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Norman Holmes Pearson Papers

 Collection
Call Number: YCAL MSS 899

Scope and Contents

The Norman Holmes Pearson papers consist of correspondence, writings, academic and professional files, printed materials, photographs, and audiovisual materials that document a broad range of Pearson's professional and personal activities, including his research on Nathaniel Hawthorne and Ezra Pound, his management of the literary estates of H.D. and Bryher, and his activity as a professor of English and American Studies at Yale University. Documentation relating to Pearson's service in the Office of Strategic Services is partially redacted.

Dates

  • 1829 - 1983
  • Majority of material found within 1930 - 1975

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

This collection is open for research.

Boxes 227 and 333-336 (student records): Restricted until 2095.

Boxes 268-273 (microfilm): Restricted fragile material. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.

Boxes 291-294 (audiovisual material): Restricted fragile material. Reference copies may be requested. Consult Access Services for further information.

Conditions Governing Use

The Norman Holmes Pearson 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 and bequest of Norman Holmes Pearson, 1966-1975.

Arrangement

Organized into nine series: I. Correspondence, 1839-1976. II. Editorial and Other Projects, circa 1880s-1975. III. Writings, 1829-1975. IV. Research Files, 1851-1978. V. Professional Papers, 1929-1983. VI. Photographs and Microfilm, circa 1909-1975. VII. Printed Materials, 1889-1975. VIII. Personal Papers, 1888-1975. IX. Realia, undated.

Extent

167.96 Linear Feet (343 boxes)

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.pearson

Abstract

The Norman Holmes Pearson papers consist of correspondence, writings, printed material, photographs, and audiovisual material that document a broad range of Pearson's professional and personal activities, including his research on Nathaniel Hawthorne and Ezra Pound, his management of the literary estates of H.D. and Bryher, and his activity as a professor of English and American Studies at Yale University. Documentation relating to Pearson's service in the Office of Strategic Services is partially redacted.

Norman Holmes Pearson (1909-1975)

Norman Holmes Pearson (Yale 1932), professor of English and American Studies at Yale University and officer in the Office of Strategic Services during the Second World War. Pearson collaborated with curator Donald Gallup to develop the Yale Collection of American Literature, playing an instrumental role in the acquisition of the papers of H.D. and Bryher.

Processing Information

In 1983, the Central Intelligence Agency claimed 14 documents from Pearson’s papers and reviewed the documents in order to determine whether to declassify them. The CIA released three of these back to Yale in their entirety; they redacted or “sanitized” two documents; and they retained the remaining nine. At the time of processing in 2019-2021, flags marking the former locations of these documents had been disturbed from their original order; those flags that were found have been retained in a separate folder marked as such. A list of the titles of documents returned, redacted, and withheld appears in an appendix to this finding aid. For more information, consult the curator.

Former call numbers: Za Pearson, Uncat Za Pearson, Za P3195 +1, and Za P3195 +2.

Title
Norman Holmes Pearson Papers
Author
by Beinecke staff
Date
2015
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.