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Doris Grumbach papers
1938-2002

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Creator
Grumbach, Doris
Call number
MssCol 1261
Physical description
45 linear feet (86 boxes)
Language
English
Preferred Citation

Doris Grumbach Papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library.

Repository
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.Restrictions apply

The papers document the professional career and personal life of Doris Grumbach, novelist, writer, literary critic, and educator.

Biographical/historical information

Doris Grumbach, the novelist, biographer and literary critic was born on July 12, 1918 in New York City to Leonard William and Helen (Oppenheimer) Isaac. She spent her childhood in Manhattan. In elementary school she was an outstanding student, skipping many grades until she entered high school at age eleven. At this young age, however, she was not adequately prepared for secondary education; she lost her self- confidence, developed a stammer, and on the advice of her teachers took a year off. After reentering high school she placed little effort into her studies and spent more time in the theater than in the classroom. Despite her poor grades she won a citywide short story contest in her senior year. This caught the attention of Rudolph Kagey, a professor at Washington Square College of New York University who campaigned for her admission.

She excelled in college, majoring in philosophy and earning election to Phi Beta Kappa. In 1939 she entered the graduate program in English at Cornell University where she received a Master of Arts degree in medieval literature the following year. It was at Cornell that she met her husband, Leonard Grumbach, who was earning a doctorate in neurophysiology. The two were married on October 5, 1941 and settled in Manhattan. From 1940 to 1941 Grumbach worked for Lowe's, Inc./MGM writing subtitles for films distributed abroad. She then worked (1941-42) as a proofreader forMademoiselle magazine, and forArchitectural Forum (1942-43) in several capacities, from proofreader to associate editor. During this time her husband was drafted to fight in World War II. In 1943 Grumbach decided to join him in California, but then soon left to join the Navy as an officer in the WAVES (Women Accepted for Volunteer Emergency Service).

After the war the Grumbachs moved around the country as Leonard pursued his career as a professor of physiology. They also started their family which eventually included four daughters, Barbara, Jane, Elizabeth, and Kathryn. The family finally settled in Albany, New York where Leonard Grumbach taught at Albany Medical College. In 1957 Grumbach also began teaching junior and senior English at the Albany Academy for Girls. In 1960 she took a position as professor of English at the College of Saint Rose where she remained for eleven years. It was during this time that Grumbach began her writing career. Her first books,The Spoil of the Flowers, andThe Short Throat, The Tender Mouth, were published in 1962 and 1964, respectively.

In 1971 after raising her children, Grumbach left her husband and spent a year in Saratoga Springs, New York helping to set up the external degree program at Empire State College. She then accepted a position atThe New Republic as literary editor. Moving to Washington, D.C., she worked for the magazine for two years writing a column entitled "Fine Print". When the magazine was sold she lost her job. She remained in Washington, however, and accepted a position as professor of American literature at American University. She also began a nonfiction column for TheNew York Times Book Review, and her column "Fine Print" was picked up by theSaturday Review. During this time Grumbach continued to write books. In 1976 she published a literary biography of Mary McCarthy entitledThe Company She Kept, and in 1979 she published her first novelChamber Music which established her reputation as a novelist. Other books followed:The Missing Person (1981),The Ladies, andThe Magician's Girl (1987). During this period Grumbach also taught at the Writers Workshop at the University of Iowa where she helped young writers develop their literary skills. She also provided numerous book reviews for the "Morning Edition" of National Public Radio, and the televised "McNeil-Lehrer Newshour."

In the mid-1980s Grumbach resigned her professorship at American University. She remained in Washington, however, for five more years during which time she and her partner in business and in life, Sybil Pike, opened a bookstore for used books entitled Wayward Books. In 1990 Grumbach and her partner moved their bookstore and themselves to Sargentville, Maine where Grumbach has continued to live and to write. Her more recent publications have included her memoirs, Coming Into the End Zone (1991),Extra Innings (1993),Fifty Days of Solitude (1994), and The Book of Knowledge (1995).

Scope and arrangement

The papers contain incoming correspondence to Doris Grumbach from authors, writers, editors, publishers, journalists, academic and professional colleagues, readers of her books, friends and acquaintances; topical files reflecting her varied literary and professional activities and associations; holograph and typescript drafts, page and galley proofs of her published books; holograph drafts and typescripts of articles, reviews, speeches and lectures; interviews by her, and of her; diaries and notebooks recording her social, literary and professional life and activities; personal miscellany including certificates, diplomas, her master's thesis, and broadsides announcing her lectures; printed matter and sound recordings.

