Manuscript Collection Number: 250
Accessioned: Purchase, 1991
Extent: 2 linear ft.
Content: Correspondence, contracts, photographs, wills and probate documents, biographies,
Permission files, drafts, copyright documents, poems, printed programs and ephemera, clippings and notes.
Access: The collection is open for research.
Processed: 1991 -1992 by Anita A. Wellner.
Institutional History
Scope and Contents Note
Series Outline
Series I. Arna Wendell Bontemps, 1957-1974.
Consists of the Dodd, Mead publication and publicity files
related to Arna Bontemps. Includes contracts for an
untitled autobiography, The Book of Negro Folklore, The
Harlem Renaissance Remembered, a book tentatively titled
"Negroes Who Changed the American Cultural Image," The Old
South, and 100 Years of Negro Freedom. The permission files
and correspondence related to The Book of Negro Folklore,
The Harlem Renaissance Remembered, and 100 Years of Negro
Freedom are also included. Finally, this series consists of
a publicity file on Bontemps collected by Dodd, Mead and
printed memorials at his death in 1973.
Series I.1. Untitled Autobiography, 1966.
Autobiography to be written by Bontemps and to include 16
pages of photographs to be supplied by the author.
1 F1 Contract for Autobiography, 1966 March 7.
Printed with Ts additions, signed by Bontemps. Contract notes in
paragraph 10 that the contract for "Negroes Who Changed the
American Cultural Image" is cancelled.
Series I.2. The Book of Negro Folklore, 1958.
An anthology of Negro folklore consisting of approximately
125,000 works was co-edited by Arna Bontemps and Langston
Hughes. It was published by Dodd, Mead in 1958. This
series consists of a contract for the book; correspondence
among Hughes, Bontemps, and Allen Klots (editor for Dodd,
Mead); and the permissions correspondence for the book. The
permissions correspondence includes letters from Robert
Hayden, Waring Cuney, Alice Childress, Sterling Brown, and
W. C. Handy.
Series I.2.a. Contract, 1957 February 1.
F2 Contract for The Book of Negro Folklore.
Printed with Ts additions, signed by Bontemps and Hughes.
Series I.2.b. Editorial Correspondence, 1958.
Letters from Langston Hughes and Arna Bontemps to Allen
Klots concerning editorial revisions and permissions.
F3 Letters from Arna Bontemps, 1958.
Autograph and TLSs. Includes five letters from Bontemps to Knots
concerning permissions and content changes for the book.
Series I. Arna Wendell Bontemps (cont'd)
Series I.2. The Book of Negro Folklore (cont'd)
Series I.2.b. Editorial Correspondence (cont'd)
1 F4 Letters from Langston Hughes, 1958.
TLSs, TL (carbon)s, and TCSs. Includes letters to Klots, Miss
Helen Winfield (Dodd, Mead), and a signed permission contract from
Hughes. Also included are carbons of letters from Bontemps and
Klots.
Series I.2.c. Permissions Correspondence, 1957-1959.
Includes original letters granting Bontemps and Hughes
permission to include work by various authors in The Book of
Negro Folklore. Also included here are carbons of letters
from Bontemps and Hughes requesting permissions and
negotiating fees, and records kept by Dodd, Mead concerning
payment of fees, publishers' contracts, etc. This subseries
is arranged alphabetically by author's name in F5-7; F8
consists of permissions sought from publishers or
organizations; F9 consists of permissions for selections not
used in the book; and F10 contains a list of permission
fees.
F5 Permissions Correspondence, Adams-Creamer, 1958-1959.
TLSs, TL (carbon)s, ALSs, Autograph, and Ts. Includes letters
from Alice Childress, Sterling Brown, and Waring Cuney.
F6 Permissions Correspondence, Dodson-Joy Music, 1958.
TLSs, TL (carbon)s, TL (mimeograph), and Ts. Includes autograph
sheets by Bontemps and letters from W. C. Handy and Robert Hayden.
F7 Permissions Correspondence, Leiding-Wilson, 1958.
ALSs, TLSs, TL (carbon)s, Ts, TL (mimeograph), ANS, and Print.
Includes autograph notes by Bontemps, two copies of sheet music
for Clara Ward's "I Know It Was the Lord," and letters from Onah
Spencer, William Pickens, and Clara Ward.
F8 Permissions Correspondence, Publishers, Institutions,
and Organizations, 1958-1959.
TLSs, TL (carbon)s, Autograph, and TL (photocopy). Arranged
alphabetically by publisher or organization. Includes autograph
notes by Bontemps.
Series I. Arna Wendell Bontemps (cont'd)
Series I.2. The Book of Negro Folklore (cont'd)
Series I.2.c. Permissions Correspondence (cont'd)
1 F9 Permissions Correspondence for Unused Selections, 1958.
Autograph, TLSs, TL (carbon)s, TL (mimeograph), and Print.
Arranged alphabetically by author of unused material. Includes
autograph notes by Bontemps.
F10 List of Permissions Fees, 1958 November 21.
Ts. Includes list of fees, notes concerning permissions, and
information concerning the distribution of complimentary copies of
The Book of Negro Folklore.
2 Series I.3. The Book of Negro Folklore, 1969.
This Apollo paperback edition of the anthology was published
by Dodd, Mead in 1969. Included in this file are permission
correspondence and lists of the permissions sought and of
the fees paid. The correspondence is arranged
alphabetically by author, publisher, or organization
granting permission.
F11 Permission Correspondence, 1968-1969.
TLSs and TL (carbon)s. Includes contracts for permissions and
correspondence with authors and publishers seeking permissions for
this reprint.
F12 List of Permission Fees and Complimentary Copies, 1969.
