SINCLAIR LEWIS:

A 1947 letter written from Beverly Hills to his brother Lloyd praises Lloyd's biography of U.S. Grant and suggests possible future writing projects. He also remarks on a screenplay and other work, which prohibit him from working on "Midwest Roundup," but does suggest Lloyd incorporate the novelists Wallace Stegner, Ann Chidester, Maritta Wold, and Feike Feikema.

A 1950 letter written from Rome to his brother Claude states that he intended to stay in Rome for five months and then move to Sicily for several months. He also comments on his brother's proposed Scandinavian trip.

A letter written to Vince (surname not identified) in 1942 from Minneapolis while Lewis was working on the novel Gideon Planish, comments on his rediscovery of his native Minnesota and his nostalgia for California.

Correspondence with the Saturday Evening Post begins with their 1915 acceptance of the first of many Lewis short stories and continues through 1936 when Lorimer resigned. The correspondence covers plot ideas, story submissions, editorial critiques, discussion of payments, the reassignment of novel and movie rights, and brief comments on Lewis's life, travels, and novel writing.

The bulk centers on the peak 1915-1920 period when 23 of Lewis's story submissions were published by the Post. In particular, letters from 1919-1920 describe his work on the novel Main Street, which he describes as "too long, too plotless, and too critical--it's about life in middle western small towns, and it's rather impolite."

The correspondence also includes Lewis's response to Lorimer's request that he answer complaints by Harry G. Davis, secretary of the Minnesota Highway Improvement Association, about Free Air. Davis criticized the story as being a deterrent to Minnesota tourism and recommended that the Post publish an article on the state's proposed constitutional highway system.

Brief discussion of Lewis's relationship with other magazine editors, notably V. H. Porter of Cosmopolitan, and Karl Harriman of Red Book, is also included.

Included as well is a 1934 letter from Sinclair Lewis to Corwin Lewis, Atlanta, Georgia, regarding a review that appeared in the Southern Hotel Journal.

A 6-page mimeographed memorandum written by Lewis (1943) contains his suggestions for a movie production of his novel Gideon Planish. An attached Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures memo from William James Fadiman (1943) notes that Lewis was then on the lot and was available for discussion with any interested producers. A 33-page mimeographed synopsis of the novel, created by MGM story reader Ab Jackson, Jr. (1943) and attached as background information, is also part of the file.

A 1942 holographic letter sent by Lewis to Sara Lucy Zilch (1867-1959) notes that Lewis is not writing a novel about Fillmore County, Minnesota, but that he would hope to see the Leonora Church someday.

Three letters (1910-1911) from Jack London to Lewis discuss plot themes submitted by Lewis for potential purchase and use by London. An accompanying plot scenario (pages 2-4) submitted by Lewis for purchase and use by London (pages are headed "Explanations") bears manuscript recommendations by both Lewis and London and is signed by Harvey Taylor as literary executor of London's estate.

A letter sent by Lewis to Charles C. Cattermole (Chicago) sends thanks for his kind words regarding Lewis' short story Joy-Joy (1917) and comments on life in Saint Paul.

Letters to Tom (Thomas Alexander Boyd) and Peggy Boyd include one to Tom (1926) discussing a book on preachers and expressing the hope that Tom and his wife will be able to visit Minnesota. A second letter to Tom and Peggy (undated) invites them to join him in Vermont.

Included as well is an undated typed note signed by Lewis containing his comments on an unidentified review. At the bottom of the sheet is a handwritten note by Lewis stating that he is soon off to Florida for the winter. On the reverse of the sheet is written "Verhaeren's poems," possibly a reference to poet and playwright Emile Verhaeren (1885-1916).

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Access Restrictions:

Access to and use of reserve materials requires the curator's permission.

Preferred Citation:

[Indicate the cited item and/or series here]. Sinclair Lewis correspondence. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 10,359; 14,822; 15,272; 15,273; 16,613; 16,707; 17,053; 17,084; 17,107; 17,113; 17,228

Processing Information:

Processing and cataloging of this collection was supported with a Basic Project grant awarded by the National Historical Publications and Records Commission (NHPRC).

Catalog ID number: 990017336320104294

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The Sinclair Lewis papers are at Yale University, New Haven, Connecticut.

An autobiographical account of Lewis's relationship with Post editor, George H. Lorimer, was published in the July 25, 1928 issue of The Nation.

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This collection is indexed under the following headings in the catalog of the Minnesota Historical Society. Researchers desiring materials about related topics, persons or places should search the catalog using these headings.

Topics:

American fiction -- Middle West.

Authors, American -- 20th century -- Correspondence.

Authorship.

Automobile travel -- United States.

Roads -- Minnesota.

Short story.

Persons:

Davis, Harry G., author.

Lewis, Claude.

Lewis, Corwin.

Lewis, Lloyd, 1891-1949.

London, Jack, 1876-1916, author.

Lorimer, George Horace, 1869-1937, author.

Organizations:

Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer Pictures, author.

Minnesota Highway Improvement Association, author.

Occupations:

Periodical editors.

Titles:

Saturday evening post.

The Babcock plan.

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