This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
Peter Maas (1929-2001) was an author and journalist, best-known for his non-fiction books on organized crime, particularly The Valachi Papers and Serpico, which were later made into films. The collection includes business files, clippings, correspondence, drafts, interviews (both tapes and transcripts), manuscripts, and research files.
The papers primarily consist of records that document Maas' work as an author of fiction and non-fiction books. The papers include records related to almost all of Maas' books, with the exception of The Rescuer (Harper, 1968), King of the Gypsies (Viking, 1975), and Terrible Hours: The Man behind the Greatest Submarine Rescue in History (HarperCollins, 1999). The records include clippings, contracts, corrections, correspondence, drafts, expense reports, interviews (including audiotapes, transcripts, and notes), legal documents and information, manuscripts, notes, outlines, photographs, proofs, publications, reviews, royalty statements, screenplays for film adaptations, transcripts, and other materials. The papers also include a small amount of early material related to unpublished fiction projects.
There are some records related to Maas' work as a journalist, but they are not comprehensive. The records primarily date from Maas' work on individual pieces in the 1960s, and include correspondence, drafts, manuscripts, and a few files on individuals. The records also include a set of files related to a later project on the 1997 case of Brian O'Rourke v. Linda Baisi, St. Frances de Chantal Roman Catholic Church, et al.
The papers include two scrapbooks (1955-1973) that include clippings of Maas' articles and clippings related to the publication of The Valachi Papers.
The collection focuses on Maas' professional work. There is very little personal material in the collection, and most of this consists of personal correspondence from his time in Paris (1949-1952) and the 1950s.
This collection is arranged in five series.
You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.
This collection is located off-site. You will need to request this material at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.
This collection has no restrictions.
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Name of Collection; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
No additions are expected
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
2009-2010-M043: Source of acquisition--Horowitz. Method of acquisition--Purchase; Date of acquisition--2009/10/29.
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Papers processed by Catherine C. Ricciardi and Williams Owens (Pratt Institute, MLIS, 2012) 2012, 2015-2016.
Finding aid written by Catherine C. Ricciardi 2016.
2016-01-12 File created.
2016-01-13 XML document instance created by Catherine C. Ricciardi
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
Peter Maas was born John Peter Maas on June 27, 1929, in New York City, the son of Carl and Madeleine (Fellheimer) Maas.
Maas first became interested in journalism while studying at Duke University in the 1940s, and worked on the school newspaper with editor Clay Felker, who later founded New York Magazine. After graduating in 1949, Maas moved to Paris to work for the New York Herald-Tribune. He left in 1952, and spent two years in United States Navy, serving from 1952-1954.
After Maas completed his military service, he returned to New York. He worked at Colliers magazine from 1955-1956, but the magazine folded, and he became senior editor at Look magazine in 1959. Later he served as a consultant for the NBC television program, "David Brinkley's Journal" (1961-1962), and then became a senior writer for the Saturday Evening Post (1963-1966). Maas was also one of the founding contributors to New York Magazine during the 1960s, and was considered to be part of the new journalism movement.
It was during his time at the Saturday Evening Post that Maas became involved in the Joseph Valachi case, which became the subject of his first major book. Maas wrote a three article series for the Saturday Evening Post, and eventually expanded his research into a book. Publishing the book was problematic. The U.S. Justice Department, which had encouraged Valachi to write his memoirs, with Maas serving as his editor, later tried to stop the project after protests from the Italian American community. But in the ensuing legal battle, the courts ruled that while Valachi could be prohibited from publishing a book, Maas could write his own book based upon his own interviews and research. Although finding a publisher proved difficult, the book was published by Putnam as The Valachi Papers in 1969, and became an immediate best-seller, and was adapted into a film in 1972.
Maas' next book, Serpico, the story of Detective Frank Serpico, was an even greater success. After Putnam, the publisher of The Valachi Papers, rejected the manuscript, the book was published by Viking in 1973. The book quickly became a bestseller, and was made into an academy award nominated film starring Al Pacino as Serpico.
