I. Correspondence.

The Correspondence series contains correspondence between James Laughlin and authors, literary agents, publishers, small presses, university libraries, book dealers, present and past employees of ND, and his personal friends. There is also correspondence between ND authors and members of the staff of New Directions Publishing Company including Barbara Epler, Peggy L. Fox, Peter Glassgold, Robert MacGregor, and Griselda Ohannessian, among others. The files can include letters about or relating to the main correspondent, often by his or her family members, business associates, or scholars. Also included are interoffice communications such as notes and memoranda, ephemera and clippings about the correspondent, and, occasionally, photographs.

If there are only letters from the correspondent and none from JL or members of the ND staff, the cataloging describes these files as "Letters." If there are only letters (often carbons or photocopies) from JL or the ND staff, the items are described as "Letters from JL" or "Letters from ND."

The series also has correspondence deemed by JL not extensive or significant enough to warrant its own file, for example "Ab- through Ah-." Arranged alphabetically, these files chiefly contain rejection and fan letters. If there is a significant interchange of correspondence, the name of the correspondent has been listed in the note. JL often filed these letters by the name of the subject of the letter, rather than by the name of the actual letter writer.

The International writing subseries is a small section of correspondence with writers, translators, literary agents, printers, publishing companies, and bookstores that JL grouped together by nationality. In the case of significant exchanges of correspondence, the name of the correspondent is listed in the note. Researchers may wish to check these files because they can contain letters from correspondents who are represented in the main run.

Compositions by the correspondent or by James Laughlin have been removed from this series. The majority of the compositions authored by the correspondents were not works eventually published by New Directions and have been placed in the series Compositions. In some cases, the compositions were eventually published by New Directions and were removed to Manuscripts and proofs of publications (bMS Am 2077.1). Compositions authored by James Laughlin were removed to bMS Am 2077.1, James Laughlin's personal papers.

Finally, the series contains some photocopied correspondence. In some cases, the originals have been located while in others they have not. Photocopies cannot be quoted, reproduced, or published without the permission of the owners of the originals.