Scope and Contents
The collection contains literary manuscripts, illustrations, correspondence, and memorabilia.
Literary manuscripts are separated by type of writing: novels, short stories, plays, scenarios, and essays. There are manuscripts of of four novels, forty-four short stories, twelve plays, and five scripts or scenarios.
Correspondence is mostly incoming, from 1927-1936.
Also available in the collection are print illustrations of European landscapes and towns and folio of more than 30 oversize original illustrations depicting women's fashion and romantic scenes circa 1925.
Scrapbooks contain newspaper pieces and clippings of his writings, and other mementos.
Dates
- Creation: 1917-1938
Creator
- Lait, Jack, 1882-1954 (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Collection is open to the public. Collection must be used in Special Collections and University Archives Reading Room. Collection or parts of collection may be stored offsite. Please contact Special Collections and University Archives in advance of your visit to allow for transportation time.
Conditions Governing Use
Property rights reside with Special Collections and University Archives, University of Oregon Libraries. Copyright resides with the creators of the documents or their heirs. All requests for permission to publish collection materials must be submitted to Special Collections and University Archives. The reader must also obtain permission of the copyright holder.
Biographical / Historical
Jacquin "Jack" Lait was born in New York City and went to school in Chicago. He became a newspaper reporter and theater critic for the Chicago Herald. He was also a writer of short stories, plays, and novels. He is best known for his "Confidential" series, manuscripts of which have not survived.
Extent
5 linear feet (4 container) : 1 record storage box, 2 oversize boxes, 1 portfolio
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Jacquin "Jack" Lait was a newspaper reporter and theater critic for the Chicago Herald, and also a writer of short stories, plays, and novels. The collection contains literary manuscripts, illustrations, correspondence, and memorabilia.
Arrangement
Material within this collection is minimally arranged. Any arrangement is either derived from the records' creators or custodians or from staff at the time of initial processing. It may be necessary to look in multiple places for the same types of materials.
Processing Information
Collection processed by staff.
This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
This collection received a basic level of processing including minimal organization and rehousing.
Description information is drawn in part from information supplied with the collection and initial surveys of the contents
Subject
- Lait, Jack, 1882-1954 (Person)
Genre / Form
- Clippings
- Correspondence
- Essays
- Manuscripts for publication
- Novels
- Plays
- Prints
- Scrapbooks
- Scripts (documents)
- Short stories
Geographic
Topical
- American drama -- 20th century
- American literature -- 20th century
- Arts and Humanities
- Authors, American -- 20th century
- Dramatists, American -- 20th century
- Journalists -- United States
- Playwriting
- Reporters and reporting -- United States -- History -- 20th century
- Short stories, American -- Authorship
- Title
- Guide to the Jacquin "Jake" L. Lait Papers
- Status
- Revise Description
- Author
- Tanya Parlet and Kira B. Homo; updated by processing staff.
- Date
- 2013; updated 2016
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid written in English
- Sponsor
- Funding for production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).
Repository Details
Part of the University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives Repository
