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Arthur Langley Searles Collection of H. P. Lovecraft Research Files

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Held at: Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center [Contact Us]

This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center. 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

Call Number:
SCRC 80
Repository:
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Extent:
5.25 linear feet (10 boxes)
Language:
English
Preferred Citation:
[Description and date of item], [Box/folder number], Arthur Langley Searles Collection of H. P. Lovecraft Research Files, SCRC 80, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.
Date:
1945-2007 (inclusive)
Creator:
Searles, Arthur Langley, 1920-2009
Form:
Books, Clippings, Correspondence, Ephemera, Genealogies, Manuscripts, Photocopies, and Photographs
Abstract:

Arthur Langley Searles (1920-2009) was the editor and publisher of Fantasy Commentator, which he issued from1943 to 1953, and from 1978 to 2004. A posthumous issue was edited and released by M. Alice Becker Searles in Spring 2011: the "Sam Moskowitz and A. Langley Searles Memorial Issue."

Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937) was an American author of horror stories. Although published during his lifetime, his writings were little known, and he never saw financial or critical success. He is now considered one of the most significant and influential horror writers of the twentieth century, cited as a major influence in fantasy and science fiction.

This collection consists of Arthur Langley Searles' files relating to his historical research, and activities with other researchers, on the writings and genealogy of H. P. Lovecraft.

The collection is arranged into 3 series as follows:

Series 1: Correspondence, 1945-2007
Series 2: Research Materials, 1987-2004
Series 3: Publications, 1974-2003

Gift of Alice Searles, November 6, 2011.

Finding aid prepared in December 2011. Finding aid revised according to contemporary archival standards in July 2014 by Katy Rawdon, Coordinator of Technical Services.

Arthur Langley Searles Collection of Henry S. Whitehead Files, SCRC 178, Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Howard P. Lovecraft Collection, Manuscript Collection Ms Lovecraft, Brown University Library.

People
Organization
Subject

Publisher
Temple University Libraries: Special Collections Research Center
Finding Aid Author
Machine-readable finding aid created by: Rajkumar Natarajan, Sky Global Services India (P) Ltd.
Finding Aid Date
December 2023
Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Use Restrictions

The Arthur Langley Searles Collection of H. P. Lovecraft Research Files is the physical property of the Special Collections Research Center, Temple University Libraries. Temple University holds intellectual property rights only for material donated to the university with such rights specifically assigned. For all other material, intellectual property rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. Researchers are responsible for determining the identity of rights holders and obtaining their permission for publication and for other purposes where stated.

Collection Inventory

Scope and Contents

Series 1 contains correspondence files which include, in addition to letters, extensive accompanying materials such as photocopies, typescripts, and notes. All files include Searle's retained copies of his outgoing letters.

Bloch, Robert: Reaction upon reading about Lovecraft in Fantasy Commentator, 1945.
Box 1 Folder 1
Cannon, Peter, 15 June 1992.
Box 1 Folder 2
Everts, R. Alain. Multiple letters, extensive drafts and writings, 1990-1993 (bulk 1990).
Box 1 Folder 3-4
Faig, Kenneth W., Jr. Extensive correspondence, with enclosures, 1980s-2007.
Box 1 Folder 5-8
Faig, Kenneth W., Jr., 1980s-2007.
Box 2 Folder 1-5
Faig, Kenneth W., Jr., 1980s-2007.
Box 3 Folder 1-4
Faig, Kenneth W., Jr., 1980s-2007.
Box 4 Folder 1
Joshi, S. T., 1981-1997.
Box 4 Folder 2
McInnes, John. With extensive enclosures (writings, photocopies, etc.), 1990-1995.
Box 4 Folder 3-7
O'Brien, Edward, Jr.: Includes copy of typescript of Joshi's review of O'Brien's Insidious Garden, 1988.
Box 5 Folder 1
Sneyd, Steve: With corrected typescript of The Ancient Track: The Complete Poetical Works of H. P. Lovecraft, ed. by S. T. Joshi Includes 1991 letter to Sneyd from Norman Clarke[?], 2004.
Box 5 Folder 2
Sterling, Kenneth: Limited correspondence but including copied letter of David Keller to Sterling and short letter to Searles, 1948, 1950-1952.
Box 5 Folder 3
Wetzel, George T.: Includes several pages of holograph writing, with photo-copies from Nyctalops (1976 and 1978), 1953.
Box 5 Folder 4

Scope and Contents

Series 2 contains clippings, genealogies, notes, and other research materials.

Articles and Papers by Kenneth Faig (Survey of Institutional Collections of Amateur Journals), Eric Leif Davin ('The Era of the Common Child:' Infant and Child Mortality in Mid-Nineteenth Century Pittsburgh), R. Alain Everts (Lovecraft's Daughter II), undated.
Box 5 Folder 5
Genealogical files, with notes, documents, reports, copies, etc. relating to Searle's study of the Lovecraft genealogy, circa 1990-2004, undated.
Box 5 Folder 6-9
Genealogical file, containing Department of Health (D.O.H./New York) Forms and receipts, circa 1987-1990, undated.
Box 5 Folder 10
Clippings, heavily newspaper, all relating potentially to use in a study of H. P. Lovecraft, circa 1988-1999.
Box 6 Folder 1-2
Notes and writings by Searles, undated.
Box 6 Folder 3
Photographs taken by Searles of Lovecraft related buildings, grave stones, etc., 1988-1990.
Box 6 Folder 4
Searles' labeling: "Notes and Pics of [Lovecraft] Residences", circa 1988.
Box 6 Folder 5
Tear sheets of Lovecraft's "Further Criticism of Poetry" as issued in The National Amateur, December 1944, pp. 53-56: Includes photo-reproductions of Lovecraft letters of 1912 to Nelson Rogers in Mt. Vernon, N.Y. [no indication of location of the originals], undated.
Box 6 Folder 6
Maps, photostats of newspaper pages, photocopies of articles, Lovecraft biographical write-ups, book citations, reviews, magazine issues, etc., undated.
Box 7 Folder 1-2

Scope and Contents

Series 3 contains publications received with the collection, related to Searles' research, primarily issued by the Moshassuck Press.

