Howard J. Duerr Collection, 1915-1978, Undated
Collection context
Summary
- Creator:
- Duerr, Howard J., 1911-1978
- Abstract:
- Howard J. Duerr was a writer and collector of horror fantasy and science fiction literature. This collection includes his own writings, his correspondence with authors and his large collection of horror fantasy fanzines and other literary works.
- Extent:
- 9.75 Linear Feet 9 boxes
- Language:
- English
Background
- Scope and content:
The Howard J. Duerr Collection contains horror fantasy literary publications from the first half of the twentieth century, containing contributors' original commentary, prose and verse celebrating the Cthulhu Mythos literary school typified by psychological horror masters H.P. Lovecraft, August Derleth and Clark Ashton Smith. The collection also incorporates Duerr's personal papers, including his correspondence and writings.
Series I: Personal Files, 1920-1978 contain the personal papers of Duerr. The series includes his academic and employment records; however, the bulk of the series is Duerr's personal and professional correspondence and his own writings. Of interest in this series is Duerr's correspondence with science fiction writers such as August Derleth, as well as bound copies of his thesis and dissertation.
Series II: Collected Materials, 1915-1977 consist mainly of Duerr's large science fiction literature collection. The series contains journals and fanzines of the horror fantasy genre, as well as limited edition manuscripts and monographs illustrated by well-known science fiction illustrators. The series also includes newspaper clippings regarding a variety of different subjects, publication notices of forthcoming science fiction books and musical scores.
- Biographical / historical:
Howard J. Duerr was born in Buffalo, New York on August 22, 1911. Duerr completed both his bachelors' and masters' degrees in philosophy from the University of Buffalo in 1940. Duerr enlisted in the United States Army Pyschological Division during the Second World War, and went on to complete his doctorate in philosophy after the completion of the war at the University of North Carolina in 1953. His wife, Edith, was awarded a doctorate in bacteriology at the same ceremony. Duerr's primary philosophic research interests were ontology and metaphysics, which carried over from his academic life into his social and leisure time. Duerr was an extensive collector of literary works and paraphernalia concerning the Cthulhu Mythos propagated by H.P. Lovecraft, August Derleth and Clark Ashton Smith during the first half of the twentieth century. Until his death in Maitland, Florida in 1978, Duerr was actively involved in various horror fantasy fanzines and collected monographs of well-known horror, fantasy and science fiction authors and illustrators.
- Acquisition information:
- These materials were donated to the University of Central Florida Libraries, Special Collections and University Archives in 1993 (CFM1993_04).
- Processing information:
Collection processed by Jessica Achberger; finding aid created by Jessica Achberger.
This collection was processed by type of material, into the personal files of Duerr and his collected materials. Bound materials were left intact and foldered in acid free folders, as were the journals, manuscripts and monographs of the collected materials.
- Arrangement:
This collection was arranged into two series, personal files and Duerr's collected materials. Correspondence is foldered by correspondent in alphabetical order. His collected materials are arranged by type of material, with individual journals, limited editions and monographs in alphabetical order by title.
- Rules or conventions:
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
Indexed terms
Access and use
- Restrictions:
The entire collection is open for research.
- Terms of access:
Unpublished manuscripts are protected by copyright. Permission to publish, quote or reproduce must be secured from the repository and the copyright holder.
- Location of this collection:
-
John C. Hitt Library12701 Pegasus Drive, Building 2OrlandoFL32816-8030USA
