Call Number:

Ms. Coll. 1487

Repository:

University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts

Extent:

13.5 linear feet (14 boxes)

Language:

English

Preferred Citation:

William C. Lengel papers, 1888-1965, Ms. Coll. 1487, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania.

Date:

1888-1965 (inclusive) and 1910-1965 (bulk)

Creator:

Lengel, William Charles, 1888-1965

Form:

Audiotapes, Clippings, Correspondence, Manuscripts, Periodicals, Photographs, Scrapbooks, Sound recordings, and Typescripts

Abstract:

This collection documents William C. Lengel's (1888-1965) career as an author, literary agent, and editor. It offers many insights into the literary world and publishing industry of the mid-twentieth century. The collection also contains many examples of Lengel's own writing, fiction and non-fiction. The William C. Lengel papers contains a substantial amount of material about author Theodore Dreiser, due to the fact that Lengel was a friend and literary agent to Dreiser. Most of the Dreiser material is related to their professional relationship, and includes typescripts, annotated drafts, and correspondence concerned with editorial and publishing matters.

William Charles Lengel (1888-1965), more commonly known as Bill Lengel, was an attorney, author, literary agent, and editor. He was born to parents William F. and Alice C. Lengel on June 27, 1888 in Durango, Colorado. He earned a LL. B. degree from Kansas City Law School in 1908 and briefly practiced law, but left that behind in 1909 to pursue other interests. He lived in Chicago for a short time, but an advertisement led him to New York City and a job working for author and editor Theodore Dreiser (1871-1945) as his secretary at The Delineator magazine. By 1910 he was promoted to assistant editor, marking the start of a long career in editorship and publishing.

William Lengel married Nelle McNeff (1886-1954) in 1914 and together they had two children. Their first child, Nelle Elizabeth Lengel was born in 1915 and lived only a few days. Their second child, Edward Hughes McNeff Lengel (1917-1989) was born in 1917 and lived to adulthood.

Over the course of the 1920s and 1930s, William Lengel worked for a variety of publications, including as international editorial representative to Hearst Corporation, as both writer and editor for International Magazine Company, as editorial associate at Cosmopolitan Books, editor of Smart Set magazine, associate editor of Liberty magazine, and eastern story editor for Columbia Pictures. During the Second World War, he served the United States Treasury Department as editorial advisor to the War Finance Division. In 1942, Lengel went to work for Fawcett Publications, where he held several senior editorial positions. His most significant work at Fawcett was in the realm of paperback publishing as editor of the newly created Gold Medal Books, which in 1950 was the first publisher to mass produce paperbacks of original works, rather than re-prints.

Lengel was also the published author of hundreds of short stories, several plays, and five novels. Many of his works were published using pen names, Warren Spencer, Frederick Carlton, Charles Spencer Grant, Warren Grant, and Neil McNeff. His best-known work was the novel Forever and Ever, published in 1932 under the pseudonym Warren Spencer.

In addition to his work as an editor and writer, Lengel served as literary agent and mentor to numerous writers, which made him well known in the publishing world. The best example of this was his relationship with Theodore Dreiser, which grew into a lifelong friendship.

Lengel was Senior Editor at Fawcett Publications when he died on October 11, 1965, in New York City.

This collection consists of correspondence, account books, card files, photographs, scrapbooks, business records, real estate records, court records, law school records, ephemera, and original writing, both fiction and non-fiction. These materials document William C. Lengel's career as an author, literary agent, and editor. Broadly speaking, it offers many insights into the literary world and publishing industry of the mid-twentieth century. The collection contains many examples of William Lengel's writing, such as novels, short stories, essays, and poetry. A smaller assortment of personal records, photographs, and ephemera are also represented, but the William C. Lengel papers primarily document his professional life.

