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John Biggs Collection of F. Scott Fitzgerald Estate Papers

Notifications

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

Biggs

Francis Scott Key Fitzgerald, born in 1896 in St. Paul, Minnesota, attended the St. Paul Academy and the Newman School of Hackensack, New Jersey, before entering Princeton University in 1913. Fitzgerald left Princeton in 1917 to enlist in the United States Army. Following his discharge from the army, Fitzgerald worked in advertising in New York City. Fitzgerald's first commercial success as an author came in 1920 with the publication of his novel, This Side of Paradise. Fitzgerald continued to publish novels and short stories throughout the 1920s and 1930s, including the novels The Great Gatsby (1925) and Tender Is the Night (1934). Due to financial difficulties, Fitzgerald moved to Hollywood in the late 1930s and worked on scripts for Metro-Goldwyn Mayer. Fitzgerald died in 1940. Lifelong friend, John Biggs had been Fitzgerald's roommate at Princeton.

The collection consists of the correspondence and legal documents of Biggs (Princeton Class of 1918) accumulated as executor and trustee of the estate of F. Scott Fitzgerald (Princeton Class of 1917). Included are copies of Fitzgerald's will, publishers' contracts, royalty reports, tax returns, and papers concerning the posthumous publications of The Last Tycoon (1941), Tender Is the Night (1944), and The Crack-Up (1945). There is correspondence with Edmund Wilson, Maxwell Perkins, Harold Ober, Frances Kroll, Nancy Milford, Scottie Fitzgerald Smith (Fitzgerald's daughter), Arthur Mizener, F. Scott Fitzgerald, Zelda Fitzgerald, and the law offices of Barry Brannen, as well as papers concerning Zelda's hospitalization and death. Also present are an extra carbon copy of The Crack-Up, a photograph of Scott and Scottie, and miscellaneous articles and printed matter about Fitzgerald.

Series: I. Correspondence; II. Legal Papers; III. Works; IV. Photograph; V. Printed Matter; VI. Bank Statements.

Gift of John Biggs III, Frances F. Smith, Charles R. Biggs, and Anna Biggs Pierce.

A checklist is available.

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.

Folder inventory prepared by Michelle Ripplinger '2012 in 2011.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Date
2008
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

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

Correspondence: A, 1941-1977. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ba-Be, 1941-1971. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence relating to A. Scott Berg.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Bi-Bo, 1941-1977. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Br, 1941-1974. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Brannen, Barry, 1940. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Brannen, Barry, 1941. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence from January-April, 1941.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Brannen, Barry, 1941. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence from May-December, 1941.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Brannen, Barry, 1942. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Brannen, Barry, 1943-1948. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence from 1943-1944 and 1946-1948.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Brannen, Barry, 1949. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Brannen, Barry, 1950-1958. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence from 1950-1958, as well as undated correspondence.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Bruccoli, Matthew J, 1958-1978. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Bu, 1945-1978. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ca-Cr, 1941-1974. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Curtin, Robert E, 1941-1949. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: D, 1943-1978. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: E, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Equitable Life Assurance Society, 1943-1948. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Esquire, 1941-1950. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Fa-Fi, 1935-1944. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Fitzgerald, F. Scott, 1936-1939. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Correspondence between F. Scott Fitzgerald and others, as well as some miscellaneous material (i.e.receipts from the Scribner Book Store).

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Fitzgerald, Zelda, 1940. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Fitzgerald, Zelda, 1941. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Fitzgerald, Zelda, 1942. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Fitzgerald, Zelda, 1943. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Fitzgerald, Zelda, 1944. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Fitzgerald, Zelda, 1945. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Fitzgerald, Zelda, 1946. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Fitzgerald, Zelda, 1947. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Fitzgerald, Zelda, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Zelda Fitzgerald Birth and Death Certificates, 1900-1948. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Fl-Fo, 1937-1947. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ga-Ge, 1944-1976. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Graham, Sheilah, 1941-1964. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Gri, 1941. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: H-Ha, 1941-1946. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Hammaker Brothers, 1941. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Contains illustration of the memorial at F. Scott Fitzgerald's burial place, as well as a rubbing of the memorial.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Hao-Higg, 1941-1974. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Contains a photocopied version of a "History of Ellerslie Manor from Edge Moor Pigments Records".

