Restrictions
Noncirculating; available for research.
Copyright
The collection is protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17,
U. S. Code). Reproductions can be made only if they are to be used for "private study,
scholarship, or research." It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to
obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any
portion of these materials, other than that noted above.
Biographical Sketch
Beryl Williams Epstein was born on November 15, 1910 in Columbus, Ohio. She
was a reporter and editor for the New Jersey Daily Home News and Sunday
Times as well as an editor for American Scholar. In 1937, she began
collaborating with her fiance Samuel Epstein, writing children's books and
together they published Tin Lizzie in 1937. The couple married in 1938 and
continued to work on projects. Together they wrote under their names and under
the pseudonyms Adam Allen, Martin Colt, Douglas Coe, Charles Strong, and
Bruce Campbell.
Depending on the type of story the two were writing, they would divide the work with each writing certain sections of the book. Other times, the couple would come up with "a flexible outline" and one would start the story from the beginning and the other would begin in the middle. Later, they would work out any differences or problems in the flow of the story. According to the couple, even though they wrote books separately, they enjoyed writing together much more. The couple is most noted for their ability to write as a team in many genres, including mystery and adventure stories, realistic fiction, historical fiction, informational books, and biographies.
Source:
Scope and Content
The collection contains typescripts, research notes, correspondence, reviews and
galleys for 35 titles. The materials are arranged alphabetically by title. Within each
title the materials are arranged in the probable order in which they were created.
The correspondence and reviews are separated by title.
The books in this collection fall into three main genres - general fiction, biographies, and informational books. All of the books in the collection were written jointly by Sam and Beryl or under a joint pseudonym, except three written by Beryl only, including Lucky, Lucky, White Horse (1965), People Are Business (1947), and Young Faces in Fashion (1956).
A large portion of the collection includes biographies. When writing biographies, the couple would divide the person's life span in half. There are typescripts for Charles de Gaulle, Defender of France (1973), Dr. Beaumont and the Man with the Hole in His Stomach (1978), Harriet Tubman: Guide to Freedom (1968), Jackie Robinson: Baseball's Gallant Fighter (1974), Michael Faraday (1971), She Never Looked Back: Margaret Mead in Samoa (1980), Winston Churchill: Lion of Britain (1971), and Young Paul Revere's Boston (1966). There is various materials and correspondence for Plant Explorer: David Fairchild (1961). Some biographies are intertwined with technical information and science and could almost be classified as informational books. These books include Miracles from Microbes, the Road to Streptomycin (1946), Pick It Up (1971), The Secret in the Bottle: Lazzaro Spallanzani's Work with Microbes (1979), and The Rocket Pioneers on the Road to Space (1955). There are typescripts, reviews, book contracts, and correspondence for these titles.
Along with biographies, the couple also wrote informational books about a variety of subjects, usually using one of their joint pseudonyms. According to Beryl Epstein, Sam wrote the "technical chapters, and I do the blah ones in between." The Burma Road (1946), is an informational book about China during World War II. There are correspondence and reviews for this title. The couple also wrote quite a few "First Book of" series books. Two of the books in this series are in the collection, The First Book of Electricity (1953) and The First Book of Hawaii (1954).
The Epstein's also wrote informational books concerning current events and children's issues. There are typescripts for Kids in Court: The ACLU Defends Their Rights (1982), Who Says You Can't (1969), People Are Our Business (1947), and Young Faces in Fashion (1956). The couple also wrote a number of books about festivals all over the world including European Folk Festivals (1968) and A Year of Japanese Festivals (1974). There are typescripts for both of these titles. Other popular informational books by the couple were geographical in nature including Road to Alaska: The Story of the Alaska Highway (1943) and The Sacramento: Golden River of California (1968). There is correspondence and reviews for these titles.
The last genre represented in the collection includes adventure and mystery stories and other fictional stories. Set in 1916, Ellen adjusts to the changes of moving to a new home in Lucky, Lucky, White Horse (1965). There are typescripts and galleys for this title. The Printer's Devil (1939), the story of a boy who works on a country newspaper for the summer, and Water to Burn (1943), about a boy who builds a dam to create a swimming hole, are both written under the pseudonym Adam Allen. There is correspondence and reviews for both of these titles. The Riddle of the Hidden Pesos (1948), The Secret of Baldhead Mountain (1946), and Stranger at the Inlet (1946) are mystery stories written under the pseudonyms Martin Colt and Charles Strong. There is correspondence and reviews for all three of these titles. In Tin Lizzie (1937), a boy discovers how an automobile engine works. There is correspondence and reviews for this title as well.
A. Books
Box/Folder
A. Books
The Burma Road by Douglas Coe, illustrated by Winfield Scott Hoskins
(New York: J. Messner, 1946).
1/1 Correspondence, 1945-1955, 29 items.
