Loading...
Creator
Haas, Robert K., 1890-1964
Call number
MssCol 1273
Physical description
3.6 linear feet (8 boxes)
Language
Materials in English
Preferred Citation

Robert and Merle Haas papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library

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

Robert K. Haas (1890-1964) was an American publisher who created the Book of the Month Club with Harry Scherman in 1926. He also founded New Books, Inc. (a two-part reading program) and Harrison Smith and Robert Haas, a publishing house that merged with Random House in 1936. His wife, Merle Simon Haas (1897-1985), was active in volunteer work and was best known for her English translations of Babar the Elephant books. Collection consists of correspondence, writings, family papers, photographs, motion picture films, and printed ephemera relating to the Haas family and to Dorothy Canfield Fisher. Materials concerning Robert and Merle Haas include correspondence, 1911-1976, with family, friends and professional associates (some correspondence, 1943-1960, is with William Faulkner); writings by Robert Haas; papers relating to the Haas and Simon families; photographs; films, ca. 1930-1949; and printed matter. Dorothy Canfield Fisher materials include correspondence, 1925-1959, of both a professional and personal nature; writings, photographs, and printed matter.

Biographical/historical information

Robert K. Haas (1890-1964) was born in New York. He represented the third generation of Haas males to attend the Deerfield Academy and Yale University. During WWI he fought with the 308th Infantry in France and later actively served in the Officers Reserve Corps. In 1924 Haas founded "New Books, Inc" a two-part reading program based on his booklet, "Hour-A-Week Reading Course" and repeated books, called the "Little Leather Library". In 1926 Haas and Harry. Scherman, a New York advertising man created the Book-of-the-Month Club which expanded the successful mail-order marketing technique used in selling "New Books, Inc." As president and chief member of the Book-of-the-Month Club Haas helped introduced the public to books by William Faulkner, Isak Dinesen and Sinclair Lewis. In 1932 Haas founded another publishing house, Harrison Smith and Robert Haas, Book Publishers and acted as its vice-president until its merger with Random House in 1936.

Merle Simon (1897-1985) was born in Portland, Oregon and grew up in New York. Active in volunteer work, she aided the American Red Cross in WWI and was a nurse's aide for 20 years at White Plains Hospital. Mrs. Haas is perhaps best known for her translation from French to English of dozens of Babar the Elephant books. Merle Simon and Robert Haas were married in 1919. The Haases had two daughters, Elizabeth and Priscilla and a son, Robert, Jr. who was killed while on active duty during World War II

Scope and arrangement

The collection consists of two main groups of materials, those relating to Robert and Merle Haas and their children, Robert, Jr. and Elizabeth, and those relating to Dorothy Canfield Fisher. The Haas materials include correspondence with children, friends, and professional associates (1911-1976). There is a separate sub-series for correspondence to-and-from William Faulkner (1943-1960, undated). Also included are writings by Robert Haas, papers relating to the Haas and Simon families, printed ephemera, photographs, and motion-picture films. There is no material relating to their third child, Priscilla Haas. The materials relating to Dorothy Canfield Fisher include correspondence (1925-1959) to-and-from the Haases, of both a personal and professional nature. Writings, printed ephemera and photographs are other source materials relating to Fisher.

The Robert and Merle Haas papers are arranged in seven series:

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

12/19/1984, Received from Mrs. Merle Haas

Processing information

Accessioned by Amy Roche, May 13, 1985

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