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Series 2: Correspondence, 1948-1990

4 boxes
SOME ONLINE CONTENT
Collection Creator:
Merrick, Gordon.
Dates:
1948-1990
Extent:
4 boxes
Scope and Contents

The business and financial correspondence (1967-1990) includes contracts, royalty statements, and check stubs for royalty payments, as well as incoming letters from agents and editors. Although Merrick came from a wealthy family, he seems to have lived to a large extent on royalties, as his correspondence demonstrates. There is an interesting turn in the correspondence when one of his agents Bernard Geis goes bankrupt and Merrick has to sue for back payment of royalties. There are some letters by Merrick, attached to the replies they received, because they are mostly undated. The last dated folder in the series (1989-1990) contains correspondence relating to Merrick's estate.

The personal correspondence is minimal but includes nine items from E. M. Forster, the British novelist, one of which deals at length with Merrick's earliest work, The Strumpet Wind. A Christmas card, undated, includes a picture of Forster in his study. There is also a note from composer Leonard Cohen who knew Merrick from having spent much time in the Greek islands.

The fan mail was left in chronological order so that readers could see what type of responses Merrick's work was attracting between the years 1977 and his death in 1988.

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.

Credit this material:

Series 2: Correspondence; Gordon Merrick Papers, C0691, Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Storage Note:
  • ReCAP (rcpxm): Box 16-19
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.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Margaret Sherry in 1996. Finding aid written by Margaret Sherry in 1996.

Collection Overview

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

The business and financial correspondence (1967-1990) includes contracts, royalty statements, and check stubs for royalty payments, as well as incoming letters from agents and editors. Although Merrick came from a wealthy family, he seems to have lived to a large extent on royalties, as his correspondence demonstrates. There is an interesting turn in the correspondence when one of his agents Bernard Geis goes bankrupt and Merrick has to sue for back payment of royalties. There are some letters by Merrick, attached to the replies they received, because they are mostly undated. The last dated folder in the series (1989-1990) contains correspondence relating to Merrick's estate.

The personal correspondence is minimal but includes nine items from E. M. Forster, the British novelist, one of which deals at length with Merrick's earliest work, The Strumpet Wind. A Christmas card, undated, includes a picture of Forster in his study. There is also a note from composer Leonard Cohen who knew Merrick from having spent much time in the Greek islands.

The fan mail was left in chronological order so that readers could see what type of responses Merrick's work was attracting between the years 1977 and his death in 1988.

Arrangement

This series is arranged into three subseries: Business and Financial Correspondence, Personal Correspondence, and Fan Mail.

Collection History

Appraisal

No appraisal information is available.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Margaret Sherry in 1996. Finding aid written by Margaret Sherry in 1996.

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:

Series 2: Correspondence; Gordon Merrick Papers, C0691, Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Location:
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Storage Note:
  • ReCAP (rcpxm): Box 16-19

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Names:
Hulse, Charles G.