Scope and Contents
The Harrison Smith Papers contain writings, correspondence, printed material, and photographs that document the life and work of editor and publisher Harrison Smith, particularly his research on American author Sinclair Lewis, and his editorial work for the Saturday Review of Literature. Series I, Research Files on Sinclair Lewis, includes extensive biographical notes, presumably intended as the source material for a book-length biography of Lewis. Series II, Other Papers, consists chiefly of writings, interviews, and speeches that relate to the position of women in early- and mid-twentieth century society.
Dates
- 1904-1975
Creator
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of Harrison Smith, 1983.
Arrangement
Organized into two series: I. Research Files on Sinclair Lewis, 1904-1962. II. Other Papers, 1935-1975.
Extent
4.59 Linear Feet (13 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Abstract
The Harrison Smith Papers contain writings, correspondence, printed material, and photographs that document the life and work of editor and publisher Harrison Smith, particularly his research on American author Sinclair Lewis, and his editorial work for the Saturday Review of Literature. Series I, Research Files on Sinclair Lewis, includes extensive biographical notes, presumably intended as the source material for a book-length biography of Lewis. Series II, Other Papers, consists chiefly of writings, interviews, and speeches that relate to the position of women in early- and mid-twentieth century society.
Harrison Smith (1888-1971)
Harrison Smith (Yale College 1911) was born Oliver Harrison Smith in Hartford, Connecticut on August 4, 1888. He received a bachelor's degree from Yale College in 1911, and a Master's degree in 1914. Smith's lifelong career in publishing began as an editorial assistant and textbook salesman, then eventually as an editor for Harcourt, Brace and Company (1918 to 1928). In 1929 he founded the firm Jonathan Cape & Harrison Smith, and went on to become a partner at Random House and an editor at Doubleday Doran & Company. From 1938 until 1966 he was president and associate editor of the Saturday Review of Literature. Smith wrote extensively on topics in American Literature, and on issues relating to working women and feminism after the Second World War. In 1952 he edited From Main Street to Stockholm, a volume of Sinclair Lewis correspondence.
Processing Information
Collections are processed to a variety of levels, depending on the work necessary to make them usable, their perceived research value, the availability of staff, competing priorities, and whether or not further accruals are expected. The library attempts to provide a basic level of preservation and access for all collections, and does more extensive processing of higher priority collections as time and resources permit.
This collection received a basic level of processing, including rehousing and minimal organization, in 2013. Information included in the Description of Papers note and Collection Contents section is drawn 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 finding aid may be updated periodically to account for new acquisitions to the collection and/or revisions in arrangement and description.
Former call number: Uncat Za Ms 363.
- American literature -- 20th century
- Authors, American -- 20th Century -- Archives
- Editors -- United States
- Editors -- United States -- 20th Century
- Feminism -- United States
- Lewis, Sinclair, 1885-1951
- Photographic prints
- Photographs
- Publishers -- United States
- Publishers -- United States -- 20th Century
- Saturday Review of Literature
- Smith, Harrison
- Women -- United States
- Title
- Harrison Smith Papers
- Author
- Beinecke Staff
- Date
- 2013
- 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
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.