Maas' published books as follows: The Rescuer, Harper, 1968; The Valachi Papers, Putnam, 1969; Serpico, Viking, 1973; King of the Gypsies, Viking, 1975; Made in America, Viking, 1979 (Novel); Marie: A True Story, Random House, 1983; Manhunt, Random House, 1986; Father and Son, Simon and Shuster, 1989; In a Child's Name: The Legacy of a Mother's Murder, Simon and Schuster, 1990; China White, Simon & Shuster, 1994; Killer Spy: The Inside Story of the FBI's Pursuit and Capture of Aldrich Ames, America's Deadliest Spy, Warner Books, 1995; Underboss: Sammy the Bull Gravano's Story of Life in the Mafia, HarperCollins, 1997; and Terrible Hours: The Man behind the Greatest Submarine Rescue in History, HarperCollins, 1999.
Maas continued to work as a journalist after becoming a successful author. He wrote frequently for The New York Times Magazine and also wrote a column for several months in SportsMonday, a section started by The Times in 1978. Maas also served as a contributing editor of Parade magazine from 1983-2001.
Maas died in New York City on August 23, 2001.
This series contains correspondence primarily related to personal and general matters. Correspondence related to Maas' professional work as an author and journalist is filed in Series III and Series IV.
Box 21 Folder 7-8
Box 21 Folder 9
Box 21 Folder 10-11
Box 4 Folder 13
Box 4 Folder 14
Box 4 Folder 15
Box 4 Folder 16
Box 4 Folder 17-18
Box 4 Folder 19
Box 4 Folder 20-21
Box 4 Folder 22
Box 21 Folder 12
Box 21 Folder 13
Box 21 Folder 14
Box 21 Folder 15
Box 21 Folder 16
Box 21 Folder 17
This series is comprised of a few files containing early fiction manuscripts, outlines, and ideas. Most of this material dates from Maas' time in Paris (1949-1952).
Box 21 Folder 30
Box 4 Folder 23
Box 21 Folder 29
Box 23 Folder 25
This series contains records related to Maas' published books.
The records include business and general files, manuscripts and related files, and research files. The business and general files include clippings, contracts, correspondence, expense reports, legal information, reviews, royalty statements, and screenplays and additional materials related to film adaptations. The manuscript and related files include drafts, typescripts, corrections, outlines, and proofs. The research files include annotations, clippings, interviews (original tape, transcripts, and notes), legal documents, notes, photographs, publications, reports, transcripts, and other materials.
There are no records in this collection related to The Rescuer (Harper, 1968), King of the Gypsies (Viking, 1975), or Terrible Hours: The Man behind the Greatest Submarine Rescue in History (HarperCollins, 1999).
(Published by Simon and Schuster in 1994)
Box 3 Folder 15
Box 3 Folder 16
Box 3 Folder 17
Box 3 Folder 18
Box 3 Folder 19
Box 3 Folder 20
Box 3 Folder 21
Box 3 Folder 22
Box 3 Folder 23
Box 3 Folder 24
Box 3 Folder 25
Box 3 Folder 26
Box 3 Folder 27-28
Box 3 Folder 29
Box 3 Folder 30-31
Box 3 Folder 32
Box 3 Folder 33
Box 5 Folder 1
Box 3 Folder 34
Box 3 Folder 35
