John Steinbeck Collection 1934-1962

Access and use

Location of collection:
University of Virginia, Special Collections Dept.
Albert and Shirley Small Special Collections Library
University of Virginia
P.O. Box 400110
160 McCormick Rd
Charlottesville, Virginia 22904-4110
Contact for questions and access:
POC: Brenda Gunn
Phone: (434) 924-1037
Phone: (434) 243-1776
Fax: (434) 924-4968
Restrictions:

Collection is open to research.

Terms of access:

See the University of Virginia Library’s use policy.

Preferred citation:

John Steinbeck Collection, Accession 6239-j, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Summary

Creator:
Language:
English
Preferred citation:

John Steinbeck Collection, Accession 6239-j, Special Collections Department, University of Virginia Library

Background

Scope and content:

[Discusses Jedworth[ Jedwick], publishers, publishing slowly, a planned trip to Mexicoand lack of gift for money-making.]

[Discusses dislike for Hollywood, preparation for a trip to Mexico, prerequisites for fame; briefly discusses Jedwick, [Pascal] Covici's reissuing two early books [ The Pastures of Heavenand To a God Unknown] and availability of a copy of [ Tortilla Flat]; mentions Carmel, Woodstock, Left Bank, Laguane Beachand [ San Francisco].]

[Discusses Paramount [Pictures]purchase of a book [ Tortilla Flat], his next book [ In Dubious Battle], their stay in Mexico, his dislike of New York City, Ben Abramson, Frances [? Toor], American tourists in Mexicoand Mexican Indians; mentions Pacific Grove, California. ]

[Discusses dislike of Communists and difficulty publishing short stories; briefly discusses dislike of [David Herbert] Lawrence, not caring what the press will do, Esquire, [Arnold] Gingrich, McIntosh and Otis [Literary Agency], [Arthur Burton] Rascoe, ignorance of the theater, The North American Reviewand fear of getting down to work; mentions New Testament, New York Cityand Journey's End. ]

[Discusses a bad review [of In Dubious Battle] by Mary Ann McCarthy[ Mary Theresa McCarthy] in The Nation; briefly discusses Paul's rejected book, [Arnold] Gingrich's request for stories for Esquire, his new book [ Of Mice and Men], a possible visit by Paul, Herman Shumlin's production of the play In Dubious Battleand his problems getting published; mentions Caesar's Commentaries, Plato, Tortilla Flat, Joseph Henry Jackson, [ San Francisco] Chronicle, Covici [Friede], Ben Abramson, his agents [ McIntosh and Otis Literary Agency] and Hollywood. ]

[Discusses his current work [ Of Mice and Men], [William] Heineman's publishing [ In Dubious Battle], death of his British agent, Paul's coming west and weather; mentions [William] Saroyan. ]

[Discusses a new house in Los Gatos, Paul's novel, difficulty with his new manuscript [ Of Mice and Men] and the Republican Convention.]

[Discusses rain water as a symbol of security; briefly discusses his wife's [ Carol Henning Steinbeck] building a new house [in Los Gatos], Paul's visit, [ John Ernst Steinbeck] and "the new thing" [ Of Mice and Men]; mentions [ Pacific Grove].]

[Discusses an article for The Nation, a series [" The Harvest Gypsies"] for the [ San Francisco] News, his new book [ Of Mice and Men], Paul's A Horse in Arizona, discovering a book "down the country" [ The Grapes of Wrath] and a story he wrote for Esquire. ]

[Discusses Los Gatos, a very long book [ The Grapes of Wrath], [Paul's A Horse in Arizona], his new book [ Of Mice and Men] and a planned trip east; mentions his wife [ Carol Henning Steinbeck].]

[Discusses happiness in his work on the book [ The Grapes of Wrath], a possible trip to New York, possible sources of a copy of "the little book" [? Saint Katy the Virgin], repair of a rain-damaged pool, a bad cold, drinking too much and the need to conserve money; mentions his sisters [ Elizabeth Steinbeck Ainsworth, Esther Steinbeck Rodgers, Mary Steinbeck Dekker], [Arthur Burton] Rascoe, Harry Hansenand [Pascal] Covici. ]

[Discusses unhappiness with his work [ The Grapes of Wrath], a possible trip, his last book [ Of Mice and Men], the weather in California, the sausage works [ Multch Sausage Manufacturing Co.] and the death of [Arthur Burton] Rascoe's son [ Albert Burton Rascoe]; mentions Esquire. ]

[Discusses a review in [ New York Herald Tribune], a trip to New York Cityand the sausage works [ Multch Sausage Manufacturing Co.].]

[Discusses a visit to New York City; mentions Bedford Hotel. ]

[Discusses being in the Atlantic Oceannear Greenland, plans upon landing in Albany, expecting Paul on the West Coast and a visit to New York City. ]

[Discusses a job [the script for the play Of Mice and Men], a trip to Europeand a desire to see Paul.]

