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Carl Van Doren Papers
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Held at: Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division [Contact Us]
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Princeton University Library: Manuscripts Division. Unless otherwise noted, the materials described below are physically available in their reading room, and not digitally available through the web.
Overview and metadata sections
1885 Born in Hope, Illinois 1907 A.B. Illinois 1911 Ph.D. Columbia 1911-1930 professor, English Dept., Columbia University 1917-1921 managing editor of The Cambridge History of American Literature 1919-1922 literary editor of The Nation 1922-1925 literary editor of The Century Magazine 1926-1934 editor of The Literary Guild 1921 The American Novel 1922 Contemporary American Novelists, 1900-1920 1923 The Roving Critic 1924 Many Minds 1925 Other Provinces and American and British Literature Since 1890 (with Mark Van Doren) 1926 The Ninth Wave 1930 Swift 1933 Sinclair Lewis and American Literature: An Introduction undated American Literature: An Introduction 1935 And Anthology of World Prose (editor) 1936 Three Worlds (autobiography) 1938 Benjamin Franklin (Pulitzer Prize for American biography, 1939) 1939 An Illinois Boyhood 1941 Secret History of the American Revolution 1943 Mutiny in January 1946 American Scriptures (with Carl Carmer) 1948 The Great Rehearsal 1950 Jane Mecom, the Favorite Sister of Benjamin Franklin Van Doren Family
Parents: Dr. and Mrs. C. L. Van Doren
Brothers: Frank, Guy, Mark, Paul
Marriages: Irita
daughters: Anne (Mrs. Jerome D. Ross), Barbara (Mrs. Spencer Klaw), Margaret (Mrs. Tom Bevans), Jean (Wright)
The collection illustrates the literary career of Van Doren in typescripts, some with author's corrections, and research notes for his biography of Benjamin Franklin (New York: The Viking Press, 1938) (for which he won the Pulitzer Prize in American biography), The Devil's Lane, The Great Rehearsal (New York: The Viking Press, 1948), Jane Mecom, the Favorite Sister of Benjamin Franklin (New York: The Viking Press, 1950), Mutiny in January, Secret History of the American Revolution (New York: The Viking Press, 1941), Sinclair Lewis (Garden City, N. Y.: Doubleday Doran & Company, Inc., 1933), Swift (New York: The Viking Press, 1930), and the Letters and Papers of Benjmain Franklin and Richard Jackson, 1753-1785 (Philadelphia: The American Philosophical Society, 1947) (which he edited), and in typescripts for some of his short stories, articles, lectures, poetry, and radio programs ("Words at War") based on his material. In addition, there are 35 volumes of notebooks and diaries (1901-1950) and 17 boxes of correspondence (1905-1950), 4.5 boxes of which are letters (1909-1950) to his brother, Mark Van Doren. Correspondents include Fred Allen, John Erskine, Robert Frost, Zona Gale, Jean Jersholt, Sinclair Lewis, H. L. Mencken, and William P. Trent.
The collection also contains various documents, including Van Doren's will, souvenirs, memorabilia, photographs, clippings, and printed material, as well as legal papers and correspondence dealing with his participation in several lawsuits involving copyright infringement. Included in papers of other persons are a self-portrait in pencil by Sinclair Lewis, William P. Trent's "Sexagenarian Verses" in holograph, and other poetry and plays by lesser known contemporaries. Photographs of Carl Van Doren, Bennett Cerf, Lillian Hellman, Mrs. Roosevelt, John Foster Dulles, Maude Howe Elliott, and others are also included.
Additions (manuscripts, letters) were the gift of Donna Hirsh in March 2010.
For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.
No appraisal information is available.