Autograph, Ts, Ts (carbon), and Ts (photocopy). Includes several
lists of works for which permission was sought, lists of fees
paid, and list of the complimentary copies promised.
Series I.4. The Harlem Renaissance Remembered, 1972.
Collection of essays which were originally presented as
lectures at the symposium, "The Harlem Renaissance
Remembered." The volume was edited by Bontemps and includes
a memoir by him.
F13 Contract, 1972 January 3.
Printed contract with Ts additions and autograph deletions, signed
by Arna Bontemps.
F14 Permission Correspondence, 1972.
TLSs, TL (carbon)s, TL (photocopy), Ts (photocopy), and ALSs.
Arranged alphabetically by author of each essay included in the
collection. The correspondence includes signed permissions from
essay authors and permissions for quotations within the essays.
Includes letters from Bontemps, an ALS from Waring Cuney, and a
list of the essay writers.
Series I. Arna Wendell Bontemps (cont'd)
Series I.4. The Harlem Renaissance Remembered (cont'd)
2 F15 Copyright Page, [1972].
Autograph, Ts, and Ts (photograph). Text for the copyright page.
Series I.5. "Negroes Who Changed the American Cultural
Image," 1964.
This book was never published. The contract was cancelled
in 1966 (see F1).
F16 Contract, 1964 October 21.
Print with Ts additions, autograph deletions, signed by Bontemps.
Includes TLS and TL (photocopy) concerning the changes in the
publication deadline and the schedule for payment of advances.
This contract was cancelled March 7, 1966.
Series I.6. The Old South: A Summer Tragedy and Other
Stories of the Thirties, 1972.
A collection of stories by Bontemps.
F17 Contract, 1972 November 22.
Printed with Ts additions, autograph deletions, signed by
Bontemps. A note on the cover of the contract states that "rights
reverted to estate of Arna Bontemps, through Harold Ober,
12/16/87."
Series I.7. 100 Years of Negro Freedom, 1957-1961.
Includes correspondence, contract, and a copy of the 1961
reprint of the book. The book has been cataloged for
Special Collections.
F18 Correspondence and Contract, 1957-1958.
Printed contract with Ts additions, autograph deletions, signed by
Arna Bontemps. Dated June 12, 1957. Correspondence concerns an
extension on the delivery date for the book.
Series I.8. "Arna Bontemps Remembered," 1973.
Printed eulogy, remembrances and program for the memorial
service honoring Bontemps at the time of his death in 1973.
F19 Printed Memorial and Program, 1973.
Print and Ts. Includes a copy of the memorial, titled "Arna
Bontemps Remembered," (Fiske University). The memorial includes a
eulogy by Allen T. Klots, Bontemps editor at Dodd, Mead; three
poems and an essay by Bontemps; and eulogies by Lawrence D.
Reddick and L. M. Collins. Klots' typescript for the eulogy, a
copy of the service held at Riverside Church, New York, on June
20, 1973; and an offprint of eulogy are also included.
Series I. Arna Wendell Bontemps (cont'd)
2 Series I.9. Arna Bontemps Publicity File, 1961-1974.
Consists of file of information collected by Dodd, Mead.
Includes photographs, newspaper clippings, a book jacket,
and brochure.
F20 Publicity File, 1961-1974.
Photographs, Clippings, Printed, TLS (photocopy). Includes a copy
of the brochure, "Arna Bontemps, An Introduction;" ten photographs
and two slides of Bontemps; a copy of the article, "Memories of
Arna Bontemps: Friend and Collaborator," by Jack Conroy; a letter
from Bontemps to Klots; a clipping of an obituary; and a book
jacket for Arna Bontemps-Langston Hughes Letters 1925-1967.
3 Series II. Benjamin Brawley, 1917-1969.
Series consists of contracts, correspondence, and a copy of
Brawley's will. Includes contracts for The Negro in
Literature and Art, Africa and the War, and The Negro
Genius. The material is arranged chronologically.
F21 Contracts, Will, and Correspondence, 1917-1969.
Print, Ts, Photocopies, ALS, TLSs, and Telegram. Includes two
contract with Duffield & Co. for The Negro in Literature and Art
(November 14, 1917) and Africa and the War (November 1, 1918).
Both contracts are Ts with autograph revisions and signed by
Brawley. A third contract is for a revision of The Negro in
Literature and Art, which was to be published by Dodd, Mead as The
Negro Genius. This printed contract has Ts additions and
autograph deletions and is signed by Brawley and dated July 14,
1936. Also includes TLS from Brawley, a copy of a probate
document for Benjamin Brawley (March 12, 1940), an ALS form Mrs.
Brawley, a telegram, correspondence concerning a reprint and
royalties, and a copy of the biographical note about Brawley.
Series III. Orde Coombs, 1969-1971.
This series consists of material related to two anthologies
which Coombs edited for Dodd, Mead. The books are titled We
Speak As Liberators: Young Black Poets and What We Must See:
Young Black Storytellers. Material in this series includes
permission correspondence; lists of poets, addresses, and
fees; biographies of contributors; and drafts of the
preliminary pages of the books.
Series III. Orde Coombs (cont'd)
3 Series III.1. We Speak As Liberators: Young Black
Poets, 1969-1970.
Includes correspondence with poets; permissions files; lists
of the poets and their addresses; a list of permissions fees
paid; a file material deleted from the book; drafts of the
title page, table of contents, and permissions page; and
drafts of the poets' biographies.
Series III.1.a. Permissions Correspondence, 1969-1970.
Consists of extensive permissions files containing
correspondence with poets, publishers, and organizations
from whom permission was sought to reprint selected poems.
