Leonard Daniel Wickenden (AC 1935) Papers, 1921-1989 (bulk 1953-1979)
General International Standard for Archival Description
Amherst College Archives and Special Collections
Finding aid encoded using Perl scripts and edited in XMetal 2.0. Encoded by Sarah Sorscher. 2003-06-23
Encoded Archival Description
Encoded Archival Description (EAD) Version 2002
collection
Wickenden Papers
Creation of Wickenden Papers
Time of Creation of Wickenden Papers
5 archives boxes, 3 records storage boxes, 1 flat box
Wickenden, Dan
Biographical History for: Wickenden Papers
Biographical Note Leonard Daniel Wickenden (1913-1989), known as Dan, was born in Tyrone, Pennsylvania on March 24, 1913 and graduated from Amherst College in 1935. His first novel, The Running of the Deer, was published in 1937 followed by six others; among them was The Wayfarers, a Literary Guild selection for 1945. He published his last novel, The Amazing Vacation, in 1956. In 1953, Wickenden joined Harcourt Brace & World (later Harcourt Brace Jovanovich) as associate editor. He eventually became senior editor of Harcourt's trade publications, working with notable authors such as Eudora Welty, James Gould Cozzens, and Wendell Berry. He retired in 1978 but continued to accept freelance consulting and editorial work until 1980. During this time, until 1981, he also taught writing for Fairfield University's evening education program. He died at his home in Weston, Connecticut on October 27, 1989.
Scope and Contents of the Collection The Wickenden Papers span the years 1921-1989, with the bulk falling between the 1950s and the 1970s. They primarily document Wickenden's literary and professional career. Materials include typed original manuscripts, galley proofs, correspondence to and from Dan Wickenden, literary reviews, printed materials, theatrical photographs, a small number of personal items, and a scrapbook containing newsclippings and reviews. The collection includes very little personal or family-related materials. Most of the correspondence in the collection documents Wickenden's professional assessment of literary works and publishing recommendations while at Harcourt Brace & World. His astute assessments of the literary manuscripts are diplomatic but honest comments to the authors themselves. These papers are a valuable resource for the study of American literary history from the mid-1950s through the 1970s.
Publishers and publishing--United States--Correspondence.
lcsh
Wickenden, Dan.
lcnaf
Wickenden, Dan. Amazing vacation--Sources.
Wickenden, Dan. Bright carpet--Sources.
Wickenden, Dan. Charmed life--Sources.
Wickenden, Dan. Golden dustman--Sources.
Wickenden, Dan. Heritage--Sources
Wickenden, Dan. Red carpet--Sources.
Wickenden, Dan. Running of the deer--Sources.
Wickenden, Dan. Turn backward--Sources.
Berry, Wendell, 1934-
Carpenter, Don.
Deck, John N.
McIntosh, John.
Vidal, Gore, 1925-
Welty, Eudora, 1909-
Harcourt, Brace & World.
Harcourt Brace Jovanovich.
Fairfield University--Faculty.
Amherst College. Class of 1935. Wickenden.
series
Series 1: CORRESPONDENCE, 1947-1985
Series 1, CORRESPONDENCE, 1947-1985, is divided into two subseries: General Correspondence (Subseries A) contains letters exchanged between Wickenden and the many authors with whom he worked at Harcourt Brace and World. The letters are arranged alphabetically by the author's name. Harcourt Brace & World Correspondence (Subseries B) consists of correspondence generated by Wickenden during his tenure as editor at Harcourt Brace & World. The letters are organized as a separate unit, listed alphabetically by the author's name.
subseries
Subseries A: General Correspondence
Atwater, James 1986
Baird, Theodore 1952, 1964
Baird, Tom 1980
Bal, Kenan 1984
Beim, Jerrold 1955
Bennett, Helen 1987
Berry, Wendell 1974-1979
Bloomberg, Beverly 1987
Blum, John 1975-1980
Brooks, Larry 1983
Bruccoli, Matthew 1982-1983
Bush, G.F. 1981
Calder, Daniel G. 1957
Cardona-Hine, Alvaro 1980
Carlson, Natalie Savage 1954
Casey, Tom 1985-1987
Chase, Mary Ellen 1951-1954
Clark, Howard "Tex" 1981-1985
Cole, Madelene 1938-1970
Columbus, Claudette 1981
Corry, John 1988
Diamond, David 1981
Durham, Marilyn 1979-1983
Fairlie, Henry 1986-1987
Faller, Janet 1982
Fargason, Jean Williams 1981
Florey, Kitty Burns 1980-1981
Foos-Graber, Anya 1982
Fox, Ruth 1981
Gaddis, William 1954
Galloway, David 1976
Gannett, Lewis 1952
Glass, Jeanne 1976
Glick, Evelyn Harter 1984
Goedicke, Patricia 1977
Goodman, William B. 1983
Gordon, Mrs. Kermit 1982
Hamrick, Sam n.d.
