This collection is located on-site.
This collection has no restrictions.
Correspondence with André Gide, the manuscripts and notes for his biography PORTRAIT OF ANDRÉ GIDE, and for his translations of the JOURNALS OF ANDRÉ GIDE, SO BE IT, and PRETEXTS, and other notes and articles about André Gide. Also, correspondence with many contemporary French writers including Albert Camus, Jean Cocteau, Julian Green, Valéry Larbaud, Jean Malaquais, Roger Martin du Gard, André Maurois, Henry de Montherlant, and Georges Simenon. Prof. O'Brien translated works by Baidouy, Albert Camus, Jean Cocteau, Henry de Montherlant, Nathalie Sarraute, and Jean-Paul Sartre; the typescript of Camus' L'EXILE ET LE ROYAUME is of special interest. Professor O'Brien's files cover a broad range of French culture including correspondence with other French scholars, educational organizations, editors, publishers (notably Blanche W. Knopf), with members of the OSS in wartime France, and with other literary figures such as Gilbert Highet, Dwight Macdonald, and Klaus Mann.
Series II: Cataloged Manuscripts
Includes O'Brien's diaries, commonplace books, journals, and sketchbook.
Series V: Scrapbooks and Photographs
Personal and Family
Cataloged and listed.
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.
Reproductions 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.
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Justin O'Brien papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Benedetto Croce correspondence is also available on microfilm. See MN# 3600-1. The microfilm also includes Croce letters and manuscripts from other collections.
Source of acquisition--O'Brien, Justin. Method of acquisition--Bequest; Date of acquisition--1969. Accession number--M-69.
Source of acquisition--O'Brien, Mrs. Justin. Method of acquisition--Gift (1973, 1978, 1982); Accession number--M-73,M-78,M-82.
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 08/--/89.
Cataloged Lynn A. Grove 03/16/90.
The Rare Book & Manuscript Library has separately cataloged the Gallimard edition of the works of André Gide (15 volumes) that was received with this collection. These volumes may be requested through the catalog record here.
2021-03-23 Biography edited by CCR.
2021-03-21 EAD document created by CCR.
O'Brien was a professor of French at Columbia University (1931-1968). He was a well-known translator of modern French literature, particularly of André Gide and Albert Camus, and was also a noted authority on French drama.
The subject headings listed below are found in this collection. Links below allow searches for other collections at Columbia University, through CLIO, the catalog for Columbia University Libraries, and through ArchiveGRID, a catalog that allows users to search the holdings of multiple research libraries and archives.
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