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Harry Moore papers
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Held at: University of Delaware Library Special Collections [Contact Us]181 South College Avenue, Newark, DE 19717-5267
This is a finding aid. It is a description of archival material held at the University of Delaware Library Special Collections. 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
American literary scholary and educator Harry Thornton Moore (1908-1981) is best remembered for his studies of the life and work of English novelist D.H. Lawrence but also wrote and edited works on other authors, including John Steinbeck, E.M. Forster, and Rainer Maria Rilke.
He is the author of numerous works of literary scholarship, including
The Life and Works of D.H. Lawrence, published in 1951 and revised in 1963, as well as a biography of Lawrence, The Intelligent Heart (1954) (later revised and published in 1974 as The Priest of Love), which was the basis for a 1981 movie of the same name. In addition, Moore was the editor of several other works related to Lawrence, including several volumes of D.H. Lawrence's letters, uncollected and unpublished works by Lawrence and letters from, to, and about Frieda Lawrence, D.H. Lawrence's wife.After serving as a lieutenant colonel in the US Army Air Force from 1942 to 1947, Moore received his Ph.D. from the University of Chicago in 1951. Moore taught at Babson Institute in Massachusetts from 1947 to 1957 and also served as the chair of the department of history and literature. From 1957, he served as a professor of English at Southern Illinois University where he was named professor emeritus in 1978.
Contemporary Authors Online, Gale, 2006. Reproduced in Biography Resource Center. Farmington Hills, Mich.: Thomson Gale. 2006, http://galenet.galegroup.com/servlet/BioRC.
The Harry Moore papers, spanning the dates between 1919 and 1982, comprises one linear foot of correspondence, clippings, essays, and ephemera relating to the academic work of literary scholar and educator Harry Thorton Moore; the collection documents some of Moore's work on English novelist D.H. Lawrence as well as his literary and personal associations with several authors and poets including Kay Boyle, Caresse Crosby, Anais Nin, and Richard Rees.
The collection is arranged into six series: I. D.H. Lawrence; II. Kay Boyle; III. Caresse Crosby; IV. Anais Nin; V. Richard Rees; and VI. Letters. The series titles generally correspond to the person with whom Moore corresponded. Series one and series six, however, are the exceptions.
Series I. contains letters and other items related to D.H. Lawrence, a major figure in Moore's literary scholarship. Although the series contains only one letter from D.H. Lawrence, it includes letters from his wife, Frieda Lawrence, and friend, Helen Corke. Also included in this series are letters from D.H. Lawrence's sister Ada to Martha Gordon Crotch (addressed as "Auntie"), letters to Harry Moore regarding D.H. Lawrence scholarship and articles and essays on D.H. Lawrence.
Series II. contains letters from Kay Boyle to Moore written between 1956 and 1974. Kay Boyle (1902-1992) is known for her work and achievements as a poet, short story writer, novelist, journalist, teacher, and political activist. During the time when the letters in this collection were written, Boyle was teaching creative writing at San Francisco State College (now San Francisco State University) and was heavily involved in political activism.
Series III. includes letters to Moore from Caresse Crosby written between 1945 and 1969. Caresse Crosby (1892-1970) was a writer and publisher born in New York City. During the time when the letters in this collection were written, Crosby was living in Washington, D.C., running a modern art gallery and founding and managing
Portfolio: An Intercontinental Review, issued under the Black Sun Press, the publishing company begun by Crosby and her late husband, Harry Crosby. In the early 1950s Crosby moved to a castle near Rome, Italy, and established an artist and writers' colony. She also founded two organizations, Women Against War and Citizens of the World, both aimed at improving international relations. Her memoir, The Passionate Years, was published in 1953. Moore was also named Crosby's literary executor upon her death in 1970.Series IV. includes letters to Moore from Anais Nin from 1963-1976. Anais Nin (1903-1977) was a writer born in Paris, France, who is best known for her diary which was published in seven volumes. In 1961, Nin had moved to Los Angeles and the first volume of her diary was published in 1966. At this time, she began to give lectures and speeches around the country and she was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1974.
Series V. includes letters from Sir Richard Rees to Harry Moore written between 1940 and 1969. Richard Rees (1900-1970) was a translator, publisher, author and part-time painter whose works were exhibited at the Royal Academy in London. Rees was editor of
Adelphi for six years and was considered to be an authority on Simone Weil.Series VI. includes letters sent to Moore from various authors arranged by date. Among the notable authors represented in this section are Henry Miller, Robert Penn Warren, Bertrand Russell, John Ciardi, Aldous Huxley, Alfred Kinsey, Lionel Trilling, Diana Trilling, James Farrell, Truman Capote, Arthur Mizener, Normal Mailer, Saul Bellow, John Guenther, John Gardner, David Garnett, Joyce Carol Oates, John Updike, E.M. Forster, Herbert Gold, and Edmund Wilson. An index arranged by author's last name provides the folder number in which letters from each correspondent can be found.
