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Series I: Leonard Alfred Schneider (aka Lenny Bruce) v. People of the State of New York,, 1960-1967
Series II: Attorney General of Massachusetts v. A Book Named Tropic of Cancer, 1947-1964

Ephraim London papers, 1940-1975

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Series II: Attorney General of Massachusetts v. A Book Named Tropic of Cancer, 1947-1964

Series II focuses on the uproar surrounding Grove Press's attempt to publish Tropic of Cancer in 1961. Legal correspondence follows the development of the case, and is highlighted by London's attempts to find leading cultural figures – including Jacques Barzun and Norman Mailer – to attest to the literary merits of Miller's controversial novel. The attorneys hired a clipping service to record every mention of censorship in the nation's newspapers. Much of this series is dedicated to the copious results of this effort. Hundreds of tear-sheets from around the country follow the public attitudes toward obscenity and reveal a loud debate over the American publication of Tropic of Cancer. The articles also follow local cases, including trials in California and Texas, of booksellers charged with selling obscene materials.


Box 3 Folder 2 Bills and Receipts, 1961

Box 3 Folder 3 Censorship--Texas, 1961

Box 3 Folder 4 Clippings--1960 November -, 1961 September

Box 3 Folder 5 Clippings--1961 October

Box 3 Folder 6 Clippings--1961 October

Box 3 Folder 7 Clippings--1961 November


Box 4 Folder 1 Clippings--, 1961 December - 1962 February

Box 4 Folder 2 Clippings--Bestseller Lists, 1961

Box 4 Folder 3 Clippings--Magazines, 1955-1964

Box 4 Folder 4 Copyright and Contracts, 1961

Box 4 Folder 5 Correspondence--General, 1961-1964

Box 4 Folder 6 Correspondence--Literary Merit, 1961-1962

Box 4 Folder 7 Court Documents, 1960-1962

Box 4 Folder 8 Grove Press--Distribution Contracts, 1961

Box 4 Folder 9 Grove Press--News Releases, 1961

Box 4 Folder 10 Legal Briefs and Drafts, 1961

Box 4 Folder 11 Memoranda of Law, 1961


Box 5 Folder 1 Trial Notes, 1947-1964