Request Material





Frank Daniel Papers

Frank Daniel Papers

Descriptive Summary

Title: Frank Daniel Papers
Creator: Purdy, James
Inclusive Dates: circa 1928-1979
Language(s): English
Extent: 2.1 Linear Feet (4 document boxes, 2 half boxes, 1 oversize folder A)
Collection Number: ms835
Repository: Hargrett Library
Abstract: Correspondence including letters from Georgia and Southern writers and internationally known celebrities; clippings, notes, writings by Daniel and others, printed material, photos, and other miscellaneous papers; and celebrity photos, including many which are autographed; together with correspondence (ca. 100 items, 1963-1977) from James Purdy to Daniel, draft of Purdy's novel, House of the Solitary Maggot (1974), and other material by and about Purdy. Other correspondents include James B. Cabell, Erskine Caldwell, Isa Glenn, Caroline Miller, Marion Montgomery, Susan Myrick, Frances Newman, Flannery O'Connor, Julia Peterkin, Jeannette Rankin, Celestine Sibley, Virgil Thomson, and Friedelind Wagner.

Collection Description

Historical Sketch

Frank Daniel was born William Frank Daniel in Thomaston, Georgia on September 7, 1900. He served briefly in the Navy during World War I and graduated from the University of Georgia in 1922. In November of 1922, he began a job with the Atlanta Journal, but shortly took leave to travel. He returned to the Journal in January of 1925 where he worked for the next forty years in such capacities as reporter, opera critic, book editor, theater critic, and editorial page columnist. During this time Frank Daniel became associated with a number of Georgia and Southern writers as well as internationally famous theater, film, and music celebrities.

Daniel retired from the Journal in October of 1965 and in June of 1966 joined the Georgia Department of Archives and History where he edited the papers of former Georgia governors. He retired from there in 1979. Frank Daniel died in Atlanta, Georgia on September 2, 1981 at the age of 80.

Scope and Content

This collection reflects Frank Daniel's relationships with many Georgia and Southern writers as well as internationally famous theater, film, and music celebrities as a result of his 40 year career as a journalist and critic with the Atlanta Journal. Letters, pictures, and other items from many of these people are contained in this small but important collection consisting of six Hollinger boxes as well as several oversize items. The Frank Daniel Papers should prove to be a valuable source for research into American literary and artistic life in the twentieth century.

Boxes 1 and 2 contain primarily correspondence (arranged alphabetically by last name of correspondent) dating from about 1928 to 1979 and include letters from such writers as James B. Cabell, Erskine Caldwell, Isa Glenn, Marion Montgomery, Susan Myrick, Frances Newman (corr. to), Flannery O'Connor, Julia Peterkin, Jeanette Rankin, Caroline Miller Ray (the first Georgian to win the Pulitzer Prize for her novel, Lamb In His Bosom, 1932), and Celestine Sibley. Other correspondents include the music critic and composer, Virgil Thomson, and Friedelind Wagner (grand-daughter of Richard Wagner). There are also autographs of Don Marquis, Maurice Chevalier, and the conductor, Andre Kostelanetz. Box 3 consists of various miscellaneous items including clippings, notes, printed material, personal photographs, and few writings by Frank Daniel and others. Box 4 is comprised of fcelebrity photographs, many of which are autographed and include such stars as Tallulah Bankhead, Ethel Barrymore, Gary Cooper, Clint Eastwood, Gloria Swanson, and Mae West. There are photographs of several musical personalities as well, including Ernó Dohnányi, Walter Gieseking, Jascha Heifetz, Fritz Kreisler, Lily Pons, and Virgil Thomson. Box 5 contains around 100 letters from the American writer, James Purdy to Daniel dating from 1963 through 1977 and written when Purdy was living in New York City. They are important, as they give a fascinating insight into his writing as well as reveal the trials and tribulations of a writer who refused to adapt to the current literary establishment. Box 6 includes a xerox draft of Purdy's novel, The House of the Solitary Maggot, as well as some other miscellaneous material by and about Purdy.


Administrative Information

Restrictions on Access

Access partially restricted.

Ownership and Custodial History

Gift of Mr. Daniel, 1973-1984.

Preferred Citation

Frank Daniel papers, ms835, Hargrett Rare Book and Manuscript Library, The University of Georgia Libraries.

Finding Aid Publication

Finding aid prepared on: 2010 April 15.

General Notes

In part, photocopy of typewritten draft of House of the Solitary Maggot by James Purdy.


