Leo Lerman papers, 1893-2012, bulk 1937-1994

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Series I: Correspondence, 1923-1995

The correspondence file includes correspondence between Leo Lerman and a number of his personal and professional contacts. The files primarily contain incoming correspondence, but occasionally also have copies of outgoing correspondence drafted by Lerman, notably copies of his outgoing telegrams. The correspondence files are arranged alphabetically by correspondent's last name. As a general rule, if there are three or more letters from an individual Lerman's assistant or the archivist has created a file for that individual; if there are fewer pieces of correspondence the letters are in a general alphabetical file. The name of the file generally represents correspondence between Lerman and the individual, though occasionally the file contains correspondence pertaining to, rather than with, an individual or a combination of correspondence with and about an individual.

Correspondence relating to major professional projects are often filed with Lerman's career files rather than with correspondence. For example, Lerman's correspondence with Dorsha Hayes is filed with the professional files for the book Chicago: Crossroads of American Enterprise, a book by Hayes that Lerman edited.

Series II: Topical Files, 1950s-1990s

This series contains files related to a number of Lerman's personal and professional interests. He kept topical files on subjects ranging from artists, his friends and associates, travel destinations, and collectibles. A typical topical file contains clippings related to the subject, as well as possibly a small amount of correspondence or memos related to the subject at hand.

Series III: Professional Files, 1922-1994

Lerman's professional files relate to his career as an editor and writer, and contain editorial files (including, notably, those from his stint as Editor-in-Chief of Vanity Fair), office memos, articles that he wrote and research notes and manucripts related to his various book and publishing projects

Series IV: Personal Files, 1936-1994

This series is comprised of Lerman's personal files, including juvenalia, personal documents, journals, and datebooks. Also included are a small number of books that had personal significance to Lerman.

Series V: Photographs, 1893-1994

The photographs series includes photographs of Lerman and his friends, family, and professional contacts-- both formal portraits and candid snapshots. Many of the photographs filed as "Work and Professional" include images that accompanied articles written or edited by Lerman for publication in magazines. The "Personalities" file is comprised, primarily, of formal headshots, often signed, collected by Lerman.

Request Box 93

Box 93 Early Life, 1914-1935

Box 93 Theatre Career, 1934-1954

Box 93 Family, 1893-1973

Box 93 Individual Shots, 1937-1993, 7 folders

Request Box 94

Box 94 Work and Professional, 1945-1994, 8 folders

Box 94 Work and Professional-- Friends of George Spelvin Events, 1971-1981, 6 folders

Request Box 95

Box 95 Lerman-- With Famous Personalities, 1939-1993, 4 folders

Box 95 Famous Personalities, 1914-1991, 4 folders

Request Box 96

Box 96 Friends, 5 folders

Box 96 Gray Foy

Box 96 Richard Hunter and Howard Rothschild, 3 folders

Request Box 97

Box 97 Travel, 1937-1979, 5 folders

Box 97 Photos Taken by Arnold Weissberger, 4 folders

Request Box 98

Box 98 Oversized Photographs

Request Box 99

Box 99 Oversized Photographs

Request Box 100

Box 100 Slides

Series VI: Gray Foy Papers, 1953-2012

The papers kept by Gray Foy relating to his long life with Leo Lerman. The papers are not extensive but do conatain the bulk of Foy's letter to Lerman, as well as letters to Gray Foy; Anita Loos letters; inscribed books and memorabilia.

Correspondence:

Request Box 104

Box 104 Folder 1-3 Letters to Gray Foy, 1966-2000

Includes Robert Davidson, Si Newhouse, Norman Singer, and Marian Goodman.

Box 104 Folder 4-8 Letters from Gray Foy to Leo Lerman, 1953-1989

Request Box 105

Box 105 Folder 1-7 Letters to Leo Lerman, 1959-1992

Box 105 Folder 8-10 Condolence letters to Joel Kaye, as well as 2 photographs of Gray Foy's memorial Service and Gray Foy Memorial Service pamphlet, 2012

Box 105 Folder 11 Letters and postcard from Anita Loos to Leo Lerman and Gray Foy, 1972-77

With some associated manuscripts on Loos.

