Nelson Algren Collection, 1933-1999.

  • Collection ID ARCHIVES NAC
  • Creator Names Algren, Nelson, 1909-1981.
  • Title The Nelson Algren collection, 1933-1999.
  • Physical description 8 linear feet
  • Collection arrangement The arrangement of the Collection follows the organization laid out in Nelson Algren: A Descriptive Bibliography by Matthew J. Bruccoli. It begins with the first edition of Algren's first book, Somebody in Boots and then moves to subsequent editions of this work. It continues chronologically through various editions of each of Algren's books, before shifting to short stories and other pieces published in anthologies, magazines and newspapers. The numbers at the beginning of each entry are from Bruccoli's Bibliography.
  • Biographical or Historical Note Nelson Algren, born in 1909 in Detroit, spent the majority of his adult life in Chicago. His love/hate relationship with the city and his affinity with the disenfranchised of society are reflected in such works as Neon Wilderness, The Man with the Golden Arm, for which he won the National Book Award in 1950, and Chicago: City on the Make. The caustic tone, and cynical nature of Algren did not often make him a favorite of the critics or "literary establishment" of Chicago. The antagonism between Algren and the city establishment eventually turned him bitter toward Chicago, and led to his departure for New Jersey in 1975.
  • Collection summary This collection includes the entire range of Algren's works, from his first short story entitled "So Help Me," published in Story in 1933 to The Devil's Stocking, published posthumously in 1983. The collection contains an array of newspaper articles, interviews, bookdealer catalogs, reviews and photographs. It also includes articles and reviews of Algren's work by other writers and critics. These additional materials provide insight not only to his talent as a writer but also to his interest in the social and cultural issues of the time.
  • Access and usage restrictions Available for research in the Special Collections and Preservation Division Reading Room of the Chicago Public Library.
  • Acquisition information The Chicago Public Library purchased the collection in 1985 from Paul and Beth Garon of Beasley Books in Chicago. They had developed it over a period of 20 years. It was the focus of a major exhibition on Algren - "Writing in the First Person: Nelson Algren, 1909-1981"--Mounted by the Special Collections Department in 1985. Since the exhibition, Special Collections has continued to add material.
  • Finding Aids Note Finding aid available in the Reading Room of the Special Collections and Preservation Division and on the library's web site.
  • Names
    • Algren, Nelson, 1909-1981 Archives.
    • Algren, Nelson, 1909-1981 Criticism and interpretation Sources.
    • Algren, Nelson, 1909-1981. fast (OCoLC)fst00011236
  • Genre
    • Archives. fast (OCoLC)fst01423700
    • Criticism, interpretation, etc. fast (OCoLC)fst01411635
    • Sources. fast (OCoLC)fst01423900
  • Finding aid URL Finding aid http://www.chipublib.org/fa-nelson-algren-collection/