Helen Follett papers, 1919-1969, bulk 1928-1939

Summary Information

Abstract

Helen Thomas Follett's papers consist primarily of personal letters and business correspondence, manuscripts of published and unpublished works, publicity items for her books, newspaper clippings, photographs, and postcards. In addition, there are manuscripts, correspondence, and newspaper clippings related to her oldest daughter, Barbara Newhall Follett.

At a Glance

Arrangement

Arrangement

This collection is arranged in seven series.

• Series I: Correspondence, 1919-1969
• Series II: Published Materials, 1932-1944
• Series III: Unpublished Materials, circa 1930s-1966
• Series IV: Publicity/Promotional Materials, 1932-1939
• Series V: Research Materials, 1927-1939
• Series VI: Educational Materials, 1919-1935
• Series VII: Barbara Newhall Follett, 1914-1933

Description

Summary

Follett's papers primarily consist of personal letters, manuscripts of published and unpublished works, research materials and notes, publicity and promotional items, educational articles, photographs and postcards of her travels, and newspaper clippings.

In addition, the collection contains correspondence, writings, and newspaper clippings of her daughter, Barbara Newhall Follett.

• Series I: Correspondence, 1919-1969

  This series consists primarily of personal letters from Helen and Wilson Follett to their very close friends, the Meserveys. Other letters are addressed to Helen from Wilson, Alice Dyer Russell, another close friend, and the Meserveys.

• Series II: Published Materials, 1932-1944

  In this series, the papers are published manuscripts in various versions. The titles are: House Afire!, Magic Portholes, and Third-Class Ticket to Heaven.

• Series III: Unpublished Materials, circa 1930s-1966

  This series contains unpublished manuscripts of books, short stories, and poems.

• Series IV: Publicity/Promotional Materials, 1932-1939

  These files contain various publicity and promotional items including a radio script, book reviews, newspaper clippings, and book jackets.

• Series V: Research Materials, 1927-1939

  The items in this series consist of photographs, postcards and German newspaper clippings.

• Series VI: Educational Materials, 1919-1935

  This series consists of articles, notes, and a hand-made manual on education using the typewriter for elementary school children.

• Series VII: Barbara Newhall Follett, 1914-1933

  This series is comprised of a diary detailing Barbara's infancy to early childhood, her writings and correspondence, and newspaper clippings.

Using the Collection

Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Restrictions on Access

You will need to make an appointment in advance to use this collection material in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room. You can schedule an appointment once you've submitted your request through your Special Collections Research Account.

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms Governing Use and Reproduction

Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The RBML maintains ownership of the physical material only. Copyright remains with the creator and his/her heirs. The responsibility to secure copyright permission rests with the patron.

Preferred Citation

Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Helen Follett papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Selected Related Material-- at Columbia

Barbara Newhall Follett Papers, Rare Book & Manuscript Libary, Columbia University.

Accrual

No additions are expected

Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Source of acquisition--Follett, Helen Thomas. Method of acquisition--Bequest; Date of acquisition--1970. Accession number--M-70.

About the Finding Aid / Processing Information

Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library

Processing Information

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 06/--/89.

Papers processed by Marilyn Chin (Queens College, 2011).

Finding aid written by Marilyn Chin (Queens College, 2011) April 2011.

Collection is processed to folder level.

Revision Description

2011-05-03 File created.

2011-05-12 XML document instance created by Catherine C. Ricciardi

2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.

Subject Headings

The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches at Columbia University through the Archival Collections Portal and through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, as well as ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.

All links open new windows.

Subject

History / Biographical Note

Biographical / Historical

Helen Thomas Follett was born in 1893 and was an early twentieth-century author of young adult books. Her first two books, Magic Portholes and Stars to Steer By, were based on her sailing trip to the Caribbean and the South Seas islands during the late 1920s with her teen-age daughter, Barbara.

Follett advocated the use of typewriters in elementary schools as a teaching tool for young students to help learn words and form sentences. She had moderate success with her writings and had two more works published, Third-Class Ticket to Heaven and House Afire! in 1939 and 1941 respectively.

She was married to Wilson Follett, an English professor and writer. They divorced in the early 1930s. They had two daughters, Barbara and Sabra. Barbara was a child prodigy author who disappeared in 1939 at the age of 25.

Follett died in 1970 in New York City at the age of 76.