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Lowell and Frances Hyams Brentano papers

 Collection — Box: 5, Volume: 1-5
Identifier: Ax 568

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of correspondence, manuscripts, tearsheets, copyright and registration material, court records, publisher and author permissions, reviews, biographical material, memorabilia, and a scrapbook.

The correspondence is divided between incoming (1917-1952) which is organized alphabetically buy sender's last name or organization title, and outgoing (1926-1952), which is organized chronologically.

The Brentano collection includes extensive correspondence with Fulton Oursler, who after becoming editor of Liberty Magazine in 1931 left the business end of their collaborative efforts in the hands of Lowell Brentano. Other correspondents include George Bernard Shaw, George Moore, Lord Dunsany, Jerry Wald, J. Frank Dobie, James Geller, the William Morris Agency, and John Benn of the English publishing house, Ernest Benn, Ltd.

The manuscripts section includes book, short story, and article-length manuscripts as well as play and movie scripts, synopses, by Lowell Brentano. There are also manuscripts, notes, research, publisher and author information for works by Frances Hyams Brentano (referred to as FHB in the paper finding aid). Also included are magazine tearsheets with articles by Lowell and Francis Brentano.

The collection also contains, copyright and registration material, court records, theatre bills and schedules, reviews, biographical material for both Lowell and Frances Brentano, memorabilia, and a scrapbook.

Dates

  • 1917-1952

Creator

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

Lowell Brentano (1895-1950) was born in New York City on April 18, 1895. He graduated with honors from Harvard in 1918 and joined the family publishing firm in an editorial capacity, later becoming vice-president. He was also writing plays, and in 1926 authored with Fulton Oursler, "The Spider," which enjoyed a long New York run and was performed in seven European countries. Other Brentano plays include "Zepplin," "Family Affairs," "Danger - Men Working," and "Great Lady." Brentano married Frances Hyams, an editor and literary scout who received her PhD in English from Radcliff in 1917.

In 1933, the Brentanos left the family business and concentrated on their writing careers. Lowell Brentano continued writing plays, movie scripts, articles and novels. Francis Brentano aided her husband critically and editorially and wrote magazine articles and fiction during the 1930s and 1940s. Lowell Brentano died in 1950 and Francis Brentano continued his activities with the New York League for the Hard of Hearing and as a publishing scout for several major publishers.

Extent

7.5 linear feet (5 containers) : 5 record storage boxes

Language of Materials

English

Abstract

Lowell Brentano (1895-1950) was a publisher, playwright, novelist, editor, literary agent, and frequent collaborator with his wife, Frances Hyams Brentano and many others in the literary world. The collection consists of correspondence, manuscripts by Lowell and also Francis Brentano, tearsheets, copyright and registration material, court records, publisher and author permissions, reviews, biographical material, memorabilia, and a scrapbook.

Arrangement

Collection is organized into the following series: Correspondence, Manuscripts, Tearsheets, Copyrights and Registrations, Court Records, Publisher and Author Permissions, Reviews, Biographical Material, Memorabilia, and a Scrapbook

Other Finding Aids

Paper finding aid with additional information is available in Special Collections & University Archives.

Processing Information

Collection processed by staff, 1970.

This finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.

Title
Guide to the Lowell and Frances Hyams Brentano Papers
Status
Complete Description
Author
Finding aid prepared by University of Oregon Libraries, Archivists' Toolkit Project Team and Tanya Parlet.
Date
2012
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

Contact:
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR 97403-1299 USA