The New York Public Library
Humanities and Social Sciences Library
Manuscripts and Archives Division
Herbert J. Seligmann
Papers, 1908-1984
Valerie Wingfield
September 1992
rev. February 2006
TABLE OF CONTENTS
SUMMARY ................................................................................................................................... 3
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE ............................................................................................................ 4
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE ................................................................................................ 5
ARRANGEMENT NOTE ............................................................................................................ 5
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS ........................................................................................................... 6
SERIES I. CORRESPONDENCE, 1909-1965 (1 BOX) ..................................................................... 6
SERIES II. WRITINGS, 1932-1984 (8 BOXES) ............................................................................. 6
SERIES III. SCRAPBOOKS, 1920-1946 (4 BOXES) ......................................................................... 6
SERIES IV. PRINTED MATERIAL, 1922-1953 (1 BOX) .................................................................. 6
SERIES V. PHOTOGRAPHS, 1920-1980 (5 BOXES) ......................................................................... 6
CONTAINER LIST ...................................................................................................................... 7
2
SUMMARY
Main Entry:
Seligmann, Herbert J. (Herbert Jacob), 1891-
Title:
Herbert J. Seligmann papers, 1908-1984
Size:
19 boxes (10 linear ft.)
Source:
Gift of Lise Seligmann (Mrs. Herbert J. Seligmann) 1992-1996.
Access:
Negative roll film not available until prints can be made.
Description:
The papers document the career and personal life of Herbert Jacob
Seligmann (1891-1984), writer and civil rights activist, through letters,
writings, printed and visual materials. Seligmann published books and
contributed to many newspapers and magazines. He wrote on the civil rights
of African-Americans, and the rise of Nazism, book reviews and articles
about artists, including John Marin and Georgia O'Keeffe. Clippings of his
articles are featured in the his scrapbooks (1920-1946). The visual material
consists of photographs and slides of Seligmann's trips through the United
States and Europe. A photograph album contains pictures of Haiti during the
1920s, the Adirondacks, and western United States.
Special formats:
Photographic prints, negatives, and slides.
3
BIOGRAPHICAL NOTE
Herbert J. Seligmann, the son of Albert and Carrie (Metzger) Seligmann, was born on November
13, 1891 in New York City. He graduated from the School of Ethical Culture and from Harvard
University, cum laude (1912). As a writer and civil rights activist, Seligmann wrote articles and
books advocating the civil rights of African-Americans. During the years 1919 through 1932, he
was the publicity director for the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People
(NAACP).
After World War I, Seligmann also held the position of publicity director of the American Jewish
Joint Distribution Committee and traveled throughout Poland, Romania and Latvia. During World
War II, he administered the Washington Bureau of the Overseas News Agency and the Jewish
Telegraphic Agency. He wrote a series of articles on fine arts and artists; he had friendships with
artists such as Vincent Hartgen, John Marin, Georgia O'Keeffe, and Alfred Stieglitz.
His publications include The Negro Faces America (1920); D.H. Lawrence, An American
Interpretation (1924); Sun and Tides (poems, 1932); Man and Bird Together, a memoir of Albert R.
Brand; and Voyages. He was also a contributor of numerous articles for periodicals and
newspapers. Married twice, first to Lilias H. MacLane, Seligmann was survived by his second wife
Lise Seligmann. He died on March 3, 1984 at the age of 92.
4
SCOPE AND CONTENT NOTE
The papers reflect Seligmann's career as a writer and civil rights activist and to a lesser extent his
personal life, through letters, documents, writings, and printed and visual material. The General
Correspondence covers several subjects including Seligmann's position as publicity director for the
National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Other correspondence
includes Seligmann's letters to his first wife Lilias H. MacLane and acknowledgements (1964-1965)
regarding two books titled In Memory of Lilias - Collected Poems of Herbert J. Seligmann 19191964 and also A South Carolina Independent of the 1880's: J. Hendrix McLane.
The typescripts are comprised of Seligmann's writings, and include "Marsden Hartley", "Georgia
O'Keeffe" and his autobiography Voyages. The commonplace books contain four decades of his
observations, thoughts and poetry from the 1940's through the 1980s. The travel diaries pertain to
trips to Europe, Chicago, New Mexico and elsewhere. Notes and miscellaneous papers complete
the writings. Seligmann was widely published as evident from the scrapbooks (1920-1946) of
clippings of his articles on fine arts, civil rights and World War II. The printed material contains the
periodical Manuscripts (1922-1923), miscellaneous articles and other periodicals.
Seligmann's photographic skills are evident in pictures of New York City, Maine and other locales.