Hanlon, Edward S. 1981
Harrison, John M. 1981
Hawes, Evelyn (Mrs. Nathan) 1977
Higgins, Judith 1979
Hill, Bob 1983
Hillin, Hubert J. and Patricia 1989
Hoopes, Roy 1982
Hoyt, Ed 1980
Hufstader, (Mrs.) 1978
Ivey, Caroline 1954
Jackinson, Alex 1981
Johnson, Diane 1978
Jones, Patricia 1984
Jordan, Donald 1981-1988
Jovanovich, Peter 1982-1986
Kessler, Jascha 1976
Kidd, Virginia 1981
Kidde, Kay 1976-1987
Leighton, Roberta 1981
Leikin, Molly-Ann 1980-1986
Leinbach, John D. 1982
Leland Hayward Agency 1937
Lindley, Hilda 1980
McCullough, Frances 1976
McElroy, Joseph 1977
McGill [sic], Marcia 1981
McGinley, Phyllis 1952
McGoun, Ralph C. 1983
McLuhan, Kerry 1981
MacNamee, Max 1978
Magida, Dan 1977
Magill [sic], Marcia 1981
Malkin, Joyce 1986
Malstrom, Robert and Judy 1987
Manning, Sue (Mrs. John W.) 1952
Mesher, David R. 1977
Mitchel, Mary 1979
Moffitt, John 1977
Molarsky, Delmar 1981
[folder no. not used.]
Newcomb, Dave 1985-1988
Niven, Donald 1983
Ohrenstein, Shirley 1981-1983
Okrent, Daniel 1976
Olsen, Tillie 1978
Ortmeyer, Dan 1983
Paramount Pictures - contract 1945
Pilar, Oliver 1966
Pitkin, Walter 1980-1983
Prescott, Peter 1980
Putnam, Peter Brock 1982
Qualey, Carlton 1982
Raby, Harold J. 1988
Regnery, Henry 1980
Roe, Anne 1980
Rolfs, Mary Jane 1953
Roy, Katherine 1981
Rubin, Larry 1989
Safire, William 1979-1984
Schaefer, Jack 1953
Skolnick, Irene 1979
Smith, J.J. 1985
Smith, Mortimer 1980
Stade, George 1977
Stechman, Eleanor 1945-1952
Swenson, Alan 1982-1989
Tennent, Duane 1979
Theobold, John R. 1983
Tyler, W.T. (a.k.a. Sam Hamrick) 1981
Unkefer, Duane 1984-1989
van der Zee, John 1975
Vasiliu, Mircea 1955
Vaernet, Lillian 1982
Vidal, Gore 1947-1950
Vidal, Gore 1950-1985
Vogt, Victor 1981
Walker, Tom 1976-1977
Wallace, John V. 1980-1981
Waugh, Virginia Sorenson 1981
Weingrad, Deborah 1976
Wilcox, Libby 1982-1984
Wong May 1982-1987
Wright, G. Scott 1982
Williams, Frances Leigh 1967-1975
Williams, Frances Leigh - editorial correspondence n.d.
