Hendrik Willem van Loon Papers

Collection — Multiple Containers

Identifier: 3292

COLLECTION DESCRIPTION

Collection consists of correspondence with family, friends, literary and other public figures, pertaining to his career as an author and his varied humanitarian concerns; much of the correspondence between 1939 and 1942 deals with refugees from Nazi persecution and van Loon's participation in war relief fund raising and committees.

Also included are condolence letters received after Hendrik's death. A substantial portion of the papers are comprised of manuscripts for many of his books and their illustrative materials in pen-and-ink, pencil, and watercolors. There are many sketchbooks and miscellaneous sketches as well as those for the publications. Other documents include a manuscript of his Ph.D. in German, notes for a history course taught at Cornell, manuscripts for radio broadcasts (1935-42), articles by and about van Loon,including a recollection by John L. De Forest; phonograph records, photographs, picture puzzles, foreign language editions of his books, reviews, menus, the Newberry Medal which was presented to him at the meeting of The American Library Association in 1921, an unfinished portrait by the painter Leon Gordon, his and Helen Criswell van Loon's ("Jimmie's") passports, and pamphlets from the Cunard Cruise Ship FRANCONIA. Documenting his activities in literary circles in New York City are copies of MAD HATTER MUTTERINGS, 1920-21, which were satirical journals circulated in the Greenwich Village coffee shop where "Jimmie" worked and later became the owner; also included are her diaries, 1920-54; and Gerard Willem van Loon's correspondence and draft copies for his book about Hendrik. Includes a film and a video. Correspondents include Franklin and Eleanor Roosevelt, George Lincoln Burr, and others.

Also, "Histoire fameuse du sieur Jean Nepomuc Pantagruel, und von der hochlobigen Jungfrau Kunigunde," a fanciful manuscript story written and illustrated by Van Loon on a series of 93 postcards which he sent to the Misses Jones in Cambridge, Massachusetts over a period of months in 1912 (shelved as Bd. Ms. 1).

Letters from van Loon in America to the Netherlands commenting on the general atmosphere in wartime America (box 74).

Twenty-one drawings from late 1930's and 1940's. Note that there are gaps in box numbers. Boxes 30-33 used to contain books - the boxes have been removed and the books cataloged separately. Boxes 70-73 used to contain microfilm reels 1-21 - the boxes have been removed and the reels have been individually located.

Dates

1884-1972.

Creator

Language of Materials

Collection material in English

BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE

Hendrik Willem van Loon was born in Rotterdam, Holland on January 14, 1882. He attended Cornell University, graduating in 1905. In 1906 he married Eliza Ingersoll Bowditch and began working for the Associated Press in New York City, Washington, D.C., Moscow, and Warsaw. His son Henry Bowditch van Loon was born on June 22, 1907, and Gerard Willem van Loon on January 16, 1911. Hendrik van Loon received his Ph.D. from the University of Munich in 1911, and in 1913 his book THE FALL OF THE DUTCH REPUBLIC was published. He lectured at Cornell on European History from 1915-1916. He married Helen Criswell ("Jimmie") in 1920 and in 1921 received the Newbery Medal for THE STORY OF MANKIND. From 1922-23 he was a professor at Antioch College, Ohio, and was Associate Editor of the BALTIMORE SUN from 1923-24. He did his first radio broadcast on Christmas Day, 1929, and started radio broadcasts at NBC in 1932. He did lectures for the Cunard Cruise Line on the FRANCONIA in 1934. In 1939-40 his radio broadcasts were directed to Holland from WRVL in Boston. He died in Old Greenwich, Connecticut on March 11, 1944.

Extent

36.1 cubic feet. (36.1 cubic feet.)

Additional Description

Abstract

SERIES LIST

Note that there are gaps in box numbers. Boxes 30-33 used to contain books - the boxes have been removed and the books cataloged separately. Boxes 70-73 used to contain microfilm reels 1-21 - the boxes have been removed and the reels have been individually located.

Series I. General correspondence Boxes: 1-3 Subseries Ia. A chronological arrangement of general correspondence

Subseries Ib. Correspondence of a particular topic arranged chronologically

Series II. Family correspondence Boxes: 4-17, F.10Family correspondence of ten or more letters arranged chronologically. Family members include Hendrik's immediate family of parents, aunts, uncles, and two sons, and Eliza Bowditch van Loon's parents, her siblings, and cousins. Also postcards to and from family members. Major correspondence of ten or more letters between those friends with whom Hendrik maintained a regular correspondence is included in this series. Also included is correspondence between his second wife, Helen Criswell van Loon, and his third wife, Frances Ames Goodrich. This material is listed alphabetically by correspondent and arranged chronologically.

Series III. Major correspondents Boxes: 17, F. 11-19Major correspondents include those individuals who were considered important personalities in the 1900's-1940's, with whom Hendrik wrote irregularly (less than ten letters). This material is listed alphabetically and includes number of letters and inclusive dates. Also included in this series are draft copies of correspondence and microfilmed correspondence.

Series IV. Manuscript material Boxes: 20-26Manuscript material includes carbons, drafts, and typescripts for articles, books, broadcasts, lectures, serials, and Hendrik Willem van Loon's thesis. Book material is arranged alphabetically by title. Articles, broadcasts, lectures, serials, and the thesis are arranged separately in chronological order when possible. The letters N/A were used when no title was available.

Series V. Printed material Boxes: 27-34 Printed material consists mainly of articles about van Loon in both foreign and American papers and magazines; reviews; promotional book material; cruise ship pamphlets; copies of illustrations that appeared in various newspapers and magazines; and miscellaneous clippings.

Series VI. Illustrative material Boxes: 35-52Illustrative material includes the illustrations made for many van Loon books arranged by book title; sketches for unfinished books; sketchbooks; illustrated stories and unpublished material; illustrated folders, envelopes, and menus; small pen-and-ink and watercolor sketches either mounted or on mats; ornate matted sketches; book jackets; many miscellaneous sketches; and portraits of van Loon by other artists.

Series VII. Memorabilia Boxes: 53-62 Map Case Special locations Subseries VIIa. Includes scrapbooks, guestbooks, photograph albums and photographs, notebooks, diaries, passports, pamphlets, certificates, diplomas, phonograph records, games, puzzles, and miscellaneous.subseries

Subseries VIIb. Collected memorabilia includes various miscellaneous documents, volumes, and reprints collected by van Loon.

Series VIII. Papers of Helen Criswell "Jimmie" van Loon Boxes: 63-64Papers of Helen Criswell "Jimmie" van Loon include an original play, diaries, "Mad Hatter Mutterings," and other miscellaneous material.

Series IX. Papers of Gerard Willem van Loon Boxes: 65-67Papers of Gerard Willem van Loon includes drafts and photos for his biography about Hendrik Willem van Loon, and correspondence pertaining to his father and the manuscript.

SEPARATED MATERIAL

Books written or illustrated by Van Loon, including foreign translations, catalogued separately.

Physical Description

Correspondence, manuscripts, publications, journal clippings, illustrations, and photographs

General

Contact Information:: Division of Rare and Manuscript Collections 2B Carl A. Kroch Library Cornell University Ithaca, NY 14853 (607) 255-3530 Fax: (607) 255-9524 rareref@cornell.edu http://rmc.library.cornell.edu
Compiled by:: G. SolomonA. GilbertK. Jackson
Date completed:: 1987
EAD encoding:: Peter Martinez, Feb. 2005
Date modified:: Marcie Farwell, October 2018