An album of rare photographs of Haiti (to which Seligmann was sent as a reporter by the Nation
during the 1920s) contains pictures of Haitians going about such daily activities as shopping,
grinding coffee and attending religious services. There are several pictures of Haitian prisoners
photographed during the Caco War. The album also includes images of the Adirondack Mountains
and the western United States (Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico and Utah). Individuals
photographed include Lilias MacLane Seligmann, Georgia O'Keeffe, Vincent A. Hartgen and John
Marin. Other photographs in the collection include contact sheets of Seligmann’s photographs of
the Jewish communities of Holland, Poland and Romania taken in 1936 as part of his work for the
Joint Distribution Committee,, and a portrait of Seligmann taken by Alfred Stieglitz. Assorted
prints and Seligmann's diplomas complete the collection. The slides contain chiefly photographs
taken on vacation trips.
ARRANGEMENT NOTE
The collection is arranged in five series: I. Correspondence; II. Writings; III Scrapbooks; IV Printed
Material; V. Photographs
5
SERIES DESCRIPTIONS
Series I. Correspondence, 1909-1965 (1 box)
The correspondence reflects Seligmann's career and personal life, and includes general incoming
correspondence, 1909-1910, 1923-1955; letters to Lawrence Sampter, 1944-1945; to Lilias H.
MacLane, 1919-1921; and acknowledgements regarding two books: In Memory of Lilias - Collected
Poems of Herbert J. Seligmann 1919-1964 and A South Carolina Independent of the 1880's: J.
Hendrix McLane.
Series II. Writings, 1932-1984 (8 boxes)
The writings consist of typescripts, commonplace books and travel diaries. The typescripts are
arranged by topic and are mainly concerned with the subject of fine arts. The topics include
"Vincent Hartgen," "Georgia O'Keeffe," and Seligmann's autobiography Voyages. The
commonplace books which span four decades of Seligmann's poetry and reflection, are arranged
chronologically. The travel diaries contain recollections of Seligmann's trips throughout the United
States and Europe.
Series III. Scrapbooks, 1920-1946 (4 boxes)
The scrapbooks contain Seligmann's published articles from newspapers and magazines. The
subjects include fine arts, civil rights and World War II.
Series IV. Printed Material, 1922-1953 (1 box)
The printed material consists of an assortment of clipped articles and periodicals, including the
periodical Manuscripts, 1923/1924.
Series V. Photographs, 1920-1980 (5 boxes)
The photographs include those taken by Seligmann of Lilias MacLane Seligmann, Georgia
O'Keeffe and other individuals. There is also a portrait photograph of Herbert J. Seligmann taken
by Alfred Stieglitz. A photograph album also includes photographs of Haiti, the southwestern
United States, and the Adirondack region. The slides (ca.1960-1964) consist of images taken on
vacation trips across the United States.
6
CONTAINER LIST
Box
Folder
1
1
2
3-6
7
I. Correspondence
General correspondence, 1909-1955
Letters to Lawrence Sampter, 1944-1945
Letters to Lilias H. MacLane, 1919-1921
Acknowledgements regarding two books: In Memory of Lilias - Collected Poems
of Herbert J. Seligmann 1919-1964 and A South Carolina Independent of the
1880s: J. Hendrix McLane.
II. Writings
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
20
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8-14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
1-2
3-4
A. Typescripts
Along the Airline: Wilderness Frontier
Burning Focus, 1966 (includes the published article in Infinity Magazine)
Cape Split Sketches (incomplete)
The Dilleys. n.d.
Vincent Hartgen. n.d.
Marsden Hartley. 1957 (2 copies)
Hummingbird Babysitter. n.d.
Man and Bird Together: A Portrait of Albert R. Brand. 1970 (2 copies)
Georgia O'Keeffe. n.d. (2 copies)
George Santayana: An Appreciation. 1966
Some People of Our Times: A Manifesto Against Disintegration. n.d.
They've Always Gambled. n.d.
Two Georges: George Sand & George Eliot. (incomplete) 1932
Colonel Laurens Van der Post. n.d.
A Way of Life Called Berwick. 1963
Voyages (3 versions)
Miscellaneous typescripts
Notes; Miscellaneous papers
B. Commonplace Books
1942-1949
1951-1968
1968-1975
1975-1983
1984; undated
C. Travel Diaries (3 vols.)
• New Mexico and Chicago, 1960-1962
• New Mexico and elsewhere, 1964-1970
• Europe, 1970-1973
7
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
III. Scrapbooks
1920-1926
1918-1937
1944-1946
IV. Printed Material
Articles, 1944-1953
Manuscripts 1922/1923
Miscellaneous periodicals
Brochures and flyers - NYC Art exhibits, 1921-1963
Woodcut Christmas cards designed by Polly Inman.
VI. Photographs
Lilias MacLane Seligmann, Herbert J. Seligmann, Lilias Walker
Hazewell, Georgia O'Keeffe, Alfred Stieglitz, and others
Maine: Houses and buildings
Maine, New Mexico and New York City
Photograph album
Holland, Poland and Romania 1936
New York City views (matted color prints)
Diplomas awarded to Seligmann
Slides
8