You Can Now Read Saul Bellow’s Personal Papers At The University Of Chicago

Graphic by Angelie Zaslavsky
Scholars of Saul Bellow, the Nobel and Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, can now peruse the most sizable collection of his personal papers that has yet been made available at the University of Chicago Library.
Bellow, whose works include “Herzog,” “The Adventures of Augie March,” and “Humboldt’s Gift,” was a professor at the University for three decades. His papers contain his correspondences with literary giants including Philip Roth, Lillian Hellman, Samuel Beckett and Arthur Miller, in addition to manuscripts of his novels and speeches, appointment books, and clips of newspaper coverage of his work.
“Opening up the Bellow papers will provide generations of scholars with the materials they need to develop new insights into Saul Bellow and 20th-century American history and culture,” said Brenda Johnson, Library director and University librarian, in a University press release.
While the Canadian-born Bellow passed away in 2005, the collection’s entries include works produced between 1926 and 2015. A complete guide to the collection, which includes at least two references to what appear to be writing requests from the Forward, can be found here.
Hello, fellow Forward reader! I’m Joel Brown, a Forward reader and supporter for more than 15 years, and currently the chair of the board of directors.
I’m an avid Forward reader because it ticks so many of my essential boxes: excellent journalism, Jewish focus and diverse viewpoints. In today’s political climate, what I most appreciate is the Forward’s independence — made possible by the generosity of its membership.
The Forward is committed to bringing you unbiased, nuanced Jewish news. From my position as board chair, I see an exciting future as we expand our position as the definitive independent voice of contemporary American Judaism.
That’s why I’m paying it Forward, by matching $36,000 of reader gifts. It’s an investment in the Forward’s newsroom, to continue telling the American Jewish story with truth and independence.
— Joel Brown, Forward board chair
