The Matthew J. Bruccoli Raymond Chandler Collection, 1964-78

Inventory

Prepared for the Web by Kevin Ferst, July 24, 2002
7 document cases + 1 oversized box, 3 cubic feet, 11th floor

Biographical Note

Raymond Chandler (1888-1959) was an American mystery and suspense writer best known for fictional detective Philip Marlowe, first seen in The Big Sleep. He wrote only seven full-length novels during his career, which began when he was in his 40s. Those books became influential, leaving one biographer to say, "Raymond Chandler is not just one more detective writer - he is a craftsman so brilliant, he has an imagination so wholly original, that no consideration of modern American literature ought, I think, to exclude him." [Elizabeth Bowen, from introduction to The World of Raymond Chandler]

Scope and Content

Kent State University acquired the Raymond Chandler collection of books and manuscripts through purchase and gift from Dr. Matthew J. Bruccoli in 1968. Bruccoli, a leading bibliographer and authority in American literature, compiled Raymond Chandler: A Check List and other bibliographical works on Chandler. The book collection includes 250 volumes of Chandler's published works, half of which were donated by Bruccoli in honor of Kent State University Libraries' celebration marking the aquisition of its 500,000th volume. The books are cataloged in KentLINK.

The manuscript collection, described in greater detail below, primarily contains manuscripts, correspondence, and other documents relating to Bruccoli's bibliographical works on Chandler. Please note that some items are located in an oversized box.

Box 1: Correspondence and Essays

  1. Correspondence: Susan Shaw to Matthew Bruccoli, Aug. 15, 1964
  2. Correspondence: Allen, Lewis to Matthew Bruccoli, 1978
  3. "Down these Mean Streets a Man Must Go" - a study of Raymond Chandler by J[ohn] Foster and Fred Burnley, [second revised script for "Omnibus" TV program], Sept. 13, 1968
  4. "English and American Editions: The Text of Raymond Chandler's The Long Goodbye" by Robert H. Miller, English Dept., Ohio State University, [1969]

Box 2: Manuscripts of Raymond Chandler: A Checklist by Matthew J. Bruccoli (KSU Press, 1968)

[Accompanied by proofs, correspondence, reviews, etc.]

  1. Manuscript: Raymond Chandler - A Checklist (folder 1 of 4), 1968
  2. Manuscript: Raymond Chandler - A Checklist (folder 2 of 4), 1968
  3. Manuscript: Raymond Chandler - A Checklist (folder 3 of 4), 1968
  4. Manuscript: Raymond Chandler - A Checklist (folder 4 of 4), 1968

Box 3: Manuscripts of Chandler Before Marlowe - Raymond Chandler's Early Prose and Poetry 1908-1912, compiled by Matthew J. Bruccoli, 1973

  1. Manuscript: Chandler Before Marlowe - Raymond Chandler's Early Prose and Poetry 1908-1912, 1973
  2. Printer's Proof: Chandler Before Marlowe - Raymond Chandler's Early Prose and Poetry 1908-1912, 1973
  3. Printer's Proof: Chandler Before Marlowe - Raymond Chandler's Early Prose and Poetry 1908-1912, 1973
  4. Printer's Proof: Chandler Before Marlowe - Raymond Chandler's Early Prose and Poetry 1908-1912, 1973
  5. Galley Proof: Chandler Before Marlowe - Raymond Chandler's Early Prose and Poetry 1908-1912, 1973 [SEE OVERSIZED BOX]
  6. Galley Proof: Chandler Before Marlowe - Raymond Chandler's Early Prose and Poetry 1908-1912, 1973 [SEE OVERSIZED BOX]
  7. Galley Proof: Chandler Before Marlowe - Raymond Chandler's Early Prose and Poetry 1908-1912, 1973 [SEE OVERSIZED BOX]

Box 4: Research and correspondence for Chandler Before Marlowe, compiled by Matthew J. Bruccoli, 1973

  1. Research & Correspondence for Chandler Before Marlowe, 1973
  2. Research & Correspondence for Chandler Before Marlowe, 1973
  3. Research & Correspondence for Chandler Before Marlowe, 1973

Box 5: Manuscripts, notes, proofs, etc., for Chandler's The Blue Dahlia screenplay, edited by Matthew J. Bruccoli, 1976

[Xeroxed, typed manuscript of screenplay with corrections by Matthew J. Bruccoli. "The only edited copy." Accompanied by notes and drafts, copies of reviews of the film and of articles about and by Chandler, correspondence and page proofs.]

  1. Manuscripts, etc.: The Blue Dahlia, 1976
  2. Manuscripts, etc.: The Blue Dahlia, 1976
  3. Manuscripts, etc.: The Blue Dahlia, 1976
  4. Manuscripts, etc.: The Blue Dahlia, 1976

Box 6: Manuscripts, notes, proofs, etc., for The Blue Dahlia screenplay edited by Matthew J. Bruccoli.

[Xeroxed, typed manuscript of screenplay with corrections by Matthew J. Bruccoli. "The only edited copy." Accompanied by notes and drafts, copies of reviews of the film and of articles about and by Chandler, correspondence and page proofs.]

  1. Manuscripts, etc.: The Blue Dahlia, 1976
  2. Manuscripts, etc.: The Blue Dahlia, 1976
  3. Manuscripts, etc.: The Blue Dahlia, 1976
  4. Manuscripts, etc.: The Blue Dahlia, 1976
  5. Manuscripts, etc.: The Blue Dahlia, 1976

Box 7: Miscellaneous

[Miscellaneous resesarch materials and correspondence relating to the bibliographical work complied by Matthew J. Bruccoli.]

  1. Miscellaneous research materials, etc., 1970s
  2. Miscellaneous research materials, etc., 1970s
  3. Miscellaneous research materials, etc., 1970s

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