Stout, Rex, 1886-1975
Variant namesRex Stout was an American author best known for his detective fiction. He was born December 1, 1886 in Noblesville, Indiana, the sixth of nine children. In 1887 his parents, John and Lucetta Stout, bought a forty-acre farm south of Topeka, Kansas, where Stout grew up. As a young man, Stout tried several trades, including bookkeeping (with a stint in the Navy as a bookkeeper on Theodore Roosevelt's yacht), ushering at an opera house in Topeka, studying law, and working as a cigar store clerk. He also traveled around the United States and began to work seriously at writing.
Stout published serialized novels and short stories throughout the 1910s, mostly in All Story magazine, but took a break from writing in 1916 when he settled in New York City, married Fay Kennedy, and started a savings and loan business for students with his brother, called the Educational Thrift Service (ETS), which he left in 1929. He and Fay spend the next couple of years in Europe. He worked on the first of several "straight" novels he would produce, How Like a God (1929). He published several more novels in this vein. In 1931, he and Fay divorced. The next year he married Pola Weinbach Hoffman, a textile designer, and together they had two daughters, Barbara (1933) and Rebecca (1937). In 1934, Stout wrote his first novel featuring the characters Nero Wolfe and his sidekick Archie Goodwin, Fer-de-Lance. For the next four decades, he dedicated his career to writing the Nero Wolfe series. During that time, Stout wrote seventy-two Wolfe novels and novellas, which spawned several radio, television, and film adaptations, and built the dedicated fan base that would later become the Wolfe Pack. In 1969, he received the crime-fiction award, the Silver Dagger, from the Crime Writers' Association.
Stout was involved in the operation of many professional organizations, among them the Authors' Guild and Authors' League of America (both of which he served as president), the Dramatists Guild, the Mystery Writers of America, the Screen Writers' Guild, and the Radio Writers Guild. He was also a lead figure in several political groups. During World War II he was chairman of the Writers' War Board. He helped to found the Fight for Freedom Committee and Freedom House and gave a series of radio broadcasts concerning Axis propaganda called "Our Secret Weapon." Following the war he continued his political activism by helping to found and serving as president of both the Society for the Prevention of World War III and the Writers Board for World Government.
Rex Stout died on October 27, 1975 at the age of 89 at his estate, High Meadow, in Connecticut.
Role | Title | Holding Repository | |
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creatorOf | Stout, Rex, 1886-1975. Correspondence with Theodore Dreiser, 1942. | University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library | |
creatorOf | Sherman, Jean. Letters received concerning Spanish Civil War writers auction, 1936-1949 (bulk 1938-1939). | Pennsylvania State University Libraries | |
referencedIn | MacKinlay Kantor Papers, 1885-1977, (bulk 1920-1970) | Library of Congress. Manuscript Division | |
creatorOf | Stout, Rex, 1886-1975. Letter to Frank Luther Mott. Brewster, NY. 1940 Aug. 23. | University of Iowa Libraries | |
creatorOf | Society for the Prevention of World War III (New York, N.Y.). Letters, 1945-1966, to Lewis Mumford. | University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library | |
creatorOf | Mystery Writers of America. Papers, 1946-2002. | Indiana University | |
referencedIn | John Mason Brown papers, 1922-1967. | Houghton Library | |
referencedIn | Starrett, Vincent, 1886-1974. Typed letters signed (18) and autograph letters signed (12) : Chicago, to Edward Wagenknecht, 1943-1970. | Pierpont Morgan Library. | |
referencedIn | Committee to Secure Justice for Morton Sobell. Committee to Secure Justice for Morton Sobell records, 1946-1969. | Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project | |
creatorOf | Rex Stout papers | Boston College. John J. Burns Library | |
referencedIn | Cousins, Margaret, 1905-1996. Papers, 1921-1973 | Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center | |
referencedIn | Robert G. Spivack Papers, 1931-1970, (bulk 1936-1970) | Library of Congress. Manuscript Division | |
referencedIn | New Yorker records | New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division | |
referencedIn | George Sarton additional papers, 1901-1956 | Houghton Library | |
creatorOf | Cousins, Margaret, 1905-1996. Papers, 1921-1973. | Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center | |
referencedIn | Stout, Rex. Ed Price collection of Rex Stout | Boston College. John J. Burns Library | |
referencedIn | Harris, L. mss., 1931-1977 | Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington) | |
creatorOf | Stout, Rex, 1886-1975. Letters to Josephine Bacon. New York, NY., 1943-1944. | University of Iowa Libraries | |
referencedIn | J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated | David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library | |
referencedIn | Wharton, Don, 1905-1998. Don Wharton papers, 1941-1945 [manuscript]. | University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill | |
referencedIn | Papers of Dorothy Rodgers, 1922-1987 | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
referencedIn | The Nation, records, 1879-1974 (inclusive), 1920-1955 (bulk). | Houghton Library | |
referencedIn | John J. McAleer Faculty Papers | Boston College. John J. Burns Library | |
referencedIn | White mss., 1932-1969 | Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington) | |
referencedIn | Vanguard Press Records, ca.1925-ca.1985 | Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
referencedIn | Robert E. Sherwood papers, 1917-1968 (inclusive), 1934-1955 (bulk). | Houghton Library | |
referencedIn | Egmont Arens Papers, 1883-1966, 1880-1966 | Syracuse University. Library. Special Collections Research Center | |
creatorOf | Writers' War Board. Letters, 1943-1945, to Lewis Mumford. | University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library | |
referencedIn | Powell, Dawn. Dawn Powell Papers, 1910-1998. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
referencedIn | Bernard Augustine De Voto Papers, 1918-1955 (inclusive), 1944-1951 (bulk) | Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives | |
