Summary
Overview
Bruce and Beatrice Blackmar Gould Correspondence
1909-1967 (mostly 1950-1960)
4.75 cubic feet, 14 boxes
Princeton University. Library. Dept. of Rare Books and Special Collections
Manuscripts Division
One Washington Road
Princeton, New Jersey 08544 USA
Abstract
Bruce and Beatrice Blackmar Gould were co-editors at Ladies Home Journal. Bruce Gould also worked with the Saturday Evening Post. Their correspondence includes letters between Bruce and Beatrice about their co-editorship and co-authorship, letters with writers for the Ladies Home Journal, and letters from actresses about the Ladies Home Journal. Also included is a collection of letters about Marion Crawford’s book The Little Princesses, a few of Beatrice’s speeches, and miscellaneous printed matter.
Description
Description
The collection consists primarily of correspondence of Gould and his wife, Beatrice Blackmar Gould, relating to their co-editorship (1935-1967) of the Ladies Home Journal, published by the Curtis Publishing Company. There is some early correspondence (1920s-1930s) concerning Bruce Gould's work for the Saturday Evening Post, and the Goulds' co-authorship of various short stories and plays, including Man's Estate. However, most of the correspondence is with writers and associates concerning articles and stories for the Ladies Homes Journal and various trips taken by the Goulds to India, Russia, the Orient, and Europe, often on behalf of the LHJ. Correspondents include Daphne Du Maurier, William Benton, Dorothy Thompson, Rebecca West, Lady Nancy Astor, Karen Blixen, Dorothy Black, and Ethel Barrymore. There are letters by a number of actresses, including Helen Hayes, Gloria Swanson, Loretta Young, Vivien Leigh, Mary Pickford, and Debbie Reynolds. Also present is a large file of correspondence relating to the writing and publication of The Little Princess (1950), about Queen Elizabeth II, by Marion Crawford.
In addition, there are a few speeches (1946-1961) by Beatrice Blackmar Gould, and some miscellaneous clippings and printed matter.
Collection Creator
Biography
Bruce and Beatrice Blackmar Gould, both graduates of the University of Iowa, were married in 1923. During the 1920s and early 1930s Bruce Gould was a reporter, and literary and aviation editor for the New York Evening Post, drama critic for the Wall Street News, and associate editor (1934-1935) of the Saturday Evening Post. At that time, Beatrice Gould was a contributing editor for the New York World and a short story writer. Together, the Goulds also wrote two plays, Man's Estate (1929) and The Terrible Turk (1934), and collaborated on articles, and short stories. Bruce Gould also authored two books on aviation, Sky Larking (1929) and The Flying Dutchman (1931).
In 1932, the Goulds and their daughter Sesaly moved to a large home in Hopewell, New Jersey. They became co-editors of the Ladies Home Journal in 1935, positions they held until their retirement in 1962. During their editorship of the LHJ, they boosted the once languishing magazine to the one having the highest paid circulation of the day. In addition to promoting the family and women's concerns, coining the phrase “Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman,” they also dealt with many other social and political issues, while at the same time publishing top literary authors. After leaving the magazine, the Goulds published their autobiography, American Story, in 1968.
Access and Use
Access Restrictions
Collection is open for research use.
Use Restrictions
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. No further photoduplication of copies of material in the collection can be made when Princeton University Library does not own the original. Permission to publish material from the collection must be requested from the Associate University Librarian for Rare Books and Special Collections. The library has no information on the status of literary rights in the collection and researchers are responsible for determining any questions of copyright.
Preferred Citation
Bruce and Beatrice Blackmar Gould Correspondence; 1909-1967 (mostly 1950-1960), Manuscripts Division, Department of Rare Books and Special Collections, Princeton University Library.
Princeton University Library Finding Aids 
View Entire Finding Aid
Download Finding Aid