Frederic Dannay papers, 1920-1982

Creator:

Dannay, Frederic, 1905-1982

Extent:

85 linear feet 190 boxes, 1 flat box, 1 mapcase folder

Language:

English .

Scope and content:

Correspondence, outlines and drafts, manuscripts, letters of agreement, contracts, photographs, artwork, and memorabilia. The collection is divided into two parts: the Frederic Dannay papers and the files of ELLERY QUEEN'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE (EQMM). The Dannay papers consist of extensive correspondence with most of the notable mystery writers of this century, as well as well-known authors who sometimes wrote in that genre: Isaac Asimov; Lawrence Block; Ray Bradbury; Pearl S Buck; Edgar Rice Burroughs; James M. Cain; Raymond Chandler; Agatha Christie, etc. Most of the novels and short stories written by Dannay and Lee are represented in manuscript form: "The Roman Hat Mystery;" "Ten Day's Wonder;" "Cat of Many Tails;" "The Scarlet Letters;" "The Glass Village;" "The Player on the Other Side;" "And on the Eighth Day" etc. In addition, there are the manuscripts of books edited by Ellery Queen; manuscripts by Ellery Queen Jr.; scripts by Ellery Queen; poetry by Dannay; contracts between Dannay and Lee, as well as between them both as Ellery Queen and numerous parties. There are also manuscripts by such notables as Jorge Luis Borges; Erskine Caldwell; Raymond Chandler; Agatha Christie; Stanley Ellin; William Faulkner; Dashiell Hammett; O Henry; Nigel Morland; Georges Simenon; Muriel Spark; Julian Symons; Roy Vickers; and Cornell Woolrich.

The second part of this collection is the files of ELLERY QUEEN'S MYSTERY MAGAZINE (EQMM). Containing some 4,600 manuscripts submitted to the magazine over a period of 40 years, it is an unrivaled collection of its kind. Nearly all of the manuscripts have Dannay's manuscript corrections.

Biographical / historical:

Mystery writer, editor, critic of crime fiction, and coauthor with Manfred B. Lee of the Ellery Queen mystery novels and stories. Born Daniel Nathan in Brooklyn, New York on 20 October 1905, Frederic Dannay and his cousin Manfred B. Lee created Ellery Queen in 1929. In a series of novels starting with The Roman Hat Mystery (1929), The Devil to Pay (1938), Calamity Town (1942), Ten Days' Wonder (1948), Cat of Many Tails (1949), and And On the Eighth Day (1964), Dannay and Lee established Queen as one of the most influential and groundbreaking mystery novelists. The cousins also produced a number of mystery anthologies, as well as publishing the acclaimed Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine in 1941. Manfred B. Lee died in 1971, and Frederic Dannay died in White Plains, New York, on 3 September 1982.

Acquisition information:

Papers: Source of acquisition--Dannay, Richard and Douglas. Method of acquisition--Gift.

Custodial history:

Gift of Richard and Douglas Dannay, 1985 & 1987.

Processing information:

Papers Entered in AMC HR 02/--/91.

The EQMM series was physically renumbered consecutively after box 101 to avoid confusion. Series was added 07/2021 by YH.

Arrangement:

The papers are divided into two main sub-groups. The first sub-group consists of the papers of Frederic Dannay, and the second sub-group consists of the manuscripts submitted to Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine.

Frederic Dannay Papers Series I-VII are organized as follows: Cataloged correspondence, Boxes 1-8; Cataloged manuscripts, Boxes 8-63B; Arranged correspondence (chronological), Boxes 64-72; Arranged manuscripts, Boxes 73-78 & 89-90; Cataloged documents, Box 79; Arranged documents (alphabetical), Boxes 79-81; Arranged documents (chronological), Boxes 82-87; Cataloged photographs, Box 88; Arranged photographs and artwork, Box 88; Printed materials, Boxes 91-100; Objects and memorabilia, Box 101.

Series VII Ellery Queen's Mystery Magazine Series is organized as follows: Cataloged manuscripts, A-Z, Boxes 102-188; Arranged manuscripts, Box 189.

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:

Pearl S. Buck letter; manuscript of "The Glass Village" and "Notes on Wrightsville" are on: microfilm.

Access and use

Restrictions:

This collection is located on-site.

This collection has no restrictions.

Terms of access:

Readers must use microfilm of materials specified above.

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); Frederic Dannay papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.

Location of this collection:: Rare Book & Manuscript Library

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Collection