Originally 53 poets were contacted. Most of the folders
contains carbons of letters sent to the poets as well as
their responses. Biographical notes composed by the poets
are also included. The files consist of six folders (F23-28)
arranged alphabetically by name of the poet. Preceding
these folders is one folder (F22) of correspondence
containing lists of the poets, their addresses, specific
poems which are included in the anthology, and a list of the
fees paid. Folder 29 consists of material related to poets
whose poems were deleted from the volume. F30 consists of
general letters related to permissions.
F22 Lists of Poets, Poems, Addresses, and Permission Fees,
1970.
Ts, Ts (photocopy), and Autograph. The lists bear autograph
notations which indicate changes in address, responses received
from poets, and requested fees. One list details the permission
fees paid.
F23 Permissions Correspondence with Poets: Anderson-Dancy,
1969-1970.
Ts, TLSs, TL (carbon), and TL (mimeograph). Includes letters from
Orde Coombs, Jayne Cortex, Walter Dancy, and others. Also
includes biographical notes written by the poets, and Ts poems by
Dancy.
F24 Permissions Correspondence with Poets: Early-Holmes,
1969-1970.
ALS, Ts, TLSs, TL (carbon), Ts (photocopy), and TL (mimeograph).
Includes letters from Mari Evans, Paula Giddings, Nikki Giovanni,
and others. Includes a photocopy of poems by Giddings and
biographical notes by several poets.
Series III. Orde Coombs (cont'd)
Series III.1. We Speak As Liberators (cont'd)
Series III.1.a. Permissions Correspondence (cont'd)
3 F25 Permissions Correspondence with Poets: Johnson-Lucas,
1969-1970.
Ts, TLSs, ALS, TL (mimeograph), and TL (carbon). Includes letters
from Charles Johnson, Jewel C. Lattimore, and others. Includes
biographical notes.
F26 Permissions Correspondence with Poets: Maxey-Priestley,
1969-1970.
ALSs, TLSs, TL (carbon), TL (mimeograph), and Ts. Includes
letters from Bob Maxey, A.X. Nicholas, and others. Includes
photocopies of poems by Nicholas and Eric Priestly and
biographical notes by some poets.
F27 Permissions Correspondence with Poets: Robinson-Stokes,
1969-1970.
Ts, TLS, TL (mimeograph), TL (carbon), and Autograph. Includes
letters from Sonia Sanchez, Ruby C. Saunders, and others. Also
included Ts poems by Shirley Staples, Carolyn Rodgers, and Dan
Simmons. Some biographical notes by the poets are included.
4 F28 Permissions Correspondence with Poets: Terrell-Young,
1969-1970.
TLSs, TL (mimeograph), TL (carbon), and ALS. Includes letters
from Quincy Troupe, Al Young, and others. Also includes
photocopies of poems by Troupe and some biographical notes by the
poets.
F29 Permissions Correspondence: Deleted Material, 1969-
1970.
TLSs, TL (carbon), and TL (mimeograph). Includes letters to Bob
Hamilton and letters from Jay Wright and David Henderson.
F30 Permissions Correspondence: General Correspondence,
1969-1970.
Ts, Autograph, TLSs, TL (photocopy), and TL (carbon). Includes
drafts of Coombs' permission request letters, correspondence with
Negro Digest, and miscellaneous correspondence regarding
permissions.
Series III.1.b. Drafts of Poets' Biographies, [1970].
F31 Ts and Ts (carbon)s. Includes initial drafts from some of the
poets, a carbon Ts with autograph corrections and additions of the
biographies, and a carbon Ts of the complete draft.
Series III. Orde Coombs (cont'd)
Series III.1. We Speak As Liberators (cont'd)
4 Series III.1.c. Drafts of Title Page, Dedication,
Permissions Page, and Contents, [1970].
F32 Ts (carbon) and Ts (photocopy). Includes Ts (carbon) and Ts
(photocopy) drafts, bearing autograph revisions, deletions, and
additions, of the title, contents, permissions, and dedication
pages.
Series III.1.d. Advertising Correspondence, 1970.
F33 TL (carbon). Includes carbon copies of letters sent by Dodd, Mead
to various book clubs announcing the publication of We Speak As
Liberators.
Series III.2. What We Must See: Young Black Story-
tellers, 1970-1971.
Material towards an anthology of stories written by young
black storytellers as edited by Orde Coombs. Includes the
permissions correspondence file and a photocopy of the
contents page.
F34 Permissions Correspondence File, 1970-1971.
TLSs, TL (carbon), Print, TNS, Autograph, and ALSs. Arranged
alphabetically by names of the storytellers. Includes a list of
contributors, a list of fees paid, original letters from the
writers, carbons of letters from Coombs, biographical notes
written by the contributors, records of the complimentary copies
sent to the contributors, and several permissions contracts.
F35 Draft of Contents Page, [1971].
Ts (photocopy) with autograph corrections of contents page.
5 Series IV. Alice Moore Dunbar-Nelson, 1899.
Documents concerning The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other
Stories by Alice Dunbar-Nelson. Includes copyright document
and portion of a proposed contract with Dodd, Mead.
F36 The Goodness of St. Rocque and Other Stories, 1899.
Autograph and Print. Includes a printed copyright document with autograph
information added and notes by Paul Laurence Dunbar for a contract
with Dodd, Mead for this book.
5 Series V. Paul Laurence Dunbar, 1896-1969.
A variety of material related to the black poet, Paul
Laurence Dunbar, is included in this series. Original poems
written by Dunbar; contracts with Dodd, Mead; copyright
renewals; and correspondence concerning original
publications and reprints are part of this file. The
correspondence also refers to collections, recordings or
adaptations of work written by Dunbar. There are letters
from various beneficiaries of his estate, including, Alice
Dunbar-Nelson, Pauline Young, Robert S. Murphy, and Matilda
Dunbar are included in this file. Also included are copies
of his will, and probate and testamentary letters related to
Paul Laurence Dunbar.
