Manuscripts: Researchers should be aware that facsimiles of the manuscripts of Fitzgerald's books and articles were published in the multi-volume series F. Scott Fitzgerald Manuscripts, edited by Matthew J. Bruccoli and Alan Margolies (New York: Garland Publishing Company, 1990). Complete sets of the facsimile edition are available at more than fifty research libraries (including Firestone Library). The original manuscript of Fitzgerald's ledger is not at Princeton. One should use F. Scott Fitzgerald's Ledger: A Facsimile, with an introduction by Matthew J. Bruccoli (Washington, D.C.: NCR/Microcard Editions, 1972) or refer to the photostats in Box 60 (C0187). With respect to using Fitzgerald's manuscripts at Princeton, researchers should be aware that the 1950 deed of gift stipulates that Fitzgerald's manuscripts were to be microfilmed to preserve the originals, and that researchers must use the microfilm for most purposes. Researchers who believe that there are compelling reasons why they must have access to the original manuscripts instead of the facsimile edition or microfilm must request permission in advance from the Curator of Manuscripts. Researchers should also be aware of the Cambridge Edition of the Works of F. Scott Fitzgerald, edited by James L. W. West III (Cambridge, England, and New York: Cambridge University Press, 1991- ). Based on Fitzgerald's manuscripts and published editions, the Cambridge edition will eventually number 17 volumes.

Correspondence: A large portion of correspondence in the F. Scott Fitzgerald Papers and other collections at Princeton has been published in critical editions. The following editions of correspondence (listed alphabetically by editor) can be found in most research libraries: As Ever Scott Fitz-: Letters between F. Scott Fitzgerald and His Literary Agent Harold Ober, edited by Matthew J. Bruccoli with Jennifer Atkinson (Philadelphia: Lippincott, 1972); A Life in Letters: F. Scott Fitzgerald, edited by Matthew J. Bruccoli with Judith S. Baughman (New York: Scribner's, 1994); Correspondence of F. Scott Fitzgerald, edited by Matthew J. Bruccoli and Margaret Duggan with Susan Walker (New York: Random House, 1980); Dear Scott, Dearest Zelda: The Love Letters of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, edited by Jackson R. Bryer and Cathy Barks (New York: St. Martin's Press, 2002); Dear Scott/Dear Max: The Fitzgerald-Perkins Correspondence, edited by John Kuehl and Jackson R. Bryer (New York: Scribner, 1971); Letters of F. Scott Fitzgerald, edited by Andrew Turnbull (New York: Scribner, 1963); Scott Fitzgerald: Letters to his Daughter, edited by Andrew Turnbull with an introduction by Frances Fitzgerald Lanahan (New York: Scribner, 1965).

Photographs: Photographs of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Zelda Fitzgerald are very frequently requested by publishers, newspapers, magazines, and documentary film makers. Researchers should be aware that the Special Collections maintains a large file of copy negatives to facilitate reproduction of these photographs. Most of the photographs in the F. Scott Fitzgerald Papers and other collections at Princeton were reproduced in The Romantic Egoists: A Pictorial Autobiography from the Scrapbooks and Albums of Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald, edited by Matthew J. Bruccoli, Scottie Fitzgerald Smith, and Joan P. Kerr (New York: Scribner, 1974). Often-requested images can be viewed online by visiting the Library's RBSC Portfolio at http://libweb2.princeton.edu/rbsc2/portfolio/portfolio.html

The collection has developed principally through gifts from Fitzgerald's friends-Marie Shank and Sheilah Graham in 1959, Bertie Barr and Esquire magazine in 1962-and a purchase from Laura Hearne in 1967. In addition, there was a significant, anonymous gift in 1992. Additional photographs and the "Marked for Glory" film and script were the gift of the Owens family in honor of Gwinn Owens in 20092009. The Fitzgerald letter to William C. Hodapp containing notes on the editing to an unproduced theatrical adapation of "A Diamond as Big as the Ritz," was purchased with support from the Richard M. Ludwig Endowment, donated by Michael Spence, Class of 1966. The Finney family material was the gift of Mrs. Margaret Finney McPherson in October, 2011. "The Freshest Boy" corrected typescript was purchased from Glenn Horowitz in 2021 (AM 2022-084). The letter to Marie Hersey Hamm, "My very, very dear Marie," January 1915, was purchased from Sotheby's via Joseph J. Felcone in December 2022.

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.

This collection was processed in 1993. Finding aid written in 1993.

In May 1999, the Princeton University Library was awarded a federal grant under the "Save America's Treasures" program, administered by the National Endowment for the Humanities (NEH), to deacidify, repair, and rehouse the F. Scott Fitzgerald Papers. Work was completed in August 2001. Microfilm Note: Due to additional microfilming in the summer of 2001, as well as the rehousing of the collection, some of the microfilm box numbers may not correspond to the manuscript box numbers listed in "A Guide to Microfilm for F. Scott Fitzgerald Papers." The "Guide" will be revised and updated as soon as possible.

In January 2022, "The Freshest Boy" was added to Subseries 1B by Amy C. Vo.

In July 2024, letter to Hamm, Marie Hersey, "My very, very dear Marie," January 1915, was added to Series 2 by Lauren C. Williams.

In July 2024, collection renamed "Princeton University Library Collection of F. Scott Fitzgerald Materials" from "F. Scott Fitzgerald Additional Papers." Lexy deGraffenreid updated the Conditions Governing Access note in January 2025.

No appraisal information is available.

People

• Barr, Bertie
• Graham, Sheilah.
• Hearne, Laura Guthrie (1892-1973)
• Shank, Marie
• Hamm, Marie Louise Hersey, 1898-1982

Organization

• Esquire.

Subject

• American fiction. -- 20th century
• Novelists, American. -- 20th century -- Correspondence
• Novelists, American -- 20th century -- Manuscripts
• Motion picture plays

Publisher

Manuscripts Division

Finding Aid Date

1993

Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Due to the fragility of Fitzgerald's original manuscripts and scrapbooks, researchers are asked to use digital copies when they are available.

Access to glass-plate negatives is restricted due to their fragility. Where prints of the negatives are present, the prints are open for research use. Though digitization may not be possible for every negative, researchers may make requests to digitize material via the Ask Special Collections, form according to Special Collections' policy on digitization.

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.