Title: | Sinclair mss. |
Collection No.: | LMC 1964 |
Dates: | 1814-1968 |
Quantity: | Quantity: 178954 Items |
Abstract: | The Sinclair mss., 1814-1968, consists of the correspondence, writings, and miscellaneous papers of author Upton Beall Sinclair, 1878-1968. |
Location: | ALF (Auxiliary Library Facility); ALF (Auxiliary Library Facility) - OVFlat |
Language: | English . |
Repository: | Lilly Library 1200 E. Seventh St. Bloomington, Indiana 47405-5500 Business Number: 812-855-2452 liblilly@iu.edu URL: https://libraries.indiana.edu/lilly-library |
Upton Sinclair was born in Baltimore, September 20, 1878, and grew up there and in New York City. He began his writing career as a teenager, producing pseudonymous boys' adventure stories for pulp magazine publishers, as well as writing jokes for humor magazines. Between 1900 and 1905 Sinclair published five novels, but it wasn't until The Jungle , published in 1906, that he became an internationally known author. The success of this novel, which deals with the appalling conditions in the meat packing plants in Chicago, not only made Sinclair a rich man but also provided the final impetus for passage of the pure food law of 1906. With the proceeds from the sale of the novel Sinclair set up a communal living experiment called Helicon Hall in New Jersey. A fire just one year later destroyed everything and left Sinclair and his young family impoverished once again.
Following a tumultuous separation and divorce, Sinclair married Mary Craig Kimbrough and in 1914 they took up permanent residence in Southern California. From 1917 through the early 1940s Sinclair himself published virtually all of his books and pamphlets although many of the major works were published simultaneously by New York houses. Although one of America's best known Socialists, Sinclair succeeded in winning the Democratic party nomination for governor of California in 1934 and ran on his "EPIC" (End Poverty in California) platform. He lost the election but many of the ideas he expressed during the campaign affected advisors and officials in Roosevelt's administrations and later found expression in national legislation. In 1940 Sinclair published the first of the best-selling Lanny Budd series, volume three of which, Dragon's Teeth , won the Pulitzer prize for literature in 1943. The eleven volumes were wide-ranging historical novels presenting the political history of the Western World from 1913-1950, and they were immensely popular. After the death of his third wife in December 1967, Sinclair moved to a nursing home in New Jersey to be near his son, David, and family. He died peacefully, November 25, 1968.
Consists of the correspondence, writings, and papers of writer Upton Beall Sinclair, 1878-1968. Also present are copies and transcripts of correspondence, 1814-1879, relating to Commodore Arthur Sinclair and to the Southworth family.
The collection begins with three folders of biographical and genealogical material, followed by the folder of correspondence copies. Series I, by far the largest portion of the collection is correspondence, 1890-1968, arranged chronologically and includes not only letters received by Sinclair but also retained carbons of letters and notes sent by him or written by secretaries on his behalf. Correspondents include writers and translators, politicians, philosophers, educators, businessmen, journalists, physicians, artists, editors and publishers, as well as Sinclair "fans" and family members. Series II, Miscellaneous, includes agreements and contracts, book production related materials, copies of 80th birthday greetings, an EPIC organization plan, an address book, etc. Series III, Writings, is subdivided into Major full-length works; Articles, including book reviews, pamphlets, short stories, and stage and screenplays; Poems; Speeches; and Writings by others.
Each series restarts the box numbering sequence. For retrieval purposes, please indicate series as well as box number.
Note on Indexing Term - "Pound, Ezra, 1885-1972": The correspondence includes four letters from Sinclair to Ezra Pound dated 1929 to 1933 and 16 letters from Ezra Pound to Sinclair dated 1929-1960. Also included are two letters from Dorothy Pound to Sinclair.
Note on Indexing Term - "Motion picture film": The Sinclair mss. has film-related material from ca. November 1930 - June 1932 concerning Que Viva Mexico!, a film directed by Sergei Eisenstein and backed financially by Upton Sinclair.
Note on Indexing Term - "Slavs": Of particular interest is the correspondence with Sergei Eisenstein, film director, there is also a 1931 telegram from Stalin.
Organized into the following series: I. Correspondence; II. Miscellaneous; and III. Writings. Series I. Correspondence is arranged chronologically; Series III. Writings is subdivided into Major full-length works; Articles, including book reviews, pamphlets, short stories, and stage and screenplays; Poems; Speeches; and Writings by others. The number of boxes restarts for each series.
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.
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.
[Item], Sinclair mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.