Great Britain. Ordnance Survey. Reprint of the first edition of the one-Inch ordnance survey of England and Wales: Sheet 90: Tavistock & Dartmoor. Devon, David & Charles, [1980].
Box 8
Great Britain. Ordnance Survey. Reprint of the first edition of the one-Inch ordnance survey of England and Wales: Sheet 91: Exeter & Dartmouth. Devon, David & Charles, [1980].
Box 8
Great Britain. Ordnance Survey. Torbay and South Dartmoor. Sheet 202. Landranger Series of Great Britain. 1:50 000. Southampton, Director General of the Ordnance Survey, circa 1974.
Box 8
Faig, Kenneth W., Jr. Some of the Descendants of Asaph Phillips and Esther Whipple of Foster, Rhode Island. Glenview, Illinois, The Moshassuck Press, 1993. No limitation stated. In 3-hole paper binder as issued (332p.) Dedicated to A. Langley Searles, and a presentation inscription to him from the author/publisher, March 28, 1993. Accompanied by a 1992 draft "Descendants of …" Signed by Faig, 1993.
Box 8
Faig, Kenneth W., Jr. Tales of the Lovecraft Collectors. Evanston, Illinois, The Moshassuck Press, 1989. Copy no. 5 of an edition of 25, signed by the author. The copy is also inscribed by the author to A. Langley Searles. In 3-hold paper binder as issued, 1989.
Box 8
Cook, W. Paul. The Recluse. 1927. Glenview, Illinois, The Moshassuck Press, 1990. One of 125 copies of this facsimile production. In 3-hole paper binder as issued, 1927.
Box 8
Docherty, Chris J. Devonshire Ancestry of Howard Phillips Lovecraft. [By] Chris J. Docherty, A. Langley Searles, Kenneth W. Faig, Jr. Glenview, Illinois, Moshassuck Press, 2003. (Moshassuck Monograph Series number 9). 46[3]p., frontispiece. In binder as issued, 2003.
Box 8
Early Historical Accounts of Foster, Rhode Island: Sketches of Foster [by] Charles C. Beaman [and] Historical Reminiscences of Foster [by] Casey B. Tyler. Index compiled by Kenneth W. Faig, jr. Glenview, Illinois, The Moshassuck Press [1858-1859, 1884, 1892-1893] 1993.In 3-hole paper binder as issued, 1993.
Box 8
Faig, Kenneth W., Jr. In Memoriam: Howard Phillips Lovecraft (August 20, 1890 – March 15, 1937) Ethel M. Phillips Morrish (May 15, 1888 – January 17, 1987). Evanston, Illinois, The Moshassuck Press, March 15, 1987. Photocopy reprint by the author/publisher. In 3-hole paper binder. Inscribed by the author to Searles. (Moshassuck Monograph Series, number one), 1987.
Box 8
Faig, Kenneth W., Jr. Life and Death: A Hoax and a Retraction. By The Perpetrator, Kenneth W. Faig, Jr. Glenview, Illinois, The Moshassuck Press, 1989. Copy no. 17 of an edition of 19. Signed by Faig. Stapled as issued, 1989.
Box 8
Guiney, Louise Imogen. Memories of an Old Girl. Glenview, Illinois, Moshassuck Press, 1999. 9p., illus. in binder, 1999.
Box 8
Mosig, Dirk Walter. The Miskatonic. Lovecraft Centenary Edition. Index compiled by Kenneth W. Faig, Jr. Glenview, Illinois, The Moshassuck Press, 1991. Being a reprint of the publication which had been issued as numbers 1 through 27 of the EOD (Esoteric Order of Dagon Amateur Press Association), 1973-1979. In 3-hole paper binders as issued (637 pages). In two volumes, 1991.
Box 9
Moskowitz, Sam, ed. Howard Phillips Lovecraft and Nils Helmer Frome. A Recollection of One of Canada's Earliest Science Fiction Fans. Glenview, Illinois, The Moshassuck Press, 1989. Copy no. 96 of 110 copies. Signed by Moskowitz. As issued in wrappers in spiral binding. (Moshassuck Monograph Series, number 5), 1989.
Box 9
O'Brien, Edward W., Jr. Insidious Garden: a look at Horror Fiction. Evanston, Illinois, The Moshassuck Press, March 15, 1988. This is copy "O" of 75 copies (a review copy). In 3-hole paper binder as issued. (Moshassuck Monograph Series, number two), 1988.
Box 10
O'Brien, Edward W., Jr. "Young Ronan": A Lovecraftian Tale. Glenview, Illinois, The Moshassuck Press, 1991. Copyright 1990 by Robert M. Price for Crypt, reprinted by permission of Edward W. O'Brien, Jr. and Cryptic Publications. Dedicated to Ken Faig and A. Langley Searles. Text is hand written. In 3-hole paper binder as issued, 1991.
Box 10

Print, Suggest