Box 3 Folder 26
Box 5 Folder 3
Box 5 Folder 2
Box 5 Folder 4
Box 5 Folder 5
Box 5 Folder 6
Box 5 Folder 7
Box 5 Folder 8
Box 5 Folder 9
Box 5 Folder 10
Box 5 Folder 11
Box 5 Folder 12
(Published by Simon and Schuster in 1989)
Box 5 Folder 13-15
Box 5 Folder 16
Box 5 Folder 17
Box 5 Folder 18
Box 5 Folder 19
Box 5 Folder 20
Box 5 Folder 21
Box 5 Folder 22
Box 5 Folder 23
Box 5 Folder 24
Box 5 Folder 25
Box 5 Folder 26
Box 5 Folder 27
Box 5 Folder 28
Box 5 Folder 29
Box 5 Folder 30
Box 5 Folder 31
Box 5 Folder 32
Box 5 Folder 33
Box 5 Folder 34
Box 5 Folder 35
Box 5 Folder 36
Box 5 Folder 37
Box 5 Folder 38
Box 5 Folder 39
Box 5 Folder 40
Box 5 Folder 41
Box 5 Folder 42
Box 5 Folder 43
Box 5 Folder 44
Box 5 Folder 45
Box 5 Folder 46
Box 5 Folder 47
Box 5 Folder 48
Box 6 Folder 1
Box 6 Folder 2
Box 6 Folder 3-4
Box 6 Folder 5
Box 6 Folder 6-10
Box 6 Folder 11
Box 6 Folder 12-13
(Published by Simon and Schuster in 1990)
Box 4 Folder 1-4
Box 3 Folder 13-14
Box 2 Folder 1
Box 2 Folder 2
Box 2 Folder 3
Box 2 Folder 8-9
Box 2 Folder 10-11
Box 2 Folder 12
Box 2 Folder 13-14
Box 2 Folder 15
Box 2 Folder 16
Box 2 Folder 17
Box 2 Folder 18
Box 3 Folder 8
Box 2 Folder 19-20
Box 2 Folder 21-25
(The file on the Sodium Amytol Interview corresponds to one audiocassette tape and one videocassette tape that record Taylor under the influence of the Sodium Amytol. These tapes are filed in Box 24.)
Box 4 Folder 5-12
Box 2 Folder 26
Box 2 Folder 27
Box 2 Folder 28
Box 3 Folder 9
Box 2 Folder 29
Box 3 Folder 10
Box 2 Folder 30-31
Box 3 Folder 11-12
(Some of Maas' interview notes correspond to the interview tapes in Box 24, but his notes also indicate that some interviews were not recorded on tape.)
(In some cases, it appears the set of tapes is incomplete)
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
(There are files related to this interview in Box 2.)
Box 24
Box 24
Box 2 Folder 36-41
Box 3 Folder 1-7
Box 2 Folder 4
Box 2 Folder 5
Box 2 Folder 6
Box 2 Folder 7
(Published by Warner Brothers in 1995)
Box 6 Folder 27
Box 6 Folder 28-29
(Includes book proposal, contracts, correspondence, etc.)
Box 6 Folder 30-32
Box 6 Folder 30-32
Box 6 Folder 30-32
Box 7 Folder 1
Box 7 Folder 2
(Includes FBI permission document)
Box 7 Folder 3-5
Box 7 Folder 6
Box 7 Folder 7
Box 7 Folder 8
Box 7 Folder 9
Box 7 Folder 10
Box 7 Folder 11
Box 7 Folder 12-14
Box 7 Folder 15
Box 7 Folder 16
Box 7 Folder 17-18
(Files include notes, transcripts, and other information. Not all files include a transcript.)
Box 6 Folder 17
Box 6 Folder 18
Box 6 Folder 19
Box 6 Folder 20
Box 6 Folder 21
Box 6 Folder 22
Box 6 Folder 23
Box 6 Folder 24
Box 6 Folder 25
Box 6 Folder 26
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 24
Box 7 Folder 20-25
Box 7 Folder 19
Box 7 Folder 26-27
Box 6 Folder 14-16
Box 7 Folder 28
Box 26 Folder 1
Correspondence and press clips
(Published by Viking in 1979. Maas also maintained a set file under the title "Novel X," which appears to have becomeMade in America.)
Box 7 Folder 29
Box 7 Folder 30
(Reviews, etc.)
