University of Texas at Austin

Alfred A Knopf Inc.:

A Preliminary Inventory of an Addition to Its Editorial Files and Editorial Department Files in the Manuscript Collection at the Harry Ransom Center

Creator: Alfred A Knopf, Inc.
Title: Alfred A Knopf Inc., Addition to Editorial Files and Editorial Department Files
Dates: 1949-1984
Extent: 54 boxes (22.68 linear feet)
Abstract: This additional material for the Alfred A. Knopf Inc. Records contains editorial files spanning 1949-1984, concentrated in the latter years 1970-1984.
Call Number: Manuscript Collection MS-00062
Language: English
Access: Open for research


Administrative Information


Acquisition: Gift, 1996 (Gift no. 10631)
Processed by: Hope Rider, 2007
Repository:

Harry Ransom Center, The University of Texas at Austin

Scope and Contents


This additional material for the Alfred A. Knopf, Inc. Records contains editorial files spanning 1949-1984, concentrated in the latter years 1970-1984. The files, received at the Ransom Center in 1996, are arranged in two series: I. Editor Files, 1965-1984; II. Editorial Department Files, 1949-1983.
Series I. contains the working files of three Knopf editors: Subseries A. Angus Cameron, 1965-1973; Subseries B. William Koshland, 1971-1977; and Subseries C. Vicky Wilson, 1972-1984. The Cameron files, the largest group spanning twenty-eight boxes, are arranged alphabetically by the author with whom, or on whose behalf, Cameron worked. Koshland's files are arranged in three date sequences: 1971-1975, including larger files on specific authors such as Simone Beck, Elizabeth Bowen, Willa Cather, Julia Child, Dietrick Fischer-Dieskau, Dashiell Hammett, John Hersey, William Humphrey, Irving Kolodin, Margaret Lane, and H. L. Mencken; and two additional date sequences, 1975 and 1976-1977, which contain straight alphabetical listings without individual author folders. Wilson's files are arranged by specific authors and their works with standard subheadings such as editorial, legal, production, and publicity. In general, the editor files contain incoming and outgoing correspondence, internal memoranda, and related documents pertaining to publications.
Series II. is further subdivided into three subseries. Subseries A. Contract Data Sheets is arranged alphabetically by author in folders labeled A to L for the years 1949-1971, completing earlier accessions that contained only letters M to Z. As with the latter part of the alphabet, these data sheets contain information on the author's contract and sales records, highlighting rights, contract options, translations, and royalties.
The Foreign Rights files in Subseries B. contain correspondence and internal forms relating to the publication of Knopf books in other countries, primarily European nations, but also Japan, Canada, and South Africa. Arranged alphabetically by author, each file pertains to one author and one book for the years 1981-1983.
As with the Contract Data Sheets, the Rejection Sheets in Subseries C. contain the alphabetical segment for C-H, 1970-1974, lacking from earlier accessions. The rejection sheets contain information on the author's name, manuscript title and form (whether typescript, proofs or sheets), name of the person submitting it, a list of the manuscript's readers, and a space for comments on the work. A few forms are accompanied by correspondence (such as a letter of recommendation for the author), narrative manuscript abstracts, internal notes, and blue manuscript reader's forms.

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