01001.xml Sinclair Lewis: An Inventory of His Papers at the Minnesota Historical Society National Historical Publications and Records Commission. Minnesota Historical Society
St. Paul, MN.

Manuscripts Collection

 Finding aid encoded by David B. PetersonJanuary 2012 Finding aid written in English. February 2013 Additions by David B. Peterson OVERVIEW Minnesota Historical Society Lewis, Sinclair, 1885-1951. Sinclair Lewis correspondence. 1915-1950. Materials in English. Originals and photocopies of four unrelated letters, a series of correspondence with Saturday Evening Post editors, primarily George H. Lorimer, and memoranda relating to the possibility of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer making Lewis' novel Gideon Planish into a motion picture. 0.6 cubic feet (2 boxes). See Detailed Description for shelf locations. SCOPE AND CONTENTS

A 1947 letter written from Beverly Hills to his brother Lloyd praises Lloyd's biography of U.S. Grant and suggests possible future writing projects. He also remarks on a screenplay and other work, which prohibit him from working on "Midwest Roundup," but does suggest Lloyd incorporate the novelists Wallace Stegner, Ann Chidester, Maritta Wold, and Feike Feikema.

A 1950 letter written from Rome to his brother Claude states that he intended to stay in Rome for five months and then move to Sicily for several months. He also comments on his brother's proposed Scandinavian trip.

The third letter, written to Vince (surname not identified) in 1942 from Minneapolis while Lewis was working on the novel Gideon Planish, comments on his rediscovery of his native Minnesota and his nostalgia for California.

Correspondence with the Saturday Evening Post begins with their 1915 acceptance of the first of many Lewis short stories and continues through 1936 when Lorimer resigned. The correspondence covers plot ideas, story submissions, editorial critiques, discussion of payments, the reassignment of novel and movie rights, and brief comments on Lewis's life, travels, and novel writing.

The bulk centers on the peak 1915-1920 period when 23 of Lewis's story submissions were published by the Post. In particular, letters from 1919-1920 describe his work on the novel Main Street, which he describes as "too long, too plotless, and too critical--it's about life in middle western small towns, and it's rather impolite."

The correspondence also includes Lewis's response to Lorimer's request that he answer complaints by Harry G. Davis, secretary of the Minnesota Highway Improvement Association, about Free Air. Davis criticized the story as being a deterrent to Minnesota tourism and recommended that the Post publish an article on the state's proposed constitutional highway system.

Brief discussion of Lewis's relationship with other magazine editors, notably V. H. Porter of Cosmopolitan, and Karl Harriman of Red Book, is also included.

Included as well is a 1934 letter from Sinclair Lewis to Corwin Lewis, Atlanta, Georgia, regarding a review that appeared in the Southern Hotel Journal.

A 6-page mimeographed memorandum written by Lewis (1943) contains his suggestions for a movie production of his novel Gideon Planish. An attached Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures memo from William James Fadiman (1943) notes that Lewis was then on the lot and was available for discussion with any interested producers. A 33-page mimeographed synopsis of the novel, created by MGM story reader Ab Jackson, Jr. (1943) and attached as background information, is also part of the file.

RELATED MATERIALS

An autobiographical account of Lewis's relationship with Post editor, George H. Lorimer, was published in the July 25, 1928 issue of The Nation.

 CATALOG HEADINGS

This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics: American fiction -- Middle West. Authors, American -- 20th century -- Correspondence. Authorship. Automobile travel -- United States. Roads -- Minnesota. Short story. Persons: Davis, Harry G. Lewis, Claude. Lewis, Corwin. Lewis, Lloyd, 1891-1949. Lorimer, George Horace, 1869-1937. Organizations: Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures. Minnesota Highway Improvement Association. Occupations: Periodical editors. Titles: Saturday evening post. The Babcock plan. ADMINISTRATIVE INFORMATION Access Restrictions:

Original correspondence is closed to research use. Researchers are directed to use the photocopies. Access to original correspondence requires permission of the Curator of Manuscripts.

 Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Lewis, Sinclair. Sinclair Lewis correspondence. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 10,359; 14,822; 15,272; 15,273; 16,613; 16,707

 Processing Information:

Processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with a Basic Project grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Additions by David B. Peterson, February 2013

Catalog ID number: 001733632

 DETAILED DESCRIPTION Photocopied Correspondence P2201 Letter to Vince [?], [Minneapolis, Minnesota], December 7, 1942. 1 item (1 page). TLS. Letter to Lloyd [Lewis], Beverly Hills, California, January 22, 1947. 1 item (1 page). TLS.

Includes newspaper clipping of photographs of the Sinclair Lewis family.

 Letter to Claude [Lewis], Rome, Italy, October 15, 1950. 1 item (1 page). ALS.

Photocopy of original loaned by Mrs. C. B. Lewis, St. Cloud, Minnesota.

 Correspondence with Saturday Evening Post, 1915-1936. 1 notebook. 88 items (202 pages in 6 folders). ALS and TLS. Letter, Bronxville, New York, to Corwin Lewis, Atlanta, Georgia, February 8, 1934. 1 item (1 page). TLS. Memoranda relating to Gideon Planish, 1943.3 items (40 pages).

Materials relating to the possibility of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer making Lewis' novel Gideon Planish into a motion picture.

Closed Original Correspondence

Restricted. Access to and use of the original correspondence requires the curator's permission.

 Res. 42 Letter to Vince [?]. [Minneapolis, Minnesota], December 7, 1942. 1 item (1 page). TLS. Letter to Lloyd [Lewis], Beverly Hills, California, January 22, 1947. 1 item (1 page). TLS. Correspondence with Saturday Evening Post, 1915-1936. 88 items (202 pages in 9 folders). ALS and TLS. Letter, Bronxville, New York, to Corwin Lewis, Atlanta, Georgia, February 8, 1934. 1 item (1 page). TLS. Memoranda relating to Gideon Planish, 1943.3 items (40 pages).

Materials relating to the possibility of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer making Lewis' novel Gideon Planish into a motion picture.