Guide to the Russell H. Greenan papers , 1925-2006

John Hay Library
Box A
Brown University
Providence, RI 02912
Tel: 401-863-2146
Fax: 401-863-2093
email: hay@brown.edu

Published in 2009

Collection Overview

Title:	Russell H. Greenan papers
Date range:	1925-2006
Creator:	Greenan, Russell H.
Extent:	3 linear feet
Abstract:	The papers of Russell H. Greenan include correspondence, literary manuscripts, reviews and publicity, personal materials, photographs, financial records, and legal records. The majority of the collection documents Greenan's career as an author.
Language of materials:	English
Repository:	John Hay Library
Collection number:	Ms. 2007.001

Scope & content

The papers of Russell H. Greenan include correspondence, literary manuscripts, reviews and publicity, personal materials, photographs, financial records, and legal records. The majority of the collection documents Greenan's career as an author.

The personal correspondence includes fan mail, letters to and from Bernadette Cammerati, and letters to and from his children. The business correspondence includes letters with agents and publishers and concern the publication of his books, film rights, European rights, and the donation of papers to Boston University. Correspondents include Blanche C. Gregory and Merry K. Pantano.

The literary manuscripts consist of rough drafts, galleys, and early versions of his novels and short stories. This series reveals the initial titles of many of his novels. The reviews and publicity series consists of newspaper clippings, printouts of web reviews, broadsides, invitations to book signings, newsletters, and bookjackets. This series also includes a portfolio that contains information on Greenan and each book he has written including reviews.

The writings series include several volumes of handwriting, presumably of unpublished writings. Two of the volumes are not labeled. One of the volumes contains a story with the characters Marie, Martin, and Benjamin, and a partial draft of "The Stoolie." The other unlabeled volume is date February 8, 1949-October 28, 1949 and January 14, 1953, August 15, 1953.

The legal records include contracts and copyright records and registrations. The financial records include accounts, royalty checks and statements, a savings account book, and his children's school expenses. The personal materials include his birth certificate, military discharge papers, reminiscences, report cards, and a college diploma. The photographs depict scenes from his childhood and service in the Navy and include postcards from Nice, France and Portugal.

Access Points

Subject Names

• Cammerati, Bernadette
• Greenan, Russell H.
• Gregory, Blanche C.
• Pantano, Merry K.

Subject Topics

• Fantasy fiction
• Psychological fiction

Subject Topics

• Language and Literature

• Can of worms

• Doomsnight

• Glamour doom

• Heart of gold

• Keepers

• Queen of America

• The secret life of Algernon Pendleton

Document Types

• Clippings (information artifacts)
• Contracts
• Financial records
• Letters (correspondence)
• Manuscripts for publication
• Photographs
• Reviews (document genre)

Occupations

• Authors
• Novelists

Arrangement

This collection is arranged into the following series:

• Series 1. Personal correspondence, 1952-2006
• Series 2. Business correspondence, 1967-2006
• Series 3. Financial records, 1956-1992
• Series 4. Legal records, 1975-2004
• Series 5. Personal
• Series 6. Photographs
• Series 7. Reviews and Publicity
• Series 8. Writings
• Series 9. Literary manuscripts

Biographical note

Russell H. Greenan was born in Manhattan on September 7, 1925. He was raised in the Bronx and graduated from Morris High School in 1942. After serving in the Navy during World War II, he attended Long Island University, graduating in 1949 with a bachelor of arts in world literature.

In the 1950's, Greenan worked as a traveling saleman selling industrial engines throughout New England. He also owned several curio shops around Boston. In 1966, Greenan resigned his position as a manager for a ball bearing manufacturer and moved with his wife and three children to Nice, France to finish writing a novel. His first novel, It Happened in Boston? was published in 1968 to critical acclaim.

Having established his career as an author, Greenan wrote another nine novels over the next four decades:

• Nightmare (1970)
• The Queen of America (1972)
• The Secret Life of Algernon Pendleton (1973)
• Heart of Gold (1975)
• The Bric-a-Brac Man (1976)
• Keepers (1978)
• Can of Worms (1987)
• Doomsnight (1990)
• Glamour Doom (2002)

Access & Use

Access to the collection:	There are no restrictions on access, except that the collection can only be seen by prior appointment. Some materials may be stored off-site and cannot be produced on the same day on which they are requested.
Use of the materials:	Although Brown University has physical ownership of the collection and the materials contained therein, it does not claim literary rights. Researchers should note that compliance with copyright law is their responsibility. Researchers must determine the owners of the literary rights and obtain any necessary permissions from them.
Preferred citation:	Russell H. Greenan papers, Ms. 2007.001, Brown University Library.
Contact information:	John Hay Library Box A Brown University Providence, RI 02912 Tel: 401-863-2146 Fax: 401-863-2093 email: hay@brown.edu

Administrative Information

ABOUT THE COLLECTION
Acquisition:	Purchased from Russell H. Greenan in November 2006
ABOUT THE FINDING AID
Author:	Finding aid prepared by Jay Gaidmore.
Encoding:	Finding aid encoded by Jay Gaidmore 2009 January 29
Descriptive rules:	Finding aid based on Describing Archives: A Content Standard (DACS)

Additional Information

Other information:

Brown University Library catalog record for this collection: Russell H. Greenan papers

Inventory

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