[Discusses a visit from Paul, his return from a trip, the house being a mess, Paul's hat, Carol Henning Steinbeck's need for a break, a planned Thanksgiving with the Jackson family[ Joseph Henry Jacksonand Charlotte E. Cobden Jackson] and being too busy too spend an afternoon with Paul and [ Joseph Henry Jackson]; mentions Montereyand Mary [P. Engargiola Paul].]

[Discusses a house warming party, Paul's hat, getting a phone and Paul's former job; mentions [Joseph Henry] Jackson, Charlotte [E. Cobden] Jackson, Ritchie Lovejoyand his wife [ Natalya Lovejoy], the Bengston family, Long Island, Burlingame, Multch Sausage Manufacturing Co.and Elsa Maxwell. ]

[Discusses a story by Paul [" A Lucky Day for Private Smoot"] in the January issue of Esquire; mentions Mary [P. Engargiola Paul]. ]

[Discusses a proposed trip with [ Joseph Henry Jackson], a brief visit to the Jackson familyand his rewriting [? The Grapes of Wrath].]

[Discusses his and Carol Henning Steinbeck's praise for a manuscript by Paul; mentions Hollywood, Blingham [ Burlingame].]

[Discusses stopping by Paul's, a trip by Carol Henning Steinbeckand a manuscript by Ritch[ie Lovejoy].]

[Discusses a razor, a lily and having a good time.]

[Discusses things interfering with his work [ The Grapes of Wrath], Carol Henning Steinbeck's sore throat, "the eastern matter," a visit from Brod[erick] Crawfordand the ranch; mentions [Charles] Scribner's [Sons]. ]

[Discusses The Grapes of Wrath(title source, method of work and typing by Carol Henning Steinbeck); mentions " Battle Hymn of the Republic. "]

[Discusses not wanting to hear criticism until he is finished [with The Grapes of Wrath]; briefly discusses weariness.]

[Discusses a bad leg, his tonsillectomy and his unlisted phone number; mentions Mary [P. Engargiola Paul]; includes pencilled poem in another hand.]

[Discusses his illness and not stopping by Paul's trip to Santa Cruz. ]

[Discusses a planned trip [to Mexicoto film The Forgotten Village], the ranch, Mary [P. Engargiola Paul's ] illness, Paul's garden and a trip to the Gulf [of California]to collect animals.]

[Discusses sending both books to Carnahans; briefly discusses working on the "marine book" [ Sea of Cortez], returning from filming [ The Forgotten Village] in Mexico, plans to work with [Lewis] Milestone[on the film The Red Pony] and a dog for Paul; mentions Monterey. ]

[Discusses an invitation to Paul to visit, the return of Carol Henning Steinbeckand work on the book [ Sea Of Cortez], mentions Joe [Higashi].]

[Discusses [ Pascal Covici's ] sale of the little Mexican book of pictures [ The Forgotten Village]; briefly discusses a book Paul sent, a house in Pacific Grove, sale of the ranch, working hard on the gulf book [ Sea of Cortez], himself as "half bum and half voluptuary and half workman" and his bad nerves; mentions Ed[ward Flanders Ricketts], his agents [ McIntosh and Otis Literary Agency], Mary [P. Engargiola Paul]and a film [ The Forgotten Village].]

[Discusses "that silly thing" getting to [Herb] Caen, his knife, Paul's hospitality and a new pen.]

[Discusses "future leaks" especially to [Leonard] Lyons, his knife, work on the second draft [of Sea of Cortez], a possible trip to Los Angeles, [ MacIntosh and Otis Literary Agency] and [ Pascal Covici] liking the book, and plans to work on [" God in the Pipes"]; mentions Mary [P. Engargiola Paul]and Gwyndolyn Conger. ]

[Discusses Paul's book and [World War II].]

[Discusses moving to an old house, a proposed visit from Paul, Gwyndolyn Conger Steinbeck's pregnancy, another book [ The Wayward Bus] and a trip to Mexico. ]

[Discusses the return of some letters to Steinbeck and Steinbeck's Nobel Prize in Literature; mentions New York Times Book Review. ]

[Discusses his reasons for returning to Paul the letters Paul had returned to him, his fear of prizes, [Nobel Prize in Literature], the Soviet Unionrewriting its history, Paul's inking out hurtful references to living persons (except Mary McCarthy) in the letters and Walt Whitman. ]

[" Sonya Noskowiak" written below lower right corner; photo appeared in the New York Herald Tribune, 1937 Feb 28.]

[Discusses the rift between John Steinbeckand Carol Henning Steinbeck, Steinbeck's relationship with [ Gwyndolyn Conger] and other women, including [Natalya] Lovejoy, his reluctance to leave either Pacific Groveor the first house in Los Gatos, his health and poor diet, his sexual problems, Carol's discomfort with wealth and his becoming too "rich" non-monetarily; mentions Sea of Cortez, The Forgotten Village, Ritchie Lovejoy, The Grapes of Wrathand Louis [Paul]. ]

Acquisition information:
Purchase-Deposit [ 1971 Dec 27 ] 1972 Mar 13
Processing information:

Funded in part by a grant from the National Endowment for the Humanities

Physical location:
Physical description:
ca. 41 items