Dreiser mss., 1931.
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
Dreiser, Theodore, 1871-1945.
TitleDreiser mss., 1931.
Collection No.
LMC 1286
Extent
9 items
Language
Materials are in English.
Abstract
The Dreiser mss., 1931, consist of
manuscripts and realia of Theodore Dreiser, 1871-1945.
Access Restrictions
This collection is open for research.
Biographical Note
Dreiser was born the twelfth of thirteen children in Terre Haute, IN and
attended Indiana University in Bloomington briefly before dropping out in 1890. He
married Sara White in 1898, and they separated in 1909 although never formally
divorced. Dreiser became a renowned author of literary naturalism (other American
writers in the movement included Jack London, Edith Wharton, Frank Norris, and
Stephen Crane). His best known novels are
Sister Carrie
(although a commercial failure at the time in 1900),
Jeannie
Gerhardt
(1911), and
An American Tragedy
(1925). Politically, Dreiser was involved in socialist causes and wrote a
non-fiction book,
Dreiser Looks at Russia (1928), based
on his experiences visiting the Soviet Union. He did not officially join the
American Communist Party until shortly before his death in 1945.
Dawn: An Autobiography of Early Youth, Dreiser's memoir of his difficult childhood
and adolescence in Indiana, was written from 1912-1915 but ultimately suppressed by
the author, who came to have misgivings about the blunt quality of the work,
especially his own depiction of teen sexuality.
Arrangement
This collection consists of a single series.
Scope and Content Note
The collection includes the various stages of Dreiser's writing of
Dawn: a holograph
manuscript; a first rough draft; and a typescript. The three drafts are divided into
eight green-cloth folding cases. Also in the collection is the Theodore Dreiser
death mask.
Related Material
Related materials exist in the following collections also located at the Lilly Library, Indiana
University, Bloomington, Indiana: Dreiser mss. II, Dreiser mss. III, Dreiser mss. IV, and Dreiser mss. V.
Administrative Information
Acquisition Information
Gift. Mrs. Theodore Dreiser, Los Angeles, California. 1946
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], Dreiser mss., Lilly Library, Indiana University, Bloomington,
Indiana.
Processing Information
Processed by staff.
Series:
Note: the three drafts of Dawn are in eight green-cloth folding cases.
Box 1
Dawn. Holograph Mss. Chaps. 1-20
Dawn. Holograph Mss. Chaps. 21-40
Dawn. Holograph Mss. Chaps. 41-60
Dawn. Holograph Mss. Chaps. 61-80
Dawn. Holograph Mss. Chaps. 81-106
Dawn. First Rough Draft. Typescript. Chaps. 1-32
Dawn. Typescript. Chaps. 1-52
Dawn. Typescript. Chaps. 53-94
Death mask of Theodore Dreiser
