he
did for her. Valançay sends her a volume of his poems. There is also a question of publishing Wolfgang Paalen's letters but,
because of their personal nature, Oppenheim declines. With 6 invitations to Oppenheim's exhibitions.
Box 2, Folder 7
Orenstein, Gloria,
1974
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 2, Folder 7
Owens, Noragh,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 2, Folder 8
Ozenfant, Amédée,
1927
Scope and Content Note
1 letter.
Box 2, Folder 8
Pach, Walter,
1932
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters.
Box 2, Folder 8
Painlevé, Jean,
1962
Scope and Content Note
2 letters.
Box 2, Folder 8
Parisot, Henri,
1935-1977
Scope and Content Note
72 handwritten letters. The correspondence begins in an amicable fashion with an exchange of information and comments on various
projects, however, in 1938, they have a falling out with Valançay taking Bellmer's side which Parisot apparently finds unacceptable.
The correspondence resumes in 1945. Parisot is now the editor of
L'Age d'or and wants to publish Valançay's translation of Grabbe's "Scherz, Satire und Ironie." So the correspondence continues with
Parisot (who is involved with various journals:
Fontaine,
Les Quatre Vents,
Les Cahiers du Sud) soliciting poems and translations from Valançay. They often deal with technical questions of translation, little known German
poets and a rather long discussion, lasting several letters, of Parisot project to publish an
Anthologie de la poésie humoristque. There is also mention of common friends such as Eluard, Bellmer, Ernst and Marcel Jean.
Box 3, Folder 1
Parrot, Louis,
1928-1942
Scope and Content Note
7 handwritten letters and 2 cards.
Box 3, Folder 1
Pastoureau, Henri,
1936, 1951
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters.
Box 3, Folder 1
Paulhan
Scope and Content Note
Exhibition information.
Box 3, Folder 1
Pauvert, Jean-Jacques,
1946, 1965
Scope and Content Note
3 letters.
Box 3, Folder 1
Penrose, Roland
Scope and Content Note
3 handwritten letters and TLS from 2/17/1937 to 4/11/1977.
Box 3, Folder 1
Perceau, Louis,
1931-1941
Scope and Content Note
18 handwritten letters. Their exchange begins with literary questions about different editions, bibliographical issues and
so forth. However, as the war continues, their correspondence becomes increasingly occupied with the procurement of vegetables,
their price and quality.
Box 3, Folder 1
Périchard, Pierre,
ca. 1940
Scope and Content Note
4 handwritten letters apparently from about 1940. Périchard, an aspiring writer, is in the French army and appreciates the
intellectual exchange that his correspondence with Valançay provides him. He seems to have known George Hugnet as well as
Paul Eluard.
Box 3, Folder 1
Pernot, Hubert,
1930-1931
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters.
Box 3, Folder 1
Petithory, Chantal,
undated
Scope and Content Note
Death announcement.
Box 3, Folder 1
Picabia, Francis,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter, card and "pneumatique."
Box 3, Folder 1
Picon, Mme,
undated
Scope and Content Note
Bibliothèque des arts décoratifs.
Box 3, Folder 1
Poupard-Lieussou, Yves,
1955-1968
Scope and Content Note
8 handwritten letters and 4 cards.
Box 3, Folder 1
Prour, Octav,
1972
Scope and Content Note
Copy of a typed letter.
Box 3, Folder 1
Queneau, Raymond,
1943-1946
Scope and Content Note
4 letters. Queneau, working at Gallimard, officially declines Valançay's translation of Grabbe.
Box 3, Folder 2
Rabin, Jean-François,
undated
Scope and Content Note
Card.
Box 3, Folder 2
Raemisch, Erich,
1933
Scope and Content Note
1 letter.
Box 3, Folder 2
Ray, Man,
ca. 1950s-1984
Scope and Content Note
5 cards.
Box 3, Folder 2
Richard, Elie,
18 Nov 1930
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 3, Folder 2
Richter, Hans,
1962
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 3, Folder 2
Road, Sinclair,
1955
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters and a Christmas card.
Box 3, Folder 2
Road, Sinclair
Scope and Content Note
TLS 11/17/1950.
