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Creator
Lerman, Leo, 1914-1994
Call number
*T-Mss 2012-040
Physical description
14.11 linear feet (34 boxes)
Preferred Citation

Leo Lerman papers, *T-Mss 2012-040. Billy Rose Theatre Division, New York Public Library.

Repository
Billy Rose Theatre Division
Access to materials
Request an in-person research appointment.

Leo Lerman was an editor and writer who was associated with Condé Nast Press, most notably Vogue and Mademoiselle, for over 50 years. His early career was in the theater. The Leo Lerman papers are composed of drafts of magazines articles, manuscripts, research,and correspondence.

Biographical/historical information

Leo Lerman was an editor and writer who was associated with Condé Nast Press, most notably Vogue and Mademoiselle, for over 50 years. His early career was in the theater.

Lerman was born in Harlem in 1914 to Samuel and Ida Lerman. He grew up in New York City and attended the Feagin School of Dramatic Arts on a scholarship for two years. During the 1930s he worked in the theater, beginning at Grossinger's Hotel in the Catskills and then on Broadway. He was a "jack-of-all-trades" working as an actor, stage manager, script reader and designer. From 1938 to 1939 he was the president of the Scenic Artists of America's costume division.

Lerman's writing career began with his first published article in Vogue in 1942. During that same year he also wrote for House & Garden and worked as the children's book editor at The Saturday Review of Books. He wrote two children's books, Leonardo da Vinci: Artist and Scientist (1940) and Michelangelo: A Renaissance Profile (1942).

In 1942, Lerman became a contributing editor at Mademoiselle. Over the years he held other editing positions including feature editor, consulting feature editor, and editor in chief. One of his last positions was as editorial adviser of Condé Nast Press. In addition to his editing duties, he wrote program notes for the New York Philharmonic Society's Young People's concerts, reviewed books for the New York Times Book Review, wrote columns for Dance Magazine and Playbill, and wrote the book The Museum: 100 Years and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in 1969. At the time of his death, on August 22, 1994, he was working on his memoir.

Source: Grimes, William, "Leo Lerman, 80, Editor at Conde Nast Magazines." New York Times, August 23, 1994.

Scope and arrangement

The collection is composed of drafts of magazine articles and manuscripts, correspondence, research, office files, and artwork. Also included are skits and lyrics performed at Grossinger's Hotel in the Catskills during the 1930s. Correspondence is wide-ranging from thank you notes to office memos.

In addition, there are articles, essays, and scripts written by other authors. Of interest among them is correspondence and draft manuscripts from the playwright Karl Vollmoeller. Vollmoeller was a German who immigrated to the United States. Lerman wrote a note that the material was important and that he would explain why he has them at a later time. There is no other mention of the Vollmoeller material in the collection.

The Leo Lerman papers are arranged in three series:

  • Series I: Correspondence
    1931-1986

    This series contains letters, cards and telegrams. Most of the correspondence is thank you notes from performing artists who Lerman supported. There is some work-related correspondence such as interoffice memos.

  • Series II: Writings and Research
    1911-1986

    This series contains material that Lerman used in his editing and writing career at Condé Nast publications. Also present are address books, clippings, contracts, scripts, photographs, and artwork.

    The majority of the documents are edited magazine drafts for articles in the magazines Vogue and Mademoiselle. There are also drafts for Saturday Review and Playbill. Additionally, there are galley proofs of manuscripts of the two children's books Lerman wrote: Leonardo da Vinci: Artist and Scientist and Michelangelo: A Renaissance Profile.

    Drafts of articles, essays and plays written by others are held in this series. Some have been edited by Lerman. Of special note are the many unpublished materials by the playwright Karl "Peter" Vollmoeller. There are three boxes of material associated with Vollmoeller, including correspondence. All of this material is in German.

  • Series II: Office Files
    1946-1983

    This series consists primarily of publicity materials that were sent to Lerman, most of which concern theater, motion pictures, and other performing arts. Files include press releases, press packets, flyers, brochures, and notes from press agents.

Administrative information

Custodial history

The Leo Lerman Papers was originally split into two collections; one in the Billy Rose Theatre Division, and one in the Jerome Robbins Dance Division. The two collections were merged into one collection. The Dance collection contained correspondence and office Files.

Source of acquisition

Unknown.

Revision History

Additions to the collection were processed by Kit Fluker. The additions comprise boxes 31 to 34. (2015)

Processing information

Compiled by Leslie Reyman, 2013.

Using the collection

Location

Billy Rose Theatre Division
New York Public Library for the Performing Arts, Dorothy and Lewis B. Cullman Center
40 Lincoln Center Plaza, New York, NY 10023-7498
Third Floor