Newly processed archival collections at the Beinecke, July through September 2025
The following information on recent archival processing work at Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library was written by Mary Caldera, Associate Director for Archival Description.
Beinecke staff have made available several new collections and additions to existing collections, including:
New collections
Adelbert F. Whitcomb correspondence and photographs (WA MSS S-4561)
Correspondence and photographic prints sent to Palmyra E. Whitcomb by family members predominately from her son, Adelbert Finney Whitcomb, detailing his life in late 19th through early 20th century America as a railway civil engineer for the Montana Central Railway, and as the chief engineer of the Western Division of the Great Northern headquarters in Spokane, Washington. During this time, Adelbert spent time being treated at several prominent wellness sanitariums throughout the United States, which included the Battle Creek Sanitarium run by Dr. John Harvey Kellogg in Battle Creek, Michigan, and The Jackson Sanitarium in Dansville, New York. (1.46 linear feet)
Benno C. Schmidt, Jr. personal papers (MS 1563)
The Benno Schmidt Jr. personal papers consist of correspondence, writings, personal papers, photographs, and other documentation related to Benno Schmidt Jr.’s career and personal life. (25.67 linear feet)
Camille Paglia papers (MS 2134)
The collection contains Paglia’s professional papers including business and fan correspondence, recordings of her media interviews, written interviews, articles and columns written by Paglia, press material relating to Paglia and her work, and posters promoting her books and speaking events. The collection does not include any manuscripts of her books. (22 linear feet and 222.53 gigabytes)
Daniel Pinello papers (GEN MSS 2159)
This collection contains thirty letters to Daniel Pinello from his former honors thesis advisor, Williams College professor Frederick Rudolph. (.5 linear feet)
Robert Ashe papers (GEN MSS 2157)
The Robert Ashe papers consist of correspondence, reports, photographs, press clippings, publications, and maps documenting British humanitarian worker Robert Ashe’s involvement with international relief efforts to aid Cambodian refugees in the late 1970s and early 1980s. The collection provides a window into Ashe’s experience directing a refugee camp amidst a complex political situation and in coordination with several international humanitarian organizations. Much of the materials also document the experiences of Cambodians fleeing political violence, famine, and economic devastation in the aftermath of the Cambodian Genocide and subsequent Vietnamese occupation of Cambodia. (8.08 linear feet)
Additions to existing collections
Alfred Corn papers (addition) (YCAL MSS 605)
The addition contains correspondence, writings, audiovisual material documenting aspects of Alfred Corn’s work as a poet and writer. (2.83 linear feet)
Black Panther Party collection (addition) (GEN MSS 2097)
The addition contains four internal documents issued by the New Haven chapter of the Black Panther Party. (.21 linear feet)
Donald Nicholson-Smith papers (addition) (GEN MSS 2131)
This series contains posters, pamphlets, handbills, booklets, and ephemera collected by Donald Nicholson-Smith and created by others. Includes documentation of Nicholson-Smith’s international relations with radical and anarchist groups from the 1960s and 70s. (.21 linear feet)
Erica Van Horn papers (addition) (YCAL MSS 863)
The addition includes work files, manuscripts, correspondence, documentation, clippings, art pieces, audiovisual material, born-digital material, notebooks, journals, photographic prints, calendars, and other printed materials. (49.67 linear feet)
Fitz-Greene Halleck collection (addition) (YCAL MSS 562)
The addition consists of correspondence, a portrait of Halleck, and a manuscript copy of “Young America.” (.25 linear feet)
Frederick Russell Burnham papers (addition) (MS 115)
Contains twenty-six films detailing the world travels of Frederick Russell Burnham and his family. (1.25 linear feet)
Kent State collection (addition) (MS 804)
Contains research, manuscripts, correspondence, photographic prints, news clippings, scrapbooks, volumes, audiovisual material, and born-digital material detailing the events, history, and lives of those impacted by the 1970 Kent State shootings. (17 linear feet)
Louise Glück papers (addition) (YCAL MSS 946)
The addition contains correspondence, writings, photographs, printed material, and other papers by or relating to Louise Glück. (8.34 linear feet)
Mustapha Khayati papers (additions) (GEN MSS 1480)
The additions contain issues of “Hapt” magazine, interviews, typescripts, drafts, writings, and other materials created by or related to the life and work of Mustapha Khayati. (1.67 linear feet)