referencedIn | R. Buckminster Fuller Papers | Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives | |
creatorOf | Stout, Rex, 1886-1975. Correspondence to Maxwell Struthers Burt, 1947-1950. | University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library | |
referencedIn | Baker Street Irregulars (Organization : U.S.) archive, 1923-2007. | Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington) | |
referencedIn | Halsband, Robert, 1914-. Robert Halsband papers, 1708-1976. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
creatorOf | Writers' War Board. Correspondence to Franz Werfel, 1942, 1943. | University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library | |
referencedIn | Donald and Katharine Foley Collection of Penguin Books, post 1965 | Bancroft Library | |
referencedIn | John Eugene Unterecker Papers, 1961-1987 | Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
referencedIn | Inventory of the Roy Fuller Correspondence with Julian Symons and Jack Clark LIT/Fuller MSS 00068., 1937-1992 | Cushing Memorial Library, | |
creatorOf | Stout, Rex, 1886-1975. Correspondence, 1966, from Lewis Mumford. | University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library | |
referencedIn | Gannett, Lewis, 1891-1966. Papers, 1681-1966 (bulk 1900-1960) | Houghton Library | |
referencedIn | Paul Blanshard Papers, 1912-1979 | Bentley Historical Library | |
referencedIn | Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. records, 1914-1961, 1930s-1950s | New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division | |
creatorOf | Stout, Rex, 1886-1975. Correspondence with Marian Anderson, 1955-1969. | University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library | |
creatorOf | Author's Guild (U.S.). Correspondence to Franz Werfel, 1941-1945. | University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library | |
referencedIn | Dannay, Frederic, 1905-1982. Papers, ca.1920-1982. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
creatorOf | Hawkins, Arthur. Papers of Arthur Hawkins [manuscript], 1929-1970. | University of Virginia. Library | |
creatorOf | Stout, Rex Todhunter, 1886-. Letter, Brewster, N.Y., to Robert D. Williamson [manuscript] 1940 November 29. | University of Virginia. Library | |
referencedIn | Papers, 1925-1972 | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
referencedIn | Babson, Naomi Lane, 1895-1985. Naomi Lane Babson collection, 1920-1971 bulk 1935-1965. | Boston University. School of Medicine | |
creatorOf | Carnegie Council on Ethics & International Affairs. Carnegie Council on Ethics & International Affairs records, 1914-1996. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
referencedIn | George P. Garrett Papers, 1929-2008, (bulk 1960-2000) | David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library | |
referencedIn | Judson C. Sapp papers and collection of Rex Stout | Boston College. John J. Burns Library | |
referencedIn | Frank, Adelaide Schulkind. Papers, 1925-1972 (inclusive). | Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America | |
referencedIn | Freedom House (U.S.). Freedom House archives, 1936-1997. | Princeton University Library | |
referencedIn | John Phillips Marquand correspondence | Houghton Library | |
referencedIn | Gropius, Walter, 1883-1969. Papers, 1925-1969 (bulk: 1937-1969) | Houghton Library | |
referencedIn | Erik H. and Joan M. Erikson papers, 1925-1985 (inclusive) 1960-1980 (bulk). | Houghton Library | |
creatorOf | Rice, Elmer, 1892-1967,. Elmer Rice letters from various correspondents, 1915-1967. | Houghton Library | |
creatorOf | Boucher, Anthony, 1911-1968. Papers, 1932-1969 | Indiana University | |
referencedIn | Oswald Garrison Villard papers | Houghton Library | |
referencedIn | Heterosexual popular fiction collection, 1955-1992 | Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections, Cornell University Library. | |
creatorOf | Moffitt, John. Papers of John Moffitt, 1916-1974. | University of Virginia. Library | |
referencedIn | De Voto, Bernard Augustine, 1897-1955. Bernard De Voto papers, 1918-1955 (bulk 1944-1951). | Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives | |
referencedIn | Harry Levin papers | Houghton Library | |
referencedIn | Swanberg, W. A., 1907-. W. A. Swanberg Papers, ca.1927-1992. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
creatorOf | McAleer, John J. Correspondence with Marian Anderson, 1972. | University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library | |
creatorOf | Stout, Rex, 1886-1975. Rex Stout papers, 1941-1978. | Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives | |
creatorOf | Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. records, 1914-1961, bulk (1930s-1950s). | New York Public Library System, NYPL | |
referencedIn | Hanson Weightman Baldwin papers, 1900-1988 | Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives | |
referencedIn | Frederic Dannay Papers, ca.1920-1982. | Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library | |
referencedIn | Elmer Rice letters from various correspondents, 1915-1967. | Harvard Theater Collection, Houghton Library, Harvard College Library, Harvard University | |
creatorOf | Freedom House (U.S.). Correspondence with Marian Anderson, 1960-1969. | University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library | |
referencedIn | Unterecker, John, 1922-1989. Papers, 1961-1987. | Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries | |
referencedIn | Alexander Woollcott correspondence, ca. 1856-1943 (inclusive), 1920-1943 (bulk). | Houghton Library |
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Filters:
Place Name | Admin Code | Country | |
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New York City | NY | US | |
Topeka | KS | US | |
Danbury | CT | US | |
Indiana | IN | US |
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American literature |
Publishers and publishing |
Authors, American |
Authors, American |
Authors and publishers |
Book collecting |
Book collectors |
Detective and mystery stories, American |
Detective and mystery television programs |
Detective mystery stories, American |
Detective mystery television programs |
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World War, 1939-1945 |
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Person
Birth 1886-12-11
Death 1975-10-27
Male
Americans
English