1/2 Related materials, 27 items.
Charles de Gaulle, Defender of France by Sam and Beryl Epstein
(Champaign, Illinois: Garrard, 1973).
1/3 Typescript, carbon copy, 45 pp.
Dr. Beaumont and the Man with the Hole in His Stomach by Sam
and Beryl Epstein, illustrated by Joseph Scrofani (New York: Coward, McCann &
Geoghegan, 1978).
1/4 Typescript, edited with typesetter's marks, pp. 1-32
1/5 Galleys, "master galleys," 6 June 1977, 16 pp.
European Folk Festivals by Sam and Beryl Epstein, illustrated by
Joseph A. Smith (Champaign, Illinois: Garrard, 1968).
1/6 Typescript, edited, pp. 1-23.
The First Book of Electricity by Sam and Beryl Epstein, pictures by
Robin King (New York: F. Watts, 1953).
1/7 Typescript, edited with typesetter's marks, pp. 1-51.
The First Book of Hawaii by Sam and Beryl Epstein, pictures by Paul
Lantz (New York: F. Watts, 1954).
1/8 Correspondence, 1953-1966, 14 items.
1/9 Reviews, 5 items.
Harriet Tubman: Guide to Freedom by Sam and Beryl Epstein,
illustrated by Paul Frame (Champaign, Illinois: Garrard, 1968).
1/10 Typescript, edited with typesetter's marks, pp. 1-32.
Jackie Robinson: Baseball's Gallant Fighter by Sam and Beryl
Epstein, illustrated by Victor Mays (Champaign, Illinois: Garrard, 1974).
1/11 Typescript, edited, 88 pp.
2/1 Typescript, edited carbon copy, pp. 1-42.
Kids in Court: The ACLU Defends Their Rights by Sam and Beryl
Epstein (New York: Four Winds Press, 1982).
2/2-2/5 Typescript, edited with typesetter's marks,
2/2 Chapters 1-4, pp. 1-56.
2/3 Chapters 5-7, pp. 57-131.
2/4 Chapters 8-10, pp. 132-195.
2/5 Chapters 11-13, pp. 196-252.
Look in the Mirror by Sam and Beryl Epstein, pictures by Tomie de
Paola (New York: Holiday House, 1973).
2/6 Typescript, "first draft," pp. 1-5.
Typescript, "second draft," pp. 1-5.
Typescript, "third draft," pp. 1-8.
2/7 Typescript, "final draft," pp. 1-8.
2/8 Typescript, edited with typesetter's marks, pp. 1-8.
2/9 Galleys, "master set," pp. 1-8.
Lucky, Lucky White Horse by Beryl Epstein, pictures by Mia Carpenter
(New York: Harper & Row, 1965).
2/10 Typescript, edited with typesetter's marks, pp. 1-37.
2/11 Galleys, "master galleys," 16 April 1964, 17 pp.
Michael Faraday, Apprentice to Science by Sam and Beryl Epstein,
illustrated by Raymond Burns (Champaign, Illinois: Garrard, 1971).
2/12 Typescript, carbon copy, pp. 1-78.
Miracles from Microbes, the Road to Streptomycin by Samuel and
Beryl Williams (New Brunswick: Rutgers University Press, 1946).
2/13-3/1 Correspondence,
2/13 1945-1946, 50 items.
3/1 1947-1954, 41 items.
3/2 Book contracts, 2 items.
3/3 Research materials and corrections, 15 items.
3/4 Photographs of Dr. Selman Waksman, 2 items.
3/5 Reviews, 26 items.
Mister Peale's Mammoth by Sam and Beryl Epstein, illustrated by
Martin Avillez (New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1977).
3/6 Typescript, edited with typesetter's marks, pp. 1-64.
3/7 Galleys, "master set," 29 December 1976, 19 pp.
More Stories of Baseball Champions: In the Hall of Fame by Sam
and Beryl Epstein, illustrated by Victor Mays (Champaign, Illinois: Garrard, 1973).
3/8 Typescript, edited, 40 pp.
People Are Our Business by Beryl Williams Epstein (Philadelphia: J.B.
Lippincott, 1947).
3/9 Correspondence, 1946-1951, 39 items.
3/10 Research materials, 3 items.
3/11 Reviews, 5 items.
Pick It Up by Sam and Beryl Epstein, pictures by Tomie De Paola (New
York: Holiday House, 1971).
4/1 Typescript, carbon copy, pp. 1-5.
4/2 Folded and gathered sheets, 1 item.
Plant Explorer: David Fairchild by Beryl Williams Epstein and Samuel
Epstein (New York: J. Messner, 1961).
4/3 Correspondence, 1960-1961, n.d., 43 items.
4/4 Research materials, 16 items.
Printer's Devil: A Boy's Summer on a Country Newspaper by Adam
Allen (New York: Macmillan, 1939).