- Boxes 1-3: Shelved in SPEC MSS manuscript boxes
Purchases, October and December 2005.
Processed by Karalee Kopreski, March 2006. Encoded by Jillian Kuzma, February 2009. Updated by Julia Pompetti, November 2010.
People
- Moore, Harry T. (Harry Thornton), 1908-1981
- Lawrence, D. H. (David Herbert), 1885-1930
- Boyle, Kay, 1902-1992
- Nin, Anaïs, 1903-1977
- Crosby, Caresse, 1892-1970
- Rees, Richard, 1900-
Subject
Occupation
- Publisher
- University of Delaware Library Special Collections
- Finding Aid Author
- University of Delaware Library, Special Collections
- Finding Aid Date
- 2009 February 3
- Access Restrictions
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The collection is open for research.
- Use Restrictions
-
Use of materials from this collection beyond the exceptions provided for in the Fair Use and Educational Use clauses of the U.S. Copyright Law may violate federal law. Permission to publish or reproduce isrequired from the copyright holder. Please contact Special Collections Department, University of Delaware Library, https://library.udel.edu/static/purl.php?askspec
Collection Inventory
Series I. contains letters and other items related to D.H. Lawrence, a major figure in Moore's literary scholarship. Although the series contains only one letter from D.H. Lawrence, it includes letters from his wife, Frieda Lawrence (1879-1956), and friend, Helen Corke (1882-1978). Also included in this series are letters from D.H. Lawrence's sister Ada Lawrence to "Auntie" Martha Gordon Crotch, letters to Harry Moore regarding D.H. Lawrence scholarship, and articles and essays on D.H. Lawrence.
Autograph letter signed, D. H. Lawrence to William Henry, dated 2 January 1919. Lawrence's letter explains his intentions to give up the Tregerther Cottages and sell the furniture.
Physical Description2 p.
Includes typescript of "The Poetry of D.H. Lawrence" by R.P. Draper of the University of Leicester with an autograph letter from Draper to Moore dated 7 Sep 1959 and three international reply coupons. Also includes typescript of "The Return of D.H. Lawrence" by Moore, a typescript letter dated 8 Jun 1971 signed Warren with a typescript essay entitled "Collecting D.H. Lawrence, Some Bibliographical Problems," and two newspaper articles on Lawrence's work dated 21 Mar 1974 and 31 May 1959.
Includes twelve autograph letters signed, from Lawrence's sister Ada to "Auntie" Martha Gordon Crotch. The letters touch on the settlement of D.H. Lawrence's estate, the health of friends and family, among other personal topics. Photocopies of each letter are included.
Physical Description12 items
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Folder includes letters to Moore from various academics and researchers of Lawrence spanning the dates 1931-1979 regarding publications of and about D.H. Lawrence. The folder also contains several newspaper articles from the
Nippon Times included with a 17 Dec 1951 letter and four photographs related to D.H. Lawrence with an undated note handwritten on an envelope. Physical Description34 items
Four signed autograph letters from Frieda Lawrence to Harry Moore. The letters concern the publication of letters from D.H. Lawrence to Bertrand Russell. Also included is a typescript signed letter from Moore to Frieda dated 16 Aug 1955 concerning the sales of and critical response to Moore's biography of Lawrence,
The Intelligent Heart and a memorandum of agreement dated 13 Jun 1979 for the publication by Macmillan Press of The Correspondence of Frieda Lawrence and Her Circle. Physical Description6 items
Includes seven photocopied letters from Frieda Lawrence to Louis Gibbons written between July and December of 1954. The content is of a personal nature and shows evidence of a friendship.
Physical Description7 items
14 items
Three signed autograph letters. The letters discuss a law suit and subsequent court trial defending Frieda's right to D.H. Lawrence's inheritance after his death.
Physical Description3 items
Letter explaining Frieda's passion for Angelo Ravagli and the scandal his presence at the ranch in Taos has caused. Copy of the letter included.
Two signed autograph letters.
Autograph letter signed.
Autograph letter signed.
Autograph letter signed.
Signed "Frieda and Angie" with newspaper clipping announcing their wedding.
Typescript copy of letter.
Photocopy of autograph letter.
