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Paul Novick papers relating to Sholem Asch

 Collection
Call Number: GEN MSS 117

Scope and Contents

Correspondence, writings, articles and notes by and about Sholem Asch gathered by Paul Novick, editor of the Morgen Frayhayt (Morning Freedom), a Communist Party Yiddish newspaper in New York, the only newspaper willing to publish him at the height of the controversy over his trilogy, Der Man fun Notseres (The Nazarene) (1939), Der Sheliekh (The Apostle) (1943), and Meri (Mary) (1949). Jewish leaders accused Asch of teaching conversion to Christianity, a charge that Asch emphatically denied. The correspondence between Asch and Novick make up a large part of the collection.

The Correspondence consists of letters between Asch and Novick at a time when, due to ill health, Asch was advised by his physician not to defend his controversial works in the press. These letters document Asch's reaction to the controversy. Novick's letters are represented by carbon copies. A small section of other letters, mostly to and from Novick about Asch's works, is filed at the end of the series.

The Writings consist of essays by Asch, divided into one section of complete works, and one of incomplete and untitled works. The essays are organized alphabetically by transliterated Yiddish with the English translation appearing in parentheses. The incomplete works have been summarized. The miscellaneous section contains works about Asch, probably written by Novick. Most of the articles have been placed in restricted fragile papers, and reference photocopies have been supplied. In two cases, only the article about Asch was photocopied, and the rest of the paper itself may be consulted in restricted fragile papers.

Dates

  • 1943-1963

Creator

Language of Materials

Materials chiefly in Yiddish, some in English.

Conditions Governing Access

Restricted Fragile Papers in boxes 3 and 4 may be consulted only with permission of the appropriate curator. Preservation photocopies for reference use have been substituted in the main files. For more information consult with Access Services.

Conditions Governing Use

The Paul Novick / Sholem Asch Collection 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

Purchased from Charles Apfelbaum on the Edwin J. Beinecke Book Fund, 1992.

Extent

2.5 Linear Feet (4 boxes)

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.novick

Additional Description

Overview

Collection consists of correspondence, writings, articles and notes by and about Sholem Asch gathered by Paul Novick, editor of the only paper willing to publish him at the height of the controversy over his trilogy, Der Man fun Notseres (The Nazarene, 1939), Der Sheliekh (The Apostle, 1943), and Meri (Mary, 1949). Jewish leaders accused Asch of teaching conversion to Christianity, a charge that Asch emphatically denied. Asch's writings reflect his concern for the Jews in Europe during and after the second World War.

Subjects

Related Names

Finding Aid & Administrative Information

Title
Guide to the Paul Novick / Sholem Asch Collection
Status
Under Revision
Author
by Diana M. Smith
Date
August 1994
Description rules
Beinecke Manuscript Unit Archival Processing Manual
Language of description note
Finding aid written in English.

Repository Details

Part of the Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library Repository

http://beinecke.library.yale.edu/
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.

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