Archives West Finding Aid
Table of Contents
Lowell and Frances Hyams Brentano papers , 1917-1952
Overview of the Collection
- Creator
- Brentano, Lowell, 1895-1950
- Title
- Lowell and Frances Hyams Brentano papers
- Dates
- 1917-1952 (inclusive)19171952
- Quantity
- 7.5 linear feet, (5 containers) : 5 record storage boxes
- Collection Number
- Ax 568
- Summary
- 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.
- 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
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.
Content DescriptionReturn to Top
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.
Administrative InformationReturn to Top
Detailed Description of the CollectionReturn to Top
Names and SubjectsReturn to Top
Subject Terms
- American drama--20th century
- Authors and publishers--Correspondence
- Authors, American--20th century
- Dramatists, American--20th century
- Motion picture authorship
- Playwriting
- Women authors, American--20th century
Personal Names
- Brentano, Frances
- Brentano, Lowell, 1895-1950
- Brentano, Lowell, 1895-1950
- Oursler, Fulton, 1893-1952--Correspondence
Form or Genre Terms
- Correspondence
- Manuscripts for publication
- Plays
- Tear sheets
Finding aid prepared by University of Oregon Libraries, Archivists' Toolkit Project Team and Tanya Parlet.
2012