The William C. Lengel papers contains a substantial amount of material about author Theodore Dreiser, due to the fact that Lengel was a friend and literary agent to Dreiser. Most of the Dreiser material is related to their professional relationship, such as drafts and typescripts of Dreiser's work, some of which are annotated, as well as correspondence related to editorial and publishing matters. William Lengel also wrote essays, gave talks, wrote forwards, and composed poetry about Dreiser, which can also be found in this collection. It also contains a number of published essays, talks, and subject files concerned with attempts to censor authors and publishers, including Dreiser's novel, The Genius.

Series 1, Correspondence

The correspondence in the William C. Lengel papers mainly reflects his professional work as an editor and literary agent. Of particular note are the folders with Theodore Dreiser letters, some of which are exchanged between Lengel and Dreiser, but in other cases Dreiser is the topic of conversation between Lengel and others. Many of the correspondence files are slim or are of a routine nature. However, some correspondence files with more substantial material can be found for the following people: Harry Hervey, (writer), Ray Long, (publisher), Elizabeth Marlowe, (writer), John J. Pershing, (retired U.S. Army General), Dora Shattuck, (writer), William A. Swanberg, (biographer), and George Sylvester Viereck, (writer). The tone and content of most of this correspondence is professional and businesslike, including for that with Theodore Dreiser, but signs of friendship and affection can be clearly seen with Harry Hervey, Ray Long, and Elizabeth Marlowe.

Series 2, Writing - Fiction

This series contains many examples of Lengel's published fiction and poetry, including a smaller number of unpublished manuscripts and drafts. Lengel's style, judging particularly from his most well-known novel, Forever and Ever, might be summarized as "ordinary man" character drama with protagonists struggling with contemporary issues and romantic pitfalls. Lengel's work was successful for its time, but appears to be out of print currently.

Series 3, Writing – Nonfiction

This series contains examples of William Lengel's autobiographical and editorial writing, as well as transcripts of interviews and talks. Topics include censorship, the publishing business, and Theodore Dreiser. With regards to Dreiser, there is a selection of commentaries, forwards written for editions of Dreiser's work, amd a draft of the abridged version of The Genius that Lengel edited. Also included are two open reel audio tapes that are believed to be recordings of talks delivered, but which have not been played.

Series 4, Professional records

This series contains business and professional records such as, account books, contracts, publication index cards, and royalty statements. Also included are drafts and typescripts of original works from several authors, including Theodore Dreiser. These drafts and typescripts are examples of Lengel's work with these writers, which in many cases features annotations and other feedback of the editorial process.

Series 5, Personal records

This series contains an assortment of personal records, ephemera, and other materials that document various aspects of Lengel's life. It includes subject files on censorship and legal records from Lengel Realty Corporation, such as deeds, mortgages, and contracts. William Lengel's involvement with real estate appears to have been a personal investment or side business.

Series 6, Photographs

This series is subdivided into personal and collected portraits. The personal photographs include snapshots from throughout William Lengel's life, as well as some posed portraits. The collected portraits are a set of inscribed portrait photographs from writers, artists, publishers, politicians, and other public figures.

Series 7, Periodicals

This series contains magazines and other periodicals for which William Lengel worked or issues where his own articles or stories were published.

Series 8, Scrapbooks

This series contains six scrapbooks that contain clippings, letters, and other ephemera related to William Lengel's published books. One of the scrapbooks is focused on Lengel's first novel, Forever and Ever, and another scrapbook on two of his later novels, Candles in the Wind and The Torch Singer. The remaining scrapbooks are less focused topically, but generally refer to Lengel's writing or activities.

They are in very fragile condition.

The provenance and original order of the William C. Lengel papers has been lost. Most of the collection was previously processed 25 or more years ago or was acquired in several disorganized boxes with no discernable order. Because of this, the entire collection was reprocessed and a new arrangement was imposed to establish a clear organizational structure that would facilitate research. Eight primary series have been established: Correspondence, Writing – Fiction, Writing – Nonfiction, Professional records, Personal records, Photographs, Periodicals (collected), and Scrapbooks. The photographs series is further subdivided into personal photographs and collected portraits.