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Josephine Johnson Papers

 Collection
Identifier: MS-MS-ms062

The Josephine Johnson Papers are a rich group of materials. They contain numerous letters, principally from the 1930's, between Johnson and other literary figures. The balance of the Josephine Johnson Papers consists of manuscripts toward poems, articles, and novels as well as journals and papers from her years at Washington University. Of particular interest are the autograph notes and drafts and typescript drafts of her Pulitzer Prize-winning novel, Now in November.

Accrual 1: Series 1, correspondence 1929-1989, bulking 1932-1935, includes letters from principal editors Ellery Sedgwick, Clifton Fadiman, Quincy Howe and Maria Lieper, discussing Now in November, Dark traveler, Sorcerer's son and short stories. Other correspondents include agents Maxim Lieber and Helen Strauss, and Bernard DeVoto, Louis Untermeyer, Tennessee Williams, Stringfellow Barr, Granville Hicks, Mark DeWitt, Theodore Morrison, Alexander Laing, Jack Conroy, Malcolm Cowley, Edward Weeks, Vance Bourjaily, readers of Miss Johnson's novels and colleagues in social reform activity. Series 2, single title poems, short stories and articles, titled and untitled pieces.  Series 3, material toward books, including typescripts, manuscripts, business material and/or miscellany relating to Now in November, Winter Orchard, Jordanstown, Paulina Pot, Wildwood, Dark Traveler, The Sorcerer's Son and Other Stories, Inland Island, Invaded City [unpublished novel] sections of one other untitled, unfinished novel and business papers relating to short stories. Series 4, manuscripts or editorial matter on work by Vera Britten, Malcolm Cowley, and Bernard DeVoto. Series 5, personal journals and papers produced at Washington University, clippings and sketches

Accrual 2: Consists of correspondence, manuscript, and clippings concerning Johnson.

Dates

  • Creation: 1929-1999

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

Open

Conditions Governing Use

Users of the collection must read and agree to abide by the rules and procedures set forth in the Materials Use Policies.

Providing access to materials does not constitute permission to publish or otherwise authorize use. All publication not covered by fair use or other exceptions is restricted to those who have permission of the copyright holder, which may or may not be Washington University.

If you wish to publish or license Special Collections materials, please contact Special Collections to inquire about copyright status at (314) 935-5495 or spec@wumail.wustl.edu. (Publish means quotation in whole or in part in seminar or term papers, theses or dissertations, journal articles, monographs, books, digital forms, photographs, images, dramatic presentations, transcriptions, or any other form prepared for a limited or general public.)

Extent

31.00 boxes

Biographical Information

A native of St. Louis, novelist, and short story writer, Josephine Johnson (June 20, 1910 - February 27, 1990) enjoyed a long and distinguished career during which she won a Pulitzer Prize for her first non-fiction novel, Now in November. Johnson attended Washington University from 1926 to 1931. In 1955, Washington University awarded her an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree.

Johnson was actively interested in the problems of contemporary society and was a member of various organizations that deal with inequality and poverty, including the St. Louis Urban League, the American Civil Liberties Union, and the Cooperative Consumers of St. Louis. Her fictional work is often based on her political and social attitudes. For example, Now in November, her award-winning novel, tells the story of a poor mid-western farm family devastated by a drought and Wildwood (1946) describes the plight of an unloved orphan girl.

Method of Acquisition

Accession number 1162. Gift of Josephine Johnson, March 26, 1970

Accession number 1253. Gift of George Stout, February 5, 1971

Accession number 1482. Gift of Josephine Johnson, September 27, 1978

Accession number 1529. Gift of Josephine Johnson, March 31, 1981

Accession number 22952. Gift of John Flesichman, unknown

Accession number 23970. Gift of Kathleen Tinkham, May 5, 2011

Title
Josephine Johnson Papers
Description rules
dacs
Language of description
eng

Revision Statements

  • 2021 April 29: Resource record updated in ArchiveSpace by Sarah Schnuriger.

Collecting Area Details

Part of the Manuscripts Collecting Area

Contact:
Joel Minor
Olin Library, 1 Brookings Drive
MSC 1061-141-B
St. Louis MO 63130 US
(314) 935-5495