KALMAN, CHARLES OSCAR:

Charles Oscar Kalman (1872-1956) was an investment banker and corporate executive. Born in New York City, Kalman lived most of his life in 5t. Paul. He entered investment banking in 1908, was president of Kalman and Company from 1929 to 1939, and served on the board of several corporations. He and his second wife, Alexandra, became close friends of F. Scott and Zelda Fitzgerald during their 1921-1922 residence in St. Paul and at White Bear Lake. Although the Fitzgeralds never returned to St. Paul after 1922, the Kalmans maintained a correspondence with them and occasionally visited them in the East and in Europe. Although theirs was largely a personal relationship, Kalman periodically gave the Fitzgeralds some financial assistance.

Biographical information was taken from the papers.

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The collection consists primarily of Kalman's correspondence with F. Scott Fitzgerald (1931-1939) and Zelda Fitzgerald (1940-1946). It also contains letters (1947-1948) between Kalman and Arthur Mizener of Carleton College, regarding F. Scott Fitzgerald's letters.

The C. O. Kalman letters are carbon copies of originals sent to Scott, Zelda, and others. Scott's letters are photocopies of typed transcripts. With the exception of a typed religious tract containing her signature, Zelda's letters are originals, written in pencil or pen.

Correspondence with F. Scott Fitzgerald (1931-1939) includes family news, references to Zelda's health, discussions of possible visits to each other, and Fitzgerald's request for Kalman's assistance in reviewing his mother's financial affairs. In May, 1936, their correspondence deals with locating a suitable summer camp for Fitzgerald's daughter, Frances Scott ("Scottie"), and a tentative visit by Fitzgerald and Scottie to St. Paul.

Letters from September, 1936, concern the death of Scott's mother, Mary Fitzgerald. Fitzgerald's letter of September 19, 1936, explains his regrets about her death, and his inability to be with her because of a shoulder injury. Fitzgerald describes himself as "floating at the moment" and speaks of a past "mood of depression."

In early October, 1936, Fitzgerald's correspondence with Kalman deals primarily with urgent requests for a loan of $6,000. Letters, telegrams, and documents are exchanged between Fitzgerald, Kalman, and Fitzgerald's attorney, Edgar Allen Poe, Jr. A promissory note, assigning Fitzgerald's interest in his mother's estate over to Kalman, and copies of Mary Fitzgerald's will and financial statements, are included.

On December 12, 1936, Fitzgerald writes, "The situation is essentially the same"; illness has prevented him from doing much writing and he is in need of money again. A similar loan arrangement is made during December for $1,500.

A letter dated February, 1937, from Fitzgerald to "Kaly" states, "Just coming to life again after a bad year. Will write later. Scott." Correspondence between Kalman and Poe in the spring of 1937 outlines the repayment of the loans. Fitzgerald's letter, written shortly after the loans were paid off on June 10, 1937, expresses his thanks for Kalman's personal and financial support. He describes his recent past as the "two years mess that reached its lowest point in the fall of 1936." Fitzgerald mentions a six month abstention from alcohol and an improvement in his health and financial situation.

On September 21, 1939, Fitzgerald's telegram to Kalman mentions a five month's illness and a request for a loan of $360 for his daughter's tuition at Vassar.

After F. Scott Fitzgerald's death, Kalman sends his condolences to Zelda Fitzgerald on December 30, 1940. Zelda's reply and subsequent letters were written while she resided with her mother in Montgomery. Topics include friendly reminiscences, descriptions of Montgomery, the marriage of Scottie to Samuel Lanahan, and pessimistic observations on current events (largely World War II). Part of the correspondence deals with Zelda's request for a loan of $75, as she wanted to join the country club in order to better entertain her visiting daughter and son-in-law. The loan is repaid in installments over Kalman's protestations that she keep the money as long as she likes.

The collection also includes a brief correspondence with Arthur Mizener, the future biographer of F. Scott Fitzgerald. On December 24, 1947, Kalman writes that he is enclosing typed copies of Fitzgerald's letters with the provision that Mizener submit proofs to Mrs. Lanahan for her approval. Mizener's reply on January 2, 1948, thanks him for his assistance and remarks that Fitzgerald wrote to Kalman with more frankness than to anyone else he had encountered.

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The letters are arranged chronologically.

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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]. Kalman, Charles Oscar, Correspondence with F Scott Fitzgerald and family and Fitzgerald memorabilia. Minnesota Historical Society.

See the Chicago Manual of Style for additional examples.

Accession Information:

Accession number: 12,211

Processing Information:

Processed by: Julie Noren, August 1982.

Catalog ID number: 001715533

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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:

Authors, American.

Persons:

Fitzgerald, F. Scott (Francis Scott), 1896-1940.

Fitzgerald, Mary McQuillan, 1859-1936.

Fitzgerald, Zelda, 1900-1948.

Mizener, Arthur.

Smith, Scottie Fitzgerald.

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