Dawn Powell papers, 1890s-2012, bulk 1890s-1965
Summary Information
Abstract
At a Glance
- Call No.:
- MS#1019
- Bib ID:
- 4079881 View CLIO record
- Creator(s):
- Powell, Dawn
- Repository:
- Rare Book and Manuscript Library
- Physical Description:
- 40 linear feet (73 document boxes, 4 half-sized document boxes, 6 record cartons, 3 flat boxes, 1 cassette box)
- Language(s):
- English .
- 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.
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The following boxes are located off-site: Boxes 5-85. 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.
Boxes 68, 70, 71, and 72 are missing as of 8.4.2023 and unavailble for use. CCR.
Description
Summary
Dawn Powell (1896-1965) was an American author of novels, plays, and short stories. The collection includes address books, appointment books, artwork, books, clippings, correspondence, diaries, ephemera, family materials, manuscripts, notes, notebooks, photographs, programs, research files, reviews, and scrapbooks.
The collection contains a great deal of correspondence, but it is scattered throughout the collection. Series I: Cataloged Correspondence was processed and arranged in the 1990s at the item level, with personal, family, and professional correspondence being arranged by name and then by date. Other correspondence was processed and arranged at the file level, and is filed in Series II: Arranged Correspondence and Series IX: Family Materials. There are also files in Series IV and Series X that include correspondence.
The papers include many manuscripts and typescripts of Powell's published and unpublished works. These materials can be found in Series III: Manuscripts and Related Materials. Where it is known that a work has multiple titles, these are noted in the finding aid, but these notes are not exhaustive, particularly for short stories. Series III also include copies of published plays and clippings of published articles, plays, reviews, and short stories. The collection also includes copies of many of Powell's published novels and these can be found in Series VII: Books.
Powell's professional files in Series IV: Professional Files include general clippings files and subject files. These include articles on Powell, contracts, correspondence, financial information, programs, remarks, and reviews of Powell's books and plays. Most subject files are related to specific projects or works. Files kept by Powell's executrix, Jacqueline Miller Rice, are also filed in Series IV, and include correspondence, financial, and legal records related to her handling of the estate from the 1960s-1990s.
The collection also includes a large amount of photographs, primarily personal and professional photographs of Powell, her family, and places of residence in both New York and Ohio.
Powell's personal files are also included in the collection, and include address books, appointment books, clippings on various subjects, diaries, various notes and notebooks, personal documents, school records, sketches and drawings, and travel records. There are also materials related to her family, including clippings, correspondence, journals, obituaries, photographs, school magazines, theater scrapbooks, and wills.
A few miscellaneous files are filed in Series X as chronological files. The materials in these files are loosely related by time period, but not to any particular personal or professional subject.
The provenance of this collection made the arrangement of the material difficult during processing. Powell's papers were left to an executrix, Jacqueline Miller Rice, after Powell's death in 1965. The papers largely came under the control of Tim Page in the 1990s, although some boxes of additional material were received after Rice's death in 2004. It is unclear how Powell filed and maintained her papers at this point: some material was clearly rearranged by others while other material was highly disorganized and required arrangement by the processing archivist. The source of any identifying notes and labels was unclear at the time of processing. Lastly, portions of the collection were deposited and then either donated or sold to Columbia University in several different tax years during the period of 1995-2014, and this affected how the papers were organized, processed, and maintained by the Library until processing of all collection materials was completed in 2019.
Another consequence of this history is that the collection includes correspondence and other records that date from well after Powell's death. These records were created and maintained primarily by Tim Page, Jacqueline Miller Rice, John Sherman, and by Powell's son, Jojo. Both Rice and Sherman generated and maintained files related to Powell's estate well into the 1990s, as Rice was Powell's executrix, and Sherman became Jojo's guardian after Powell's death. Jojo wrote to both Rice and Sherman throughout his life, and that correspondence is included in this collection, as well as his journal recording his memories of his mother, Dawn Powell. Lastly, correspondence, research files, and other records created by Tim Page in the course of his research work and the publication of his books on Powell are also included in this collection.
