Leonard, Elmore mss., 1970-1988
Summary Information
Repository
Lilly Library (Indiana University, Bloomington)
Lilly Library
Indiana University
1200 E. Seventh St.
Bloomington, IN 47405-5500
Phone: 812-855-2452
Fax: 812-855-3143
Email: liblilly@indiana.edu
Creator
Leonard, Elmore, 1925-
TitleLeonard, Elmore mss., 1970-1988
Collection No.
LMC 2760
Extent
200 items
Language
Materials are in English.
Abstract
Consists of papers of author and
screenwriter Elmore “Dutch” Leonard (b. 1925).
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Biographical Note
Leonard was born in New Orleans, LA and settled eventually in Detroit, MI (a setting
for many of his novels). He graduated from the University of Detroit in 1950 and
spent the 1950s and 1960s writing pulp western stories and novels. (Two of those
stories—
The Tall T and
3:10
to Yuma
and one of those novels—
Hombre—were
adapted into movies.) Taking the advice of his agent, Harold “H.N.” Swanson
(1899-1991), to "forget the cowboy stuff and write stories with women in them,"
Leonard shifted to crime fiction. Novels like
Mr.
Majestyk
(1974),
52 Pick-Up (1974),
Swag (1976),
The Hunted
(1977),
City Primeval (1980),
Stick (1983),
LaBrava (Edgar Award winner
for Best Novel, 1984),
Bandits (1987), and
Freaky Deaky (1988) trace the evolution of Leonard’s
style from hard-boiled mystery-suspense to a seriocomic prose distinctively his own.
Many of these works also were adapted to the screen, sometimes by Leonard himself
(who was frequently dismayed by the results). Not turning his back completely on the
Western genre, he also wrote during this period the screenplay for
Joe Kidd (1972), starring Clint Eastwood, and contributed
uncredited work for
Posse (1975), starring and directed
by Kirk Douglas.
Arrangement
The collection is organized into the following series: I. Correspondence; II.
Publishing Materials; III. Legal Documents.
Scope and Content Note
Correspondence consists mainly of letters from Elmore Leonard to H.N Swanson and
relate to Leonard’s writing career, pitches to publishers, and screenplay contracts.
Also included are photocopies of Leonard’s letters to various producers, managers,
and actors (such as Kirk Douglas, Clint Eastwood, and Burt Reynolds) involved in the
film adaptations of his novels. Correspondents include Jon Gibson, Marc Jaffe,
Eileen Kent, Paul Newman, and H.N. Swanson.
Publishing materials include Swanson’s copies of newspaper clippings, reviews, ad
copy, press releases, and typed revisions pertaining to writings by Elmore Leonard.
Legal documents consist of contracts, copyright assignments, and agreements
pertaining to novels and screenplays by Elmore Leonard.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Acquired: 2011
Usage RestrictionsPrior arrangements are not necessary before coming to the Library, however,
patrons from out of town are encouraged to communicate with the Library in
advance of their visits to ascertain availability of materials.
Photocopying permitted only with permission of the Curator of Manuscripts, Lilly
Library.
Preferred Citation
[Item], Leonard, Elmore mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington,
Indiana.
Processing InformationProcessed by Craig Simpson.
Completed in 2011
Series:
Box 1
Correspondence
Leonard, Elmore to Swanson, H.N.
Jan. 15, 1970-Aug.
22, 1973
Leonard, Elmore to Swanson, H.N.
Jun. 3, 1974-Dec.
30, 1978
Leonard, Elmore to Swanson, H.N.
Jan. 24, 1980-Nov.
18, 1981
Leonard, Elmore to Swanson, H.N.
Aug. 26, 1982-Jun.
1, 1987
Leonard, Elmore to Swanson, H.N. unidentified years
Leonard, Elmore to Eastwood, Clint.
Mar. 7, 1972
Leonard, Elmore to Fries, Chuck.
Jul. 30, 1975-Aug.
26, 1975
Leonard, Elmore to Douglas, Kirk.
Nov. 29, 1973
Leonard, Elmore to Manby, Bob.
Mar.
22, 1980
Leonard, Elmore to Mirisch, Walter.
Oct. 17, 1983
Leonard, Elmore to Reynolds, Burt.
Jun. 12, 1984
Leonard, Elmore to "Barbara."
Ap.
13, 1973
Leonard, Elmore to "Ben."
Sept. 26, 1981-Nov.
24, 1987
Leonard, Elmore to "Joel." Nov. 29 [no year]
Swanson, H.N. to Leonard, Elmore. Sept. 4, 1970-Sept.
8, 1986 ; undated
Swanson, H.N. to various correspondents. Nov. 13, 1970-Jan.
7, 1987 ; undated
Newman, Paul to Brank, Tom.
Jun 14,
1979
G-L; unidentified. Nov. 17, 1983-Aug. 25, 1988 ; undated
Series:
Box 1
Publishing Materials
Introduction to
Sprinkled with Ruby
Dust
, by Elmore Leonard about H.N. Swanson. Sept. 8, 1988
"Keepers," excerpt with Elmore Leonard
synopsis
Ad copy
Press releases
Rejection notices
Reviews and announcements
Series:
Box 1
Legal Documents
Contracts, copyright assignments, agreements
