Series I: Correspondence, 1927-1979
Scope and Contents
This collection contains Lewis’ poetry and essay manuscripts, correspondence, articles, publications, photographs, videos, personal documents and ephemera. The content of this collection concerns the labor and racial problems of southeast Missouri, as well as the political conflicts in the United States during the 1930s through the 1950s. The dated correspondence is arranged chronologically. The undated correspondence is arranged alphabetically by Lewis’ correspondent. The personal documents include financial, educational, and health records. The photographs of Lewis, his home and friends date from the 1920s to the 1980s. Also included are the DVD and VHS copies of an interview with Lewis from 1981. Lewis’ manuscripts are arranged in three groups: manuscripts published in a compilation, manuscripts that were published individually, and unpublished manuscripts. The compilation manuscripts are arranged by the publication date of the compilation, and then by the order the poems appear within that compilation. These are followed by manuscripts of poems and essays published in periodicals or other collections arranged by publication date. The unpublished manuscripts are arranged alphabetically. The publications authored by Lewis are arranged by date; these are followed by publications with similar themes as Lewis’ own writings. The newspaper clippings are arranged by various subjects on labor, southeast Missouri, and politics.
Dates
- Creation: 1927-1979
Conditions Governing Access
There are DVD and VHS formats within this collection.
There can be no photocopying or extensive quoting of copied material from SUNY Buffalo or the Newberry Library without permission from those institutions.
Extent
From the Collection: 8.5 Linear Feet
From the Collection: 1 map folders
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
Contains the personal and professional correspondence received and sent by Lewis. The correspondence concerns Lewis’ disappointment with his works’ critical reception by his contemporaries, his frustrations with the Communist Party and his allegations against the US government. The personal correspondence is mostly between Lewis and his sister, Catherine Bock and his friend, James Miller. Included is the correspondence of Harold L. Dellinger and Douglas Wixon between Lewis and Catherine Bock. Dellinger and Wixon interviewed Lewis in the later years of his life and wrote to Catherine Bock after Lewis’ death. The correspondence is arranged from 1927 to 1994, followed by the undated correspondence.
Repository Details
Part of the Special Collections and Archives Repository
One University Plaza, MS 4600
Cape Girardeau Missouri 63701 United States
5736512245
semoarchives@semo.edu