Watkins Loomis records, 1883-2007 2013-2018

Creator:: Watkins Loomis, Inc
Extent:: 205.5 linear feet 410 boxes 42 volumes 27 card file drawers
Language:: English .
Scope and content:: Correspondence, manuscripts, memoranda, contracts, and other legal documents, account books, royalty statements and other financial records, photographs, printed materials, and card files of the Watkins Loomis, Inc. literary agency. The papers deal with editorial, financial, and legal aspects of publishing, magazine, theatrical and film rights, and all other personal and professional activities of their American and English clients. Among these clients have been Michael Arlen, Frances Hodgson Burnett, Theodore Dreiser, Ernest Hemingway, Sinclair Lewis, Carson McCullers, Ezra Pound, Ayn Rand, Dorothy Sayers, Gertrude Stein, and Dylan Thomas.
Biographical / historical:: Literary agency. Ann Watkins (Angeline Whiton Watkins Davis Burlingame) 1885-1967) became a literary agent in 1910 and retired in 1957. Her son, Armitage Watkins (b. 1906), continues to operate the agency. In 1980 the agency changed its name from A. Watkins to Watkins Loomis.

Acquisition information:

Method of acquisition--Purchase; Date of acquisition--1982. Accession number--M-82.

Processing information:

Cataloged Christina Hilton Fenn 09/--/89.

Katia Shraga, May 2019: prefixes (Roman numbers I and II) were added to box numbers of 11 boxes of Series I and Series II correspondingly. Now numeration of boxes in Series I is: boxes I.1-I.6; numeration of boxes in Series II is: boxes II.7-II.11. Box labels and stack directory were adjusted and updated accordingly.

Arrangement:

This collection is arranged into 14 series.

Accruals:

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

Rules or conventions:

Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Alternative form available:

John Dixon Carr letters and manuscripts are on microfilm

Access and use

Restrictions:

The files of Peter DeVries and Glendon Swartwout are CLOSED until one year after each author's death except with the written permission of the current presiding officer of Watkins Loomis, Inc.

The following boxes are located off-site: Series III-Series VIII (boxes 1-207); Series IX-Series XI (boxes 1-69); Series XII-Series XIII (boxes 277-397). You will need to request this material from the Rare Book and Manuscript Library at least three business days in advance to use the collection in the Rare Book and Manuscript Library reading room.

Terms of access:

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.

Preferred citation:: Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Watkins Loomis Records; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

RBML Home Page
6th Floor East Butler Library
535 West 114th Street
New York, NY 10027, USA
Before you visit:: Researchers interested in viewing materials in the RBML reading room must must book an appointment at least 7 days in advance. To make the most of your visit, be sure to request your desired materials before booking your appointment, as researchers are limited to 5 items per day.

Contact:: rbml@library.columbia.edu

Collection