Harry Ransom CenterThe University of Texas at Austin

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Isaac Bashevis Singer Papers

Series Descriptions

Series I. Works, 1926-94, nd, 103 boxes

Singer's short stories, novels, plays, essays, introductions to books by other authors, poems, reviews, speeches, and lectures are arranged alphabetically by their English titles; if a work has not been published in English, it is filed under an English translation of its Yiddish title. For the most part, bibliographies by Roberta Saltzman and David Neal Miller have been the source of those English translations. Many works are present in both Yiddish and English form. Manuscripts are in English unless described otherwise. Descriptions of Singer's typescripts do not include information about duplicate copies and do not distinguish between photocopies and originals unless the work is a composite of different formats or a printer's copy. When two separate works share a title, they are filed separately.

Most of Singer's fiction from his arrival in the United States in 1935 until 1987 was first published in The Jewish Daily Forward (Forverts) and is represented in some form. However, while some of his nonfiction essays and reviews are present, most are not. For any given work, there may be handwritten and typescript drafts, including printer's copies; proofs; layout material; dust jackets; tearsheets; clippings of the printed text; translations; advertisements; or reviews. In addition, Singer's notebooks, located in Series V., contain some ideas and drafts for works. Many works were adapted for radio, the stage, or the screen, and these may also be represented by programs, production photographs, or posters.

Unidentified works are located at the end of the series. While no titles are available, for complete drafts and the larger fragments, other identifying information has been supplied in the folder list. This information can include character names, settings, or plots, as well as the format of the manuscript. Translation assistance for Yiddish and Hebrew works was provided by Joseph Sherman, and his notes on yellow paper are scattered throughout the manuscripts.

Series II. Correspondence, 1923, 1930-94, nd, 28 boxes

Correspondence is filed alphabetically and primarily consists of incoming letters, with some letters predating Singer's immigration to the United States but the majority dating from the 1940s until Singer's death in 1991. Letters dated after Singer's death in 1991 include condolence letters to his widow, Alma Singer, and her business correspondence with Singer's publishers and literary agent. A small amount of unidentified correspondence is filed at the end of the series.

Most of the letters are from fans, friends, family members, agents, publishers, translators, and universities or organizations arranging lecture appearances. Many of the fan letters are addressed to Singer's pseudonyms at Forverts and are in Yiddish. Numerous letters to and from Alma Singer before and during their marriage are present. Letters from other family members include those from Singer's brother, Israel Joshua Singer; his sister, Ester Kreytman; his nephew Maurice Carr; the mother of his son, Runia Pontsch; his son, Israel Zamir; and his mother, Batsheve Zylberman Singer. Among other personal correspondents are his friends and fellow authors A.M. Fuchs, Rachel Korn, Itzjok Perlow, Melech Ravitch, Morris Spiegel, Abraham Sutzkever, Shea Tenenbaum, Itzhak Yanazowicz, and Aaron Zeitlin; artists Sylvia Ary, Joyce Cutler-Shaw, Anna Maria Levine, Honey Rovit, and Nathan Hendel; and Sarah Hamer-Jacklyn, Frida Lurie, Mashe Shtuker-Payuk, Elizabeth Shub, Mona Shub, and Anna Welczer. Business correspondence includes letters from Singer's literary agent, Robert Lescher at Lescher & Lescher; publishers Bra Böcker, Brombergs Bokforlag, Carl Hanser Verlag, Doubleday and Company, Farrar Straus & Giroux, Harper & Row, and Stock (Firm); periodicals Forverts, Goldene Keyt, The New Yorker, and Harper's Magazine; translators Marie-Pierre Bay, Cecil Hemley, Elaine Gottlieb, Channah Klienerman, and Aliza Shevrin; and the National Jewish Welfare Board Lecture Bureau, which scheduled lecture and speaking engagements for Singer.

A complete list of correspondents may be found in the Index of Correspondents at the end of this inventory. Because of various transliteration possiblities, correspondence from a particular person may be found under more than one form of spelling. The limited amount of correspondence from Singer, which includes actual letters, photocopies of letters, or drafts in his hand or in Alma Singer's hand, is indicated in the index by a "(from Singer)" notation in the recipient's entry.

