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Creator
O'Brien, Frank P
Call number
MssCol 2275
Physical description
1 linear foot (1 box)
Language
Materials in English
Preferred Citation

Frank P. O'Brien papers, Manuscripts and Archives Division, The New York Public Library

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

Frank P. O'Brien, a dentist in New York City, was a collector of Beadle and Adams dime novels and half-dime novels. These novels were published from 1859 to 1905 (Orville J. Victor was the editor). Dr. O'Brien was known as "the living authority on the affairs of the House of Beadle". Collection consists of correspondence, manuscripts, copyrights, certificates of deposit, miscellaneous accounts and notes, and printed matter. Personal correspondence includes letters, 1865-1921, from authors of the dime novels mostly to Dr. O'Brien. Manuscripts are of short stories by Beadle authors and various manuscripts for a prize contest. Also, copyrights, 1867-1869, issued by the Library of Congress; certificates of deposit, 1862-1869, of title pages for copyright; Beadle related letters, accounts and notes, 1865-1897; and newsclippings concerning dime novels.

Biographical/historical information

Dr. Frank P. O'Brien, a dentist in the city of New York, was a collector of Beadle and Adams dime novels and half-dime novels. These books were published from 1859 to 1905 and Mr. Orville J. Victor was the editor. Dr. O'Brien became a personal friend of most of the writers and was known as "the living authority on the affairs 6f the House of Beadle".

Scope and arrangement

The collection contains personal correspondence from authors of the dime novels, 1865 - 1921, most of which is to Dr. Frank P. O'Brien; there are short story manuscripts by Beadle authors (it is unknown whether they were published); various manuscripts for a prize contest; certificates of deposit of title pages for copyright, 1862 - 1869; copyrights issued by the library of congress, 1867 - 1869; miscellaneous Beadle related letters, accounts and notes, 1865 - 1897 and copies of dime novel related newspaper clippings.

Administrative information

Source of acquisition

1922; 1923; 1951, Received from Dr. O'Brien

Processing information

Accessioned by LB, 10-30-86

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