Box 105 Folder 12 Letter from Jean Ashton to Joel Kaye, 1999

Box 105 Folder 13 Postcards to Leo Lerman and Gray Foy, 1958-1996

Box 105 Folder 14-17 A large selection of Birthday, Christmas, Easter, etc. cards sent to Leo Lerman and Greay Foy

Manuscripts and Documents:

Request Box 106

Box 106 Folder 1 Gray Foy Steno Notebook (mostly empty) and Notes for an essay (1 small notebook), undated

Box 106 Folder 2-5 Miscellaneous notes, lists, jottings, and drawings by Gray Foy

Box 106 Folder 6 Memorandum of Agreement between Gray Foy and Stephen Pascal, 6 March 2000

Box 106 Folder 7 Memorial: Penelope Reed, 25 January 1982

Box 106 Folder 8 Memorial material re. Jeffrey Gibbons, 1993

Box 106 Folder 9 George d'Almeida "Memoirs of a Breaking Wave" (poems), 1983

Box 106 Folder 10 George d'Almeida "Memoirs of a Circe's Pig" (poems), 1983

Box 106 Folder 11 Memorial material re. Denis Vaughan, 2000

Printed Items, Clippings, Photocopies:

Box 106 Folder 12 Ephemera (3 items)

Box 106 Folder 13 Arthur Cohen (photocopy of article about Cohen), 1998

Box 106 Folder 14 Photocopy of a page from Lerman's Will

Box 106 Folder 15 Photocopy of Lerman's Columbia Libraries bookplatel

Box 106 Folder 16 Art objects list

Box 106 Folder 17 Charles J. Rollo "The New Bohemia" (photocopy of article)

Box 106 Folder 18 News clippings (fragile)

Box 106 Folder 19 Publication: Guide to the Barbados Museum), 1969

Request Box 108

Box 108 St. Nicholas: Scribner's Illustrated Magazine , 1875

Inscribed: "For little Gray - on this Christmas Day, 1954"

Box 108 Mrs. Harris by Diana Trilling, 1981

Inscribed: "Dear Leo/Dear Gray This comes to you with all love, Always Diana"

Box 108 From Wilder Shores by Lesley Blanch, 1989

Box 108 The Forged Coupon by Leo Tolstoy, 1985

Box 108 Aziyadé by Pierre Loti

Box 108 Education of a Princess: A memoir by Marie, Grand Duchess of Russia, 1931

Box 108 The Great New York by Joseph Pennell

Box 108 The Rex Whistler Room. Tate Gallery, London

Box 108 In Pursuit of Rare Meats by Edith Olivier

Box 108 Vogue., July 1980

Passports, Address Books, Appointment Book, Awards, Cds and Objects:

Request Box 107

Box 107 Passports (2) of Leo lerman, 1971-1976 & 1987-1997

Box 107 Gray Foy notebook

Box 107 Gray Foy appointment books (3), 1996, 1998, 1999

Box 107 Gray Foy address book

Request Box 108

Box 108 The National Magazine Award for Reporting, 24 April 1984

Request Box 107

Box 107 CD: Memorial for Gray Foy, 19 March 2013

Box 107 CD: Open focus brain very relaxing.

Box 107 Copper plate for business card: Mr. Leo Lerman

Box 107 Copper plate for business card: Mr. Gray Foy

Box 107 Metal engraving: Mr. Gray Foy

Box 107 1 cent coin in red envelope.

Collection Overview

Collection Contents

Leo Lerman papers, 1893-2012, bulk 1937-1994

Series I: Correspondence, 1923-1995

Series II: Topical Files, 1950s-1990s

Series III: Professional Files, 1922-1994

Subseries III.1: Career and Office Files, 1935-1993

Subseries III.2: Writings, 1922-1994

Subseries III.3: Research and Book Projects, 1969-1993

Series IV: Personal Files, 1936-1994

Subseries IV.1: General Personal Files, 1936-1994

Subseries IV.2: Journals, 1940-1994

Subseries IV.3 Address and Date Books, 1943-1994

Series V: Photographs, 1893-1994

Series VI: Gray Foy Papers, 1953-2012