James T. Farrell Centenary Committee Records
Scope and Content of the Collection
Correspondence, planning, publicity, photographs, and event materials primarily compiled by Ron Offen, the chairperson for the James T. Farrell Centenary Committee. The committee’s purpose was to organize support for the recognition of author James T. Farrell by the city of Chicago, arrange events related to the centennial of Farrell’s birth, and to establish the Honorary James T. Farrell Way. Other members of the committee included Charles Fanning, John L. Harvey, William Lederer, and Ellen Skerrett.
Collection includes an official proclamation for James. T. Farrell Day in Chicago and the resolution for the Honorary James T. Farrell, located at South Indiana Avenue between 57th and 58th Streets in Chicago. Postcard responses supporting Farrell’s recognition by the city of Chicago are signed by a variety of writers and scholars including Saul Bellow, Martin Marty, Arthur Schlesinger Jr., Harry Petrakis, Norman Mailer, Stuart Dybeck, and Studs Terkel.
This collection contains materials previously classified as Midwest MS 36, Midwest MS 39, Midwest MS 52, and Midwest MS 57.
Dates
- Creation: 2004-2005
Creator
- James T. Farrell Centenary Committee (Organization)
Language
Materials are in English.
Conditions Governing Access
The James T. Farrell Centenary Committee Records are open for research in the Special Collections Reading Room; 1 box at a time (Priority III).
Ownership and Literary Rights
The James T. Farrell Centenary Committee Records are the physical property of the Newberry Library. Copyright may belong to the authors or their legal heirs or assigns. For permission to publish or reproduce any materials from this collection, contact the Roger and Julie Baskes Department of Special Collections.
Biography of James T. Farrell
Twentieth century American author.
Born and raised in South Chicago to immigrant Irish parents, Farrell is best known for his Chicago-based Studs Lonigan trilogy, 1932-1935. Having dropped out of college to become a writer, Farrell settled in New York City, where he began a productive writing career. Besides Studs Lonigan, he published short stories, literary criticism, and poetry, and gave numerous lectures and speeches. Farrell was one of the most influential and well-educated novelists of the 1930s and 1940s, in the tradition of literary intellectuals combining left-wing politics and creative writing. He died in 1979.
Extent
0.4 Linear Feet (1 box)
Abstract
Correspondence, planning, publicity, photographs, and event materials from the James T. Farrell Centenary Committee, a group who organized support for the recognition of author James T. Farrell and activities celebrating the 2004 centennial of Farrell’s birth in Chicago.
Arrangement
Materials arranged alphabetically.
Collection Stack Location
1 41 1
Provenance
Gifts, Kevin Farrell, 2004; Ron Offen, 2004, 2010.
Processed by
Catherine Grandgeorge, 2018.
Subject
- James T. Farrell Centenary Committee (Organization)
- Offen, Ron (Person)
- Farrell, James T. (James Thomas), 1904-1979 (Person)
- Title
- Inventory of the James T. Farrell Centenary Committee Records, 2004-2005
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Catherine Grandgeorge
- Date
- ©2018.
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Repository Details
Part of the The Newberry Library - Modern Manuscripts and Archives Repository
60 West Walton Street
Chicago Illinois 60610 United States
312-255-3512
reference@newberry.org