Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Hays, H. R. (Hoffman Reynolds), 1904-1980. and Brecht, Bertolt, 1898-1956
- Abstract:
- The Hays/Brecht mss., ca. 1939-1981, consist primarily of a series of typescripts sent by German playwright and poet Bertolt Brecht (1898-1956) to his first American translator, Hoffman Reynolds (H.R.) Hays (1904-1980), along with drafts of translations and related correspondence and documents from Hays's Brecht files.
- Extent:
- 1 Box (1 standard)
- Language:
- Materials are in English .
- Preferred citation:
[Item], Hays/Brecht mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Background
- Biographical / Historical:
H.R. Hays was a New York playwright, anthropologist, poet, and sometime collaborator with Brecht's close friend, Hanns Eisler. In 1939, at Eisler's urging— and with his assistance in attaining manuscripts and publication rights—Hays undertook several pioneering translations of Brecht's works, including Mother Courage (1941), The Trial of Lucullus (1943), and Selected Poems (1947). This last volume, selected in consultation with Brecht, was the first collection of Brecht's poetry to be published in English. Hays also briefly collaborated with Brecht on The Duchess of Malfi, but quit in indignation when he discovered that W. H. Auden had been brought on to help with the project.
- Scope and Content:
Correspondents include Bertolt Brecht, Stefan Brecht, H.R. Hays, James K. Lyons, Hanns Eisler, Albrecht Betz, James Laughlin and John Willett. The Miscellaneous series contains performance programs, a newspaper clipping and a photocopy of a Massachusetts Civil War record.
- Acquisition information:
- Acquired: 2009-2011
- Processing information:
Processed by Danielle Emerling.
Completed in 2011
- Arrangement:
The collection is organized into the following series: I. Writings; II. Correspondence; III. Miscellaneous. Writings are divided into subseries: Dramatic Works; Poems; and Additional Works. The series contains early typescripts of the original German versions of Brecht plays noted above, as well as The Life of Galileo (a presentation copy to Erwin Piscator, dated 1939) and typescript versions of Brecht's poetry in both German and English. Poems include typescripts of several poems by the Austrian writer Franz Werfel (1890-1945), who lived in exile in Los Angeles from 1940 until his death in 1945, along with translations of the poems by Hays. Additional Works includes Hays's account of his collaboration with Brecht on The Duchess of Malfi.
- Physical location:
- Lilly - Stacks
Access
- RESTRICTIONS:
-
This collection is open for research.
Many collections are housed offsite; retrieval requires advance notice. Please make an appointment a minimum of one week in advance of your visit.
- TERMS OF ACCESS:
-
Photography and digitization may be restricted for some collections. Copyright restrictions may apply. Before publishing, researchers are responsible for securing permission from all applicable rights holders, then filling out the Permission to Publish form.
- PREFERRED CITATION:
-
[Item], Hays/Brecht mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- LOCATION OF THIS COLLECTION:
-
1200 East Seventh StreetBloomington, Indiana 47405-5500, USA
- CAMPUS:
- Indiana University Bloomington
- CONTACT:
-
(812) 855-2452liblilly@iu.edu