Waldo Frank papers Ms. Coll. 823 Finding aid prepared by Donna Brandolisio. Last updated on April 14, 2017. University of Pennsylvania, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts 2014 April 30 Waldo Frank papers Table of Contents Summary Information....................................................................................................................................3 Biography/History..........................................................................................................................................4 Scope and Contents....................................................................................................................................... 8 Administrative Information......................................................................................................................... 10 Related Materials......................................................................................................................................... 11 Controlled Access Headings........................................................................................................................11 Collection Inventory.................................................................................................................................... 16 I. Correspondence.................................................................................................................................. 16 II. Writings...........................................................................................................................................131 III. Publicity......................................................................................................................................... 174 IV. Writings by Others........................................................................................................................175 V. Memorabilia....................................................................................................................................178 VI. Photographs................................................................................................................................... 180 VII. Scrapbooks................................................................................................................................... 184 VIII. Newspaper and magazine clippings........................................................................................... 186 - Page 2 - Waldo Frank papers Summary Information Repository University of Pennsylvania: Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts Creator Frank, Waldo David, 1889-1967 Title Waldo Frank papers Call number Ms. Coll. 823 Date [inclusive] 1879-1977 Extent 63 linear feet (132 boxes, 1 oversized folder) Language English Language Note Primarily in English with Spanish and French. There is some Portuguese, German, and Russian. Abstract The papers document the literary career and the personal and professional life of twentieth-century American novelist and writer Waldo David Frank. Comprising correspondence, writings, publicity, writings by others, memorabilia, photographs, scrapbooks, and clippings spanning from 1879 to 1977, the collection contains 132 boxes and 3565 folders. The correspondence documents Frank's personal and professional relationships with writers, editors, artists, friends, and family. Letters from friendships with other writers and artists such as Jean Toomer, Sherwood Anderson, Alfred Stieglitz, Lewis Mumford, Van Wyck Brooks, and Hart Crane document congenial collaborations, sharing of ideas, and disagreements. The writings contain his notebooks, major works, articles, essays, and early writings tracing Frank's works and ideas of society and culture with psychological and social themes of man and his environment. Frank's passion for the culture and study of Spain, Latin America, and Mexico - Page 3 - Waldo Frank papers is apparent in correspondence and his research, preserved through notes and photographs of South America and Mexico. Letters and photographs display Frank's relationships with family members, his wives (Margaret Naumburg, Alma Magoon Frank, and Jean Klempner Frank) and his children. The materials in this collection divulge not only the writings of Waldo Frank, but the struggles of the writer and his encounters with himself and society as he seeks his vision of truth in the world. He was courageous in the face of his critics and his political enemies even when experiencing both written and physical attacks. Even though Frank claimed he was an outsider he was embraced by the people and cultures he championed and studied. Although largely forgotten by the end of his lifetime, his correspondence, writings, and ideas remain, providing insight into literary circles, political ideas, and historical events in the United States and Latin America during the early- to mid-twentieth century. Cite as: Waldo Frank papers, Kislak Center for Special Collections, Rare Books and Manuscripts, University of Pennsylvania Biography/History 1889 Waldo David Frank was born on 25 August to Julius J. and Helene Rosenberg Frank in Long Branch, New Jersey. He was the youngest of four children. He had one brother Joseph Julius, born 1884, and two sisters, Edna, born 1885 and Enid, born 1888. 1901 Waldo Frank traveled to England with his mother Helene Rosenberg Frank. Wrote his first journal. 1902-1906 Waldo Frank attend DeWitt Clinton High School in New York, but did not receive a diploma because he refused to take a Shakespeare course. 1907-1907 Waldo Frank graduated from a private preparatory school in Lausanne, Switzerland. - Page 4 - Waldo Frank papers 1907-1911 Frank attended Yale University, receiving a bachelor of arts and master's degree. In the summer of 1911 Frank journeyed to Wyoming and Montana where he stayed on ranches. His journey is recorded in a photograph album with handwritten notes. 1911-1912 Waldo Frank worked as a reporter for the New York Evening Post and New York Times. Frank's manuscript The Spirit of Modern French Letters was accepted by Yale University Press, but Frank withdrew it from publication. 1913 Frank traveled to Paris where he stayed from February to September. He studied Sigmund Freud, Friedrich Nietzsche, and Baruch Spinoza. 1914-1915 Frank lived in Greenwich Village, New York writing plays and short stories. He began dating Margaret Naumburg at this time. His first stories are published in Smart Set. 1916 Establishes the literary magazine, Seven Arts, with co-editor Van Wyck Brooks. In December Frank marries Margaret Naumburg pioneer in art therapy and founder of the Walden School. 1917 Frank's first novel The Unwelcome Man, is published in January. In June he registers for the World War I draft as a pacifist. In September Frank becomes ill. Meanwhile the Seven Arts suspends publication in October. 1918 Frank travels the United States and journeys through the Midwest, Southwest and spends the summer in Carmel as he researches for Our America. The Art of the Vieux Colombier is published. 1919 Our America is published. From November to December Frank was in Kansas where he worked for the Ellsworth, Kansas County Leader and served as an organizer for the Non-Partisan League. 1920 Journeyed through the South with Jean Toomer. On a second tour of the South in November with Margaret Naumburg Frank was in New Orleans and Alabama. The Dark Mother was published in December. 1921 Frank toured France and Spain and returned in late October. 1922 Thomas Frank was born in May. Rehab was published. City Block was published independently by Frank. In August Frank traveled to South Carolina. 1923 In November to early 1924, Frank traveled to Algeria and Spain, where he met Alfonso Reyes and other Spanish literati. Holiday was published. 1924 In March Salvos, a collection of essays was published. Margaret Naumburg living in Reno, Nevada from February to September. Frank met Alma Magoon. Chalk Face was published in October. 1925 Began to write a series of profiles for the New Yorker under the pseudonym Search-light. In November Frank was named as a contributing editor to the New Republic. 1926 Frank is divorced from Margaret Naumburg. In March Virgin Spain is published. Frank was named a contributing editor to New Masses. Hart Crane and Waldo Frank traveled to Isle of Pines in Cuba. Journeyed to Eastern Europe and Palestine with Adolph S. Oko. - Page 5 - Waldo Frank papers 1927 In Paris, Frank married Alma Magoon in March. Frank lectured on modern art at the New School for Social Research in New York. From December to September 1928, "Re-discovery of America" is serialized in the New Republic. 1928 Frank went to Hollywood, California and visited Charlie Chaplain. 1929 In March Frank's play New Year's Eve and Re-discovery of America are published. In late June Frank went on a lecture tour of the following Latin American countries, Mexico, Argentina, Bolivia, Peru, Cuba, Chile, Colombia, Brazil and Uruguay. In December Frank was awarded an honorary degree by Universidad Nacional de San Marco, Lima. 1930 Frank's Latin American lectures entitled Primer mensaje a la América Hispana are published in Madrid. In May Waldo and Alma's daughter Michal is born. 1931 In May Waldo's father Julius J. Frank died. In September Frank's daughter Deborah is born. From August to November Frank toured Scandinavia and the U.S.S.R. and was a speaker at a meeting of Friends of the Soviet Union. 1932 In February Frank as