2 unidentified letters - "Bud," 1977; "Robert," 1985 1977, 1985
Subseries B: Harcourt, Brace & World
Baird, Thomas 1969-1970
Berry, Wendell 1965-1967
Berry, Wendell 1968
Berry, Wendell 1969
Berry, Wendell 1970-1977
Bier, Jesse 1960-1967
Carpenter, Don 1965
Carpenter, Don 1966-1967
Carpenter, Don 1968-1970
Coates, Robert 1956-1965
Davis, Christopher 1957-1960
Deck, John 1967
Deck, John 1968-1969
Deck, John 1970-1971
Durham, Marilyn 1971-1972
Espey, John 1962-1964
Espey, John 1965-1968
Fair, Ronald 1964-1965
Fair, Ronald 1965-1969
Goedicke, Patricia 1967-1970, 1979
Hawes, Evelyn 1964-1967
Hawes, Evelyn 1968-1971
Johnson, Diane 1965-1971
Limmer, Ruth 1972
Lister, R.P. 1963-1969
McElroy, Joseph 1966-1968
McIntosh, John 1966-1967
McIntosh, John 1968
McIntosh, John 1969
McIntosh, John 1970-1971
Merritt, Miriam 1964-1968
Newman, Robert 1965-1966
Noll, Bink 1968-1969
Putnam, Peter 1958
Rovitt, Earl 1964-1967
Sorensen, Virginia 1959-1960
Sorensen, Virginia 1963-1967
van der Zee, John 1966-1968
van der Zee, John 1969
Wallant, Edward L. 1960-1964
Wallant, Edward L. 1964-1969
Welty, Eudora 1968-1971
Series 2: ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS AND GALLEY PROOFS, 1937-1957
Series 2, ORIGINAL MANUSCRIPTS AND GALLEY PROOFS, 1937-1957, is arranged by title of the published work, documents the progress of Wickenden's novels, sometimes including several drafts of the same title. Publisher's galley proofs are included for some of the works.
Amazing Vacation c.1956
Bright Blade (#1) n.d.
Bright Blade (#2) n.d.
Charmed Life, pt. 1 (published in 1952 as The Red Carpet) n.d.
Charmed Life, pt. 2 n.d.
Charmed Life - galley c.1952
Golden Dustman (#1) n.d.
Golden Dustman (#2) n.d.
Heritage n.d.
Red Carpet 1952
Red Carpet - galley 1952
Running of the Deer c.1937
Turn Backward 1957
Series 3: CRITICAL REVIEWS OF WICKENDEN'S PUBLISHED WORK, 1935-1956
Series 3, CRITICAL REVIEWS OF WICKENDEN'S PUBLISHED WORK, 1935-1956, includes newsclippings, press releases, advertisements, and magazine reviews of Wickenden's work.
Amazing Vacation 1956
Bright Blade 1935
Dry Season 1952
Running of the Deer 1937
Tobias Brandywine 1948
Walk like a Mortal 1940
Wayfarers 1946
Series 4: LITERARY REVIEWS BY WICKENDEN OF OTHERS' WORKS , 1953-1984
Series 4, LITERARY REVIEWS BY WICKENDEN OF OTHER'S WORKS, 1953-1984, represents Wickenden's years as trade book editor at Harcourt Brace & World, as well as later independent work as a consulting editor and reviewer. Most reviews are in standard memo format and are addressed to members of the review process rather than to the authors themselves (as in the correspondence). If a work were eventually published, a press review by Wickenden is often included.
About XVII Emperors, by Frank Manley 1982
Act of God, by Margaret Kennedy n.d.
Alligator named Daisy, Charles Terrot n.d.
...And I'm Still Here, by Darwin Porter 1977
Aristocrats, by Michel de Saint-Pierre 1956
Art of Being Happily Married, by Andre Maurois n.d.
Bad Seed, by William March n.d.
Body Rights, by Orville Brim 1977
Boy on a Dolphin, by David Divine n.d.
Boy in Blue, by Monica Stirling n.d.
Bubblemakers, by George J.W. Goodman n.d.
Children and Lovers, by Helga Sandburg n.d.
Colonel, by David Hart 1983
Comfort Me with Apples, by Peter de Vries 1956
Commentaries, by Charles R. Bound 1983
Conspirator, by Roy Friedman 1976
Dog Days, by Ross Santee 1955
Duchess Bakes a Cake, by Virginia Kahl n.d.
Duck Hunt, by Hugo Claus n.d.
Ersatz, by Peter Edler 1977
Excelsior, by Paul Hyde Bonner 1953
Executioner Waits, by Josephine Herbst 1978
Fair Game, by Constantin FitzGibbon 1956
Family Album; Lamaar Ransom, by David Galloway 1976-1977
Five Fathers of Pepi, by Ira Avery 1955
Girl with False Papers, by Nechema Tec 1980
Green Immigrants, by Claire S. Haughton 1976
Greenwillo, by B.J. Chute 1956
Gypsy in the Parlor, by Margery Sharp [1955?]
Hawk on the Wind, by S.J. Hamrick 1978
Hello to Springtime, by Robert Fontaine n.d.
Honor of Gaston Le Torch, by Jacques Perret n.d.
House of Children, by Joyce Cary 1954-1956
Is This You? by Ruth Krauss and C. Johnson n.d.
