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Eileen B. Simpson 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
Eileen Simpson was married to the poet John Berryman (1914-1972) from 1942 until their divorce in 1953, and published a book, Poets in their Youth: A Memoir (1982), recalling those years with Berryman and his circle of friends in the literary world.
The collection consists of papers primarily related to Simpson's book . Included is correspondence (approx. 300 letters) with her publishers, Random House (U.S.) and Faber and Faber (England), before and after publication, and many letters in response to the book from Simpson's friends, former associates of the poets, and people mentioned in the book, such as James Atlas, Saul Bellow, Jack Barbera, Carl Brandt, Robert Giroux, Allan Gurganus, Lili Kahler, Nancy Milford, Joyce Carol Oates, and Daniel Stern, as well as from the general public. Some letters also discuss another of Simpson's autobiographical books, Reversals: A Personal Account of Victory Over Dislexia (1979). Also present are photographs of John Berryman, Delmore Schwartz, Mark Van Doren, and others, used in the book, clippings from newspapers, magazines, and journals of reviews of the book, and four sets of proof, one with author's corrections.
Published under same title (Random House, 1982)
Gift of the author.
Folder list prepared by Lisa Yankowitz '13 in 2012.
No appraisal information is available.
People
Subject
- Publisher
- Manuscripts Division
- Finding Aid Date
- 2008
- Access Restrictions
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This collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
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Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Inquiries regarding publishing material from the collection should be directed to RBSC Public Services staff through the Ask Us! form. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.
Collection Inventory
Arranged alphabetically.
Consists of correspondence (approx. 300 letters) with publishers: Random House (U.S.) and Faber and Faber (England), before and after publication, and many letters in response to the book from Simpson's friends, former associates of the poets, and people mentioned in the book, such as James Atlas, Saul Bellow, Jack Barbera, Carl Brandt, Robert Giroux, Allan Gurganus, Lili Kahler, Nancy Milford, Joyce Carol Oates, and Daniel Stern, as well as from the general public. Some letters also discuss another of Simpson's autobiographical books, REVERSALS: A PERSONAL ACCOUNT OF VICTORY OVER DYSLEXIA (1979).
Physical Description1 box
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
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Consists of photographs of John Berryman, Delmore Schwartz, Mark Van Doren, and others, used for publication.
Arranged into two folders.
Physical Description1 box
Xerox copies of the phtographs as they were arranged in an album. (Removed from the album for preservation purposes).
Physical Description1 folder
Copy prints of images from the 1940s contemporary to the publication of the book.
Physical Description1 folder
Consists of clippings from newspapers, magazines, and journals of reviews of the book.
Arranged into four folders by type of material.
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
Empty binder, printed with the title "Poets in Their Youth"
Physical Description1 folder
Arranged in the order of production.
Consists of four sets of proofs, one with author's corrections
Physical Description1 box
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder
1 folder