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Highland Hospital, 1941-1948. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ho, 1942-1959. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Contains the agreement between the Estate of F. Scott Fitzgerald and Houghton Mifflin Company for the Publication of The Lost Decade: Short Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: I, 1941. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Kroll, Frances, 1940-1941. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: La, 1941-1968. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Laird, Bissell and Meeds, 1941-1949. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Laughlin, James, 1943-1948. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Le-Lu, 1941-1976. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ma-Mid, 1941-1971. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Milford, Nancy Winston, 1963-1971. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Mizener, Arthur, 1946-1976. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Mo, 1941-1968. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: N, 1941-1978. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ober, Anne, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ober, Harold, 1941. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ober, Harold, 1942. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ober, Harold, 1943. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ober, Harold, 1944. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ober, Harold, 1945. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ober, Harold, 1946. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ober, Harold, 1947. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ober, Harold, 1948. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Contains photo stats of F. Scott Fitzgerald's will, etc.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ober, Harold, 1949. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ober, Harold, 1950-1952. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Oc-Ol, 1943-1946. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Pe, 1946. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Perkins, Maxwell, 1941. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Perkins, Maxwell, 1942-1947. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ph-Po, 1940-1974. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Pr-Pu, 1941-1972. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Princeton University Library, 1941-1974. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Quigley, John Q, 1963-1964. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: R, 1936-1972. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Randall, David A, 1942-1970. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Sa, 1941-1967. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Sayre, Mrs. A.D. (Minnie), 1941-1948. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Sc, 1941-1972. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Scharlin, Elf, 1943-1947. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Scribner, Charles, 1942-1974. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Se-Sm, 1941-1974. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Smith, Rosalind Sayre, 1941-1954. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Smith, Scottie Fitzgerald, 1940-1942. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Smith, Scottie Fitzgerald, 1943. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Smith, Scottie Fitzgerald, 1944. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Smith, Scottie Fitzgerald, 1945. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Smith, Scottie Fitzgerald, 1946. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Smith, Scottie Fitzgerald, 1947-1948. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Smith, Scottie Fitzgerald, 1949. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Smith, Scottie Fitzgerald, 1950-1959. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Smith, Scottie Fitzgerald, 1961-1967. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Smith, Scottie Fitzgerald, 1972-1977. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Smith, Scottie Fitzgerald, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: So-Su, 1940-1971. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Ta-To, 1945-1971. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence:Train, Arthur, Jr, 1959-1960. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Treasury Department, 1940-1948. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Turnball, Andrew, 1953-1968. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Tw, 1941. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: U, 1966-1973. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: V, 1965-1971. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Contains an article and newspaper clipping about F. Scott Fitzgerald.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Wa-Wilm, 1936-1973. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Wilson, Edmund, 1940-1943. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Wilson, Edmund, 1944-1956. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence from 1944-1956, as well as undated correspondence.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Wilson, Elena - Wy, 1961-1977. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence: Unidentified, 1941-1946. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Contains correspondence to and from unidentified persons.

Physical Description

1 folder

Legal Papers: F. Scott Fitzgerald Will, 1941. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Legal Papers: Bills Paid, 1940-1941. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Legal Papers: Miscellaneous Correspondence, 1942-1947. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Legal Papers: Court Petitions, 1941-1949. 3 folders.
Physical Description

3 folders

Legal Papers: Expenses, 1941-1949. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Legal Papers:Financial Accounts, 1940-1949. 2 folders.
Physical Description

2 folders

Legal Papers: Income Tax Returns and Miscellaneous, 1940-1946. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Legal Papers: Publishers' Contracts, 1922-1957. 2 folders.
Scope and Contents

Contains publishers' contracts for All the Sad Young Men, Babylon Revisited, The Beautiful and the Damned, The Crack-Up, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Head and Shoulders, The Great Gastby, Myra Meets His Family, The Last Tycoon, A New Collection of Short Stories, Tales of the Jazz Age, Tender is the Night, This Side of Paradise, The Vegetabke, and other miscellaneous contracts.

Physical Description

2 folders

Legal Papers: Summary of Books and Short Stories, 1946. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Legal Papers: Royalty Statements, 1941-1949. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Legal Papers: Royalty Statements Charles Scribner's Sons, 1942-1967. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Works: Biggs, John, undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Several interviews with John Biggss, including "A Few Early Years".

Physical Description

1 folder

Works: Fitzgerald, F. Scott, undated. 3 folders.
Scope and Contents

Contains xeroxed tearhseets of Infidelity, a photostat copy of Last Kiss, and an extra carbon copy of The Crack-Up.

Physical Description

3 folders

Photograph, 1921. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

A photograph of F. Scott Fitzgerald with "Scottie," taken in 1921.

Physical Description

1 folder

Printed Matter: Regarding F. Scott Fitzgerald and Miscellaneous, 1916-1972. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Printed Matter: Scottie F. Smith, 1961-1966. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Bank Statements, Passbooks, Cancelled Checks, etc, 1944-1949. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Bank Statements, Check Ledgers, etc, 1941-1949. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Print, Suggest