Myron Brinig Memoirs
Collection
Identifier: MSS-864-BC
Scope and Content
This collection consists of three versions of Brinig’s unpublished memoir. John Farrar of Rhinehart and Farrar was Brinig's original editor. The older version is titled “Someone at the Door: Memoirs of an Outsider." In 1981, Brinig brought this memoir to Earl Ganz to edit for publication. They titled the updated version “Love from a Stranger." Both manuscripts recount Brinig’s Jewish heritage, his early life as a writer and work in the Hollywood film industry and his time spent in Taos with other writers and artists including, Cady Wells, Frieda von Richthofen Lawrence and Mabel Dodge Luhan. Also, in the memoirs Brinig openly discusses his homosexuality, a fact he kept private most of his life. Using Brinig’s memoirs, Earl Ganz published a novel in 2006 called The Taos Truth Game, which is based on Brinig’s time in Taos and his relationship with Cady Wells. Ganz also published an essay, "Brinig: The Truth Game" in Writing Montana: Literature Under the Big Sky that provides additional insight into Brinig and his memoirs. A third unpublished and undated memoir, titled "Invasions of Privacy", was added to the collection in November 2021.
Dates
- circa 1980s
Language of Materials
English
Access Restrictions
The collection is open for research.
Copy Restrictions
Limited duplication of CSWR material allowed for research purposes. User is responsible for comp;iance with all copyright, privacy, and libel laws. Permission is required for publication or distribution,
Biographical Information
Myron Brinig, a Jewish-American writer, published twenty-one novels between 1929 and 1958. He is remembered for being one of the first authors to create homosexual characters. A homosexual himself, he remained publicly closeted all of his life.
Born in Minneapolis on December 22, 1897, Brinig moved with his family to Butte, Montana where his father opened a dry-goods store that catered to the needs of copper miners. In 1914 Brinig left Butte to study at New York University. Brinig wrote short stories and submitted them for publication without any luck until a friend connected him with Bob Davis, editor for
Born in Minneapolis on December 22, 1897, Brinig moved with his family to Butte, Montana where his father opened a dry-goods store that catered to the needs of copper miners. In 1914 Brinig left Butte to study at New York University. Brinig wrote short stories and submitted them for publication without any luck until a friend connected him with Bob Davis, editor for
Extent
1 box (.35 cu. ft)
Abstract
This collection contains the memoirs of Myron Brinig, a Jewish-American writer, and one of the first to write about gay experiences. His memoirs reveal his early and successful career as an author, his private life as a homosexual, and the nearly twenty years he lived in Taos, New Mexico.
Processing Information
A third unpublished memoir by Myron Brinig, titled "Invasions of Privacy", was added to the collection in November 2021.
- Authors, American -- 20th century -- Biography
- Brinig, Myron, 1897-1991
- Ganz, Earl, 1932-
- Gay men in literature
- Homosexuality and literature
- Homosexuality – United States
- Jewish authors – United States -- Biography
- Jews -- United States
- Lawrence, Frieda, 1879-1956
- Luhan, Mabel Dodge, 1879-1962
- Taos (N.M.) – Social life and customs – 20th century
- Taos truth game
- Wells, Cady, 1904-1954
- Title
- Finding Aid of the Myron Brinig Memoirs, circa 1980s
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Jordan Biro
- Date
- © 2010
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- Finding aid is in English
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
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