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Blanche Meyer collection of Jean Giono

 Collection
Call Number: GEN MSS 457

Scope and Contents

The Blanche Meyer Collection of Jean Giono consists of letters, manuscripts, clippings, and photographs which document the work of the French novelist, Jean Giono, especially as they involved his relationship with Blanche Meyer.

Series I, Correspondence, consists primarily of letters from Giono to Blanche and Louis Meyer between 1939-1969. The majority is addressed to Blanche, with several letters to other persons present, most likely enclosures in letters to Blanche Meyer. [A list of these other letters in included in the box and folder list.] Envelopes are files separately from the letters (as they were received with the collection).

Series II. Manuscripts, includes original drafts for several Giono items, including notebooks for "Pour saluer Melville" and a holograph copy of "Faust au Village". Several shorter items, including two untitled pieces are also found here. One other manuscript is present, an essay on Giono by a American student.

Series III, Other Papers, contains documentary material about Giono's life and career. The Publication and Permissions Files concern requests to use works by Giono, mostly addressed to Blanche Meyer, as owner of certain copyrights. Also present here are several contracts concerning Giono works and a legal brief addressing a dispute between Giono and Marcel Pagnol. The Clippings encompass reviews and mentions of Giono, obituaries and tributes to Giono, and a small group of essays by Giono. Following a single item of Printed Material, a book prospectus for "Provence", are a number of finely printed photographs, showing Giono in and around the landscape of Manosque, many carrying a photographer's stamp, "Karquel". Included at the end of this series are original wrappers received with the collection.

Box 12 contains Oversize items from Series III.

Series IV, February 2016 Acquisition, consists of a manuscript for "Le Giono que j'ai connu" by Blanche Meyer.

Series V, March 2016 Acquisition, consists of writings, correspondence, and other papers relating to Blanche Meyer, Jolaine Meyer, and Jean Giono.

Dates

  • 1938-2011

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

The materials are open for research.

Conditions Governing Use

The Blanche Meyer Collection of Jean Giono 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 Blanche Meyer on the Edwin J. Beinecke Book Fund, 1974-75. Purchased from Jolaine Meyer on the Edwin J. Beinecke Book Fund, 2016, and gift of Jolaine Meyer, 2016.

Associated Materials

Extent

7.61 Linear Feet (15 boxes)

Language of Materials

French

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.giono

Abstract

The Blanche Meyer Collection of Jean Giono consists of letters, manuscripts, clippings, and photographs which document the work of the French novelist, Jean Giono, especially as they involved his relationship with Blanche Meyer.

JEAN GIONO (1895-1970)

Jean Giono, French novelist, whose works told stories of the people of his native Provence, coupled with a celebration of nature. They include Le hussard sur le toit and Deux cavaliers de l'orage. He died in his native village of Manosque in October 1970.

Processing Information

A number of "cataloger's notes" which were apparently received with the collection in the 1970s have been retained and placed in separate folders preceding the items they describe. A number of other notes, providing specific context or identifications for items have been kept throughout the collection.

Title
Guide to the Blanche Meyer Collection of Jean Giono
Status
Under Revision
Author
by Timothy G. Young, Lucretia Baskin
Date
January 2000. Revised: May 2023.
Description rules
Beinecke Manuscript Unit Archival Processing Manual
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.