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Collection Overview

Creator:
Wylie, Philip (1902-1971)
Title:
Philip Wylie Papers
Repository:
Manuscripts Division
Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/d504rk36s
Dates:
1920-1984 (mostly 1930-1971)
Size:
304 boxes and 162.0 linear feet
Storage Note:
  • This is stored in multiple locations.
  • Firestone Library (scamss): Boxes 1-285; 288-292; 226a; 226b; 227a; 258a; 258b; 263a; 263b; 263c; 263d; 283a; L-000018
  • ReCAP (scarcpxm): Boxes 286-287; 293
Language:
English

Abstract

A writer of fiction and nonfiction, Philip Gordon Wylie (Princeton Class of 1924), authored hundreds of short stories, articles, serials, syndicated newspaper columns, novels, and works of social criticism. His collection consists of manuscripts and correspondence representing his life work, ranging from Dormitory Ditties, published during his college days (circa 1920), to The End of the Dream, a novel published posthumously in 1972.

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

The collection consists of manuscripts and correspondence representing the life work of Wylie (Princeton Class of 1924), ranging from his Dormitory Ditties, published during his college days (circa 1920), to The End of the Dream, a novel published posthumously in 1972. All of his works, including 34 novels, 13 nonfiction books, 52 scripts, 13 serials, and many short stories and articles, exist in the collection in typescript form, often with holograph corrections. Among the longer works are The Disappearance, Images of God (unpublished), Generation of Vipers, When Worlds Collide, The Magic Animal, and Island of Lost Souls. There are articles relating to education, morality, ecology, fishing, civil defense, the atom bomb, and other social issues of concern to the people of Dade County, Fla., where Wylie made his home. His popular "Crunch and Des" stories about two Florida fishermen, as well as his syndicated column, "Off My Chest," are also included.

Correspondence is extensive, including letters of Edwin Balmer, Aldous Huxley, Carl Jung, Robert Lindner, Konrad Lorenz, Harold Ober, the Wylie family, and many letters from friends, family, editors, businessmen, scientists, psychologists, and minor literary contemporaries. Also present is a large amount of fan mail (1930-1971); material on the Lerner Marine Laboratory (Bahamas), on whose steering committee Wylie served; autobiographical material; records of the International Game Fish Association; book reviews; speeches; poetry; photographs; various documents; magazines in which his works appeared; clippings; and non-print media, including records, tapes, TV films, and home movies. Papers of other persons include the manuscript of Lester Del Rey's Nerves, several manuscripts by Max Wylie and Karen Wylie Pryor, and short works by Sidney Fox, Robert Lindner, and Leo Szilard. In addition, there are papers of Frederica Wylie containing correspondence, bank statements, documents, printed matter, and papers of others from 1971 to 1981.

Collection Creator Biography:

Wylie

Philip Gordon Wylie was born in Beverly, Mass. In 1902. He attended Princeton University during 1920-1923. A writer of fiction and nonfiction, his output included hundreds of short stories, articles, serials, syndicated newspaper columns, novels and works of social criticism. He also wrote screenplays while in Hollywood, was an editor for Farrar & Rinehart, served on the Dade County (Fla.) Defense Council, was a director of the Lerner Marine Laboratory, and at one time was a special advisor to the chairman of the Joint Committee for Atomic Energy. Most of his major writings contain critical, though often philosophical views on man and society as a result of his studies and interest in psychology, biology, ethnology, and physics. He died in 1971.

Collection History

Acquisition:

The bulk of the collection was given by Philip Wylie at the request of the Princeton University Library, with later additions made by his wife and daughter.

Appraisal

No appraisal information is available.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Barbara Volz in 1982. Finding aid written by Barbara Volz in 1982.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Credit this material:

Philip Wylie Papers; Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/d504rk36s
Location:
Firestone Library
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
(609) 258-3184
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Storage Note:
  • This is stored in multiple locations.
  • Firestone Library (scamss): Boxes 1-285; 288-292; 226a; 226b; 227a; 258a; 258b; 263a; 263b; 263c; 263d; 283a; L-000018
  • ReCAP (scarcpxm): Boxes 286-287; 293