Brooks, Paul, 1909-1998

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Paul Brooks (1909–1998) was a nature writer, book editor, and environmentalist.

Born in New York City, Paul Brooks received in 1931 his bachelor's degree from Harvard University, where he was the editor of the Harvard Lampoon. Soon after graduation, he became an employee at the publishing company Houghton Mifflin in Boston and remained with the company for 40 years. He was editor-in-chief of Houghton Mifflin's General Book Department from 1943 until his retirement in 1969. He wrote Two Park Street: A Publishing Memoir, containing anecdotes about his experiences editing the works of Rachel Carson, Roger Tory Peterson, Winston Churchill, Arthur Schlesinger Jr., and James Agee, among others. Paul Brooks suggested the title Silent Spring for Rachel Carson's famous book.

In addition to his career as an editor, Brooks was also a prolific author of books and articles. He won the 1965 John Burroughs Medal for his 1964 book Roadless Area.

A passionate environmental activist, Brooks traveled extensively with his wife, Susan (Susie), and took leadership roles in numerous organizations, such as the Sierra Club and Massachusetts Audubon Society. He was asked to lecture all over the United States throughout his career.

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
referencedIn Teale, Edwin Way, 1899-1980. Papers, 1799-1995 and undated Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Bernard Augustine De Voto Papers, 1918-1955 (inclusive), 1944-1951 (bulk) Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Gannett, Lewis, 1891-1966. Papers, 1681-1966 (bulk 1900-1960) Houghton Library
creatorOf Brooks, Paul. Correspondence with Henry Charles Lea, 1875. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Emerson, David. Collection of materials generated by the celebration at the Old Manse, Concord, Mass., of the publication of Paul Brooks' The Old Manse and the people who lived there, 1983. Concord Free Public Library, Special Collection
referencedIn Murphy, Robert Cushman, 1887-1973. Papers, ca. 1907-1973. American Philosophical Society Library
referencedIn Paul A. Freund papers Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
referencedIn Wisdom, William B. William B. Wisdom collection of Thomas Wolfe. 1909-1959. Houghton Library
referencedIn Van Waters, Miriam, 1887-1974. Papers, 1861-1971 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Avis MacVicar De Voto Papers, 1952-1968 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Robert Cushman Murphy journals, 1907-1971, 1907-1971 American Philosophical Society
creatorOf Banér, Skulda V. (Skulda Vanadis). Skulda Vanadis Banér papers, 1900-1975 (bulk 1920-1964). Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company contracts, 1831-1979 (inclusive) 1880-1940 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Van Waters, Miriam, 1887-1974. Papers, 1861-1971 Arthur and Elizabeth Schlesinger Library on the History of Women in America‏
referencedIn Kuhn, Marshall H., 1916-1978. Marshall H. Kuhn papers, 1967-1978. UC Berkeley Libraries
referencedIn New Directions Publishing records Houghton Library
referencedIn Fischer, John Sylvester, 1910-1978. John Sylvester Fischer papers, 1907-1980 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. Series VII., Other Department Files, 1916-1996 (bulk 1943-1969). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
creatorOf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. : Series I., General Correspondence, 1922-1977 (bulk 1946-1966). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn Scowcroft, Richard. Richard Scowcroft papers, 1939-2000. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Thomas J. Dodd Papers, undated, 1919-1971. Archives & Special Collections at the Thomas J. Dodd Center.
referencedIn Skulda V. Banér papers, 1900-1975, 1920-1964 Bentley Historical Library
referencedIn John Kieran Papers, 1917-1985 Library of Congress. Manuscript Division
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company correspondence, 1881-1981 (inclusive), 1940-1979 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Fischer, John Sylvester, 1910-1978. John Sylvester Fischer papers, 1907-1980 (inclusive). Yale University Library
creatorOf Brooks, Paul,. Oral history interview, 1976. Northeast Archives of Folklore and Oral History, Maine Folklife Center
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
creatorOf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. Series V., Editor Files, 1873-1984 (bulk 1960-1980). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
referencedIn John Sylvester Fischer papers, 1907-1980 Yale University. Department of Manuscripts and Archives
creatorOf Houghton Mifflin Company. Houghton Mifflin Company correspondence, 1881-1981 (inclusive), 1940-1979 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records. : Series II., Alfred A. Knopf Personal, 1874-1984 (bulk 1953-1984). Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. corporateBody
associatedWith Banér, Skulda V. (Skulda Vanadis) person
associatedWith De Voto, Bernard Augustine, 1897-1955. person
correspondedWith Dodd, Thomas J. (Thomas Joseph), 1907-1971 person
associatedWith Fischer, John Sylvester, 1910-1978. person
associatedWith Freund, Paul Abraham, 1908-1992 person
correspondedWith Gannett, Lewis, 1891-1966 person
associatedWith Groce, Nora Ellen, 1952- person
associatedWith Houghton Mifflin Company. corporateBody
correspondedWith Kieran, John, 1892-1981. person
associatedWith Kuhn, Marshall H., 1916-1978. person
associatedWith Mudget, Charles, person
associatedWith Murphy, Robert Cushman, 1887-1973. person
associatedWith New Directions Publishing Corp. corporateBody
associatedWith Scowcroft, Richard. person
correspondedWith Teale, Edwin Way, 1899- person
associatedWith The Avis DeVoto Collection person
associatedWith Van Waters, Miriam, 1887-1974 person
correspondedWith Wisdom, William B., 1900-1977 person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York City NY US
Maine ME US
Boston MA US
Subject
Environmentalism
Nature Writers
Occupation
Book Editor
Environmentalists
Writer
Activity

Person

Birth 1909

Death 1998

Male

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 85564642