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Series I: Cataloged Correspondence, 1913-1965, undated
This series contains correspondence that was processed and arranged at the item level in the 1990s. Additional information on this correspondence can be found in the corresponding card catalog in the Rare Book & Manuscript Library.
Among the cataloged correspondents are: Malcolm Cowley (4 letters); John Dos Passos (57 letters); Ernest Hemingway (1 letter); Gerald and Sara Murphy (23 letters); Mark Schorer (2 letters); Edmund Wilson (15 letters); and Powell's own letters to her family.
See Series II for additional correspondence.
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Series II: Arranged Correspondence, 1917-1965, undated
This series contains correspondence that was processed and arranged at the file level. See Series I: Cataloged Correspondence, for additional correspondence files.
This series contains both personal and professional correspondence. There is some additional professional correspondence in both Series IV and Series X.
For family correspondence, see Series I, IX and X.
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Series III: Manuscripts and Related Materials, circa 1914-1965
This series contains clippings, manuscripts, typescripts, notes, and other materials related to Powell's published and unpublished works. Series III includes copies of published plays and clippings of published articles, reviews, and short stories. The collection also includes copies of many of Powell's published novels and these can be found in Series VII: Books.
Where it is known that a work has multiple titles, these are noted in the finding aid, but these notes are not exhaustive, particularly for short stories.
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Series IV: Professional Files, 1910s-1990s
This series contains clippings files with articles on Powell and reviews of her books and plays, as well as various subject files. There are also files related to Powell's estate kept by her executrix, Jacqueline Miller Rice, from the 1960s-1990s.
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Series V: Personal and Biographical Files, 1914-1965
This series contains address books, appointment books, biographical statements, clippings files, diaries, financial records, notebooks, obituaries, personal documents, school notebooks and records, travel records, and copies of Powell's will.
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Series VI: Photographs, 1890s-1960s
This series contains primarily personal and professional photographs of Powell, her family, and places of residence in both New York and Ohio. Many photographs were identified by Tim Page in the course of his research work, but the series also contains many unidentified snapshots.
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This series contains published editions of Powell's novels, as well as a few items published by friends.
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Series VIII: Sketches, Drawings and Portrait, 1950s, undated
This series contains various sketches and drawings, many with captions.
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Series IX: Family Materials, 1891-1992
This series contains material related to Powell's husband, son, and other extended family members. The records include address books, clippings, correspondence, diaries, financial records, journals, obituaries, school magazines, theater scrapbooks, and wills.
All photographs can be found in Series VI: Photographs.
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Series X: Chronological Materials, 1940s-1960s
This series contains several folders of mixed material that was largely disorganized, but roughly grouped together by time period. The folders include clippings, correspondence, drafts, miscellaneous manuscripts, notes, royalty statements, and other materials.
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Series XI: Tim Page Files, 1987-2012
This series contains articles, clippings, correspondence, proofs, research materials, typescripts, and other materials related to the research and publication of Page's books on Powell.
Arrangement
This collection is arranged in 11 series. Selected items cataloged; remainder arranged.
