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Michael De Lisio and Irving Drutman Papers

 Collection
Call Number: YCAL MSS 756

Scope and Contents

The papers provide insight into the lives and careers of Michael De Lisio, poet and sculptor, and Irving Drutman, a journalist and editor. The papers contain drafts, research notes, and printed versions of De Lisio and Drutman’s writings. Correspondence with various authors, artists, and performers, including Peter Bull, Janet Flanner, Lillian Gish, Ira Gershwin, and Lotte Lenya, also sheds light into their professional lives. De Lisio and Drutman’s artwork, including De Lisio’s sculptures of Ezra Pound and Marianne Moore, and several paintings by Drutman, are part of the papers. De Lisio’s career as a sculptor can also be traced in his subject files, exhibition catalogues, and other printed material. Evidence of De Lisio and Drutman’s relationship and personal lives can be found in their correspondence, personal papers, and photographs.

Dates

  • 1890 - 2003
  • Majority of material found within 1921 - 2003

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Box 20 (videocassettes): Use of originals is restricted. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.

Box 31 (Record Album Storage): Use of originals is restricted. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.

Conditions Governing Use

The Michael De Lisio and Irving Drutman Papers is the physical property of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Yale University. Literary rights, including copyright, belong to the authors or their legal heirs and assigns. For further information, consult the appropriate curator.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift of Sanford Schwartz, 2003 and 2019.

Arrangement

Organized into nine series: I. Subject Files, 1932–2000. II. Correspondence, 1928–1999. III. Personal and Professional Papers, 1941–2002. IV. Writings, 1931–1992. V. Other Papers, 1924–1998. VI. Photographs, 1890–1990. VII. Printed Material, 1927–1995. VIII. Artwork, 1938–1965. IX. April 2019 Acquisition, 1937–2003.

Extent

40.5 Linear Feet ((43 boxes) + 1 record album storage, 19 art)

Language of Materials

English

Catalog Record

A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog

Persistent URL

https://hdl.handle.net/10079/fa/beinecke.delisio

Abstract

The papers provide insight into the lives and careers of Michael De Lisio, poet and sculptor, and Irving Drutman, a journalist and editor. The papers contain drafts, research notes, and printed versions of De Lisio and Drutman’s writings. Correspondence with various authors, artists, and performers, including Peter Bull, Janet Flanner, Lillian Gish, Ira Gershwin, and Lotte Lenya, also sheds light into their professional lives. De Lisio and Drutman’s artwork, including De Lisio’s sculptures of Ezra Pound and Marianne Moore, and several paintings by Drutman, are part of the papers. De Lisio’s career as a sculptor can also be traced in his subject files, exhibition catalogues, and other printed material. Evidence of De Lisio and Drutman’s relationship and personal lives can be found in their correspondence, personal papers, and photographs.

Michael De Lisio (1911-2003)

Michael De Lisio (1911-2003), American poet and sculptor. Born on January 22, 1911 in New York City. De Lisio published poetry in Scribner's and The New Yorker, the latter where he also worked in the office. He served with the navy during the second World War. De Lisio began creating artwork after a two-decade career in public relations for MGM. He exhibited at the Nova Scotia College of Art in Halifax (1969), Minneapolis Institute of Arts (1971), the Brooke Alexander Gallery (1978), the Princeton University Library, Smith College Museum of Art (1974 and 1980), and Boston College (1998). He died in New York City on January 21, 2003.

Irving Drutman (1910-1978)

Irving Drutman (1910-1978), American journalist, editor, songwriter, and collector. Born Isidore Druitman to Max Druitman, an upholsterer, and Esther Druitman on July 28, 1910. Drutman wrote articles for the New York Herald Tribune and New York Times. In addition to theatrical journalism, Drutman's involvement in theatre and film also included working as a freelance publicist and songwriting, with songs including "Twilight Song," "Mama Never Told Me," and "Bel Ami." Drutman edited Janet Flanner's memoirs Paris Was Yesterday (1972) and London Was Yesterday (1975), and collected writings Janet Flanner's World (1979). Drutman published his memoir Good Company in 1976. He died of cancer on September 20, 1978 in New York City.

Processing Information

This collection received a basic level of processing, including rehousing and in some instances minimal organization.

The finding aid for this collection is compiled from a preliminary list that was created at or around the time of receipt by the library. The preliminary list was migrated to comply with current archival descriptive standards. As part of the migration, modifications were made to the formatting of the list; however, the content of the list was neither modified nor verified.

As a rule, descriptive information found in the Collection Contents section is drawn in large part from information supplied with the collection and from an initial survey of the contents. Folder titles appearing in the contents list below are often based on those provided by the creator or previous custodian. Titles have not been verified against the contents of the folders in all cases. Otherwise, folder titles are supplied by staff during initial processing.

This collection includes materials previously identified by the following call number: Uncat Mss 500.

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 Michael De Lisio and Irving Drutman Papers
Status
Under Revision
Author
by Beinecke staff and Nora Soto
Date
May 15, 2007. Revised: September 2023
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository

Contact:
P. O. Box 208330
New Haven CT 06520-8330 US
(203) 432-2977

Location

121 Wall Street
New Haven, CT 06511

Opening Hours

Access Information

The Beinecke Library is open to all Yale University students and faculty, and visiting researchers whose work requires use of its special collections. You will need to bring appropriate photo ID the first time you register. Beinecke is a non-circulating, closed stack library. Paging is done by library staff during business hours. You can request collection material online at least two business days in advance of your visit, using the request links in Archives at Yale. For more information, please see Planning Your Research Visit and consult the Reading Room Policies prior to visiting the library.