Summary Information
Abstract
This collection contains primarily articles and manuscripts by
the crime writer Cornell Woolrich.
At a Glance
| Call No.: | MS#1379 |
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| Bib ID: | 4079630 View CLIO record |
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| Creator(s): | Woolrich, Cornell, 1903-1968. |
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| Title: | Cornell Woolrich
Papers,
1958-1964
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| Physical description: | 1.5 linear feet (3 document boxes)
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| Language(s): | In English
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| Access: |
This collection has no restrictions.
This collection is located on-site.
More information » |
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Arrangement
Arrangement
This collection is arranged into two series.
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Description
Scope and Content
The bulk of the collection consists of drafts of articles, manuscripts, and plays. There
is also a small amount of correspondence and personal items.
Series I: Subject Files, 1934-1968
This small series holds correspondence between Cornell Woolrich and his friend
William Thailing. The letters span the bulk of Woolrich's life. Of interest are
several cancelled checks made out to Woolrich as payment for twelve stories,
including his first story in a pulp magazine.
Series II: Writings, 1937-1960
Series II contains drafts of several novels, plays, and a run of short stories.
There are also portions of Woolrich's unpublished "autobiography."
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Using the Collection
RBML
Access Restrictions
This collection has no restrictions.
This collection is located on-site.
Restrictions on Use
Single photocopies may be made for research purposes. The responsibility to secure
copyright permission rests with the patron.
Preferred Citation
Identification of specific item; Date (if known); Cornell Woolrich Papers, Box and
Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Selected Related Material at Columbia
Frederic Dannay Papers, 1920-1982
Columbia University, Rare Book & Manuscript Library
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About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries. Rare Book and
Manuscript Library; machine readable finding aid created by Columbia University
Libraries Digital Library Program Division
Processing Information
Manuscripts Entered in AMC 12/05/1990
Collection reprocessed with additions integrated in June 2010 by Lea Osborne.
Machine readable finding aid generated from MARC-AMC source via XSLT conversion
June 26, 2009
Finding aid written in English.
2010-07-13
xml document instance created by Lea Osborne.
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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.
Genre/Form
Subjects
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History / Biographical Note
Biographical Note
Cornell George Hopley-Woolrich was born on December 14, 1903 in New York City to Genero
and Claire (neé Attalic) Hopley-Woolrich. In 1907 the family moved to Mexico and Genero
and Claire divorced soon after. Cornell stayed with his father in Mexico for the
duration of his childhood. As a teenager, he returned to the United States and lived
with his mother, his aunt, and his grandfather on West 113th street. Cornell attended
DeWitt Clinton High School and went on to attend Columbia University. He would have
graduated in 1925, but dropped out his senior year.
Upon leaving school, Woolrich had a brief marriage to Gloria (Violet Virginia) Blackton.
Woolrich befriended Blackton and her sister, Marion. After a few short dates, they
married on December 6, 1930. A month later, Woolrich disappeared. While he was gone
Gloria Blackton discovered his diary and realized that he had been having daily affairs
with men throughout their marriage. She quickly divorced him. Woolrich moved back in
with his mother and lived with her in the Hotel Marseilles until she died in 1957.
Although he was a guarded and mysterious individual, Woolrich was also a prolific author
writing crime and suspense novels and short stories. Many of his works were adapted into
films, radio and television plays. He is perhaps most known for his 1942 short story "It
Had to be Murder" which was adapted into the Hitchcock directed classic,
Rear Window.
Woolrich also wrote under the pen name of
William Irish.
He continued to write his whole life, however, he became even more of a recluse after
his mother died. Woolrich stayed in his hotel room until he died in 1968. There is very
little information about his personal life and the information that exists may or may
not be true. Woolrich wrote an autobiography (unpublished), yet he sensationalized much
of it and in some cases fabricated complete parts of it.
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