- Series I: Cataloged Correspondence, 1913-1965, undated
- Series II: Arranged Correspondence, 1917-1965, undated
- Series III: Manuscripts and Related Materials, circa 1914-1965
- Subseries III.1: Articles, 1920-1950, undated
- Subseries III.2: Novels, circa 1922-1965
- Subseries III.3: Plays, circa 1917-1964
- Subseries III.4: Poetry, 1925-1944, undated
- Subseries III.5: Reviews by Powell, 1926-1965
- Subseries III.6: Short Stories, circa 1914-1965
- Subseries III.7: Television and Film, 1940s-1950s
- Subseries III.8: Miscellaneous Manuscripts and Notes, 1920s-1965
- Series IV: Professional Files, 1910s-1990s
- Subseries IV.1: Clippings Files, 1920-1965
- Subseries IV.2: Subject Files, 1917-1965, 1983-1989
- Subseries IV.3 Estate Files, 1920s-1990s
- Series V: Personal and Biographical Files, 1914-1965
- Subseries V.1: Address and Appointment Books, 1920s-1964
- Subseries V.2: Diaries, 1914-1965
- Subseries V.3: Notes and Notebooks, circa 1918-1963, undated
- Subseries V.4: Other Papers, 1910s-1965
- Series VI: Photographs, 1890s-1960s
- Series VII: Books, 1923-1963
- Series VIII: Sketches, Drawings and Portrait, 1950s, undated
- Series IX: Family Materials, 1891-1992
- Subseries IX.1: Joseph R. Gousha, 1891-1962
- Subseries IX.2: Joseph "Jojo" R. Gousha, Jr., 1921-1997
- Subseries IX.3: Other Family Materials, 1930s-1994
- Series X: Chronological Materials, 1940s-1960s
- Series XI: Tim Page Files, 1987-2012
Using the Collection
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.
The following boxes are located off-site: Boxes 5-85. 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.
Boxes 68, 70, 71, and 72 are missing as of 8.4.2023 and unavailble for use. CCR.
Terms Governing Use and Reproduction
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); Dawn Powell papers; Box and Folder; Rare Book and Manuscript Library, Columbia University Library.
Accruals
Materials may have been added to the collection since this finding aid was prepared. Contact rbml@columbia.edu for more information.
Ownership and Custodial History
Gift of Mrs Elizabeth T. Page, 1995.
Gift of Tim Page in memory of Mrs Elizabeth T. Page, 1995, 1996, 1997, 1998 & 2000.
Gift of John F. Sherman, 2000.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Letters of John Dos Passos & Edmund Wilson: Source of acquisition--Page, Tim. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--12/28/1995. Accession number--M-95-12-28.
Letter from Dawn Powell to her sisters: Source of acquisition--Mrs Elizabeth T. Page. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--03/30/1995. Accession number--M-95-03-30.
Cowley, Hemingway, Murphey, Schorer letters: Source of acquisition--Page, Tim. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--12/26/1996. Accession number--M-96-12-26.
Letters to Dawn Powell: Source of acquisition--Page, Tim. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--12/31/1997. Accession number--M-97-12-31.
4 scrapbooks of J.R. Gousha: Source of acquisition--Page, Tim. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--12/--/1998. Accession number--M-98-12.
Mss. & proofs: Source of acquisition--Page, Tim. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--12/15/1998. Accession number--M-98-12-15.
Papers: Source of acquisition--Page, Tim. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--09/21/2000. Accession number--M-09-21-00.
4 Diaries & printed materials: Source of acquisition--Sherman, John F. Method of acquisition--Gift; Date of acquisition--09/04/2000. Accession number--M-09-04-00.
Several additional gifts made by Tim Page after 2000. Any material not already owned by Columbia University was purchased from Tim Page in 2014.
Letters, telegrams, and postcards from Dawn Powell to Isabel Gousha (Mathews) (Hofmeyer) dating from circa 1950, 1960-1964, and undated. Included in these letters is a handwritten letter from Joseph Gousha and Dawn Powell's son, Jojo Gousha, to Isabel. In addition, 15 pictures (mostly from the 1930s) that include pictures of Jojo Gousha in 1979, and two newspaper articles which include one written by Dawn Powell. Purchased from: Carla Mathews-Graham (1952-) and Carl Y. Mathews, Jr. (1928-2019), children of Carl Y. Mathews, Sr. (1900-1970). Accession# 2023-2024-M112. Date of Acquisition: April 3, 2024.
