Scope and Contents
The papers include correspondence, writings and other material that documents Konstanty Jeleński's editorial work, literary criticism and involvement with several cultural organizations, including the Congress for Cultural Freedom, the Royaumont Foundation, and the Institut national de l'audiovisuel. A significant portion of the papers documents Jeleński's translation and criticism of the writings of Witold Gombrowicz. The papers are not a complete literary archive of Jeleński's life and work and contain only a portion of his correspondence and writings. Series I consists chiefly of Jeleński's general correspondence, writings and writings of others; the remaining series consist of papers related to specific topics and organizations. Correspondents include Witold and Rita Gombrowicz, fellow affiliates with the Congress for Cultural Freedom, and publishers. Essays and other writings relate chiefly to mid-twentieth-century Polish literary and political life (especially that of Polish émigrés), to the activities of the Congress for Cultural Freedom, and to Jeleński's translations from Polish to French. Printed material relates to literary, historical and political topics, especially in Poland in the mid- to late-twentieth century. A small amount of material relates to Jeleński's affiliation with the Royaumont Foundation and the Institut national de l'audiovisuel, documenting a portion of the activity of these organizations in the 1970s and 1980s.
Dates
- 1940-1988
Creator
Language of Materials
Material is in French, Polish, and English.
Conditions Governing Access
The materials are open for research.
Box 19 contains Restricted fragile material. Reference surrogates have been substituted in the main files. For further information consult the appropriate curator.
Box 19 contains Restricted fragile material. Reference surrogates have been substituted in the main files. For further information consult the appropriate curator.
Conditions Governing Use
The Konstanty Jeleński 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
Purchased from Institut Littéraire on the Edwin J. Beinecke Book Fund, 1989, and gift of Richard Overstreet and the estate of Leonor Fini, 2001.
Arrangement
Organized into five series: I. General Papers of Konstanty Jeleński, 1940-1988. II. Papers Relating to Witold Gombrowicz, 1951-1987. III. Papers Relating to the Congress for Cultural Freedom, 1959-1976. IV. Papers Relating to the Royaumont Foundation, 1970-1973. V. Papers Relating to the Institut national de l'audiovisuel, 1979-1984.
Extent
6.43 Linear Feet (18 boxes)
Catalog Record
A record for this collection is available in Orbis, the Yale University Library catalog
Persistent URL
Overview
The papers include correspondence, writings and other material that documents Konstanty Jeleński's editorial work, literary criticism and involvement with several cultural organizations, including the Congress for Cultural Freedom, the Royaumont Foundation, and the Institut national de l'audiovisuel. A significant portion of the papers documents Jeleński's translation and criticism of the writings of Witold Gombrowicz. The Papers are not a complete literary archive of Jeleński's life and work and contain only a portion of his correspondence and writings. Series I consists chiefly of Jeleński's general correspondence, writings and writings of others; the remaining series consist of papers related to specific topics and organizations. Correspondents include Witold and Rita Gombrowicz, fellow affilates with the Congress for Cultural Freedom, and publishers. Essays and other writings relate chiefly to mid-twentieth-century Polish literary and political life (especially that of Polish émigrés), to the activities of the Congress for Cultural Freedom, and to Jeleński's translations from Polish to French. Printed material relates to literary, historical and political topics, especially in Poland in the mid- to late- twentieth century. A small amount of material relates to Jeleński's affiliation with the Royaumont Foundation and the Institut national de l'audiovisuel, documenting a portion of the activity of these organizations in the 1970s and 1980s.
Konstanty Jeleński, 1922-1987
Konstanty Aleksander Jeleński (in French: Constantin Jelenski) was born January 2, 1922 in Warsaw, Poland and died May 4, 1987 in Paris, France. At the age of eighteen he left Poland to serve the Polish Army in France. He lived the remainder of his life as an émigré, first in Italy for several years after the Second World War, then settling in Paris in 1951.
In Paris, Jeleński was active in Polish émigré literary circles. He led the Eastern European division of the Congress for Cultural Freedom (after 1967, the International Association for Cultural Freedom) and was a prolific contributor to the Association's monthly publication Preuves and to Kultura, the Polish émigré literary journal. Beginning in 1975, he became increasingly active with the Institut national de l'audiovisuel.
Jeleński's criticism, translations and edited works addresses a wide range of literary, political and artistic topics, especially twentieth-century Polish literature and history. Among his most influential works are many critical essays about Witold Gombrowicz and the edited volume Anthologie de la poesie polonaise (1965).
In Paris, Jeleński was active in Polish émigré literary circles. He led the Eastern European division of the Congress for Cultural Freedom (after 1967, the International Association for Cultural Freedom) and was a prolific contributor to the Association's monthly publication Preuves and to Kultura, the Polish émigré literary journal. Beginning in 1975, he became increasingly active with the Institut national de l'audiovisuel.
Jeleński's criticism, translations and edited works addresses a wide range of literary, political and artistic topics, especially twentieth-century Polish literature and history. Among his most influential works are many critical essays about Witold Gombrowicz and the edited volume Anthologie de la poesie polonaise (1965).
Processing Information
The Konstanty Jeleński Papers contains material formerly classed as Uncat Ms Vault 579 and Uncat MSS 122.
- Authors, Polish
- Congress for Cultural Freedom
- Europe -- Intellectual life -- 20th Century
- France -- Emigration and immigration
- Gombrowicz, Witold, 1904-1969
- Institut national de l'audiovisuel (France)
- Jeleński, Konstanty A. (Konstanty Aleksander), 1922-1987
- Poland -- Emigration and immigration
- Poland -- History -- 1945-1980
- Poland -- Intellectual life -- 1918-1945
- Poland -- Intellectual life -- 1945-1989
- Polish literature
- Royaumont Foundation (France)
- Title
- Guide to the Konstanty Jeleński Papers
- Author
- by Lisa Conathan
- Date
- 2009
- 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.