Series V.1. Poetry Written by Paul Dunbar, n.d.
Includes three poems written by Dunbar, arranged
alphabetically by title.
F37 "A Coquette Conquered," n.d.
Ts and Ts (carbon). Two copies with cover.
F38 "Encouragement," n.d.
Ts and Ts (carbon). Two copies with cover.
F39 "In the Mornin," n.d.
Ts (carbon). One copy.
Series V.2. Contracts, Correspondence, and Copyright
Documents for Work Written by Paul Laurence
Dunbar, 1896-1958.
Includes contracts, correspondence, and copyright material
related to books written by Dunbar and published by Dodd,
Mead. Each folder consists of material toward a particular
title. The folders are arranged alphabetically by title.
Within each folder the arrangement is chronological.
F40 Candle-Lightin' Time, Contract and Copyright Documents,
1901.
Print with autograph additions. Includes a printed contract
bearing autograph additions, signed by Dunbar (November 1, 1901)
and a printed document of copyright (October 2, 1901) bearing
autograph additions and note: "renewed 1929."
F41 The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar, Contract
and Correspondence, 1913-1958.
Printed with Ts additions and TLS. Contract for this collection
is signed by Matilda J. Dunbar (August 30, 1913). Also includes
correspondence regarding Braille transcript of the book (1940),
reprints, and royalties. A TLS from Pauline Young in 1958
concerns royalties.
Series V. Paul Laurence Dunbar (cont'd)
Series V.2. Contracts...Works by Dunbar (cont'd)
5 F42 The Fanatics Contract and Copyright Documents, 1900-
1915.
Printed with autograph additions. Includes printed contract with
autograph additions signed by Paul Laurence Dunbar (July 20,
1900). Also includes printed copyright documents with autograph
additions (February 25, 1901) and bearing note: "renewed 1929."
F43 Folks From Dixie, Contract, Copyright Documents, and
Correspondence, 1898-1922.
Printed with Ts additions, Printed with autograph additions, TLS,
and TL (carbon). Includes printed contract with Ts additions,
signed by Dunbar (March 23, 1898). Also includes printed copyright
documents with autograph additions (April 13-14, 1898) bearing the
autograph note: "renewed 1926." The correspondence consists of
letters concerning reprints, including a TLS from Alice Dunbar in
1921.
F44 Howdy Honey Howdy Contract, 1905.
Printed contract with Ts additions, signed by Paul Laurence Dunbar
(April 10, 1905).
F45 In Old Plantation Days Contract and Copyright
Documents, 1903.
Printed with autograph additions. Includes a printed contract
with autograph additions, signed by Dunbar (November 2, 1903) and
printed copyright documents with autograph additions (September
22-23, 1903) and bearing the autograph note: "renewed."
F46 Joggin' Erlong Contract, 1906.
Printed contract with Ts and autograph additions, signed by
Charles D. Higgins, executor of the Dunbar estate (April 23,
1906).
F47 Li'L' Gal Contract, 1904.
Printed contract with autograph additions, signed by Dunbar (June
4, 1904).
F48 The Love of Landry Contract, Copyright Documents, and
Correspondence, 1900-1907.
Printed with autograph additions, TNS, and ALS. Includes printed
contract with autograph additions, signed by Dunbar (June 14,
1900); printed copyright documents with autograph additions
(October 1900) and bearing the autograph note: "renewed 1928;" a
TNS from Paul Dunbar to Dodd, Mead (November 9, 1901); and an ALS
from Charles Higgins to Dodd, Mead (1907). See F.55 concerning
the sale of the plates of this book.
Series V. Paul Laurence Dunbar (cont'd)
Series V. 2. Contracts...Works by Dunbar (cont'd)
5 F49 Lyrics of Love and Laughter Contract and Copyright
Documents, 1903.
Printed with autograph additions. Includes printed contract with
autograph additions, signed by Dunbar (March 1, 1903). Also
includes copyright documents with autograph additions (March 24-25, 1903),
and bearing the autograph note: "renewed June 6, 1930."
F50 Lyrics of Lowly Life Contract, Copyright Documents,
and Correspondence, 1896-1920.
Printed with Ts additions, Printed with autograph additions, TLS,
and Ts with autograph additions. Includes printed contract with
Ts additions, signed by Dunbar (September 8, 1896) and a Ts
contract with autograph additions for an illustrated edition,
signed by Matilda Dunbar and Alice M. Dunbar (December 12, 1908).
Also consists of correspondence concerning reprints and royalties,
including two TLSs from Alice Dunbar to Dodd, Mead. Also includes
printed copyright documents with autograph additions
(October-December 1896) and bearing the autograph note: "renewed."
F51 Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadow Contract, 1905.
Printed contract with Ts additions, signed by Dunbar (April 17,
1905).
F52 Lyrics of the Hearthside Contract, Copyright Documents,
and Correspondence, 1898-1926.
Printed with Ts and autograph additions, TLS, and TL (carbon).
Includes printed contract with Ts and autograph additions, signed
by Dunbar (October 20, 1898) and printed copyright documents with
autograph additions (February 13-25, 1899) and bearing the
autograph note: "renewed February 3, 1927." Also includes a TLS
from Dunbar and correspondence concerning the copyright of the
poems and this title.
F53 Poems of Cabin and Field Contract, Copyright Documents,
and Correspondence, 1899-1913.