About the Finding Aid / Processing Information
Columbia University Libraries, Rare Book and Manuscript Library
Processing Information
Letters of John Dos Passos & Edmund Wilson Cataloged HR 02/02/1996.
Letter from Dawn Powell to her sisters Cataloged HR 04/09/1996.
Cowley, Hemingway, Murphey, Schorer letters Cataloged HR 02/26/1997.
Letters to Dawn Powell Processed HR 03/11/1998.
4 scrapbooks of J.R. Gousha Processed HR 03/02/1999.
Mss. & proofs Processed HR 05/28/1999.
Papers Cataloged HR 10/09/2000.
4 Diaries & printed materials Processed HR 10/09/2000.
Boxes 1-26 of this collection were processed by HR, 1996-2000. Additional material (Boxes 27-86) was processed by Catherine C. Ricciardi and Jessica Liston (Columbia College 2020), 2016-2019, 2023-2024.
Revision Description
2009-07-07 File created.
2011-03-08 XML document instance created by Catherine C. Ricciardi
2019-05-20 EAD was imported spring 2019 as part of the ArchivesSpace Phase II migration.
2023-08-17 Added a small amount of unprocessed material to the collection: a second copy of The Bride's House, a few unidentified photographs (not of Powell), and a file ot Tim Page's research materials. CCR.
2024-04-10 Added Accession# 2023-2024-M112 materials to the collection. CCR.
Biographical Note
Dawn Powell was born on November 28, 1896 in Mount Gilead, Ohio.
Powell was the second of three daughters born to Roy King and Hattie (née Sherman) Powell. Hattie Powell died in 1903, and as her father often worked as a traveling salesman, Powell lived with a series of relatives after her death. Roy King Powell married Sabra Stearns in 1907, and thereafter left his daughters in their stepmother's care. After Stearns proved to be abusive, Powell ran away from home in 1910 to live with her aunt, Orpha May Sherman Steinbrueck, in Shelby, Ohio. Aunt May supported both Powell's education and her literary work. Powell went to Shelby High School, and with the financial assistance of her aunt, neighbors, and the college, went to college at Lake Erie College in Painesville, Ohio.
After graduating from Lake Erie College in 1918, Powell went to New York City, where she lived for the remainder of her life. After her arrival in the city, Powell did free-lance writing for newspapers and magazines, and worked at a series of jobs. While she was working for the Interchurch World Movement, she met Joseph R. Gousha, and they were married in November 1920. Their only child, Joseph "Jojo" R. Gousha, Jr., was born on August 22, 1921. He was severely handicapped, with what today might be diagnosed as autism.
Powell ultimately wrote sixteen novels, several plays, and more than 100 short stories. She also kept extensive diaries, particularly after 1930. Whither, her first novel, was published in 1925, although Powell always referred to She Walks in Beauty (1928) as her first novel. Reviews of early novels were uneven, and they were not commercially successful. Powell published several other novels during the 1930s and 1940s, including Turn, Magic Wheel (1936), Angels on Toast (1940), A Time to be Born (1942), which was her greatest commercial success, My Home is Far Away (1944), and The Locusts Have No King (1948). Later novels included The Golden Spur (1962), which was a finalist for the National Book Award in 1963.
Powell was known for her stinging social satires. Although some of her work was admired by critics, it was not commercially successful on the whole. Most of Powell's published novels and plays were out of print at the time of her death in 1965. Long after her death, an essay was written by Gore Vidal in 1987 prompted a rediscovery of her work. During the 1990s, Tim Page worked with Powell's family to free Powell's papers and copyrights from the control of her original executrix, Jacqueline Miller Rice. After this was accomplished, a biography and selections from Powell's diaries and letters were published by Tim Page, and many of her works came back into print.
Powell died on November 14, 1965 in New York City, of colon cancer. She donated her body to Cornell Medical Center for medical research, and was eventually buried at Hart's Island after her executrix, Jacqueline Miller Rice, declined to claim her remains five years later.
Subject Headings
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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