Purchase: 1957-1968
Scope and Contents: Arranged in chronological order, except for correspondence with publisher Malik-Verlag and author George Sterling. Both are filed at the end of the chronological section. Consult the Manuscripts Index in the Lilly Library for dates of letters of individual correspondents.
Scope and Contents: Arranged alphabetically and includes book-length works, both fiction and non-fiction, and his screenplay "Thunder Over Mexico." Included are holograph drafts, typescripts, carbons, printer's copies, promotional materials and other related items
General: See also: Writings. The Goose Step, Box 11, folder 8.
General: fragments, introduction, prefaces and related materials only. See note by Sinclair on versos of fragments
General: See also: The Coal War
General: See also: Articles. Oil: A play
Scope and Contents: Arranged alphabetically by title and include holograph drafts, typescripts, carbons and related materials for: articles, book reviews, pamphlets, short stories, stage plays, and screenplays (excluding "Thunder Over Mexico" See: Major Works)
General:
(see also: Writings. Cup of Fury)General: (see also: Writings. Cup of Fury)
General: [table of contents and preface]
General: [two different essays]
General: [table of contents]
General: [two different essays]
General: [originally titled: Here's Your New Paper!]
General: [originally titled: Hired Liars]
General: [miscellaneous pages]
General: [first page only]
General: [review]
General: [possibly titled: Capitalist Press]
General: [part of program titled: Men and Books]
General: [notes, related materials]
General: [preface]
General: [introduction]
General: [synopsis]
General: [preface]
General: [includes photographs]
General: [review]
General: [possibly titled: Taft]
General: [review]
General: [review]
General: [also titled: Re-Reading Homer]
General: [also titled: To Josef Stalin, Premier of the U.S.S.R.]
General: [also titled: Start Planning Now: My Dear President Roosevelt...] [also titled: Let Them Know What We Mean: Dear President Roosevelt...]
General: [missing page one]
General: [review]
General: [Production for Use]
General: [originally titled: Post Impressions]
General: [originally titled: Cousins by Courtesy]
General: [originally titled: Address to My Critics]
General: [outline]
General: [including Bylaws of the Sinclair Co-operative]
General: [also titled: A Reply to the Critics of "The Brass Check"]
General: [review]
General: [review]
General: [also titled: In Support of the Atlantic Pact]
General: [originally titled: The Story of "Muffins"]
General: [originally titled: The Reluctant Prince]
General: [originally titled: The Technicians Rebel]
General: [miscellaneous materials]
General: [promotional material]
General: [originally titled: This Brand New Party]
General: [pages 6-7 of ?]
General: [originally titled: Upton Sinclair Has a Big Idea]
General: [co-author Michael Williams]
General: [also titled: Wally for Queen! A Sketch in One Act; originally titled: Baltimore Girl: A Sketch in One Act]
General: [including The EPIC Chain Letter]
General: [review]
General: [incomplete]
General: [also titled: Letters to Joe]
General: [originally titled: Zillions of Money]
General: [review]
Scope and Contents: Arranged alphabetically by title.
General: (3 folders)
General: [first line]
General: [first line]
General: [first line]
General: [first line]
General: [first line]
Scope and Contents: Arranged chronologically by date given or broadcast and includes typescripts and notes for: speeches, broadcasts and debates.
General: [incomplete]
General: (9 folders)
General: Boxes 36-37 (37 folders)
Scope and Contents: Arranged alphabetically by author of work.
General: [first line]
General: [outline only]
General: [poem]
General: [poem]
General: [poem]
General: [poem]
General: [first line]
General: (2 folders)
General: [poem]
General: (28 folders)
General: [poem]
General: [poem]
General: [poem]
General: [first line]
General: [poem]
General: [radio script]
General: [first line]
General: [poem]
General: [poem]
General: (From Kress Ms.)
General: [poem]
General: [poem]
General: [poem]
General: (4 folders)
General: [poem]
General: [poem]
General: [first line]
General: - for patron use. (5 folders)
General: - original (DO NOT USE). (8 folders)
General: [first line]
General: [poem]
General: [poem]
General: [music lyrics]
General: [poem]
General: [poem]
General: [poem]
General: [poem - first line]
General: [first line]
General: [first line]
General: (2 folders)
General: [poem]
General: [poems]
General: [synopsis]
General: [synopsis]
General: [poem]
General: [poem]
General: (2 folders)
General: (see: Major works. Boston, folder 8)
General: (2 folders)
General: [poem]
General: (6 folders)