Series III. Financial and Legal Papers, 1940-95, nd, 11 boxes

Singer's financial papers are categorized as pertaining to income or expenses. Papers relating to Singer's income include publishing and production contracts and agreements; royalties and earnings statements; and contracts, invoices, and receipts for lectures and appearances. Papers related to expenditures include invoices, receipts, and other documents relating to travel, housing, medical, and insurance matters. Among other financial records are statements, cancelled checks, and other papers concerning checking and savings accounts, as well as investment and income tax papers. Legal papers, including literary copyrights, voter registrations , passports, Singer's death certificate, wills, and estate papers, conclude the series.

Series IV. Photographs and Works of Art, 1930-95, nd, 7.5 boxes

Numerous photographs of Singer at various times in his life are present. While most are portraits, others show Singer receiving honorary degrees and other awards (including the Nobel Prize), attending various functions and dinners, or giving talks. Photographs are subdivided by black and white or color processing and are grouped according to whether or not Singer is a subject. Among notable photographers are Jaacov Agor, Jerry Bauer, Nancy Crampton, Stefan Congrat-Butler, Bruce Davidson, and Thomas Victor. Snapshots are grouped separately, as are photographs of miscellaneous subjects. Portraits of Singer by artists Anna Barry, Gene Bonini, and Laura Ziegler, and artwork by Marton Garchik, Chris Pelletiere, Karl Schrag, Herschel Stroyman, and others conclude the series.

Series V. Personal Files, 1935-94, 11 boxes Personal Files include Singer's notebooks with Yiddish and English notes and drafts; miscellaneous notes made by Singer and his wife, Alma Singer; Singer's doodles; notebooks and flashcards made by Singer as an aid in learning French and English; appointment books, business cards, and resumes gathered by Singer during the course of his career; programs, flyers, notices, newsletters, and other printed matter mailed to Singer or acquired at exhibitions, lectures, etc.; and clippings regarding a variety of topics, blank greeting cards, and similar ephemera. Drawings made by children to illustrate stories they read are also present. Singer was the recipient of numerous awards and honors, and material relating to those are also included in this series. In particular, Nobel Prize material includes correspondence, travel papers, clippings, and Singer's medal and certificate. Singer's memberships in PEN and other organizations are represented by membership cards, receipts, newsletters, and other papers. Singer frequently gave lectures and made other appearances, and invitations, programs, advertisements, and similar material relating to those are present. Papers concerning Singer's funeral and his memorial monument conclude the series.

Series VI. Works about Singer and His Work, 1951-94, 6 boxes

Works about Singer and his writings include clippings about Singer; interviews, including material related to Richard Burgin's Conversations with Isaac Bashevis Singer; and bibliographies. Other works, such as articles, theses, poems, and books, are filed alphabetically by author and are comprised of typescripts, tearsheets, reprints, transcripts, and reviews .

Series VII. Works by Other Authors, 1775, 1929-91, 9.5 boxes

Works by other authors include playscripts, short stories, memoirs, books, treatises, articles, poems, and screenplays. Items lacking any identification precede titled works by unidentified authors and titled works by identified authors. Titled works by unidentified authors are filed alphabetically by title, while works with identified authors are filed alphabetically by author. Of particular note are a photocopy of a Yiddish handwritten poem by Aaron Isak dated 1775, a Yiddish translation of Allen Ginsberg's "Kaddish," a typescript speech by Erica Jong about Henry Miller , a photocopy typescript of "A Planet in Exile" by Chaim Potok, a corrected photocopy of a printer's copy typescript of Susan Fromberg Schaeffer's The Queen of Egypt and Other Stories, a photocopy typescript of Neil Simon's Plaza Suite, poems and memoirs by Alma Singer, and manuscripts of "Free Will and Extant Future" by Aaron Zeitlin.

Isaac Bashevis Singer Papers Finding Aid
Title Page Biographical
Sketch		 Scope and
Contents		 Series
Descriptions		 Folder List Index of
Correspondents		 Associated Materials


(Last modified: 3 September 2004 )

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