Box 3, Folder 2
Roché, Henri-Pierre
Scope and Content Note
Card from 2/4/1950.
Box 3, Folder 2
Roinard, Napoléon,
ca. 1923-1930
Scope and Content Note
64 handwritten letters. About half are undated but seem to be from the same period. Roinard, président d'honneur des poètes
et conteurs normands, is passionately involved in the research and promotion of Norman authors. He also apologizes to Valançay
for the "scandal" of his non-acceptance into the syndicat of Norman poets. The two discuss all manner of literary topics,
common friends, and projects mostly having to do with the promotion and publication of Norman writers such as Pourot, Meunier,
Humbert, Hamel, Brulat, Biage and so forth.
Box 3, Folder 2
Rosey, Guy,
1930-1964
Scope and Content Note
16 handwritten letters. This correpondence is an amicable exchange between poets who seem to have appreciated each others
efforts.
Box 3, Folder 2
Roubaix, François de,
20 Nov 1975
Scope and Content Note
Death announcement.
Box 3, Folder 2
Rouveyre, André,
1930
Scope and Content Note
4 handwritten letters.
Box 3, Folder 3
Salmon, André,
1927-1935
Scope and Content Note
3 handwritten letters. With a manuscript copy of poem "Der Dichter In Der Mansarde."
Box 3, Folder 3
Saltas,
1946
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters.
Box 3, Folder 3
Sanouillet, Michel,
1950-1953, 1955
Scope and Content Note
12 letters. An interesting exchange as Sanouillet begins putting together his book on the history of Dada. Also includes his
son's birth announcement and New Year's card from 1955.
Box 3, Folder 3
Schwarz, Arthur,
14 Feb 1963
Scope and Content Note
1 typed letter.
Box 3, Folder 3
Schwitter, Ernst,
3 Aug 1949
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 3, Folder 3
Seckel, Hélène,
1975-1976
Scope and Content Note
2 typed letters; would like to photograph Valançay's complete run of
291.
Box 3, Folder 3
Segolat, Roger, J.,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter. Segolat wrote a book on Eluard and used Valançay's photographs without attribution.
Box 3, Folder 3
Servant, S.,
1 Apr 1965
Scope and Content Note
1 typed letter.
Box 3, Folder 3
Seuphor, Michel,
1954
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter and 3 cards.
Box 3, Folder 3
Sinot
Scope and Content Note
Copy of a notary's letter concerning the dispersal of the Marquis de Sade's possessions dated
27 Jan 1815 and a photograph of de Sade's door in Vaucluse.
Box 3, Folder 3
Société française des traducteurs,
1958-1973
Scope and Content Note
5 typed letters and a memograph.
Box 3, Folder 3
Solidor, Susy,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 3, Folder 3
Stendial, Renata,
1975
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter and a postcard.
Box 3, Folder 3
Strecker, Paul,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1handwritten letter.
Box 3, Folder 3
Supervielle, Jules,
28 Apr 1931
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 3, Folder 4
Tanguy, Yves,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter on Gradiva stationary.
Box 3, Folder 4
Thévenin, Paule,
ca. 1949
Scope and Content Note
6 letters, 3 about
Bilboquet .
Box 3, Folder 4
Tracol, H.,
1934
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 3, Folder 4
Treillard, L.,
23 Dec 1969
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 3, Folder 4
Tschischold, Jan,
1952
Scope and Content Note
1 typed letter.
Box 3, Folder 4
Tuchman, Emile,
1962
Scope and Content Note
2 typed letters.
Box 3, Folder 4
Valançay, Brigitte,
undated
Scope and Content Note
Postcard.
Box 3, Folder 4
Valançay, George,
undated
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 3, Folder 4
Valançay, Mireille,
1949-1951
Scope and Content Note
4 handwritten letters.
Box 3, Folder 4
Verdier, Henri,
1971-1977
Scope and Content Note
9 handwritten letters.
Box 3, Folder 4
Verlag, Gallus,
1942
Scope and Content Note
2 typed letters in German.
Box 3, Folder 4
Vesselo, Arthur,
1964
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 3, Folder 4
Vétiste, André,
1969
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 3, Folder 4
Vidal, J., undated
Scope and Content Note
5 handwritten letters.