Typescript list of manuscripts let with Martha Gordon Crotch, signed by Frieda Lawrence and Mrs. Crotch.
Fourteen signed letters from Helen Corke to Harry Moore written between 1954 and 1974. Includes autograph and typescript letters and an undated Christmas card. The content of the letters ranges from the publication of Moore's D.H. Lawrence biography to general D.H. Lawrence scholarship and to international political events. Also included is a 25 Jul 1968 article in
The Listener entitled "The Dreaming Woman--Helen Corke, in conversation with Malcolm Muggeridge, tells of her relationship with D.H. Lawrence." Physical Description15 items
Series II. contains letters from Kay Boyle to Moore written between 1956-1974. Boyle (1902-1992) is known for her work and achievements as a poet, short story writer, novelist, journalist, teacher, and political activist. During the time when the letters in this collection were written, Boyle was teaching creative writing at San Francisco State College (now San Francisco State University) and was heavily involved in political activism.
47 signed typescript and autograph letters from Kay Boyle to Harry Moore, spanning the dates 1956-1962. The letters discuss professional engagements and ongoing literary projects, such as Boyle's children's book
The Youngest Camel, but they also contain evidence of a personal friendship. Of particular note, is the 18 Mar 1957 letter in which Boyle speaks out against current literary critical trends in the context of a class she will be teaching at the University of Delaware on Samuel Beckett. Physical Description47 items
25 autograph signed letters and one typescript signed letter from Kay Boyle to Harry Moore, spanning the dates 1963-1967. The letters discuss professional endeavors, specifically Boyle's newly accepted position in the creative writing department at San Francisco State University, her speeches at The New School and, literary work and literary contacts, including James Farrell and Howard Nemerov. The letters also include discussion of more personal topics, including the health of family friends and social engagements with mutual friends.
Physical Description26 items
18 autograph and typescript letters from Kay Boyle to Harry Moore, spanning the dates 1968-1974. The content of the letters is both personal and professional and includes inquiries about Moore's latest publications, Boyle's current reading lists and Boyle's comments on Moore's review of her fiction. Many of the letters written in 1968 are addressed to Beatrice, Moore's wife.
Physical Description18 items
This folder includes letters from academic scholars and publishing companies to Kay Boyle and to Harry Moore regarding publication of Boyle's fiction, poetry and letters. The letters in the folder span the dates 1941-1973 and are from a variety of publishing companies, including Alfred Knopf, Harcourt, Brace and Company, and the University of Minnesota Press. The folder also includes a typescript of Moore's preface for Boyle's novel
Plagued By the Nightingale, a pamphlet for Boyle's talk "Writers in Metaphysical Revolt" at Southern Illinois University, and a letter entitled "Opportunistic Professors" which lists Boyle as an author. Physical Description22 items
Series III. includes letters to Moore from Caresse Crosby written between 1945 and 1969. Caresse Crosby (1892-1970) was a writer and publisher born in New York City. During the time when the letters in this collection were written, Crosby was living in Washington, D.C., running a modern art gallery and founding and managing
Portfolio: An Intercontinental Review, issued under the Black Sun Press, the publishing company begun by Crosby and her late husband, Harry Crosby. In the early 1950s Crosby moved to a castle near Rome, Italy, and established an artists' and writers' colony. She also founded two organizations, Women Against War and Citizens of the World, both aimed at improving international relations. Her memoir, The Passionate Years, was published in 1953. Moore was also named Crosby's literary executor upon her death in 1970.Folder includes typescript and autograph letters from Caresse Crosby to Harry Moore written between 1945 and 1969. The letters discuss publishing projects and articles for the magazine she launched,
Portfolio: An Intercontinental Review, issued under her Black Sun publishing company imprint. The letters contain requests for Harry to write reviews and articles for Portfolio pending the resolution of financial obstacles. Many of the letters between 1945 and 1960 are written from Crosby's home in Washington D.C., and the letters written after 1960 are addressed from Rome. The dates of the undated letters in the folder can be approximated based on the address from which they are written. Also included in the folder are publishing announcements for Portfolio and a typescript unsigned letter to Crosby dated February 2, 1958, presumably from Harry Moore. Physical Description50 items
Folder includes typescript letters written by various people between 1963 and 1976 to various recipients. The content of the letters concerns the settlement of Caresse Crosby's estate, the appointment of Harry Moore as her literary executor, and the donation of Crosby's library and Black Sun Press materials to Southern Illinois University. Also included in the folder is a typescript press release from University News Service dated February 17, 1970, announcing a literary party and memorial in honor of Caresse Crosby hosted by Buckminster Fuller and Harry Moore.
