Collection ID#135

Size7 boxes

Collection Description Josephine Lawrence, a novelist and journalist known for her focus on the role of class in America, was born in Newark, to Dr. Elijah W. Lawrence and Mary Barker Lawrence. In 1915, Lawrence became editor of the children's page of the Newark Sunday Call, writing some of the short pieces that appeared on the page. In 1918, she also assumed responsibility for the Call's household page. In addition to these writing and editing responsibilities, she produced a household question-and-answer column, devoted to a different topic each week. In 1917 she interviewed Newark publishing entrepreneur Edward Stratemeyer and he later invited her to write for his Literary Syndicate; under various synonyms she contributed to four of Stratemeyer's popular children's series.

In 1940, Lawrence married concert tenor Artur Platz (d. 1963). After her marriage she moved to an apartment in Manhattan with her husband, but continued to commute daily to work at the Newark Sunday Call. When the paper folded in 1946, Lawrence moved to the Newark Sunday News, where she became book editor and, in later years, also contributed a weekly column, "Bookmarks." She was the author of 33 novels and nearly 100 books for children.

Josephine Lawrence died in New York City on February 22, 1978.

Collection Contents The collection consists of typescripts (some annotated), galleys, proofs, clippings, and tear-sheets of Lawrence's writing, as well as articles mentioning her, reviews, some miscellaneous correspondence, and other material relating to her professional work. Contents are as follows:

Boxes 1-3: typescripts of novels

Box 4: articles and poetry, including "Cinderella's Brother," Newark Sunday Call, Christmas Supplement (Dec 19, 1943, pg. 9); "Purr-r-r-ty Portraits," Newark Sunday News Magazine (Mar 16, 1958, p. 15; and tear-sheets); and "Flag Day -- 1951," poem, Newark Sunday News (Jun 10, 1951, p. 11)

Box 5: typescripts of novels, with corrections; some with galleys and proofs

Box 6, Folders 1-3: novel and poetry typescripts

Box 6, Folder 4: copies of Lawrence's column for the Newark Sunday Call, "Words Fail Me." (1940s?). 107 items.

Box 6, Folder 5: articles by JL, including some from the Newark Sunday Call. The rest of Box 6 and most of Box 7 consists of articles about JL, reviews, and advertisements for her work, including a "Christmas Bulletin" issued by Bamberger and Co.'s book shop (1927).

Box 7, Folder 8: includes 2 biographical questionnaires from Harcourt Brace and World, Inc. JL describes her education in Newark public schools as "sketch" and notes that she did not attend college, and that she does not know "opinion-makers." She would prefer that her work be read and appreciated by social workers, but that is not likely. Under Occupation she writes, "Always a newspaperwoman." Asked where the publisher should send review copies, she says, "Not to the New Yorker!" Asked are you lecturing: "Mercy no." Do you expect to be traveling when your book is published" "I do not meander." Hobbies: "People - but at a little distance, please." She decries "half-baked experts."

Box 6, Folder 9: contains correspondence, including fan letters, such as one from Cara Nelson, aged 73, of 47 Oakland Terrace, Newark (Nov 17, 1946). Nelson has just read six of JL's books and intends to read them all. She has had many griefs, but has always been a keen reader.

FormatTextual materials

SubjectLiterature / Authors

LanguageEnglish

Access policyOpen for research

ProcessedYes

Finding AidYes