University of Wyoming
Virginia Kirkus, (1893-1980), was Vassar-educated writer and critic who began her editorial career in New York City at the "Pictorial Review", 1920-1922, then "McCalls'", 1922-1925. In 1925 she joined Harper & Brothers where she headed the children's department. In 1933 she established the Virginia Kirkus Bookshop Service which was a pre-publication book review service for publishers. Kirkus would receive advance galleys proofs from publishers which she would evaluate on literary merit and popular appeal. At the peak her service, 4,000 books were reviewed annually with a staff of three plus Kirkus. Kirkus served on the Advisory Board of the Armed Services Editions, 1941-1945. She also offered assistance to aspiring writers who wanted to publish their work. She was a strong resistor to censorship of books, particularly in 1952-1953. Her own published works included: "Woman's Birthright, Health in Body and Beauty in Person " (1924), "A House for the Week Ends" (1940), and "The First Book of Gardening" (1956). Kirkus was also a popular lecturer.
The collection contains correspondence, 1931-1971, a newspaper clippings describing Kirkus, her activities and travels, photographs, manuscripts of articles, and an unpublished book of Kirkus. Also included are folders on activities, 1952-1953, that deal with her resistance to book censorship. There are letters, reviews, and promotional material dealing with the Kirkus Bookshop Service that give more detail on its operations and the reach of the service, including a 1942 tenth anniversary review of the accomplishments of the Kirkus Bookshop Service. Of interest is a 1943 "Survey of the Book Trade in the West" with accompanying correspondence that reflects Kirkus' breadth. Photographs of Virginia Kirkus Glick and her husband on their travels are included. Her alumnae activities with Vassar College are documented, 1947-1955.
There are no access restrictions on the materials for research purposes, and the collection is open to the public.
The researcher assumes full responsibility for observing all copyright, property, and libel laws as they apply.
There are no known other archival collections created by Virginia Kirkus at the date of processing.
Item Description, Box Number, Folder Number, Collection Name, Collection Number, American Heritage Center, University of Wyoming.
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