Laurence B. Barretto papers , 1917-1968

Overview of the Collection

Creator
Barretto, Larry, 1890-1971; Brandt & Brandt
Title
Laurence B. Barretto papers
Dates
1917-1968 (inclusive)
Quantity
2.5 linear feet, (6 containers)  :  5 manuscript boxes, 1 record storage box
Collection Number
Coll 017
Summary
Laurence (Larry) Barretto (1890-1971) was a novelist, magazine editor, and war correspondent. The collection consists of WWI diary pages and WWII diaries, correspondence, manuscripts, published materials, and scrapbooks.
Repository
University of Oregon Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives
UO Libraries--SCUA
1299 University of Oregon
Eugene OR
97403-1299
Telephone: 5413463068
spcarref@uoregon.edu
Access Restrictions

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.

Additional Reference Guides

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

See the Current Collection Guide for detailed description and requesting options.

Languages
English
Sponsor
Funding for production of this finding aid was provided through a grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Historical NoteReturn to Top

Born in Larchmont, New York, Laurence (Larry) Barretto (1890-1971) was a novelist, magazine editor, and war correspondent. He began his writing career working for a Plainfield, New Jersey newspaper. After that, he wrote advertising copy for the Wall Street Journal.

During World War I, Barretto served as an ambulance driver, for which he was awarded the Cruix de Guerre. He was among the first American authors to write on the soldier's experience in World War I, and the malaise of returning to peace time America. The bulk of Barretto's novels deal with this period.

From 1926-1927, Barretto served as a drama critic for The Bookman, and in 1929 he worked as assistant editor of Adventure magazine.

During World War II, Barretto served as an enlisted officer in the American Field Service and as a correspondent in both the Caribbean and China-Burma-India theaters.

Content DescriptionReturn to Top

The collection consists of correspondence, manuscripts, published materials, war diaries, and scrapbooks.

Correspondence includes Barretto's personal correspondence from 1947-1968 as well as professional correspondence from 1938-1960. This includes correspondence with his agents, Brandt and Brandt, from 1940-1956.

Included with the manuscripts is an unpublished novel, Ways of Escape, written in 1949-1950 as well other published novels and short stories.

Published materials include articles by and about Barretto as well as copies of his books. This includes articles about World War I published in Adventure, Argost All-Story Weekly, and War Stories magazines, and a twelve part series for Bookman magazine titled "The New Yorker", which ran from January to December of 1926, missing March. There are also four articles about World War II published in Liberty magazine.

Barretto's war diaries include remnants of his World War I diary, from April 19-July 15. The diaries for World War II span 1941-1945. These diaries are accompanied by xeroxed photos by Barretto.

Administrative InformationReturn to Top

Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top

Names and SubjectsReturn to Top

Subject Terms

  • Authors, American--20th century
  • War correspondents--United States
  • War in literature
  • War stories, American--Authorship
  • World War, 1914-1918--Fiction
  • World War, 1914-1918--Literature and the war
  • World War, 1914-1918--Personal narratives, American
  • World War, 1939-1945--Journalists
  • World War, 1939-1945--Literature and the war
  • World War, 1939-1945--Personal narratives, American

Personal Names

  • Barretto, Larry, 1890-1971
  • Barretto, Larry, 1890-1971
  • Barretto, Larry, 1890-1971

Corporate Names

  • Brandt & Brandt

Form or Genre Terms

  • Correspondence
  • Manuscripts for publication
  • Novels
  • Short stories