4/5 Correspondence, 1937-1950, 23 items.
4/6 Reviews, 16 items.
The Riddle of the Hidden Pesos by Martin Colt, illustrated by John C.
Wonsetler (New York: Julian Messner, 1948).
4/7 Correspondence, 1948-1961, 5 items.
4/8 Contract agreement for book, 1 item.
Review, 1 item.
Road to Alaska; The Story of the Alaska Highway by Douglas Coe,
pictures by Winfield Scott Hoskins (New York: J. Messner, 1943).
4/9 Correspondence, 1943-1948, 11 items.
4/10 Radio promotion typescript, 4 pp.
4/11 Reviews, 18 items.
The Rocket Pioneers on the Road to Space by Sam and Beryl Epstein
(New York: Messner, 1955).
4/12 Correspondence, 154-1968, 78 items.
4/13 Research materials, 4 items.
Reviews, 6 items.
The Sacramento: Golden River of California by Sam and Beryl
Epstein, map by Fred Kliem (Champaign, Illinois: Garrard, 1968).
5/1 Typescript, edited with typesetter's marks, pp. 1-49.
The Secret in the Bottle: Lazzaro Spallanzani's Work with Microbes
by Sam Epstein (New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan, 1979).
5/2 Typescript, edited carbon copy, 83 pp.
The Secret of Baldhead Mountain by Martin Colt, illustrated by John C.
Wonsetler (New York: J. Messner, 1946).
5/3 Correspondence, 1946-1947, 12 items.
5/4 Review, 1 item.
She Never Looked Back: Margaret Mead in Samoa by Sam and Beryl
Epstein, illustrated by Victor Juhasz (New York: Coward, McCann & Geoghegan,
1980).
5/5 Typescript, edited, 46 pp.
5/6 Typescript, "first version submitted," edited, pp. 1-43.
5/7 Typescript, "final version," edited with typesetter's marks, pp. 1-51.
The Story of the International Red Cross by Beryl and Sam Epstein
(New York: Nelson, 1963).
5/8-5/9 Correspondence,
5/8 January - August 1962, 45 items
5/9 September 1962-1964, 47 items.
5/10 Related materials about the Red Cross, 3 items.
Stranger at the Inlet by Charles Strong, pictures by John Wonsettler
(New York: J. Messner, 1946).
5/11 Correspondence, 1944-1947, 10 items.
5/12 Typescript, edited with typesetter's marks, pp. 1-32.
5/13 Review, 1 item.
Tin Lizzy and How She Ran by Adam Allen (New York: Stackpole
Sons, 1937).
5/14 Correspondence, 1937-1940, 34 items.
5/15 Royalty statements, 3 items.
5/16 Reviews, 8 items.
Tunnels by Sam and Beryl Epstein (Boston: Little, Brown, 1985).
6/1 Typescript, edited with typesetter's marks, pp. 1-81.
6/2 Typescript of index, pp. 1-5.
6/3-6/5 Proofs,
6/3 "Marked set," pp. 1-102.
6/4 Photocopied version, pp. 1-102.
6/5 "First revised, master," pp. 1-105.
6/6 Specifications for book, 1 item.
Folded and gathered sheets of index, 1 item.
Water to Burn by Adam Allen, illustrated by Juan Oliver (Philadelphia:
Lippincott, 1943).
6/7 Correspondence, 1941-1943, 6 items.
6/8 Reviews, 8 items.
Who Says You Can't by Beryl and Samuel Epstein (New York:
Coward-McCann, 1969).
6/9 Typescript, edited, 130 pp.
7/1 Typescript, edited with typesetter's marks, pp. 1-94.
Winston Churchill: Lion of Britain by Sam and Beryl Epstein
(Champaign, Illionis: Garrard, 1971)
7/2-7/3 Typescript, edited carbon copy,
7/2 Chapters 1-7, pp. 1-64.
7/3 Chapters 8-13, pp. 65-125.
A Year of Japanese Festivals by Sam and Beryl Epstein, illustrated by
Gordon Laite (Champaign, Illinois: Garrard, 1974).
7/4-7/8 Typescripts,
7/4 Edited, 190 pp.
7/5 Edited, 172 pp.
7/6 Carbon copy, revised, 54 pp.
7/7 "Final copy," 50 pp.
7/8 Carbon copy, 50 pp.
Young Faces in Fashion by Beryl Williams Epstein (Philadelphia:
Lippincott, 1956).
7/9 Correspondence, 1955-1956, n.d., 20 items.
7/10 Reviews, 8 items.
Young Paul Revere's Boston by Sam and Beryl Epstein, illustrated by
Cary (Champaign, Illinois: Garrard, 1966).
7/11 Typescript, carbon copy, pp. 1-39.
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Hattiesburg, MS 39406
(601) 266-4349
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