I'm Owen Harrison Harding, by James Whitfield Ellison n.d.
In a Different Darkness, by David Nemec 1977
Intuition: How to Use It, by Milton Fisher 1980-1981
Kangaroo Concept, by Herbert Rosen 1977
Little Golden Books; Baby's First Book, by G. Williams n.d.
Loaves, Wafers, Stones by Paul Smyth 1977
Looking Glass Conference, by Godfrey Blunden 1954-55
Lord of the Flies, by William Golding 1955
Mamma, by Diana Tutton c.1955
Matter of Position, by Helen Borton 1977
McGillicuddy McGotham, by Leonard Wibberley 1956
Memoirs of Ferlin Tussaud, by Robert Taylor, Jr. 1976
Merry Christmas, Mr. Baxter, by Edward Streeter n.d.
Miracle of Merriford, by Reginald Arkell n.d.
Missing Dates, by Tom Walker 1976
Mouse that Roared, by Leonard Wibberly 1956
Musical Prodigies, by Renee B. Fisher 1981
My Aunt Lucienne, by Rose Feld 1953
My Son Johnny, by John McNulty n.d.
One More Time, by Arthur Volkman 1976
Paradise Resisted, by Tom Clark 1983
Pity is Not Enough, by Josephine Herbst 1978
Pleasure is Mine, by Mircea Vasiliu c.1955
Rancho of the Little Loves, by Robert Nathan 1955
Return of the King; Two Towers, by J.R.R. Tolkien 1956
Rope of Gold, by Josephine Herbst 1978
Sadat's Challenge: The New Egypt, by Dino Frescobaldi 1978
Seven Stories, by Margaret W. Brown n.d.
Shiralee, by D'Arcy Niland 1955
Song of Schloimele, by Eytan Halaban 1984
Spirit of the Chase, by Robert Bright 1954-1955
Stateline, by John van der Zee 1975
Sultan and the Lady, by Eric Linklater n.d.
Switch on the Night, by Ray Bradbury n.d.
Threshold, by Dorothea Rutherford [1949]
Trial, by Dan Mankiewicz 1954
V was for Victory, by John Morton Blum 1977
Village School, by "Miss Read" n.d.
White Dory, by Paul Smyth 1977
Whole Voyald, by William Saroyan 1955
Year of the Cougar, by Jesse Bier 1975
Wine for the Living, by Richard Hagopian 1976
Series 5: SHORT PUBLISHED WORKS, 1934-1953
Series 5, SHORT PUBLISHED WORKS, 1934-1953, contains stories and articles contributed by Wickenden to popular magazines such as Harper's and Woman's Day. This series contains the original publications.
"Leonie" - Harper's Magazine, April 1952 1952
"Doodling in 3 Dimensions" - Harper's Magazine, September 1954 1954
"Mrs. O'Malley and a Postman's Lot"- New Yorker, November 8, 1941 1941
"Old Age of a Poet" - On the Way; 10 Stories from English 7 1934
"A Grotesque for November" - Stage, December 1935 1935
"Journey through Sunlight" - Story Magazine, February 1937 1937
"Passage to Baltimore" - Woman's Day, March 1953 1953
Series 6: PERSONAL MATERIAL, 1927-1990
Series 6, PERSONAL MATERIALS, 1927-1990, contains a small number of items from Wickenden's childhood, including a copybook which contains notes, drawings, and two plays: Under the Railway Bridge and Two Little Fairies and the Bad Magician. Personal accounts and stories, some manuscript, and correspondence and class notes from his years teaching at Fairfield University in Connecticut make up most of the series. Also included are obituary materials, letters of condolence, and some theatrical photographs from Wickenden's years as an Amherst College student.
General 1927, 1931, n.d.
A Guatamalan Journey - manuscript 1946
Unpublished papers of Edward Lewis Wallant - a memorandum by Wickenden 1968
Edward Lewis Wallant by David Galloway - book, inscribed by the author to Wickenden 1980
Fairfield University - Correspondence 1980-82
Miscellaneous clippings
Obituary and memorial service materials 1989-1990
Letters of condolence 1989
Photographs - Theatrical, from Amherst College 1930s
Series 7: SCRAPBOOK, 1937-1941
Series 7 is a SCRAPBOOK which contains additional clippings, press releases, and reviews of his novels, but contains virtually no personal material.
Scrapbook c.1937-41