Scope and arrangement
The papers of Lloyd Morris include correspondence, manuscripts, appointment books, legal and financial material, photographs, miscellany and clippings.
Correspondence (1916-1954) reflects Morris's long involvement with many literary and theatrical figures. The early correspondence (1916-1938) is made up of a small number of letters from Edwin Arlington Robinson and two letters from Frank Swinnerton. The bulk of the correspondence (1944-1954) includes business and personal letters mostly written to Morris. Morris received many letters from the playwright John Van Druten. Other well-represented correspondents include: Robert N. Linscott, his editor at Random House, Joel S. Goldsmith, his friend and spiritual adviser, Nannine Joseph, his agent, Roger B. Dooley, George Dangerfield, Frank A. Manny and Grace M. Mayer. There are also several letters from Rebecca West, Cid Corman, Leon Edel, Edward Bernays and James Herlihy. The following individuals are represented by one or two brief letters/notes: Djuna Barnes, Katharine Cornell, Lillian Gish, Angna Enters, Sinclair Lewis, Mary Martin, John Dewey, John Erskine, William Shirer, Glenway Westcott and George Middleton.
The manuscripts contain a variety of works by Morris, generally in type-script, including book reviews, essay plays and the entire typescript of Curtain Time, his history of the theatre.
Appointment books are for the years 1948, 1951 and 1954. The collection also includes a notebook listing titles pertaining to aviation and a telephone/ address book. Legal and financial papers relate mainly to royalties paid to Morris. Photographs include portraits of Morris, family photographs and a number of unidentified snapshots which may have been taken during one of Morris's trips to Europe in the 1920s.