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Harry Altshuler papers

 Collection
Call Number: MS 251

Overview

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania native Harry Altshuler (1912-1990) was a journalist, literary agent, and author. This collection of his papers reflects his years as a literary agent, containing numerous tearsheets of stories sold by Altshuler, as well as his business correspondence with authors and literary representatives.

Dates

  • Creation: 1944 - 1994

Creator

Conditions Governing Access

These materials are stored in the KU Annex off-site storage area.

All researchers interested in reviewing this material must consult Spencer Research Library staff (785-864-4334 or ksrlref@ku.edu, 9-5 M-F CST) no less than three days in advance of a planned visit. Be advised that drop-in requests for this material cannot be accommodated.

Conditions Governing Use

Spencer Library staff may determine use restrictions dependent on the physical condition of manuscript materials.

Biography of Harry Altshuler

Harry Altshuler was born June 25, 1912 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. He was a was a journalist, literary agent, and author. Altshuler joined The Newark Star-Ledger in 1947. He moved to The New York Mirror as a rewrite man in 1955 and later was a feature writer for The World-Telegram and The Sun.

Altshuler published a novel in 1968, entitled She's Crazy, You'll Love Her, under the pseudonym Joe Bruns.

As a literary agent, Altshuler worked with Robert Bloch, author of Psycho, the text that inspired Alfred Hitchcock's movie, and with other Science Fiction authors such as Roger Dee, Franklin Gregory, and Robert Sheckley.

Later in his career, Altshuler worked for The National Enquirer and The Globe. He died in 1990.

Extent

3 Linear Feet (6 document cases)

Language of Materials

English

Scope and Contents

The Harry Altshuler papers range in date from 1944-1994 and contain professional correspondence and papers that reflect his career as a literary agent. Correspondence is the largest portion of the collection at 1.5 linear feet (3 boxes). The correspondence is generally between Altshuler and his clients, but is also between Altshuler and various publishers and reflect the interests of his clients. Publishers represented in the collection include but are not limited to Ballantine Books, Bantam Books, Candar Publishing, Dell, Good Housekeeping, Harlequin, Ladies Home Journal, McCall's, New American Library, New York Times Book Review, Pyramid Communications, Silhouette, and Warner Books. Among the correspondence are also Royalty Earning reports and publisher catalogs.

The tearsheets of stories sold by Altshuler are 1 linear foot (2 boxes) of the collection. These reflect approximately 114 stories that Altshuler sold to various magazines. The authors represented are Franklin Gregory, Roger Dee, Robert Sheckley, Alice Eleanor Jones, and Damon Knight.

Franklin Gregory's collection of short stories, Beyond the Blue Door, is contained in the smallest portion of the collection at .5 linear foot (1 box). This portion of the collection includes the table of contents for Beyond the Blue Door and correspondence about the book. There are also handwritten lists on manila envelopes with lists of submissions of various short stories and a list of authors.

Physical Location

MS 251

Physical Location

Contact Spencer Library Public Services (Library Annex)

Other Finding Aids

More detailed information about the correspondence is available at ksrl.sc.altshulerharry.pdf.

Immediate Source of Acquisition

Gift, Jean Altshuler, 1994.

Title
Guide to the Harry Altshuler Collection
Subtitle
Harry Altshuler papers
Author
Finding aid prepared by mkt, 2008. Finding aid encoded by mkt, 2008. Finding aid revised by mwh, 2018.
Date
2008
Description rules
Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Language of description
Finding aid written in<language encodinganalog="language">English</language>
Finding aid permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/10407/1296928335
Preferred citation
Harry Altshuler papers, Department of Special Collections, MS 251, Kenneth Spencer Research Library, University of Kansas

Repository Details

Part of the University of Kansas. Kenneth Spencer Research Library Repository

Contact:
1450 Poplar Lane
Lawrence KS 66045-7616 United States
785-864-4334