Physical Description19 items
Series IV. includes letters sent to Moore from Anais Nin from 1963 to 1976. Anais Nin (1903-1977) was a writer born in Paris, France, who is best known for her diary which was published in seven volumes. In 1961, Nin had moved to Los Angeles and the first volume of her diary was published in 1966. At this time, she began to give lectures and speeches around the country, and she was elected to the National Institute of Arts and Letters in 1974.
Folder includes autograph and typescript letters from Anais Nin to Harry Moore, spanning the dates 1963 to 1976. The letters discuss a variety of literary topics, including collaborative work between Nin and Moore, the publication of her diary and Moore's reviews of it, and Nin's desire to obtain Moore's help in increasing interest in authors whose works have gone out of print.
Physical Description36 items
Folder includes letters and ephemera related to Anais Nin publications. The letters span the dates 1963 to 1972 and include a carbon copy of a letter from a rare books librarian interested in Nin's diary and correspondence between Moore and the Swallow Press regarding corrections and clarifications for Moore's preface to Nin's
D.H. Lawrence book. Also included is ephemera related to Nin's diary, including a full page advertisement by the Swallow Press and a small tri-fold advertisement pamphlet. A typescript excerpt from the Publisher's Weekly review of the diary dated February 7, 1966, is also included. Physical Description12 items
Series V. includes letters from Sir Richard Rees to Harry Moore written between 1940 and 1969. Richard Rees (1900-1970) was a translator, publisher, author and part-time painter whose works were exhibited at the Royal Academy in London. Rees was editor of
Adelphi for six years and was considered to be an authority on French philosopher Simone Weil.Folder includes typescript and autograph letters from Richard Rees to Harry Moore. The letters span the dates 1940-1960 and touch on a variety of literary, artistic, political, professional and personal topics. The letters written between 1940 and 1942 include reference to Rees's experience in London during the nightly bombing raids and discussion of his time serving in the Merchant Marine. The letters written after 1945 include more direct and focused discussion on literary and artistic topics, such as Rees's friendship with D.H. Lawrence, the American and English cultural conceptions of literature and art, post-World War II political developments, lectures and publications by Rees and reviews of Rees's published work.
Physical Description69 items
Folder includes typescript and autograph letters from Richard Rees to Harry Moore, spanning the dates 1961 to 1969. The letters include discussion of plans for a lecturing visit to Southern Illinois University with outlines of proposed lectures, as well as detailed discussion of recently published Lawrence scholarship and recent literary publications in general. Also included in folder is an announcement card for the private viewing of paintings by Richard Rees held on June 4, 1953.
Physical Description44 items
Notifying Moore of Rees's death.
Regarding Rees's lecture at Southern Illinois University.
Series VI. consists of letters sent to Moore from various authors arranged chronologically. Among the notable authors represented in this section are Henry Miller, Robert Penn Warren, Bertrand Russell, John Ciardi, Aldous Huxley, Alfred Kinsey, Lionel Trilling, Diana Trilling, James Farrell, Truman Capote, Arthur Mizener, Normal Mailer, Saul Bellow, John Guenther, John Gardner, David Garnett, Joyce Carol Oates, John Updike, E.M. Forster, Herbert Gold, and Edmund Wilson. An index arranged by author's last name provides the folder number in which letters by each author is also available.
Includes letters from Henry Miller (2), Robert Penn Warren, Bertrand Russell, and John Ciardi, along with other letters from academics, publishers and booksellers. The letters are arranged within the folder by date. Also included is unattributed typescript poem entitled "Fantasy," dated 1910.
Physical Description18 items
Includes letters from Aldous Huxley, Alfred Kinsey, Lionel Trilling (2), Diana Trilling, John Ciardi (6) and James Farrell, along with other letters from academics, publishers and booksellers. The letters are arranged within the folder by date.
Physical Description39 items
Includes letters from Truman Capote, Diana Trilling, Arthur Mizener (2), Normal Mailer, Saul Bellow, John Guenther, David Garnett (2) and John Ciardi, along with other letters from academics, publishers and booksellers. The letters are arranged within the folder by date.
Physical Description36 items
Includes letters from John Gardner, David Garnett, and Joyce Carol Oates, along with other letters from academics, publishers and booksellers. The letters are arranged within the folder by date.
Physical Description20 items
Includes letters from John Gardner, John Updike, E.M. Forster, Herbert Gold, Edmund Wilson and David Garnett, along with other letters from academics, publishers and booksellers.
Physical Description16 items