Printed with autograph additions and TLSs. Includes printed
contract with autograph additions, signed by Dunbar (November 25,
1899) and printed copyright documents with autograph additions
(October 1899) and bearing the autograph note: "renewed March 3,
1927." Also includes correspondence in 1913 with Matilda Dunbar
concerning reprints and royalties.
Series V. Paul Laurence Dunbar (cont'd)
Series V.2. Contracts...Works by Dunbar (cont'd)
5 F54 The Sport of the Gods Contract, Copyright Documents,
and Correspondence, 1901-1929.
Printed with autograph additions and TLSs. Includes printed
contract with autograph additions (1901), signed by Dunbar and
printed copyright documents with autograph additions (March 15,
1902) and bearing the autograph note: "renewed 8/27/1929." Also
includes letters concerning royalties and copyright renewal.
F55 The Strength of Gideon Contract and Copyright
Documents, 1900.
Printed with autograph additions and TLSs. Includes printed
contract with autograph additions, signed by Dunbar (May 1, 1900)
and printed copyright documents with autograph additions and
bearing the autograph note: "renewed Jan '28." Also includes
correspondence concerning the sale of the plates for this book, as
well as plates for The Love of Landry and The Heart of Happy
Hollow.
F56 The Uncalled Contract, Correspondence, and Copyright
Documents, 1897-1901.
Printed with Ts additions, Printed with autograph additions, and
TLS. Includes printed contract with Ts additions, signed by
Dunbar (November 6, 1897) and printed copyright documents (1898)
with autograph additions and note: "renewed 1926." Correspondence
includes a TLS (April 1, 1901) from Paul Dunbar to Dodd, Mead
concerning advertising, name of the book, as well as mentioning
his book Fanatics and Alice Dunbar's Itching Heels.
F57 When Malindy Sings Contract and Copyright Documents,
1903.
Printed with autograph additions. Includes printed contract with
autograph additions, signed by Dunbar (n.d.) and printed copyright
documents with autograph additions (1903) and bearing the
autograph note: "renewed."
Series V. Paul Laurence Dunbar (cont'd)
6 Series V.3. Correspondence and Contracts for Published
Works, Motion Pictures, Recordings, or Stage
Performances based on the Writings of Paul Dunbar, 1907-1969.
Includes material toward The Life and Works of Paul Laurence
Dunbar, Little Brown Baby, A Plantation Portrait,
Paul Dunbar and His Song, "An Evening with Paul
Laurence Dunbar," and a Louise Wallace play based on a short story by
Dunbar. Also includes contracts for the motion picture rights to The
Uncalled and The Sport of the Gods, correspondence
concerning the motion picture rights for "The Scapegoat,"
correspondence with Glory Records concerning recording
Dunbar's poems, correspondence concerning the reprinting of
numerous Dunbar titles by Mnemosyne Publishing Company, and
correspondence concerning the plagiarism of a poem written
by Dunbar. This subseries is arranged alphabetically by
title, with F67-F70 containing untitled works or
correspondence concerning multiple titles.
F58 The Dunbar Speaker and Entertainer by Alice Dunbar,
Correspondence, 1920.
TLSs and TL (carbon). Correspondence among Alice Dunbar-Nelson;
Dodd, Mead; and J. L. Nichols and Company concerning the use of
Paul Dunbar's poems in The Dunbar Speaker. Includes two TLSs for
Alice Dunbar-Nelson to Dodd, Mead (January 6, February 2, 1920).
F59 "An Evening with Dunbar" presented by the Federal
Theatre Project (Seattle, Washington), 1938-1939.
TLSs, TL (carbon), Print, and Ts (carbon). Includes
correspondence between the Federal Theatre Project and Dodd, Mead
concerning the use of a poem by Dunbar in a musical show by the
Seattle Federal Theatre Negro Repertory Company called "An Evening
with Dunbar." Also includes a contract and a copy of the program
(n.d.).
F60 The Life and Works of Paul Laurence Dunbar by Lida Keck
Wiggins (Naperville, Ill.: J. L. Nichols & Co., 1907),
Contract and Correspondence, 1907-1935.
Ts, ALS, TLS, and TL (carbon). Consists of a contract between
Dodd, Mead and J. L. Nichols for publication of the book and
correspondence concerning royalties and copyright renewal.
Includes letters from Matilda J. Dunbar and Alice Dunbar-Nelson
(September 19, 1911). The copyright renewal was rejected.
Series V. Paul Laurence Dunbar (cont'd)
Series V.3. Material Based on Dunbar's Work (cont'd)
6 F61 Little Brown Baby by Bertha Rodgers, Contracts and
Correspondence, 1939-1946.
ALS, TLS, TL (carbon), Autograph, and Print. Includes a contract
with Bertha Rodgers, correspondence concerning permission to use
Dunbar's poems in this collection of Dunbar poems for children.
The book included an introduction and life of Dunbar by Rodgers.
Also includes correspondence concerning royalties and the estate
of Rodgers' after her death in 1945, as well as a copy of her
will.
F62 Paul Dunbar and His Song by Virginia Cunningham,
Contract, Correspondence, and Royalty Statement, 1946
and 1968.
TLS and TL (carbon). Includes a printed contract with Ts
additions, signed by Cunningham. Also includes correspondence and
a royalty statement.
F63 "A Plantation Portrait," Correspondence, 1911.
ALS. Letter from Matilda Dunbar authorizing a new Christmas card
booklet which consists of writings by Paul Dunbar.
F64 "The Scapegoat," Correspondence, 1917.
