 |
|
 |
 |
 |
Bruce and Beatrice Blackmar Gould
Correspondence
Biographical Description
Bruce and Beatrice Blackmar Gould, both graduates of the University of Iowa, were married in 1923. During the 1920s and early 1930s Bruce Gould was a reporter, and literary and aviation editor for the New York Evening Post, drama critic for the Wall Street News, and associate editor (1934-1935) of the Saturday Evening Post. At that time, Beatrice Gould was a contributing editor for the New York World and a short story writer. Together, the Goulds also wrote two plays, Man's Estate (1929) and The Terrible Turk (1934), and collaborated on articles, and short stories. Bruce Gould also authored two books on aviation, Sky Larking (1929) and The Flying Dutchman (1931). In 1932, the Goulds and their daughter Sesaly moved to a large home in Hopewell, New Jersey. They became co-editors of the Ladies Home Journal in 1935, positions they held until their retirement in 1962. During their editorship of the LHJ, they boosted the once languishing magazine to the one having the highest paid circulation of the day. In addition to promoting the family and women's concerns, coining the phrase "Never Underestimate the Power of a Woman," they also dealt with many other social and political issues, while at the same time publishing top literary authors. After leaving the magazine, the Goulds published their autobiography, American Story, in 1968.
Collection Description
Main Entry: Bruce Gould, 1898-1989
Range of Collection Dates: 1909-1967
Range of Collection Bulk Dates: 1950-1960
Scope
Consists primarily of correspondence of Gould and his wife, Beatrice Blackmar Gould, relating to their co-editorship (1935-1967) of the Ladies Home Journal, published by the Curtis Publishing Company. There is some early correspondence (1920s-1930s) concerning Bruce Gould's work for the Saturday Evening Post, and the Goulds' co-authorship of various short stories and plays, including Man's Estate. However, most of the correspondence is with writers and associates concerning articles and stories for the Ladies Homes Journal and various trips taken by the Goulds to India, Russia, the Orient, and Europe, often on behalf of the LHJ. Correspondents include Daphne Du Maurier, William Benton, Dorothy Thompson, Rebecca West, Lady Nancy Astor, Karen Blixen, Dorothy Black, and Ethel Barrymore. There are letters by a number of actresses, including Helen Hayes, Gloria Swanson, Loretta Young, Vivien Leigh, Mary Pickford, and Debbie Reynolds. Also present is a large file of correspondence relating to the writing and publication of The Little Princess (1950), about Queen Elizabeth II, by Marion Crawford.
In addition, there are a few speeches (1946-1961) by Beatrice Blackmar Gould, and some miscellaneous clippings and printed matter.
Container Count: 14 boxes
Cubic Feet: 4.75
Primary Language: English
Arrangement: Series:
I. Correspondence--A. Personal (pre-1935), B. Travel
(for the LHJ), 1945-1961, C. Ladies Home Journal (post-1935);
II. Speeches by Beatrice Blackmar Gould, 1946-1961;
III. Speeches by Persons Other Than the Goulds;
IV. Printed Matter.
Person Added Entry: Gould, Beatrice Blackmar, 1898-1989
Subject Headings (in uppercase) / Form Headings (in upper and lower case):
CURTIS PUBLISHING COMPANY
Dramatists, American--20th century--Correspondence
Editors--New York (N.Y.)--20th century--Correspondence
ELIZABETH II, QUEEN OF GREAT BRITAIN, 1926-
Journalists--New York (N.Y.)--20th century--Correspondence
JOURNALISM--EDITING--NEW YORK (N.Y.)--20TH CENTURY
LADIES HOME JOURNAL
LITTLE PRINCESS / MARION CRAWFORD
PERIODICALS, PUBLISHING OF--NEW YORK (N.Y.)--20TH
CENTURY
Women authors, American--20th century--Correspondence
Women authors, English--20th century--Correspondence
WOMEN'S PERIODICALS, AMERICAN--20TH CENTURY
Series Descriptions
I. Correspondence
A. Personal (pre-1935) [Box 1]
Consists of correspondence primarily concerning the publishing or producing (on stage) of the writings of Bruce and Beatrice Blackmar Gould prior to their co-editorship of the Ladies Home Journals. Included is correspondence with the American Play Company, Horace Liveright, Leland Hayward, the Richard J. Madden Play Company, and the Saturday Evening Post. There are also Theatre Guild box office statements for Man's Estate, and a few letters by Elizabeth Ames, Edward Bok, Lowell Brentano, Guthrie McClintic, and others.B. Travel (1941-1961) [Box 2]
Consists of itineraries, letters of introduction, and related correspondence concerning various trips taken by the Goulds primarily as representative of the Ladies Home Journal, including travel to Europe, the Pacific and the Mediterranean during World War II, India (1952), Russia (1956), and several trips to Europe and Great Britain.C. Ladies Home Journal (post-1935) [Boxes 3-13]
Consists of correspondence, mostly letters received, spanning nearly three decades of the Goulds' co-editorship of the Ladies Home Journal primarily concerning articles, stories, or commissioned books to be published in the magazine. Included is correspondence of Marion Crawford about her The Little Princess, Betty Hoffman about her Born to Be Queen, and correspondence of Nancy Astor and Ethel Barrymore on their proposed biographies. Also represented are a number of stage and screen stars such as Irene Dunne, Helen Hayes, Loretta Young, and Mary Pickford, as well as many authors and business associates including Daphne Du Maurier, Dorothy Thompson, Rebecca West, Dorothy Black, Dermot Morrah, and Cass Canfield.II. Speeches by Beatrice Blackmar Gould (1946-1961) [Box 13]
Consists of 13 speeches by Gould relating to her experiences in journalism to such organizations as the National Association of Broadcasters, the American Women's Association, and the National Association of Magazine Publishers.III. Speeches by Persons Other Than the Goulds [Box 14]
Consists of 13 speeches kept as reference material by Beatrice Blackmar Gould by Herbert Read, Charles Kessler, Margaret Hickey, Agnes E. Meyer, George Gallup, and others.IV. Printed Matter [Box 14]
Consists of a transcript of a LHJ panel discussion on Anti-American sentiments abroad (1954), clippings of reviews by and about the Goulds, and miscellaneous memorabilia.Finding Aids for RBSC
(10/2/95)
|
Last Modified: November 08 2002
|
