Main content

James R. Vitelli Collection on Van Wyck Brooks and Elmer Adler

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

Vitelli, James R., 1920-

Born in Trenton, N.J., on November 15, 1920, Dr. James R. Vitelli was a professor of English at Lafayette College and Chairman of the English Department from 1977 to 1983. His published works include Van Wyck Brooks (1969), Van Wyck Brooks: A Reference Guide (1977), and Randolph Bourne (1980). Dr. Vitelli died in 2006.

This collection consists of materials collected by Dr. James R. Vitelli during his research on American literary critic Van Wyck Brooks and American book designer Elmer Adler. Included are correspondence with Van Wyck Brooks and others, drafts of Brooks's book From the Shadow of the Mountain, Vitelli's notes on Elmer Adler, and printed materials. In addition, there are folders of material on Adler's involvement with the Puerto Rican museum on fine printing and book design Casa del Libro and the Stephen Crane Society of Lafayette College.

Gift of Dr. Karen D. Vitelli in 2007.

This collection was processed by Danielle Ford on February 7, 2007. Finding aid written by Danielle Ford on February 8, 2007.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Author
Danielle Ford
Finding Aid Date
2007
Access Restrictions

The collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

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

Arrangement

Organized into the following file groups: Writings of James R. Vitelli on Van Wyck Brooks, Correspondence of James R. Vitelli, Writings of Van Wyck Brooks, and Miscellaneous Materials.

Scope and Contents

This series contains James R. Vitelli's writings on Van Wyck Brooks; correspondence, including that between Vitelli and Van Wyck Brooks and notes on several of their conversations; correspondence between Vitelli and Gladys Brooks regarding her husband; two drafts of a book by Van Wyck Brooks; and miscellaneous materials.

Physical Description

1 box

Arrangement

No apparent arrangement scheme.

Scope and Contents

Consists of "The Warfare Over Tradition: T. S. Eliot and Van Wyck Brooks" and Van Wyck Brooks: A Reference Guide: Bibliography.

Physical Description

1 box

"The Warfare Over Tradition: T. S. Eliot and Van Wyck Brooks", 1965-1972. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

two drafts of Vitelli's essay, one with holograph corrections and accompanied by TLS from George H. Douglas; 1 page of autograph notes; photocopied chapter from Edmund Widsom's The Triple Thinkers; The Indian P.E.N., March 1965, with article on a speech by Vitelli.

Physical Description

1 folder

Van Wyck Brooks: A Reference Guide: Bibliography, undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Photocopy.

Physical Description

1 folder

Arrangement

Organized chronologically by date.

Scope and Contents

Consists of correspondence with Van Wyck Brooks and Gladys Brooks, as well as correspondence regarding Van Wyck Brooks.

Physical Description

1 box

Correspondence with Van Wyck Brooks, 1951- 1962. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Most letters from Brooks are photocopies. Also includes Vitelli's notes on three meetings and conversations with Brooks.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence with Gladys Brooks, 1963- 1971. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Includes four photographs from the Vitellis' 1966 visit with Mrs. Brooks.

Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence regarding Van Wyck Brooks, 1969-1971. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence regarding Van Wyck Brooks: A Reference Guide, 1974-1977. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence regarding Classics in Cultural Criticism, 1989- 1991. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Arrangement

Organized alphabetically by name.

Scope and Contents

Consists of From the Shadow of the Mountain: My Post-Meridian Years, "The Soul: An Essay Towards a Point of View," and "Writers and the Future".

Physical Description

1 box

From the Shadow of the Mountain: My Post-Meridian Years: Draft, undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

TMs with holograph corrections, chapters separated. Incomplete.

Physical Description

1 folder

From the Shadow of the Mountain: My Post-Meridian Years: Final draft, 1961. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

TMs with holograph corrections. Complete.

Physical Description

1 folder

"The Soul: An Essay Towards a Point of View": Offprint, 1910. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

"Writers and the Future": Offprint, 1953. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Arrangement

No apparent arrangement scheme.