TL and TLS. Correspondence concerning the sale of the motion
picture rights for this Dunbar short story to the Reverend William
S. Smith, Inc. Includes a TLS from Alice Dunbar-Nelson to Edward
H. Dodd (January 31, 1917).
F65 The Sport of the Gods and The Uncalled, Correspondence
and Contracts, 1921.
TLS, TL (carbon), Telegram, and Ts. The correspondence concerns
motion picture rights for these two books by Dunbar. Includes
letters from Dodd, Mead; Robert Levy of Reol Production
Corporation; Matilda Dunbar; and Alice Dunbar-Nelson. Also
includes Ts contracts with autograph additions and signed for each
of the titles.
F66 "When De Co'n Pone's Hot," Correspondence, 1925-1926.
TLS, ALS, TL (carbon), and Print. Correspondence concerns the
plagiarism of this Dunbar poem by F. B. Swingle in his "When the
Corn Cake's Hot." Includes a tear sheet from the December 1925
issue of OilPull Magazine containing the plagiarized poem.
Includes letters from Swingle; Dodd, Mead; and Advance Rumely
Thresher Company (publisher of OilPull Magazine).
Series V. Paul Laurence Dunbar (cont'd)
Series V.3. Material Based on Dunbar's Work (cont'd)
6 F67 Untitled Play by Louise Wallace, Correspondence, 1937.
ALS and TL (carbon). Correspondence between Wallace and Dodd,
Mead concerning publication of a play by Wallace based on a short
story by Paul Dunbar and three stories by Joel Chandler Harris.
Dodd, Mead rejected the play.
F68 Unidentified Dunbar Titles, Correspondence, 1910-1915.
ALSs. Letters from Matilda Dunbar granting permission for the
sale of motion picture rights for unstated Paul Dunbar books.
F69 Glory Records, Inc., Correspondence, 1956-1969.
TLS, TL (carbon), and TL (photocopy). Consists of correspondence
between Philip Rose of Glory Records and Dodd, Mead concerning
permission to record six poems written by Paul Dunbar. Also
includes correspondence regarding a re-recording of the material
in 1969 by United Artists Records.
F70 Mnemosyne Publishing Company, Inc., Correspondence,
1969.
TL (carbon) and TL (photocopy). Correspondence between Dodd, Mead
and Mnemosyne Publishing concerning permission to reprint 200-400
copies each of ten titles by Paul Dunbar.
Series V.4. Wills, Letters Testamentary, Certificates
of Probate Court, and Correspondence Documenting
the Estate of Paul Laurence Dunbar and the Various
Successors to His Estate.
In addition to material documenting Paul Dunbar's estate and
its successors, information concerning royalties is included
in this subseries, which is arranged chronologically.
F71 1903-1911.
Ts, TLS, and Print. Includes a copy of Paul Dunbar's will,
letters testamentary assigning Charles Higgins as executor of
Dunbar's estate, and a document (1911) assigning royalties to
Matilda Dunbar and Alice Dunbar.
F72 1934-1937.
TLS, Print, TL (carbon), Clipping, ALS, Ts (carbon), and Receipt.
Includes correspondence and legal documents regarding two
successors to the Dunbar estate, Helen G. Gillim (granddaughter of
Matilda Dunbar) and Mrs. M. Leila Young (sister of Alice Dunbar-Nelson).
Includes a letter from Pauline Young.
Series V. Paul Laurence Dunbar (cont'd)
Series V.4. Wills, Letters Testamentary... (cont'd)
6 F73 1942.
TLS, TL (carbon), Print, Photocopy, Ts, and ALS. Includes legal
documents and correspondence regarding the succession of the Paul
Laurence Dunbar literary estate to Pauline Young and Robert J.
Nelson. Includes letters from Pauline Young and Louis L. Redding,
a Wilmington, Del. attorney.
F74 1949-1950.
Print, TLS, Photocopy, and TL (carbon). Includes legal documents
and correspondence regarding the succession of part of the
literary estate of Paul Dunbar to Helen Garrison Murphy Gillim
from Robert Snell Murphy.
F75 1960-1965.
ANS, TLS, Autograph, and TL (carbon). Includes royalty statements
and correspondence among Dodd, Mead; Helen Gillim; and Pauline
Young. The letters concern the discontinuance of royalties on
Dunbar books which were no longer under copyright. Includes a TLS
from Pauline Young.
7 Series VI. Langston Hughes, 1936-1985.
This series consists of contracts, correspondence,
permission files, publicity file, and photographs related to
the writer, Langston Hughes, and several of his
publications. Titles include: Famous Negro Music Makers,
Book of Harlem, The Book of Negro Humor, and Famous American
Negroes. The series is arranged alphabetically by the book
title, followed by F86 which consists of the publicity file
for Langston Hughes collected by Dodd, Mead. See Series I.2
and I.3 for material toward The Book of Negro Folklore,
which Hughes co-edited with Arna Bontemps.
Series VI.1. Book of Harlem, 1957.
F76 Book of Harlem, Contract, 1957.
Printed contract with Ts additions, signed and initialed by
Langston Hughes (June 12, 1957).
Series VI.2. The Book of Negro Humor, 1966.
This anthology of Negro humor was compiled by Hughes and
published by Dodd, Mead in 1966. The subseries includes
permission files; lists of contributors and addresses; lists
of fees paid; and photocopies of the copyright page, table
of contents, and "A Note on Humor."
Series VI. Langston Hughes (cont'd)
Series VI.2. The Book of Negro Humor (cont'd)
7 Series VI.2.a. Permission Files, 1965-1966.
Includes correspondence and contracts with the contributors
granting permission for the use of copyright material.
Folder 77 contains lists of contributors, addresses, and
fees. Folders 78-81 are arranged alphabetically by
contributors name.
