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Finding Aid

Lyle Saxon papers

Overview

Scope and Contents

Biographical Note

Administrative Information

Detailed Description

Correspondence

Correspondence and diary

Writings

Other manuscripts

Works Progress Administration (WPA) Writer's Program

Photographs

Newspaper clippings

Printed materials

Poems of Elizabeth Lyle Saxon and other volumes

Correspondence, newspaper clippings, photograph

Correspondence

Chambers photograph collection of Lyle Saxon

Publications and drawings

Other papers

Lyle Saxon papers, 1879-1949 | Louisiana Research Collection

By Eira Tansey

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Collection Overview

Title: Lyle Saxon papers, 1879-1949

Predominant Dates:1929-1945

ID: LaRC/Manuscripts Collection 4

Primary Creator: Saxon, Lyle, 1891-1946.

Extent: 20.0 Boxes. More info below.

Arrangement: The collection is arranged by topic, then chronologically. The collection consists of 20 boxes, 10 volumes, and 4 oversize folders. Several of the volumes are housed in Box 17. The collection is 12 linear feet.

Date Acquired: 03/20/1947

Subjects: Arts and society -- Louisiana -- History -- 20th century., Authors, American -- 20th century., Journalists -- United States., Louisiana Writers' Project., New Orleans (La.) -- Intellectual life -- 20th century., Saxon, Lyle, 1891-1946., Saxon family -- Genealogy., United States. Works Progress Administration of Louisiana.

Forms of Material: Clippings (information artifacts), Correspondence., Diaries., Manuscripts for publication., Negatives (photographic), Notes., Photographs.

Languages: English

Scope and Contents of the Materials

Correspondence, research notes, manuscripts and other personal papers of journalist and author Lyle Saxon. He published four books between 1927 and 1930: Father Mississippi, Fabulous New Orleans, Lafitte the Pirate, and Old Louisiana. In 1935, Saxon became director of the Works Progress Administration's Louisiana Writers Project, publishing the New Orleans City Guide, the Louisiana Guide, and Gumbo Ya-ya. His book, Children of Strangers was published in 1937.

Biographical Note

Lyle Saxon was born in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, on September 4, 1891. He was associated with the literary circle in the French Quarter of New Orleans during much of the first half of the twentieth century; he was widely known as a journalist and author of fiction and nonfiction relating primarily to historical Louisiana and New Orleans. His writings often feature racial and ethnic cultural subjects. He worked for newspapers in Chicago and New Orleans, including the Times-Picayune (1918-1926). He was given the O. Henry Memorial Award in 1926 for the short story, "Crane River." He served as the Director of the Federal Writers' Project in Louisiana in the 1930s. Lyle Saxon died on April 9, 1946, in New Orleans.

Subject/Index Terms

Arts and society -- Louisiana -- History -- 20th century.
Authors, American -- 20th century.
Journalists -- United States.
Louisiana Writers' Project.
New Orleans (La.) -- Intellectual life -- 20th century.
Saxon, Lyle, 1891-1946.
Saxon family -- Genealogy.
United States. Works Progress Administration of Louisiana.

Administrative Information

Repository: Louisiana Research Collection

Alternate Extent Statement: 12 linear feet

Access Restrictions: Collection is open to the public. No known restrictions.

Use Restrictions: Physical rights are retained by the Louisiana Research Collection. Copyright is retained in accordance with U.S. copyright laws.

Acquisition Source: Maude and Elizabeth Chambers.

Acquisition Method: Gift.

Preferred Citation: Lyle Saxon papers, Manuscripts Collection 4, Louisiana Research Collection, Howard-Tilton Memorial Library, Tulane University, New Orleans, LA 70118.

Finding Aid Revision History: Subject headings added 4/16/2010. Finding aid information entered in Archon by LAC Group in 2011. Revised by LAC Group 10/17/11.

Other Note: OCLC Number: 587703831

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Box:

[Box 1: Correspondence, 1888-1929 July 15],
[Box 2: Correspondence, 1929 July 16-1935],
[Box 3: Correspondence, 1936-1937 September],
[Box 4: Correspondence, 1937 October-1939 July],
[Box 5: Correspondence, 1939 August-1942 May],
[Box 6: Correspondence, 1942-1946 June],
[Box 7: Correspondence and diary, undated; 1933-1934],
[Box 8: Writings, 1914-1927],
[Box 9: Writings, 1928-1929],
[Box 11: Writings, 1937-1945],
[Box 12: Other manuscripts],
[Box 13: Works Progress Administration (WPA) Writer's Program],
[Box 14: Photographs],
[Box 15: Newspaper clippings, 1879-1946],
[Box 16: Printed materials],
[Box 17: Poems of Elizabeth Lyle Saxon and other volumes],
[Box 18: Correspondence, newspaper clippings, photograph],
[Box 19: Correspondence],
[Box 20: Chambers photograph collection of Lyle Saxon],
[Oversize folder 1: Publications and drawings],
[Oversize folder 2: Other papers],
[Oversize folder 3: Other papers],
[All]

Box 13: Works Progress Administration (WPA) Writer's Program

List of WPA materials sent to Louisiana Library Commission

Plantation and Planters of Louisiana

Negro in Louisiana

Marie Laveau

Folder 1: List of Research Files, 1941-1942
Folder 2: List of materials sent to the Lousiana Library Commission, undated
Folder 3: Lambre Family Geneaology, undated
Folder 4: WPA data at Howard-Tilton Library, undated
Folder 5: Plantations and Planters of Louisiana, undated
Folder 6: Outline of The Negro in Louisiana, undated
Folder 7: Marie Laveau WPA article materials, 1832-1897
Folder 8: COPY FOLDER Marie Laveau WPA article materials, 1832-1897
Folder 9: Zoe Posey, Plantations and Planters of Louisiana, 1940

Tulane University Special Collections