Box 7 Folder 31
Box 7 Folder 32
Box 7 Folder 35
Box 7 Folder 36
Box 7 Folder 37
Box 7 Folder 38
Box 8 Folder 1
Box 8 Folder 2
Box 8 Folder 3
Box 8 Folder 4
Box 8 Folder 5-6
(Includes screenplays)
Box 8 Folder 7-10
Box 8 Folder 11
Box 8 Folder 12
Box 8 Folder 13
Box 8 Folder 14
Box 8 Folder 15
Box 8 Folder 16
Box 8 Folder 17
Box 8 Folder 18
Box 8 Folder 19
Box 8 Folder 19
Box 8 Folder 20
Box 8 Folder 21
Box 8 Folder 22
Box 8 Folder 23
Box 9 Folder 1
Box 9 Folder 2
Box 9 Folder 3
Box 9 Folder 4
Box 9 Folder 5
Box 9 Folder 6-7
Box 9 Folder 8
Box 9 Folder 9
Box 9 Folder 10
Box 9 Folder 11
Box 9 Folder 12
Box 9 Folder 13
Box 9 Folder 14
Box 9 Folder 15
Box 9 Folder 16
Box 9 Folder 17
Box 9 Folder 18
Box 9 Folder 19
Box 9 Folder 20
Box 9 Folder 21
Box 9 Folder 22
Box 2 Folder 42
Box 9 Folder 23
Box 9 Folder 24
Box 9 Folder 25-27
Box 9 Folder 28
Box 9 Folder 29
Box 9 Folder 30
Box 9 Folder 31
Box 9 Folder 32
Box 9 Folder 33
Box 9 Folder 34
Box 9 Folder 35
Box 9 Folder 36
Box 10 Folder 1-4
Box 9 Folder 37
Box 9 Folder 38
Box 9 Folder 39
Box 9 Folder 40
Box 9 Folder 41
Box 9 Folder 42
(Published by Random House in 1986)
(Some of these are labelled as "Project Spy", the working title forManhunt)
Box 13 Folder 31
Box 10 Folder 5
Box 10 Folder 6
Box 10 Folder 7
Box 13 Folder 32
Box 10 Folder 8
Box 13 Folder 33
Box 11 Folder 25
Box 11 Folder 26
Box 11 Folder 27
Box 13 Folder 34
Box 13 Folder 35-36
Box 11 Folder 24
Box 13 Folder 37
Box 13 Folder 38
Box 12 Folder 26
Box 10 Folder 9
Box 10 Folder 10-11
Box 10 Folder 12
Box 13 Folder 5-6
Box 14 Folder 17
Box 12 Folder 1
Box 11 Folder 28-29
Box 13 Folder 39-42
Box 14 Folder 1-16
Box 12 Folder 22
Box 12 Folder 23-25
Box 12 Folder 27
Box 12 Folder 28-40
Box 12 Folder 41
Box 13 Folder 1
Box 13 Folder 2
Box 13 Folder 3-4
Box 13 Folder 7
Box 13 Folder 8
Box 13 Folder 9
Box 13 Folder 10
Box 13 Folder 11
Box 13 Folder 12
Box 13 Folder 13
Box 13 Folder 14
Box 13 Folder 15
Box 13 Folder 16
Box 13 Folder 17-20
Box 11 Folder 3
Box 13 Folder 21
Box 11 Folder 5-7
Box 11 Folder 8-9
Box 11 Folder 10
Box 13 Folder 24-25
Box 11 Folder 11
Box 13 Folder 22
Box 13 Folder 23
Box 11 Folder 12-13
Box 11 Folder 14
Box 11 Folder 15-16
Box 11 Folder 17-20
(Includes interview transcripts)
Box 12 Folder 16
(Contains manuscript, "Frank Terpil: Patriot or Traitor?" by Richard Lloyd)
Box 11 Folder 21-22
Box 11 Folder 23
Box 13 Folder 26-27
Box 13 Folder 28
Box 14 Folder 19
Box 14 Folder 20-49
Box 14 Folder 18
Box 11 Folder 4
Box 10 Folder 13
Box 12 Folder 2-13
Box 12 Folder 14
Box 12 Folder 15
Box 13 Folder 29-30
(These are:Alleged Assassination Plots Involving Foreign Leaders: An Interim ReportNovember 20, 1975Supplementary Detailed Staff Reports on Foreign and Military Intelligence Book IVFinal, April 23, 1976Supplementary Reports on Intelligence Activities Book VIFinal, April 23, 1976 andForeign and Military Intelligence Book IFinal April 26, 1976.)
