Sinclair Lewis Family Papers, 1909-1962.

ArchivalResource

Lewis, Grace Hegger. Sinclair Lewis Family Papers, 1909-1962.

Sinclair Lewis Family Papers, 1909-1962.

http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/122319045

Correspondence makes up the bulk of the Sinclair Lewis Family Papers, 1909-1962, and typescripts of novels and biographies round out the collection. The Sinclair Lewis Series is organized into three subseries. The Works subseries is made up of three major publications, two lesser known plays, and a few individual short stories and poems by Lewis. Of particular note is a typescript draft of Main Street (1920) which contains extensive editing, deletions and insertions by the author. A typescript of Arrowsmith (1925) provides almost as many examples of Lewis's editorial methods. The Outgoing Correspondence Subseries contains the drafts and final copy of the 1926 letter Lewis wrote to the Pulitzer Prize Committee refusing the award as well as letters to his first wife Grace Hegger Lewis, their son Wells Lewis, and the lawyers who handled their divorce, Ernst, Fox & Caine. The Incoming Correspondence Subseries holds letters Lewis received from his wife and lawyers as well as other, largely personal, letters from friends and associates. The Grace Hegger Lewis Series is divided into three subseries. The Works Subseries includes multiple typescript versions of two biographical works about Sinclair Lewis, Half a Loaf (1931) and With Love from Gracie (1955). Also present in this section is a memory book created by Grace Lewis containing letters, poems, and sketches given to her by Sinclair Lewis early in their relationship. The Outgoing and Incoming Correspondence Subseries include an in-depth collection of letters Grace wrote to her son Wells, as well as to her mother and Stella Wood, in addition to letters she received from Dorothy Thompson, Sinclair Lewis's second wife, and others. Additionally, there are a number of letters from friends and acquaintances congratulating her on the publication of each of her books. The Wells Lewis Series is organized in three subseries. The Works Subseries contains papers he wrote while attending Harvard and Phillips Academy in addition to a few short stories and poems. The Outgoing and Incoming Correspondence Subseries are composed mostly of correspondence to his mother and grandmother and letters from Dorothy Thompson, a few friends, and others. The small Works and Correspondence by other Authors Series is divided into two sections: Works and Correspondence. The Works section contains two biographical works about Sinclair Lewis, A Man from Main Street and Sinclair Lewis; An American Life, as well as a typescript of the Elmer Gantry screen play. The Correspondence section contains a few letters written by friends and associates of the Lewis family, generally concerning one or other of the Lewises.

14 boxes (5.83 linear feet), 1 galley folder.

Harry Ransom Humanities Research Center