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Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. Series VI., Editorial Department Files, 1915-1984 (bulk 1948-1978).

Title: Records. Series VI., Editorial Department Files, 1915-1984 (bulk 1948-1978).

This series consists of selected files maintained by the editorial offices of Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Containing internal forms and correspondence, it highlights numerous aspects of the publishing process. Subseries A.: Contract Data Sheets. This subseries contains the internal forms, called contract data sheets, that consolidated an author's contract and sales records, highlighting rights, contract options, translations, and royalties. While these single sheets make up the bulk of the subseries, occasionally other forms such as reprint contract sheets, contract proposals, and internal memoranda have been attached for reference. Subseries B.: Foreign Rights. These files contain correspondence and internal forms relating to the publication of Knopf books in other countries. Most of these files consist of correspondence from foreign publishers asking Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. for the right to publish a particular title in their country. While some folders contain letters from many different publishers, others follow the lengthy negotiation process for foreign rights between Knopf and a particular publisher. Subseries C.: Manuscript Records. This subseries is made up of the internal forms called "white sheets" by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc., and pertains only to manuscripts accepted by the firm. These manuscript record forms were attached to every incoming manuscript, to document how the manuscript arrived, its original title, and the date of its initial submission. The standard form included such information as the author's name, manuscript title and form (whether typescript, proofs, or sheets), name of the person submitting it, contract information, a list of the manuscript's readers, and space for remarks by those readers. In a few cases the white sheets were attached to internal memoranda, correspondence, contract proposals, or publishing summaries. Subseries D.: Reject Files. This largest subseries contains correspondence with rejected authors and/or their agents. Most consist of single contacts with aspiring authors who were never published. This correspondence generally contains an introductory letter from the author (or sometimes an agent) describing the manuscript, with a carbon negative reply from the firm. While most of the correspondence is routine, the subseries' chief importance derives from the known authors that Knopf rejected and the early appearance of authors who would later go on to prominence. Of particular interest is the appearance in this subseries of established Knopf authors such as Mildred Cram, Erna Fergusson, Yukio Mishima, and Elizabeth Taylor, showing that Knopf was reluctant to publish inferior works from even the best known of its list. Subseries E.: Rejection Sheets. This subseries consists of the manuscript "white sheet" forms for books rejected by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. These white sheets complement subseries D, though they represent only manuscripts actually submitted. The reject sheets are particularly interesting because a substantial minority of submitted manuscripts that were rejected by Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. went on to be published elsewhere. As in the manuscript records in Subseries C, frank narrative reports of these rejected works by the manuscript readers and editors are present. Subseries F.: [Translations]. This small subseries contains a loose assortment of files pertaining mainly to translations of Spanish and Portuguese writers. The subseries documents the firm's growing interest in the publication of Latin American writers in the 1960s. Most of the files contain correspondence or internal documentation relating to writers and translators in which the company was interested. The subseries is strengthened by a number of annotated lists of current writers and translators working in the area, offering an overview of Latin American scholarship in the 1960s.

ArchivalResource: 239 boxes (99.5 linear feet).

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122590288 View

Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. Series V., Editor Files, 1873-1984 (bulk 1960-1980).

Title: Records. Series V., Editor Files, 1873-1984 (bulk 1960-1980).

This series contains the working files of seventeen Knopf editors. The files consist largely of correspondence, with both incoming correspondence and carbon copy responses from the editor, but they also contain internal forms and memoranda that follow both the internal and external processes of book publication. Long-term strengths of the firm such as the expertise and interests of the editors, and the relationship between author and editor, are clearly revealed in this series. The files of William Koshland differ markedly from other editors' files, reflecting his role as administrator more than hands-on editor.

ArchivalResource: 198 boxes (82.5 linear feet).

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122597902 View

Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. : Series I., General Correspondence, 1922-1977 (bulk 1946-1966).

Title: Records. : Series I., General Correspondence, 1922-1977 (bulk 1946-1966).

This series consists of the central editorial files of the Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Company. It contains the correspondence for the day-to-day operations of the firm, including letters from foreign publishers seeking publication and translation rights, contacts with young writers, inquiries from aspiring authors, correspondence on legal matters such as copyright, letters from literary agents, and requests for information about writers. The General Correspondence series also contains correspondence between editors and Knopf authors, many files of which follow the creation of a book from the original idea to its final publication. Taken as a whole, this series offers a comprehensive overview of the activities of the editorial offices. The main strength of the series derives from the individual files devoted to writers published by Knopf. These files typically reveal the writer's first connection with the company, which might have occurred when the firm contacted the writer expressing their interest in her or his work, or when the author submitted a manuscript. Files follow the correspondence between the editor and writer, revealing the relationship between the two as the manuscript progresses, continues once the book is published, and shows how the book is received and how well it sells. Especially interesting is the way the files reveal how an editor would guide the creative process, as she or he suggests changes, additions, or deletions. While the vast majority of files contain correspondence only, some files relate to the inner workings of the firm. These are labelled by department or, more often, by employee name; the most significant are for Blanche and Alfred A. Knopf, and can be found in most years. The files rely on the use of documentation in the form of internal memoranda that were sent from editors and employees of other departments to update the Knopfs on current activities. Folders titled with the name of a trip taken by Alfred or Blanche Knopf in a specific year often include narrative descriptions of the visit, including detailed lists of publishers, scouts, literary agents, and writers with whom they met. Further, information about writers is also available in these folders. For example, internal memos about the rejection of John Knowles' A Separate Peace are in one of Blanche Knopf's European trip folders. Other employee named files, like those of Secretary and later President William A. Koshland, give an overview of the firm's administrative history.