F77 Lists of Permissions, 1965-1966.
Ts, Ts (carbon), and Ts (photocopy). Includes lists of
contributors and their addresses, a list of permissions granted, a
list of permissions denied, a list of contributors to receive
complimentary copies of the book, and a list of permission fees
paid. Also includes two ANS from Hughes to Klots. Some of the
lists bear autograph notes by Hughes.
F78 Permissions Correspondence and Contracts with Writers:
Adams-Burley, 1965-1966.
TLS, TN, TL (mimeograph), Ts (photocopy), TL (carbon), Print, and
Ts. Includes correspondence and copies of contracts with
contributors, their publishers and agents concerning permission to
include copyrighted work. Includes letters from Arna Bontemps, S.
W. Allen, Gary Belkin, Gwendolyn Brooks, and others. Also
includes a Ts poem by Gwendolyn Brooks.
F79 Permissions Correspondence and Contracts with Writers:
Cambridge-Gregory, 1965-1966.
TL (carbon), TLS, TN, TL (mimeograph), ALS, and Print. Includes
correspondence and contracts with writers, their agents and
publishers for contributions to The Book of Negro Humor. Includes
letters from Dorothy Durem, Mari Evans, and others. Also includes
Ts and Ts (photocopy) poems by Mari Evans.
F80 Permissions Correspondence and Contracts with Writers:
Handy-Jones, 1965-1966.
TL (carbon), TLS, Ts (photocopy), TL (mimeograph), and TN.
Includes correspondence and contracts with writers, their agents
and publishers for permission to include their work in this book.
Includes letters from Len Holt, Clifford J. Hurston, and others.
F81 Permissions Correspondence and Contracts with Writers:
Killens-Wright, 1965-1966.
TL (carbon), TLS, Print, TLS (photocopy), Ts (carbon), ALS, TN, Ts
(photocopy), and TL (mimeograph). Includes correspondence and
contracts with writers, their agents and publishers for permission
to use material. Includes letters from Alan Lomax, Rose Leary
Love, Paule Marshall, Effie Lee Newsome, and others.
Series VI. Langston Hughes (cont'd)
Series VI.2. The Book of Negro Humor (cont'd)
7 Series VI.2.b. Copyright, Contents, Introduction and
Miscellaneous Pages, n.d.
F82 Copyright, Contents, Introduction, and Miscellaneous
Pages, n.d.
Ts (carbon) and Ts (photocopy). Includes Ts (carbon) and Ts
(photocopy) with autograph corrections and notes of the copyright
pages, table of contents and several pages of text. Also includes
a photocopy of "A Note on Humor," the introduction written by
Hughes.
Series VI.3. Famous American Negroes, 1952-1961.
Includes the file of correspondence and contracts related to
the publication of this book.
F83 Contracts and Correspondence, 1952-1961.
TLS, Ts (carbon), and Tear sheets. Includes a printed contract
with Ts additions, signed by Langston Hughes (July 14, 1952) for
the Dodd, Mead publication. Also includes correspondence and a
contract between Dodd, Mead and Popular Library, Inc. for a
reprint of this title in 1961.
Series VI.4. Famous Negro Music Makers, 1954-1985.
Consist of a contract, a document assigning copyright to the
author, biographical information, and a description of the
book.
F84 Contract, Copyright Assignment, Biographical and
Descriptive Material, 1954-1985.
Print, Ts, and Ts (carbon). Includes a printed contract with Ts
additions, signed by Hughes (July 15, 1954). Also includes a Ts
document assigning the copyright to the author (1985), and a Ts
"Musical Biography" of Langston Hughes. Also includes a draft
description of the book in Ts and carbon form, bearing autograph
revisions.
Series VI.5. Up From Slavery by Booker T. Washington,
1964-1965.
Consists of correspondence and copyright registration for
Hughes' introduction to the 1965 Illustrated Classic Edition
of Up From Slavery.
F85 Correspondence and Copyright Registration, 1964-1965.
TL, TL (carbon), and Print. Includes a TL (carbon) from Dodd,
Mead to Hughes and a copy of "Certificate Registration of a Claim
to Copyright" (June 22, 1965) for the introduction to the
Illustrated Classic Edition of Washington's Up From Slavery.
Series VI. Langston Hughes (cont'd)
7 Series VI.6. Dodd, Mead Publicity File for Langston
Hughes, 1936-1969.
This series consists of a variety of material recording
Hughes' professional career. Includes correspondence,
photographs, clippings, obituaries, and other material.
F86 Biographical Material and Publicity Related to Langston
Hughes, 1936-1969.
Photographs, Negatives, Print, Clippings, Photocopies, Ts, Ts
(mimeograph), TLS, TL (carbon), and Ts (carbon). Includes
photographs of Hughes, several biographical sketches, clippings of
obituaries, and other printed material related to Hughes. Also
included is a Portal Press pamphlet featuring the article,
"Langston Hughes: Poet of the People." It bears an autograph note
by Hughes on the cover: "Tashkent, USSR, 1936." There is also
correspondence concerning royalties, reviews of his books, a
clippings on Paul Laurence Dunbar, an article on Black Literature,
and information on permission fees for David Brook's Search For
Peace.
8 Series VII. Alan Lomax and Raoul Abdul, 1969-1971.
Includes contract and permissions files concerning the
anthology, 3000 Years of Black Poetry, edited by Lomax and
Abdul and published by Dodd, Mead.
Series VII.1. 3000 Years of Black Poetry, Contract,
1969.
F87 Contract, 1969.
Printed contract with Ts and autograph additions and deletions,
signed and initialed by Abdul and Lomax. Notes that the original
title was "Mutima: 3000 Years of Black Poetry."
