Contents and Arrangement Expanded View
Online

Collection Overview

Creator:
McCoy, Samuel Duff, b. 1882
Title:
Samuel McCoy Papers
Repository:
Manuscripts Division
Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/6w924b839
Dates:
1868-1964 (mostly 1915-1963)
Size:
29 boxes
Storage Note:
  • Firestone Library (scamss): Box 1-29
Language:
English

Abstract

Consists of manuscripts, correspondence, drawings, and other material of the author, journalist, and Princeton graduate (Class of 1905) Samuel Duff McCoy (1882-1964).

Collection Description & Creator Information

Scope and Contents

The collection consists primarily of manuscripts and correspondence of McCoy. The manuscripts range from his writings as an investigative reporter in the early 1900s to his later works as novelist, biographer, and children's author under the name of Ellery Queen, Jr. Included are typescripts, outlines, and manuscript notes for three nonfiction works, 10 mystery novels, 25 short stories, approximately 87 articles, several poems, as well as autobiographical and miscellaneous notes. Among the published titles are How Prayer Helps Me, Odyssey of an American Family, The Black Dog Mystery, The Mystery at Pickle Point, and The White Elephant Mystery. Also included are a series of articles about Ireland, and articles on his investigation of the Florida penal system which resulted in the 1922 Pulitzer Prize for the New York World. McCoy's correspondence includes a few letters of such notables as George Ade, John F. Kennedy, Don Marquis, H. L. Mencken, Thornton Wilder, Booth Tarkington; and greater numbers from Guy Pene DuBois, Ella Neely McCoy, Harold Montanye (McCoy's frequent co-author), George Worts, as well as many libraries, institutions, friends, and family. In addition, there are drawings, documents, memorabilia, photographs, two scrapbooks, tearsheets, and reviews by and about McCoy. The section devoted to papers of other persons includes manuscripts and correspondence of George Baker, George Hamid, Ella Neely McCoy (papers and illustrations for her children's books), Ellery Queen, Jr., and Nicol Smith.

Collection Creator Biography:

McCoy, Samuel Duff, b. 1882

McCoy was a novelist, biographer, journalist, children's author, and Princeton graduate (Class of 1905). He wrote many works under the pseudonym Ellery Queen, Jr.

Collection History

Acquisition:

Purchased from A. Blinderman on October 14 1961.

Appraisal

No appraisal information is available.

Processing Information

This collection was processed by Ran Tao in 2004. Finding aid written by Ran Tao in 2004.

Access & Use

Conditions Governing Access

Collection is open for research use.

Conditions Governing Use

Single copies may be made for research purposes. To cite or publish quotations that fall within Fair Use, as defined under U. S. Copyright Law, no permission is required. For instances beyond Fair Use, it is the responsibility of the researcher to determine whether any permissions related to copyright, privacy, publicity, or any other rights are necessary for their intended use of the Library's materials, and to obtain all required permissions from any existing rights holders, if they have not already done so. Princeton University Library's Special Collections does not charge any permission or use fees for the publication of images of materials from our collections, nor does it require researchers to obtain its permission for said use. The department does request that its collections be properly cited and images credited. More detailed information can be found on the Copyright, Credit and Citations Guidelines page on our website. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact us through the Ask Us! form.

Physical Characteristics and Technical Requirements

For preservation reasons, original analog and digital media may not be read or played back in the reading room. Users may visually inspect physical media but may not remove it from its enclosure. All analog audiovisual media must be digitized to preservation-quality standards prior to use. Audiovisual digitization requests are processed by an approved third-party vendor. Please note, the transfer time required can be as little as several weeks to as long as several months and there may be financial costs associated with the process. Requests should be directed through the Ask Us Form.

Credit this material:

Samuel McCoy Papers; Manuscripts Division, Department of Special Collections, Princeton University Library

Permanent URL:
http://arks.princeton.edu/ark:/88435/6w924b839
Location:
Firestone Library
One Washington Road
Princeton, NJ 08544, USA
(609) 258-3184
Storage Note:
  • Firestone Library (scamss): Box 1-29

Find More

Bibliography

Some of the manuscripts and notes found in draft form in the collection came to print in the following publications: two nonfiction works, How Prayer Helps Me (N.Y.: Dial Press, 1955) and Odyssey of an American Family, in collaboration with Hall Roosevelt (N.Y.: Harper & Bros., 1939); six novels as Ellery Queen, Jr., The Black Dog Mystery (N.Y.: Frederick A. Stokes Co., 1941), The Blue Herring Mystery (Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1954), The Brown Fox Mystery (Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1948), The Red Chipmunk Mystery (Phila.: J. B. Lippincott Co., 1946), The White Elephant Mystery (Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1950), and The Yellow Cat Mystery (Boston: Little, Brown & Co., 1952); two novels as Duff McCoy, Mystery at Pickle Point (Phila.: J.B. Lippincott Co., 1948) and Mystery at Robber's Rock (Phila.: J.B. Lippincott Co., 1950).

Subject Terms:
American fiction -- 20th century.
Children's literature, American -- 20th century.
Detective and mystery stories, American -- 20th century.
Investigative reporting -- Florida -- 20th century.
Irish question.
Journalists -- United States -- 20th century. -- lcsh
Novelists, American -- 20th century. -- lcsh
Peonage -- Florida -- 20th century.
Reporters and reporting -- Florida -- 20th century.
Short stories, American -- 20th century.
Genre Terms:
Manuscripts (for publication)
Photoprints.
Names:
Princeton University. Class of 1905.
Montanye, Harold, d. 1959
Places:
Ireland -- History -- 1910-1921.