Scope and arrangement
The papers include general correspondence (1945-1977), correspondence and papers relating to the Authors Guild (1957-1959), the Authors League (1962-1973), and the New York Times Op-Ed Page and editorial board (1970-1976). There are also typescripts, notes and reviews of Mitgang's novels and biographies; a collection of articles, scripts, and films from his "CBS Reports" documentaries (1963-1965); miscellaneous articles, reviews, interviews and other papers dating from World War II to the present; and awards, accounts, scrapbooks and memorabilia. There are also photographs taken by Mitgang to illustrate his articles and interviews.
Included also are the following additions to the Herbert Mitgang Papers received in 1990 and in 1994-1995:
The additions received in 1990 (90M6) consist of general correspondence, notes, printed matter, photographs and cartoons, typescripts and proofs, and files collected by Mitgang for his book Dangerous Dossiers: Exposing the Secret War Against America's Greatest Authors.
The Dangerous Dossiers files, which make up the bulk of this addition, consist of Mitgang's correspondence (1983-1988) with the FBI and of copies (c1929-1981; bulk: 1940-1960) of FBI dossiers which Mitgang obtained through the Freedom of Information Act. A few files (as noted on the container list) contain letters from authors who were under investigation. The files are listed by name on the container list.
The general correspondence (one folder) which is with administrators of the Freedom of Information Act relates to requests for copies of FBI dossier files. The photographs which are standard publishers' publicity shots of authors, and the cartoons, which are in the form of photocopies or photostats, were collected by Mitgang for illustrating his book. The typescript is an original draft of Dangerous Dossiers. The proofs are corrected galleys for the book and for the segments of it which were published in The New Yorker magazine in the "Annals of Government" column under the title "Policing America's Authors".
The additions received in 1994 (94M34) and in 1995 (95M35) consist of Mitgang's writings; his research notes and papers; and audiotapes of his interviews with Helen Wolff and with Admiral Gene R. La Rocque. The writings consist of a corrected typescript of the introduction to Words Still Count with Me (New York and London, W. W. Norton, 1995) and corrected page proofs of the book; and a typescript of a biographical sketch of Helen Wolff which was published (Aug. 2, 1982) in the "Profiles" column of The New Yorker magazine.
The research notes and papers relate to Admiral Gene R. La Rocque and Helen Wolff. The papers relating to Admiral La Rocque consist of notes and transcripts of Mitgang's recorded interviews (March 14, and Dec. 1, 1984) with Admiral La Rocque; and biographical materials (mainly printed ephemera) relating to Admiral La Rocque. Included is a letter (TLS, 9 p.) from Admiral La Rocque to Mitgang.
The papers relating to Helen Wolff consist of notes and transcripts of Mitgang's recorded interviews (March 15 and April 5, 1981) with Helen Wolff; and correspondence relating to Helen and Kurt Wolff. Included are letters from Beatrice Flexner, Günter Grass, Uwe Johnson, William Jovanovich, Georges Simenon; and seven letters from Helen Wolff. There is also an undated memorandum (4 p.) by Helen Wolff relating to Pantheon Books and her editorial policy.
The audiotapes consist of 5 audiocassettes of Mitgang's interviews with Admiral Gene R. La Rocque conducted at New York University (3/14/84) and at Admiral La Rocque's residence in Washington, D. C. (12/1/84); and 5 audio cassettes of his interviews with Helen Wolff (3/15/81, 3/22/81, 4/5/81). Included also is one audiocassette of the House Budget Hearings in Washington, D. C. (3/29/85).
Included also are the following additions to the Herbert Mitgang Papers received in 1990 and in 1994-1995.