Box 3, Folder 4
Villon-Duchamps, Jacques,
1929-1952
Scope and Content Note
9 handwritten letters. Short letters concerning artistic questions on cubism and other literary matters.
Box 3, Folder 4
Vingtième Siècle (XXè siècle),
1971-1974
Scope and Content Note
9 letters.
Box 3, Folder 5
Vordemberge-Gildewart, Nicolas,
1950
Scope and Content Note
1 typed letter.
Box 3, Folder 5
Wachsmann, Paul,
1972
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 3, Folder 5
Waldberg, Patrick,
10 Jun 1963-9 Jan 1972
Scope and Content Note
4 cards.
Box 3, Folder 5
Wehrlin, François,
1964, undated
Scope and Content Note
2 letters.
Box 3, Folder 5
Wise, David,
24 Nov 1965
Scope and Content Note
1 typed letter.
Box 3, Folder 5
Wock, Helmut,
1949
Scope and Content Note
5 handwritten letters in German.
Box 3, Folder 5
Wolf, E.,
1932
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Box 3, Folder 5
Zayas, R. de., 1965
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter.
Series II.
Manuscripts and photographs,
ca. 1932-1978
Physical Description:
9.0 folder(s)
Scope and Content Note
Series contains manuscripts, including translations, and a few letters by Valançay, as well as ca. 50 photographs, most presumably
taken by Valançay. Also clippings and 5 manuscripts by others.
Box 3, Folder 6
Manuscripts and letters: Valançay,
1932
Scope and Content Note
2 handwritten letters to Louis Parrot concerning Parrot's unwillingness to lend him certain surrealist journals.
Box 3, Folder 6
Letter to Biblioteque nationale,
26 Feb 1945
Scope and Content Note
1 handwritten letter to the "Administrateur" of the BN concerning permission to review Sade's manuscript in the "Enfer."
Box 3, Folder 6
Letters between Valançay to Hébertot,
17 Oct 1931-10 Apr 1932
Scope and Content Note
9 typed letters concerning making a copy of a recording of Apollinaire and 8 typed letters from Hébertot responding to Valançay.
Box 3, Folder 6
Translations, essays and notes by Valançay
Scope and Content Note
A group of 21 German poems translated by Valançay for Parisot's
Anthologie de la Poésie humoristique. Two short essays on Marcel Jean and essay entitled "Introduction" on the romantic writer Ludwig Tieck. Notes by Valançay
on Cravan's journal
Maintenant.
Box 3, Folder 7
Translation by Valançay
Scope and Content Note
Partial translation of
Essay on Woman in Three Epistles into French from English by Valançay
Box 3, Folder 7
Articles
Scope and Content Note
on André Breton, Jean Paulhan and various other topics.
Box 4, Folder 1
Photographs
Scope and Content Note
2 Dance hall pictures, 12 portraits of Mme and M. Valançay, 6 nude model pictures in a studio (dealer speculates that it might
be Breker's studio), 10 photos of women on a beach (Valançay's wife Henriette is one of the women in these pictures, another
may be Germaine Hugnet), 19 pictures taken at Eluard's Domaine du Percq in 1934 of Eluard, Nutsch, Germaine and George Hugnet
and Henriette Valançay, 3 pornographic postcards. Valançay presumably took most of these pictures.
Box 4, Folder 2
Manuscripts by others,
1933, 1948
Scope and Content Note
A typed manuscript by Otto Grautoff dated Feb 1933, entitled "Die Literatur. 4 typed manuscripts by Walter J. Moeschlin dated
1948, entitled "Franziskusbild," "Der Sturm," "Der Strom Asmuth," and "Orkeanos." A bibliography of Apollinaire. 4 photographs
of a Henry-Dompard.
Box 5, Folder 1-5
Unidentified letters and cards
Box 5, Folder 1
Letters, cards and postcards
Scope and Content Note
Approximately 25 unidentified letters and 25 unidentified cards and postcards
Box 5, Folder 2
Christmas and New Year's Cards
Scope and Content Note
from friends, colleagues and acquaintances, ca. 85 items.