People
- André, John (1751-1780)
- Arnold, Benedict (1741-1801)
- Franklin, Benjamín (1706-1790)
- Jackson, Richard (1722-1787)
- Lewis, Sinclair (1885-1951)
- Mecom, Jane (1712-1794)
- Swift, Jonathan (1667-1745)
- Van Doren, Mark (1894-1972)
Subject
- Brothers -- United States. -- 20th century
- Copyright infringement -- United States -- Cases
- Radio programs -- United States
- Treason -- United States. -- 18th century
- Radio scripts -- United States
- Novelists, American. -- 20th century
Place
Occupation
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Date
- 1998
- Access Restrictions
-
Collection is open for research use.
- Use Restrictions
-
Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.
Collection Inventory
Consists of the writings of Carl Van Doren, including his major writings, short stories, articles, lectures, and radio scripts.
This series is arranged into six subseries: Major writings, Short stories, Articles, Lectures, Radio scripts, and Miscellaneous.
Physical Description15 boxes
Consists of the major writings of Carl Van Doren, including books such as Benjamin Franklin and Mutiny in January, as well as edited collections such as The Letters and Papers of Benjamin Franklin and Richard Jackson.
Arranged alphabetically, with manuscript variations and research material
Physical Description8 boxes
7 boxes
2 boxes
9 folders
4 folders
1 box
2 folders
2 boxes
3 folders
3 folders
3 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
2 folders
2 folders
2 folders
1 folder
1 box
3 folders
See Three Worlds
Physical Description1 item
3 boxes
6 folders
2 folders
1 folder
8 folders
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
2 folders
1 box
4 folders
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 box
3 folders
1 box
1 folder
5 folders
Consists of typescripts of short stories, with notes by the author.
Arranged alphabetically by title
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
Consists primarily of introductions, forwards, and reviews written by Carl Van Doren.
Arranged alphabetically by genre of material.
Physical Description2 boxes
Arranged alphabetically by author of work
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
a. General: arranged alphabetically by author of original work; b. Series: arranged as a series
Physical Description1 box
2 folders
1 folder
1 box
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
Arranged alphabetically by author or editor of work being reviewed
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
a. Good Housekeeping: arranged chronologically; b. General: arranged alphabetically by title
Physical Description2 boxes
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
2 folders
2 folders
2 folders
1 box
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
Consists of typescripts of lectures written and delivered by Carl Van Doren.
Arranged chronologically.
Physical Description1 box
2 folders
1 folder
Consists of transcripts for the plays, "Franklin in Passy" and "In Their Words," as well as programs, including "Words at War" and "World's Greatest Novels."
Arranged alphabetically by genre of material.
Physical Description3 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
a. Series: arranged chronologically; b. General: arranged alphabetically by sponsoring company
Physical Description3 boxes
2 boxes
3 folders
8 folders
1 box
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
3 folders
Arranged chronologically
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 box
2 folders
Consists of biographical material, school papers, research materials and notes.
Arranged alphabetically by genre of material.
Physical Description5 boxes
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
3 folders
3 folders
2 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
For additional correspondence, see research notebooks.
The correspondence is arranged alphabetically by writer, with incoming and outgoing letters interfiled chronologically. Whenever possible, the correspondence is filed under the name of the institution with which the writer is affiliated, whether the letter is of a personal, business, or research nature.
Physical Description18 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Garland, Hamlin
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
see Elinor Wylie Poetry Fellowship
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Mencken, H. L., Nathan, George Jean
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Nathan, George Jean
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Van Loon, Hendrik Willem
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Van Doren, Margaret
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Princeton University
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
see Elinor Wylie Poetry Fellowship
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Columbia University
Physical Description1 item
see also The Papers of Thomas Jefferson
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
see Erskine, John
Physical Description1 item
see Vorst, Ray
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see also: Garland, Hamlin
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see also: Sandburg, Carl
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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see N.Y., College of the City of
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see DuBois Literary Prize
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
see also: Corwin, Norman
Physical Description1 folder
see also: Erskine, John Krutch, Joseph W. Mullin, Glen Trent, W. P.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see American Philosophical Society
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see also: Becker, Carl
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see DuBois Literary Prize
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
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1 folder
see Einstein, Albert
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Viking Press (general)
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Fadiman, Clifton
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
see Slick, Tom
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Brooks, Van Wyck
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
see Cohen, I. Bernard
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see John McCormick, Inc., Agency
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see also: Thurber, James
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see White, Nate
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Cohen, I. Bernard
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Brearly School
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
see Walker, Franklin Trenaby
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Pennsylvania. Historical Society.