Scope and Contents

Consists of "Van Wyck Brooks and the Creation of a Historical Fable" as well as miscellaneous printed matter.

Physical Description

1 box

"Van Wyck Brooks and the Creation of a Historical Fable", 1985. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Honors thesis of Paula B. Hurley, Harvard College.

Physical Description

1 folder

Printed matter, 1944. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Time, October 2, 1944, "Pacific pony edition," with Van Wyck Brooks cover; pamphlet.

Physical Description

1 folder

G. K. Hall & Co. materials for formatting Reference Guides, 1974. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Arrangement

Organized into the following file groups: Writings of James R. Vitelli on Elmer Adler, Correspondence of James R. Vitelli, Correspondence of Elmer Adler, and Miscellaneous Materials.

Scope and Contents

This series contains copious notes by Vitelli on Elmer Adler, correspondence regarding Adler, items collected at La Casa del Libro in Puerto Rico, and other materials.

Physical Description

2 boxes

Arrangement

No apparent arrangement scheme.

Scope and Contents

Consists primarily of notes, including "Max & EA, 1922-1955," "Chronology: Elmer Adler," and "Elmer Adler: Apostle of Good Taste," as well as others.

Physical Description

1 box

Notecards: General, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notecards: "Max & EA, 1922-1955", undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notecards: "From La Casa", undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notecards: "From Princeton--Misc", undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notes on Amigos de Calle de Cristo 255, undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Notes from meeting with Arthur Lowenthal, 1980. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

"Max Adler and Elmer", undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Notecards, autograph notes (7 pp.), pamphlet, TMs (20 pp.) with holograph corrections.

Physical Description

1 folder

"Chronology: Elmer Adler", 1979. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Notecards, letter from Jean F. Preston (then Curator of Manuscripts at Princeton University), TMs (9 pp.) with holograph corrections.

Physical Description

1 folder

"Elmer Adler: Apostle of Good Taste", undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

TMs with holograph corrections, 17 pp.

Physical Description

1 folder

Arrangement

No apparent arrangement scheme.

Scope and Contents

Consists of correspondence concerning Elmer Adler and correspondence concerning the Stephen Crane Society of Lafayette College.

Physical Description

1 box

Correspondence concerning Elmer Adler, 1959-1993. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Correspondence concerning the Stephen Crane Society of Lafayette College, 1954-1980. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Includes pamphlet ("The Stephen Crane Society at Lafayette" by Clifton Waller Barrett) and bound copy of "An informal talk by Elmer Adler at the University of Kansas, April 17, 1953," inscribed to Vitelli in 1954.

Physical Description

1 folder

Arrangement

Organized chronologically by date.

Scope and Contents

Consists of the correspondence of Elmer Adler with James R. Vitelli, Edward W. Bradford, and Herman M. Cohn.

Physical Description

2 boxes

Letters of Elmer Adler to James R. Vitelli, 1953-1960. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letters of Edward W. Bradford to Elmer Adler, 1961-1962. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Letters of Herman M. Cohn to Elmer Adler, 1956-1963. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Miscellaneous correspondence of Elmer Adler, 1952-1962. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Arrangement

Organized alphabetically by name.

Scope and Contents

Consists of La Casa del Libro, "Memorial service in memory of Dr. Elmer Adler," and miscellaneous printed matter.

Physical Description

1 box

La Casa del Libro, 1956-1983. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Includes draft of letter by Ted Mascoso, advertising proof, 3 pamphlets, typescript of article on Dard Hunter, list of invitees for party, 3 photographs, acknowledgement of monetary contribution by Vitelli.

Physical Description

1 folder

"Memorial service in memory of Dr. Elmer Adler", undated. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Printed program.

Physical Description

1 folder

Printed matter, 1929-1959. 1 folder.
Scope and Contents

Photocopies; clippings of articles; Princeton Alumni Weekly, May 16, 1952; Grolier Club booklet, 1952.

Physical Description

1 folder

Print, Suggest