Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. Series VII., Other Department Files, 1916-1996 (bulk 1943-1969).
Title:
Records. Series VII., Other Department Files, 1916-1996 (bulk 1943-1969).
This series contains selected files created outside of the Editorial Department, which dominates the rest of the collection. The series contains only two boxes of materials from the Sales and College Departments, with the great majority of the files originating from the Publicity Department. The Publicity Department files chronicle the activities and concerns of editors, authors, administrators, and publicity department personnel in the struggle to market their titles and bring authors and the company to international attention and acclaim. A vast selection of materials, including artwork, biographical information, book jackets, correspondence, clippings, memos, photographs, publication and planning forms, and reviews, among others, combine to give the user a comprehensive view of the promotional process. Correspondence in the Publicity and Permanent Title files is often routine, containing materials such as mass mailings of introductions, booksellers' comments, and requests for review copies from individuals, organizations, newspapers and journals. However, some files offer exchanges between authors, editors, and book designers, primarily concerning promotional strategies, itineraries, and editing or revisions of manuscripts. The Publicity Department subseries is also rich with photographs (some with accompanying negatives), including portraits, publicity stills, and candid snapshots. Renowned photographers such as Henri Cartier Bresson, E. O. Hoppe, Edward Steichen, and Carl Van Vechten contribute to the photo documentation of the collection, capturing such Knopf dignitaries as Willa Cather, John Hersey, Thomas Mann, H. L. Mencken, and many others. Additionally, this subseries holds thousands of snapshots and portraits of authors, colleagues, and family members taken by Alfred A. Knopf, an avid amateur photographer. Author questionnaires are found scattered throughout the Publicity subseries, but also in an alphabetically arranged collection of files of the biographical forms dating 1929-1965 (bulk 1948-1955). Valuable for their autobiographical content, the questionnaires also offer descriptions of an author's work. While some forms give scant information, others have been filled out in great detail, providing manuscript descriptions, author ideas for publicity, target audiences, previous awards, honors and publications, occupations, and family information. Other files in the Publicity Department subseries were created by publicity managers W. T. Loverd (ca. 1968-1970) and Jane Becker Friedman. Because Friedman advanced to Publicity Director, and also Vice President and Associate Publisher, her files reflect a lengthier time span (ca. 1966-1988), and a more narrow focus, especially in the later years, on the promotion of cookbooks. The Sales Department subseries contains the files of senior salesman Leon Anderson, focusing on his activities as a member of the Knopf sales department (1946-1960). The internal correspondence in this subseries is rich with encouragement, sales strategy, and advice from Knopf administrators such as Treasurer Joseph Lesser, Alfred and Blanche Knopf, and Sales Manager Alfred A. (Pat) Knopf, Jr. Also chronicled is Pat Knopf's resignation from the firm. The correspondence continues through Anderson's resignation in January 1960 and includes personal letters from Alfred Knopf as late as 1970. The College Department files contain correspondence and memos primarily concerning employee qualifications, expectations and duties, and suggestions for manuscripts. The file for the head of the College Department, John T. Hawes, includes ledger sheets containing comparisons of expected and actual sales, new title lists, and sales projections.
ArchivalResource:
341 boxes (142 linear feet).
http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122472973 View
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