Related Materials and Subjects

Subject Terms

American literature
Atlanta journal-constitution
Authors, American -- Georgia.
Authors, American -- Southern States.
Authors, American.
Autographs (manuscripts)
Fiction.
Journalists -- Georgia.
Miller, Caroline Pafford, 1903-1992 -- Correspondence
Myrick, Susan -- Correspondence
Newman, Frances, 1883-1928 -- Correspondence
Newspapers -- Georgia.
O'Connor, Flannery -- Correspondence
Peterkin, Julia Mood, 1880-1961 -- Correspondence
Rankin, Jeannette, 1880-1973 -- Correspondence
Sibley, Celestine -- Correspondence
Thomson, Virgil, 1896-1989 -- Correspondence
Wagner, Friedelind, 1918- -- Correspondence

Series Descriptions and Folder Listing

 

1. Correspondence

boxfolder
11Bonner, John
12Borsten, Orin
13Bramley, Dick
14Cabell, James Branch
Caldwell, Erskine & Virginia
boxfolder
151959
161968
171969
181970
191971
1101972
1111973
1121974
1131975
1141976
1151977
116(printed material)
117Cehanovsky, George
118Chambers, ?
119Chevalier, Maurice (autograph)
120Cole, Lois Dwight
121Coulter, E. Merton
122Decatur Federal Savings & Loan Asso.
123Eaton, Quaintance
124Edwards, Kate F.
125Eidson, John O.
126Elliott, J.H. (printed material)
127Estes, David E.
128Fortson, Ben W., Jr.
129Friendship House
130Glenn, Isa
131Greenburger, Francis
132Grosser, M.
133Hilsman, Camille
134Hobson, Fred
135Jacobs, Sinclair (printed material)
136Kostelanetz, Andre (autograph)
137Lane, Mills
138Leginska, Ethel
139Marquis, Don (autograph)
140Melton, Marjorie M. (Mrs. James)
141Miller, Kathleen A.
142Re. Mitchell, Stephens (note)
143Montgomery, Marion
144Moody, Minnie Hite (Mrs. W.O.)
145Myrick, Susan
146Newman, Frances (corr. to)
147O'Connor, Flannery
148Page, Wilson (corr. to)
149Peterkin, Julia
150Pope, B.
151Rankin, Jeanette
Ray, Caroline Miller
boxfolder
1521970-1971
1531972-1974
1541975 76 & undated
boxfolder
21Reap, James
22Reeves, Hope & Joel (card)
23Roberts, Debra
24Roberts, Mrs. M. Hine
25Robinson, Francis
26Schwarzschild, Bettina
27Shaffer, Randolph
28Sherril, Bob
29Sibley, Celestine
210Sims, Mrs. Louise L.
211Smith, Lillian (poem)
212Stephens, Ralph
213Sulka, A. & Co.
214Ternes, Marge
215Thompson, Virgil
216Turk, Elizabeth
217Upson Historical Society
218Wagner, Friedelind
219Wilson, Larry
220Woodbury, Mrs. Robert T.
221Unidentified
 

2. Clippings, Writings, and Other Materials

boxfolder
31Clippings
32Miscellaneous notes, etc.
33Miscellaneous personal papers
34Miscellaneous printed material
35Photographs
36Programs
37Writings by Frank Daniel
38Writings by Others. Metropolitan Opera in Atlanta, 1919-1925
 

3. Celebrity Photographs

boxfolder
41Anderson, Marian
42Bankhead, Tallulah
43Barrymore, Ethel
44Bell, Vereen
45Burke, Billie
46Cooper, Gary
46ACornell, Katherine
47Dana, Viola
48Danilova, A.
49Dohnanyi, E.
410Dunne, Irene SEE: Hunter, Louise
411Eastwood, Clint
411AEberle, Harry
412Farrar, G.
oversized_folder
1AFlagstad, Kirsten
boxfolder
413Fontanne, Lynn SEE: Lunt, Alfred
414Gieseking, Walter
414AGigli, Benjamin
414BHayes, Roland
415Heifetz, Jascha
416Hill, Terence
417Hofmann, Joseph
418Hunter, Louise; Wright, Ethel L.; & Dunne, Irene
419Keyes, Evelyn SEE: Rutherford, Ann
420Kreisler, Fritz
421Lamar, Mirabeau
421ALawrence ?
422Lunt, Alfred & Fontanne, Lynn
423McCoy, Gertrude
oversized_folder
1AMiller, Caroline
boxfolder
423BMorgan, Helen
424Newman, Frances & Peterkin, Julia
425Pickford, Mary
426Pons, Lily
427Rutherford, Ann & Keyes, Evelyn
427ASchumann-Heink, Ernestine
428Smith, Lillian
oversized_folder
1ASullivan, Margaret
boxfolder
429Swanson, Gloria
430Thomson, Virgil
431West, Mae
432Wright, Ethel L. SEE: Hunter, Louise
433Yates, Peter
oversized_folder
1APinchot
 

4. James Purdy Materials



Correspondence

boxfolder
511963-1964
521965-1967
531968
541969 January-February
551969 March-May
561969 June-September
571969 October-December
581970 January-July
591970 August-December
5101971
5111972
5121973
5131974
5141975-1977



Writings by and about Purdy

boxfolder
61-8The House of the Solitary Maggot (xerox of a draft)
69Mr. Evening (book)
610"An Oyster Is a Wealthy Beast" (book)
611"Short Papa" (xerox from the Antioch Review)
612"Some of These Days" (xerox from New Directions 31)
613"Writing from Inner-Compulsion"
614Writings about Purdy (book reviews, interview, etc.)