Series VII.2. 3000 Years of Black Poetry, Permissions
Files, 1969-1971.
Includes correspondence, contracts, and lists related to
permission to reprint material for this anthology. F88
contains lists of poets and publishers, the titles of poems
for which permission to reprint was sought, and the amount
paid for fees. F89-91 contain correspondence with the poets
included in the anthology and are arranged alphabetically by
name. F92-93 consist of correspondence and contracts with
publishers concerning reprints for multiple poets. These
folders are arranged alphabetically by publisher.
Series VII. Lomax and Abdul (cont'd)
Series VII.2. Permissions Files (cont'd)
8 F88 Permissions Lists, 1970-1971.
Ts and Ts (photocopy). Includes lists of the poets, titles of
their poems to be included in the anthology, the permissions fees
paid, and publishers from whom permissions were obtained.
F89 Permissions Correspondence and Contracts with Poets:
Allen-Evans, 1969-1970.
TL (carbon), TLS, ALS, and TL (mimeograph). Consists of
correspondence and contracts for permission to reprint poems by
poets. Includes letters from Samuel W. Allen, Ulli Beier, Julian
Bond, Owen Dodson, Mari Evans, and others.
F90 Permissions Correspondence and Contracts with Poets:
Freeman-Maxwell, 1969-1971.
TLS, TL (carbon), and TL (mimeograph). Consists of correspondence
and contracts for permission to reprint poems by poets. Includes
letters from Frank Horne, Carol Freeman, Joseph Kariuki, and
others.
F91 Permissions Correspondence and Contracts with Poets:
Okara-Walcott, 1969-1971.
TLS, TL (carbon), and TL (mimeograph). Consists of correspondence
and contracts for permission to reprint various poems by poets.
F92 Permissions Correspondence and Contracts with
Publishers: Associated Publishers-Indiana University
Press, 1969-1970.
TLS, TL (carbon), ALS, and TL (mimeograph). Includes contracts
and correspondence with publishers for permission to reprint poems
by a variety of poets.
F93 Permissions Correspondence and Contracts with
Publishers: Longmans, Green & Company-William Morrow
& Company, 1969-1972.
TLS, TL (carbon), and TL (mimeograph). Includes contracts and
correspondence with publishers for permission to reprint poems by
a variety of poets.
Appendix
List of Books Removed From the Dodd, Mead and Company Archive for Cataloging
for Special Collections:
Bontemps, Arna. 100 Years of Negro Freedom (New York: Dodd, Mead
& Company, 1961). With dust jacket.
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. Candle-Lightin' Time (New York: Dodd,
Mead & Company, 1901). The back cover bears a label
reading: "Press Copy - Dodd, Mead & Company issued
October 22, 1901."
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. The Fanatics (New York: Dodd, Mead and
Company, 1902). The back cover bears a label reading:
"Press Copy - Dodd, Mead & Company issued May 1902."
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. Folks From Dixie (New York: Dodd, Mead
and Company, 1904). Laid in is one sheet of page proof
for the list of illustrations. It appears this volume
was used to note changes to be implemented in the 1922
reprint of this title.
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. Joggin' Erlong (New York: Dodd, Mead
and Company, 1906). Laid in is one Dodd, Mead bookmark.
The back cover bears a label reading: "Press Copy - Dodd,
Mead & Company."
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. Li'L' Gal (New York: Dodd, Mead and
Company, 1904). The back cover bears a label reading:
"Press Copy - Dodd, Mead & Company."
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. The Love of Landry (New York: Dodd, Mead
& Company, 1900). The back cover bear a label reading:
"Press Copy - Dodd, Mead & Company, issued March 14, 1902.
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. The Love of Landry (New York: Dodd, Mead
and Company, 1900).
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. Lyrics of Love and Laughter (New York:
Dodd, Mead & Company, 1903).
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. Lyrics of Lowly Life (London: Chapman &
Hall, Ltd., 1897).
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. Lyrics of Sunshine and Shadow (New York:
Dodd, Mead & Company, 1905).
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. Lyrics of the Hearthside (New York: Dodd,
Mead and Company, 1899).
Appendix (cont'd)
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. Poems of Cabin and Field (New York: Dodd,
Mead & Company, 1908). The back cover bears a label
reading: "Press Copy - Dodd, Mead & Company."
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. Speakin' O' Christmas and Other Christmas
and Special Poems (New York: Dodd, Mead and Company, 1914).
The back cover bears a label reading, "Press Copy - Dodd,
Mead & Company, issued Oct. 21/14."
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. The Sport of the Gods (New York: Dodd,
Mead and Company, 1902). Taped to a front page is a Ts
comparing the number of pages and characters used in this
edition to a number of pages anticipated for a paperback
edition. The back cover bears a label reading: "Press
Copy - Dodd, Mead & Company issued April 30, 1902."
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. The Strength of Gideon and Other Stories
(New York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1900).
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. The Uncalled (New York: Dodd, Mead and
Company, 1898). The back cover bears a label reading:
"Press Copy - Dodd, Mead & Company."
Dunbar, Paul Laurence. When Malindy Sings (New York: Dodd, Mead
and Company, 1906). With partial dust jacket tipped in.
The back cover bears a label reading: "Press Copy - Dodd,
Mead & Company."
Howells, W. D. The Complete Poems of Paul Laurence Dunbar (New
York: Dodd, Mead & Company, 1944). With dust jacket tipped
in.
Wiggins, Lida Keck. The Life and Works of Paul Laurence Dunbar
(Naperville, IL.: J. L. Nichols & Company, [1907]). The
back cover bears a label reading: "Press Copy - Dodd, Mead
& Company."
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