(Includes general research material, clippings, interview notes with Howard Safir, legal documents, and other materials related to the trial.)
Box 10 Folder 14-34
Box 11 Folder 1-2
Box 12 Folder 17-20
Box 12 Folder 21
Box 14 Folder 50
(Published by Random House in 1983)
Box 14 Folder 51
Box 14 Folder 52
Box 14 Folder 53
Box 14 Folder 54
Box 14 Folder 55
Box 15 Folder 1
Box 15 Folder 2
Box 15 Folder 3
Box 15 Folder 4
Box 15 Folder 5
Box 15 Folder 6
Box 15 Folder 7
Box 15 Folder 8-10
Box 15 Folder 11-16
(This includes original manuscripts, some corrections, and photocopies of manuscripts with corrections)
Box 15 Folder 17
Box 15 Folder 18
Box 15 Folder 19
Box 15 Folder 20
(These are no research files forMarie: A True Storyin the collection, only this index list of research materials.)
(Published by Viking in 1973)
Box 1 Folder 1
Box 1 Folder 2
Box 1 Folder 3
Box 1 Folder 4
Box 1 Folder 5
Box 1 Folder 6
Box 1 Folder 7
Box 1 Folder 8
Box 1 Folder 9
Box 1 Folder 10
Box 1 Folder 11
Box 1 Folder 12
Box 1 Folder 13
Box 1 Folder 14
Box 1 Folder 15
Box 1 Folder 16
Box 1 Folder 17
Box 1 Folder 18
Box 1 Folder 19
Box 1 Folder 20
Box 1 Folder 21
Box 17 Folder 14
Box 17 Folder 9-10
Box 17 Folder 11
Box 17 Folder 12
Box 17 Folder 13
Mapcase 15-L-8
Box 16 Folder 3
Box 1 Folder 22
Box 16 Folder 4
Box 16 Folder 12
Box 16 Folder 5
Box 1 Folder 23
Box 16 Folder 6
Box 16 Folder 7
Box 16 Folder 8
Box 1 Folder 24
Box 1 Folder 25-26
Box 1 Folder 27
Box 1 Folder 28
Box 1 Folder 29
Box 1 Folder 30
Box 1 Folder 31
Box 1 Folder 32
Box 1 Folder 40
Box 1 Folder 41
Box 16 Folder 1
Box 16 Folder 2
Box 16 Folder 10
Box 16 Folder 11
Box 16 Folder 9
Box 1 Folder 33
Box 1 Folder 34
Box 16 Folder 13
Box 16 Folder 14
Box 16 Folder 15
Box 1 Folder 35
Box 16 Folder 16
Box 16 Folder 17
Box 16 Folder 18
Box 16 Folder 19-20
(The log from 1970 differs somewhat from the other logs)
Box 16 Folder 21
Box 16 Folder 22
Box 16 Folder 23
Box 16 Folder 24
Box 16 Folder 25
Box 16 Folder 26-27
(These two binders were not identified, but appear to be training materials related to Serpico's police work.)
Box 17 Folder 1-7
Box 1 Folder 36-37
Box 1 Folder 38-39
Box 17 Folder 8
Box 16 Folder 28
Box 16 Folder 29
Box 16 Folder 30
Box 16 Folder 31
Box 16 Folder 32
(Published by HarperCollins in 1997)
Box 18 Folder 1
Box 18 Folder 2-4
Box 18 Folder 6
Box 18 Folder 7
Box 18 Folder 8
Box 18 Folder 9
Box 18 Folder 10
Box 18 Folder 11
Box 18 Folder 12
Box 18 Folder 13
Box 18 Folder 14
Box 18 Folder 15
Box 18 Folder 16
Box 18 Folder 17
Box 18 Folder 18
Box 18 Folder 19
Box 18 Folder 20
Box 18 Folder 21
Box 18 Folder 22
Box 18 Folder 23
Box 18 Folder 1
Box 18 Folder 2
Box 18 Folder 3
Box 18 Folder 4
Box 18 Folder 5
(Published by Putnam in 1969)
Box 19 Folder 1
Box 19 Folder 2
Box 19 Folder 3
Box 19 Folder 4
Box 19 Folder 5
Box 19 Folder 6
Box 19 Folder 7
Box 19 Folder 8
Box 19 Folder 9
Box 19 Folder 10
Box 19 Folder 11
Box 19 Folder 12
Box 19 Folder 13
Box 19 Folder 14
Box 26
(Appears to be a recording of a radio show episode on which Maas was a guest.)
