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Malcolm Cowley Collection Related to The Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald

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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

Cowley, Malcolm, 1898-1989.

Malcolm Cowley was was an American novelist, poet, literary critic, and journalist. As part of the great crowd of creative genius that migrated to Paris, France, and congregated in Montparnasse, Cowley lived in France for three years, befriending Ernest Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald, and others. He is often referred to as being part of America's Lost Generation. His most famous work is his autobiographical Exile's Return, published in 1934, which chronicled the general movement of the Lost Generation out of the United States.

The collection consists of related correspondence, typescripts, editorial notes, and galley proofs for The Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald, A Selection of 28 Stores, published by Charles Scribner's Sons in 1951, which Cowley edited and introduced. There are typescripts (some carbon copies), mostly with autograph corrections and additions, of the outline, table of contents, and editorial notes for each of the four chapters of the book, and galley proofs of the introduction, the editorial notes, and the epilogue.

The correspondence is chiefly with publisher Charles Scribner and editor Wallace Meyer. In a letter dated October 7, 1949, Scribner proposes the idea of the book to Cowley after having discussed it with Cowley's agent, Harold Ober. There is also a letter from Meyer dated October 10, 1950, on planning the dust jacket and the title of the book. (The original title was "A Selection of 27 Short Stories.") The rest of the correspondence is between Cowley and Fitzgerald biographer Arthur Mizener, who was also preparing a book on Fitzgerald"s unpublished short stories.

AM14390

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 by Dina Britain on May 4, 2009. Finding aid written by Elizabeth Mulvey on June 11, 2009. Folder Inventory added by Hilde Creager (2015) in 2012.

No appraisal information is available.

Publisher
Manuscripts Division
Finding Aid Date
2009
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

21 Letters between Malcolm Cowley and Wallace Meyer, Charles Scribner, Arthur Mizener, 1949-1950. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

6 Typed Manuscripts by Malcolm Cowley (editor) for "The Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald", undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

Galley Proofs by Malcolm Cowley (Introduction and Editor's Note to "The Stories of F. Scott Fitzgerald", undated. 1 folder.
Physical Description

1 folder

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