Skip to main content

Kyle Crichton Letters to Clinton P. Anderson

 Collection
Identifier: MSS-269-SC

Scope and Content

This small collection contains two letters written to then New Mexico Representative Clinton Anderson. Written on Collier's stationary, Crichton thanks Anderson for his inquiry and promises to send Anderson a signed copy when his novel, The Proud People is released. The second letter thanks Anderson for his comments after reading the novel. Both letters are typed and signed by Crichton. The collection was previously called Kyle Crichton Papers.

Dates

  • 1944

Language of Materials

English

Access Restrictions

Collection is open for research.

Copy Restrictions

Limited duplication of CSWR material is allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for compliance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution.

Biography

Novelist, critic and editor, Kyle S. Crichton, moved to New Mexico for health reasons after graduating from Lehigh University in 1917. Following his residence in the Presbyterian Sanitorium, Crichton worked for both the Albuquerque Herald and Albuquerque Tribune. Later he married Mae Collier and had three children with her. While in New Mexico he became the Commissioner of the State Bureau of Publicity and manager of the Albuquerque Civic Council. He also wrote a biography on the colorful New Mexico lawman Elfego Baca entitled, Law and Order ltd.: The Rousing Life of Elfego Baca of New Mexico.

In 1929 Crichton moved to New York to work as a book editor for Scribner's. Deeply affected by the Great Depression, Crichton began writing under the pseudonym "Robert Forsythe" for the communist Daily Worker and became editor of the left-wing magazine, New Masses. In 1939 Collier's Weekly hired him as an associate editor. Writing under his own name, Crichton remained at Collier's until 1949.

Crichton published most of his books after he left Collier's, with the exception of The Proud People, published in 1944. His second novel, The History of the Adventures of George Whigham and His Friend Mr. Claney Hobson, was published in 1951. He wrote two biographies, the first, The Marx Brothers, chronicled the five brothers' rise to stardom; the second was a collaboration with Cordelia Drexel Biddle about her father Anthony Joseph Drexel Biddle entitled My Philadelphia Father. This was later adapted for the stage and screen under the title The Happiest Millionaire. Crichton's last book, Total Recoil, is an autobiographic sketchbook of his interactions and correspondence with many notable literary figures. Crichton died in 1960.

Extent

1 Folder

Abstract

This small collection contains two letters addressed to Clinton Anderson from author Kyle S. Crichton.

Relevant Secondary Sources

  • Crichton, Kyle Samuel, The Proud People.(New York: Scribner's & Sons, 1944.)
Title
Finding Aid of the Kyle Crichton Letters to Clinton P. Anderson, 1944
Status
Edited Full Draft
Author
Processed by L. Bramwell
Date
©2001
Language of description
English
Script of description
Latin
Language of description note
Finding aid is in English

Revision Statements

  • June 28, 2004: PUBLIC "-//University of New Mexico::Center for Southwest Research//TEXT (US::NmU::MSS 269 SC::Kyle Crichton Letters to Clinton P. Anderson)//EN" "nmu1mss269sc.sgml" converted from EAD 1.0 to 2002 by v1to02.xsl (sy2003-10-15).
  • Monday, 20210524: Attribute normal is missing or blank.

Repository Details

Part of the UNM Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections Repository

Contact:
University of New Mexico Center for Southwest Research & Special Collections
University Libraries, MSC05 3020
1 University of New Mexico
Albuquerque NM 87131
505-277-6451