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Guide to the Albert Camus Papers, 1936 - 1959
Special Collections and ArchivesOlin Library
Wesleyan University
252 Church Street
Middletown, CT 06457 USA
(860) 685-3864
(860) 685-2661
Email: sca@wesleyan.edu
URL: http://www.wesleyan.edu/libr/schome/
Descriptive Summary |
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| Repository | Special Collections & Archives, Wesleyan University |
| Creator | Camus, Albert, 1913-1960. |
| Title | Albert Camus Papers, |
| Dates | 1936 - 1959 |
| Linear Feet | 0.25 |
| Archival Boxes | 1 |
| Abstract | Albert Camus (1913-1960) was an influential intellectual and writer. He was born and raised in Algeria, but spent most of his life during World War II and afterwards in France. Camus received the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957. |
| The Albert Camus Papers consist of correspondence, manuscript and typescript drafts of Camus writings, photographs, and a questionnaire completed by Camus, which was sent to him by Wesleyan Professor Carl Viggiani. All materials are in French. | |
| Call Number | 1000-155 |
| Location | For current information on the location of these materials, please consult Special Collections & Archives staff. |
| Language of Material | Material in French |
Biographical Note
Albert Camus was born in 1913 in Mondovi, Algeria. He attended the University of Algiers and graduated in 1936. Camus worked as a journalist following his graduation, and eventually moved to Paris, where he worked with the French resistance. During World War II and the years afterward, Camus increasingly focused on novels and plays. He is best known for L'Etranger (The Stranger), La Peste (The Plague), L'Homme Revolte (The Rebel), and La Chute (The Fall). He was awarded the Nobel Prize for Literature in 1957. Camus died in 1960 as the result of a car accident in France.
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Collection Overview
The Albert Camus Papers consist of correspondence, manuscript and typescript drafts of Camus writings, photographs, and a questionnaire completed by Camus, which was sent to him by Wesleyan Professor Carl Viggiani. All materials are in French.
The four pieces of correspondence are all from Camus. One is to Wesleyan English professor Fred B. Millett, dated 1946, in which he declines an invitation. A second piece of correspondence, dated 1957, is addressed to Romance Languages and Literatures professor Carl Viggiani, and addresses questions that had been posed by Viggiani. The final two letters are to Wesleyan President Victor Butterfield, dated 1959. In the first, dated Feburary 18, Camus declines an honor that has been offered him by Wesleyan University--possibly an honorary degree. The second letter, dated March 18, thanks Butterfield for his gift of a set of William Faulkner books.
The circa 1957 questionnaire is fourteen pages, and inquires about Camus' family, studies, experiences, opinions, and feelings, specifically for the time period 1913 to 1943. Camus has replied to all questions in pencil.
"Hellenisme et Christianisme," written about Plotinus and St. Augustine, was Camus' thesis for the University of Algeria, submitted to the Faculty of Letters. A manuscript and typescript of this work can be found in this collection. A two page manuscript of aphorisms, and a piece of writing entitled "Les Mines de Tipasa" is present in both manuscript and typescript.
The photographs include pictures of Camus, his friends, his mentor Jean Grenier, and his work in directing "Caligula" and "Requium." One photo features his children, Catherine and Jean. There is also a photogrpah of a manuscript page from The Rebel.
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Restrictions
Access Restrictions
No restrictions.
Copyright Notice
Copyright for Official University records is held by Wesleyan University; all other copyright is retained by the authors of items in these papers, or their descendants, as stipulated by United States copyright law.
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Online Catalog Headings
These and related materials may be found under the following headings in online catalogs.
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Administrative Information
Preferred Citation
[Identification of item], Albert Camus Papers, Collection #1000-155, Special Collections & Archives, Wesleyan University, Middletown, CT, USA.
Acquisitions Information
Questionnaire and correspondence: gift of Professor Carl Viggiani, 1957-1958. Fred B. Millett and Victor Butterfield letters transferred from their respective collections. "Hellenisme and Christianisme" manuscript and typescript: gift of Camus via Viggiani. Aphorisms and "Les Mines de Tipasa": gift of Camus. Photographs: gifts of Camus via Viggiani; Viggiani; and Jean Grenier.
Processing Information
Processed by Valerie Gillispie, August 2008
Encoded by Valerie Gillispie, August 2008
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