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
see Van Doren, Margaret
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Jasper Lee Company
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
3 folders
1 folder
1 folder
see also: MacLeish, Archibald
Physical Description1 folder
See New York Association for the Blind
Physical Description1 item
see Macy, George
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Scott, Evelyn
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
see Liveright Publishing Corp.
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Macy, George
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
8 folders
7 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see also: Crane, Verner W.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Saturday Review of Literature
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Krutch, Joseph Wood, Villard, Oswald Garrison
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
see Austin, Mary
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Columbia University, Society of American Historians
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
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see United World Federalists of Norman, Oklahoma
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see McElroy, Robert
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
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1 folder
1 folder
see Powell, John H.
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
see also: Stern, Philip Van Doren
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
8 folders
8 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see also: Corwin, Norman
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
see also: Chittick, V. L. O.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
see O'Brien, Harriet E.
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
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see United States. Department of the Interior. National Park Service
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
see Van Doren, Anne
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
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see also: Chittick, V. L. O.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Austin, Mary
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
see Fast, Howard
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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see Mencken, H. L.
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
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see Burnett, Whit
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
see Trotti, Lamar
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Stern, Philip Van Doren
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
see Bowers, Claude G.
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see also: MacLeish, Archibald
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see also: Monoghan, Frank
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
4 folders
4 folders
5 folders
1 folder
1 folder
3 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
3 folders
6 folders
4 boxes
4 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
see Riley, T. Woodbridge
Physical Description1 item
3 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
see also: Chittick, V. L. O.
Physical Description1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
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1 folder
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1 folder
see Woolcott, Alexander
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
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1 folder
see also: Leonard, William Ellery
Physical Description1 folder
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2 folders
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see Monaghan, Frank
Physical Description1 item
1 folder
see also: Knollenberg, Bernhard
Physical Description1 folder
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1 folder
Consists of certificates, contracts, diplomas, and permissions.
Arranged alphabetically by genre of material.
Physical Description3 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
Consists primarily of correspondence related to the death of Carl Van Doren and the reviews of his works by others.
Arranged by subject.
Physical Description2 boxes
10 folders
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
Consists primarily of invitations, programs, and promotional material.
Arranged alphabetically by genre of material.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of off-prints for the writings of Carl Van Doren as well as promotional material for Carl Van Doren's clubs, writings, and lecture series.
Arranged alphabetically by genre of material.
Physical Description2 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of magazine and newspaper clippings as well as scrapbooks of clippings.
Arranged alphabetically by genre of material.
Physical Description5 boxes
1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 boxes
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
3 boxes
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 box
literary column in Boston Herald and fiction reviews in Scribner's Magazine
Physical Description1 box
1 box
"Reprints, New Editions" column in New York Herald Tribune
Physical Description1 box
Consists primarily of family photographs and also includes photographs of Jones Academy and painted portraits of Carl Van Doren.
Arranged alphabetically by genre of material.
Physical Description4 boxes
3 boxes
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 box
1 box
1 box
1 folder
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1 folder
1 folder
Consists of the papers of people other than Carl Van Doren, including correspondence, minutes and agendas for the American Philosophical Society, Committee on Library, and manuscripts for poetry and play scripts.
Arranged alphabetically by genre of material.
Physical Description2 boxes
2 folders
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
3 folders
2 folders
1 folder
Consists of academic hoods and Benjamin Franklin-related objects.
Arranged alphabetically by subject.
Physical Description2 boxes
1 box
1 box