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Creator
Hellman, George S. (George Sidney), 1878-1958
Call number
MssCol 1376
Physical description
24 linear feet (50 boxes, 17 v.)
Language
Materials in English
Preferred Citation

George Sidney Hellman papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library

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

George Sidney Hellman (1878-1958), American author and editor, was a rare book, manuscript and art dealer and collector in New York City. He amassed collections of his own and helped secure major acquisitions for the Pierpont Morgan Library. He founded and edited the literary magazine, East & West, 1900-1901; and from 1919 to 1920 served as director of the American Expeditionary Forces University's School of Fine Arts for servicemen in France. His publications include Washington Irving, Esquire (1925), The True Stevenson (1925), Benjamin N. Cardozo, American Judge (1940), and hundreds of book reviews and magazine articles. Collection consists of Hellman's correspondence, writings, research notes, scrapbooks, photographs, and printed matter. General correspondence, 1888-1958, contains his letters to and from fellow students and professors at Columbia University; letters concerning his activities as editor of East & West and as art and manuscript dealer and collector; as well as correspondence with fellow scholars and publishers regarding his research and writing on Washington Irving, Robert Louis Stevenson, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, Benjamin N. Cardozo, and the Seligman family. Also, essays, reviews, plays, novels, speeches, and biographical and autobiographical works (both published and unpublished), scrapbooks of clippings, writings by others (mostly typescripts), photographs, contracts, and memorabilia.

Biographical/historical information

George Sidney Hellman (1878-1958) was an author, editor, and art, book, and manuscript dealer and collector of New York City. He received his bachelor's and master's degrees from Columbia University in 1899 and 1900 and maintained a close connection with that institution. With fellow student William Aspenwall Bradley he founded and edited the literary magazine, East & West, 1900-1901, and remained a prolific freelance writer and editor for most of his life. However, he earned his living as a rare book, manuscript, and art dealer with the New York Co-operative Society, 1901-1911, the New Gallery, 1925-1929, and independently. He amassed renowned collections of his own and helped secure major acquisitions for the Morgan Library. From 1919-1920 he served as director of the American Expeditionary Forces University's School of Fine Arts for servicemen in France. His publications include Washington Irving, Esquire (1925), The True Stevenson (1925), Benjamin N. Cardozo, American Judge (1940), and hundreds of book reviews and magazine articles.

Scope and arrangement

The George S. Hellman Papers contain his correspondence, writings, research notes, scrapbooks, photographs, and printed material. The General Correspondence, 1888-1958, contains his letters to and from fellow students and professors at Columbia University, letters concerning his activities as editor of East & West, as art and manuscript dealer and collector, as well as correspondence with fellow scholars and publishers regarding his research and writing on Washington Irving, Robert Louis Stevenson, James Abbott McNeill Whistler, Benjamin N. Cardozo, the Seligman Family, and other topics. Included are many letters from prominent artists, scholars, and literary figures. Supplementing the General Correspondence are seven topical files containing correspondence, printed material, research notes, photographs, and other documents: East & West; Art; A. E. F. University School of Fine Arts; Irvingiana; Stevensoniana; Columbia University; and Organizational Memberships. Hellman's essays, reviews, plays, novels, speeches, and biographical and autobiographical works (both published and unpublished) are present in holograph, typescript, galley, and published form. The collection also includes scrapbooks of clippings, writings by others (mostly typescripts), photographs, contracts, and memorabilia. A list of selected correspondents is available. Among them are Jo Davidson, John Erskine, Abby M. Fiske, Julian Hawthorne, Frederick P. Keppel, Beatrix Demarest Lloyd, Joel Spingarn, Edmund C. Stedman, Rose Pastor Stokes, William P. Trent, and Barrett Wendell.

The George Sidney Hellman papers are arranged in fifteen series:

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

1953; 1958, Received from George S. Hellman & his estate

Processing information

Accessioned by MY, May 1987

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