LibGuides: Weird Fiction Collections at Brown University Library: H.P. Lovecraft Archive

H.P. Lovecraft

Howard Phillips Lovecraft (1890-1937) is considered to be one of the foundational authors of American weird and horror fiction. Before his death from cancer at age 46, he wrote over 50 short stories and novellas alongside 34 works written in collaboration with others, approx. 300 poems, and many other pieces on a wide variety of subjects, from amateur journalism to astronomy.

Like many writers of the past, Lovecraft was famously racist and xenophobic. He is often defended as being a product of his era, but even contemporaries and friends were at times shocked by his vehemence. While more prevalent in his correspondence, Lovecraft's views made their way into his fiction, often surfacing as a monstrous "other" to be feared and/or destroyed. Modern interpretations and offshoots of Lovecraft's work seek to grapple with Lovecraft's views and reshape his Mythos into a more inclusive space.

Image: H.P. Lovecraft silhouette by Perry, 1925. H.P. Lovecraft Collection, Brown University Library.

H.P. Lovecraft Collection at Brown University Library

The Brown University Library collects material on Lovecraft, his circle, and his legacy.

The Library holds an extensive collection of Lovecraft's original manuscripts, extensive personal correspondence, poetry, and juvenilia, as well as books from his personal collection. The collection also includes over 2,000 editions of work published or influenced by Lovecraft, including books, periodicals, videos, sound recordings, and games. While extensive, it is not a collection of record nor an exhaustive holding of everything created on Lovecraft.

Manuscripts

Manuscripts of Lovecraft's writing, correspondence, and other material, in addition to material from members of his circle, is inventoried in the collection finding aid. The majority of the collection has been digitized; items can be viewed by following the links in the finding aid or by visiting the collection page in the Brown Digital Repository. Materials that have been digitized are restricted from in-person use.

Books

The library's holdings of books by and about Lovecraft, and books he owned, can be browsed through BruKnow, the Brown University Library catalog.

Image: Postcard from HPL to Barlow, Robert H., January 31, 1934. H.P. Lovecraft collection, Brown University Library.

Access to the Lovecraft Collection

The majority of the manuscripts and correspondence in the Lovecraft archive are restricted due to fragility. Most of the collection has been digitized and is accessible freely online.

Material that has not been digitized can, for the most part, be accessed in the John Hay Library Special Collections Reading Room. Instructions for accessing collection material can be found in this guide to visiting Special Collections.

Lovecraft Contemporaries and Correspondents

In addition to the following collections, single manuscripts and publications by members of Lovecraft's circle are cataloged individually, and can be found by searching the library catalog.

Clark Ashton Smith papers
Writer Clark Ashton Smith (1893-1961) was one of the major contributors to Weird Tales; his friendship with Lovecraft began in 1922 and lasted until HPL's death.
Smith's papers include approximately 8000 items including, among other items, Smith's correspondence; many working manuscripts of his writings, some of which remain unpublished; financial and legal documents; published material consisting of periodicals of his own work; and other published matter which concerns Smith or which he himself collected.
August Derleth and Donald Wandrei correspondence, 1927-1971
Contains over 1800 letters between Derleth and Wandrei, from 1927 to 1971, in addition to photographs of Derleth, Wandrei, HPL, and other members of Lovecraft's circle.
Sonia H. and Nathaniel A. Davis papers
Consists of correspondence, manuscripts, personal and administrative records, printed materials, photographs, ephemera, and a few artifacts belonging to or associated with Nathaniel A. Davis (1866-1945) and Sonia Greene (1883-1972).
Alfred Galpin papers
Alfred Galpin (1903-1983) was a correspondent of Howard P. Lovecraft (1890-1937), from as early as 1918 to 1936. The two became fast friends and Lovecraft thought of Galpin as his adopted grandson. This collection includes letters to and from individuals interested in Galpin’s connection with Lovecraft; a pamphlet in Italian from an international Lovecraft conference in Trieste (1977); photographs and newspaper clippings in Italian, French and English; and photocopies of Lovecraft and Galpin articles in amateur journalism publications The Rainbow and The United Amateur.
John J. Weir papers
John J. Weir (1922-1977) grew up in the small seaside town of South Amboy, New Jersey. He became an avid reader of science fiction and horror in 1934 to escape the suffocating boredom of small town life. The John Weir papers contain autograph and typed correspondence to and from science fiction fans who were subscribers of or contributors to Weir’s fan magazine Fantasmagoria. Weir also received mail from many famous writers of the day, including H. P. Lovecraft, Clark Ashton Smith, William Lumley, Robert Bloch, Henry Kuttner, Sam Moskowitz, Emil Petaja, John Baltadonis, and Duane Rimel. The collection also includes a photograph, postcards, an issue of the fan magazine Sweetness and Light, and John Weir’s Scripto pencil.
Joseph Payne Brennan papers
The Brennan papers consist of manuscripts of short stories and poems, fan mail, correspondence with fellow writers both poets and horror story writers, some World War II orders and correspondence and memorabilia, photographs, submissions to the self published magazines Macabre and Essence as well as personal legal, medical, and financial papers.
Kenneth W. Faig, Jr. archive on Robert H. Barlow
The materials in this collection were compiled by Kenneth W. Faig, Jr. during 1970-1975 while conducting research for a biography of Robert H. Barlow. The materials include: microfilm of Barlow's literary and scholarly papers made by Barlow's friend George T. Smisor; copies of letters to his brother Wayne Everett Barlow and other family members; photographs of Barlow as a child and his homes; research correspondence with George T. Smisor, E. Hoffman Price, Thomas Hart Benton, and Roy A. Squires among others.

Lovecraft Scholarship/Inspired

Dirk Mosig correspondence, 1972-1979
The Dirk Mosig correspondence collects letters written to Dirk Mosig during the course of his research into the work of H.P. Lovecraft between the years of 1972 and 1979.
Jason C. Eckhardt drawings
Contains original artwork by Eckhardt for science fiction books and a Narragansett beer can featuring his illustration for their Lovecraft Innsmouth Olde Ale. Many of the illustrations relate to the science fiction writer Howard P. Lovecraft.
Carcosa Press records
The Carcosa Press records include edited manuscripts, camera-ready copy, bluelines and layouts for the four titles published by the press, along with organizational correspondence, contracts, order books, bank statements and tax returns. The material dates from 1972 to 1991.