Box 19 Folder 24
Box 19 Folder 25
Box 19 Folder 26
Box 19 Folder 27
Box 25
Box 26
(Eight small posters.)
Box 19 Folder 28
Box 20 Folder 1
Box 20 Folder 2
Box 19 Folder 15
Box 19 Folder 16
Box 19 Folder 17
Box 19 Folder 18
Box 19 Folder 19-20
Box 19 Folder 20
Box 19 Folder 21
Box 19 Folder 22
Box 19 Folder 23
Box 20 Folder 3
Box 20 Folder 4
Box 20 Folder 5
Box 20 Folder 6
Box 20 Folder 7
Box 20 Folder 8
Box 20 Folder 9
(Recipes from Joseph Valachi)
Box 20 Folder 10
Box 20 Folder 11-13
Box 20 Folder 14
Box 20 Folder 15
Box 20 Folder 16
Box 20 Folder 17
Box 20 Folder 18
Box 20 Folder 19
Box 20 Folder 20-21
This series contains files related to Maas' work as a journalist.
The files include correspondence, drafts, manuscripts, and a few files on individuals. Most files date from Maas' work in the 1960s.
(These include clippings, correspondence, drafts, notes, manuscripts, etc.)
Box 22 Folder 1
Box 22 Folder 2
Box 22 Folder 3
Box 22 Folder 4
Box 23 Folder 19
Box 22 Folder 5
Box 21 Folder 18
Box 23 Folder 20
Box 22 Folder 6
Box 22 Folder 7
Box 22 Folder 8
Box 21 Folder 19
Box 22 Folder 9
Box 22 Folder 10
Box 22 Folder 11
Box 22 Folder 12
Box 22 Folder 13
Box 21 Folder 20
Box 23 Folder 24
Box 22 Folder 14
Box 23 Folder 1
Box 23 Folder 2
Box 23 Folder 3
Box 21 Folder 21
Box 23 Folder 4
Box 23 Folder 21
Box 23 Folder 5
Box 23 Folder 6
Box 23 Folder 7
Box 23 Folder 8
Box 23 Folder 9
Box 23 Folder 18
Box 4 Folder 24
Box 23 Folder 10
Box 23 Folder 11
Box 23 Folder 12
Box 23 Folder 13
Box 23 Folder 14
Box 23 Folder 15
Box 23 Folder 16
Box 23 Folder 22
Box 21 Folder 31
Box 21 Folder 28
(This relates to Harold "Kayo" Konigsberg.)
Box 23 Folder 17
Box 23 Folder 23
Box 21 Folder 22
Box 21 Folder 23
Box 21 Folder 24
Box 21 Folder 25
Box 21 Folder 26
Box 21 Folder 27
(Brian O'Rourke v. Linda Baisi, St. Frances de Chantal Roman Catholic Church, et al. )
Box 20 Folder 22
Box 21 Folder 1
Box 21 Folder 2
Box 21 Folder 3-4
Box 21 Folder 5
(2 audiocassettes)
Box 21 Folder 6
This series contains two scrapbooks. These were originally housed in two large albums; pages have been removed from the binders and placed in folders for preservation purposes. The scrapbooks primarily contain clippings of Maas's articles and of items related to the publication of The Valachi Papers.
Box 26
Box 26