ArchivalResource: 500 boxes (208 linear feet)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122481717 View

Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. : Series II., Alfred A. Knopf Personal, 1874-1984 (bulk 1953-1984).

Title: Records. : Series II., Alfred A. Knopf Personal, 1874-1984 (bulk 1953-1984).

This series consists of Alfred A. Knopf's personal files and papers, which were maintained at his office in New York City and at his home at Purchase, New York. Sent to the Ransom Center over a period of years, the arrangement has been recreated from Knopf's personal file system. Generally, the first two subseries consist of correspondence and subject files from Knopf's office, while the Purchase files were kept at his home and used for his memoirs. The last subseries consists of materials sent to the Ransom Center that were not originally present in either his office or home file systems. Consisting largely of correspondence, generally an original letter with a blue carbon of Knopf's response, the series also includes manuscript drafts, clippings, photographs, minutes, memoranda, diaries, programs, artwork, menus, awards, account books, slides, and other printed materials. Subseries A. Alfred A. Knopf's Personal Correspondence contains correspondence with some of Knopf's earliest literary contacts, such as Kay Boyle, Joseph Conrad, Clarence Day, Theodore Dreiser, W.A. Dwiggins, Joseph Hergesheimer, and Vachel Lindsay. Also present are the beginnings of what would become life-long literary friendships with such notables as Warren Chappell, Felix Frankfurter, and Carl Van Vechten. Early folders contain fragments of Knopf's editorial correspondence from the late 1910s and the 1920s. Also, his later interest in such subjects as conservation, politics, Latin America, the American West, and fine wine is well documented. A smaller group of files contains letters from Knopf's fiance and wife, Blanche Wolf Knopf from the 1910s and 1920s. Many of the letters were sent to Knopf as he traveled on business, and Blanche often mentions the daily business of the new firm, revealing how closely the two worked together in the early years of the firm. Subseries B. The Office/Subject Files, originally maintained in Alfred Knopf's office and arranged alphabetically by subject, include a broad range of subjects representing Knopf's work in the publishing industry as well as his personal interests. The correspondence, memoranda, internal reports, and staff records in these files offer a view of the inner workings of the company and of Knopf's management style. The large number of files containing reports, correspondence, and minutes from publishing groups, charitable boards, committees, and social clubs attests to Knopf's participation in the literary, business, and philanthropic worlds. Among Knopf's personal interests, the best documented is the natural environment. Most of the files on this subject are found under the titles "Conservation" and "National Park Service," but they are also scattered elsewhere. These files contain correspondence, clippings, news releases, bulletins, reports of nature societies, legislative materials, and board meeting minutes and reports. A highlight from these files is Knopf's participation in the campaign to save the Dinosaur National Monument in 1950-57. Other personal files are present, such as travel files, covering daily activities, meetings, impressions, and a report describing his first trip to Brazil in 1961-62. Subseries C. The Purchase Files were maintained at Knopf's home in Purchase, N.Y. Among these are files pertaining directly to the writing of Knopf's unpublished memoir, containing correspondence, clippings, menus, programs, and other materials Knopf gathered together and referred to as he was writing the narrative drafts. These files offer the most comprehensive survey of Knopf's life, especially his early years as a publisher. They consist of documents that date from the period about which he was writing and are augmented by contemporary lists, correspondence, and memoranda confirming dates, giving lists of books published, and offering reminders to Knopf of these years. A strength of these files are the early letters he pulled from other sources, including files that were subsequently destroyed, or photocopied to keep in these files. Also supplementing the memoir are a large collection of Knopf's diaries and appointment books, 1919-1984 (some gaps between 1920-1933), detailing Knopf's day-to-day activities. Knopf also wrote about the memorable friendships he made as a publisher. One folder contains manuscript drafts recounting his relationship with Willa Cather, bolstered by copies of their correspondence and associated clippings. An additional twenty folders chronicle Knopf's close friendship and professional association with H.L. Mencken. The Purchase Files also include a group of alphabetical subject files which overlap Knopf's Office/Subject Files maintained at his office: both include files on the environment, typography, food and wine, and politics. However, these files also contain a number of folders pulled from the firm, including some author files that Knopf saved to use for his memoir. Early editorial correspondence with writers such as Conrad Aiken, Thomas Beer, W.H. Hudson, and Ernest Newman appears in these files. Other files contain records relating to dogs, cemetery plots, and family material. Subseries D. The Other Subjects and Interests files include materials that Knopf saved and donated to the Ransom Center, but that were not a part of any existing file system. The range of materials found is very broad and although some of the materials are ephemeral in nature, such as a large collection of clippings about people and publishing, many of the files contain papers that reflect the interests in Knopf's daily life. Non-textual materials, such as artwork, photographs and portraits, a small collection of films (including "A Publisher is Known by the Company He Keeps"), dictaphone recordings, and phonograph records are also present. Many files relate directly to Knopf's home at Purchase and reflect his interest in fine dining. Other materials relating to his home include guest books, gardening records, and an inventory of his library. This subseries also features financial and personal documentation, such as account books, covering such expenses as home costs, investments, daily expenditures, club dues, and taxes, over a 40-year period. Personal and family documents are present, as well as a folder of early internal documents from the firm. This subseries also contains the many awards and honors given to Knopf over his lifetime.

ArchivalResource: 185 boxes (77 linear feet)

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/145406139 View