The Doris Grumbach papers are arranged in eleven series:

  • Series I. Correspondence
    1961- 2002

    The correspondence, which is both personal and professional, is arranged into four subseries: A. Chronological; B. Alphabetical; C. Books; D. The New Republic

  • Series II. Topical Files
    1951-2001; n.d.
    Boxes 22-31

    This series contains correspondence and collateral papers arranged alphabetically by topic or organizational title, reflecting Grumbach's wide-ranging literary, academic, and professional activities and associations. The contents document her participation at academic and writers' conferences and workshops, book publishing events, book award ceremonies, memorial services, and her residency at writers' colonies. Included are papers relating to her teaching career and academic positions at the College of Saint Rose (Albany, New York), American University (Washington, D.C.), the University of Iowa's Writer's Workshop, and Sewanee, the University of the South. Included are files relating to her participation in the PEN/Faulkner annual literary awards, the Carey Thomas Publishing Award, the Ernest Hemingway Award, and the National Book Critics Circle Awards. There are also papers relating to her membership on the advisory council of the Atlantic Center for the Arts. Many files contain handwritten notes recording her observations, impressions, criticisms and evaluations of conferences, workshops and awards ceremonies in which she participated or attended. The files contain a relatively high proportion of papers collateral to correspondence including notes, minutes, memoranda, reports, announcements, programs, agenda, flyers, and brochures.

  • Series III. Writings
    Boxes 32-73

    The writings by Doris Grumbach are arranged into three subseries: A. Books; B. Articles, Essays, Introductions; and C. Reviews.

  • Series IV. Speeches/Lectures
    1972-2002; n.d.
    Boxes 74-75

    The speeches/lectures, which are arranged chronologically, were delivered by Grumbach at various venues including colleges, universities, libraries, churches, conferences, forums and workshops. The files contain manuscript and typescript drafts; correspondence with sponsoring agencies; invitations, programs, brochures, clippings and other ephemera. Included are lectures on contemporary American fiction, Mark Twain, and Willa Cather delivered in Europe under the sponsorship of the United States Information Agency.

  • Series V. Interviews
    1966-1996
    Boxes 76-77

    This series, which is arranged chronologically, consists of interviews conducted by Grumbach; and interviews with her conducted by various persons.

    Series XI. Sound and Video Recordings contains audiotapes of interviews by and with Grumbach.

  • Series VI. Diaries/Notebooks
    1962- 1987
    Boxes 78-79

    The diaries/notebooks kept by Grumbach, which span the period 1962-1987; n.d., are contained in twenty-four numbered memorandum books and loose- leaf binders (ca.13x20 cm.). The entries are made with ball point pen in a hand which varies from clear and legible, to cramped and difficult. The entries recording daily social life and activities are frequently discontinuous and interspersed with notes of meetings and conferences attended, sojourns at writers' colonies, ideas for books and articles, quotes from readings, research notes, introspections, and miscellaneous jottings. A brief summary of the contents of the volumes follows.

  • Series VII. Personal Miscellaneous Papers
    1938-1998; n.d.
    Box 80

    This series consists of miscellaneous personal papers of Grumbach arranged topically. Included are biographical papers; an inventory and appraisal of her Mark Twain collection which she donated to the Miller Library at Colby College; a printed notice of a memorial service for Leonard Grumbach with a typescript of her remarks on that occasion; a bound carbon copy of her thesis, "Chaucer's Official Life, 1374-1386" presented for the degree of Master of Arts at Cornell University, June 17, 1940; papers relating to the honorary doctorate awarded to her by the University of Maine; and two copies ofThe Washington Square College Review (Dec. 1938, v. 3, no. 2; Feb 1939, v. 3, no. 3) edited by her. Included also are contact prints of Grumbach taken while she was lecturing; a photograph of her taken in 1972; a birthday card (1998) containing printed photos of her and of her grandchildren taken at various periods in her life; a group photo of a birthday celebration taken in her later years; and miscellaneous unidentified photos of individuals and groups.

  • Series VIII. Printed Matter
    1942- 2000
    Boxes 81-83

    This series consists of an alphabetical file of issues of publications many of which contain articles or reviews by Grumbach; a file of miscellaneous reprints of articles by other authors; and a file of printed matter arranged chronologically. Included are one (or more) issues ofAmerican;Cityscape, A Journal of Urban Life;The New Republic; and theSaturday Review.

  • Series IX. Oversized Materials
    1939-1987; n.d.
    Box 84

    This series consists of oversized broadsheets, certificates, diplomas, and posters.

  • Series X. Restricted Materials
    Box 85

    This series consists of two folders of correspondence withdrawn from Boxes 13 and 24 and restricted for a period of twenty-five years, or until the year 2028:

  • Series XI. Sound and Video Recordings
    1966- 1994; n.d.
    Box 86

    This series chiefly contains recordings of interviews with Grumbach and those conducted by her as well as tapes of Grumbach reading her fiction and book reviews.

Administrative information

Custodial history

A portion of the Grumbach Papers were put on deposit in 1984 at the Alderman Library, University of Virginia, Charlotteville, Virginia. In 1996, Mrs. Grumbach asked that these papers be transferred to the New York Public Library.

Source of acquisition

Donated by Doris Grumbach, 1995-2003

Processing information

Processed by John D. Stinson; machine readable finding aid created by FAKER.

Processed by Kristen Thomas Clarke, 1996; and by Sharon Sparrow, 1999; revised by John D. Stinson 2003.

Using the collection

Location

Manuscripts and Archives Division
Stephen A. Schwarzman Building
Fifth Avenue at 42nd Street, New York, NY 10018-2788
Brooke Russell Astor Reading Room, Third Floor, Room 328

Conditions Governing Use

Doris Grumbach retains copyright to her own papers.

Access restrictions

Box 85 contains two folders of restricted papers.

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