Collection of Marcel Proust papers, 1870-1950 | Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Title: Collection of Marcel Proust papers, 1870-1950

ID: 01/01/MSS00045

Primary Creator: Proust, Marcel (1871-1922)

Extent: 12.0 Cubic Feet

Arrangement:

The collection is arranged in the following series and subseries:

Series 1: Madame Robert Proust gathering of Marcel Proust materials (acquired through Henri Lefebvre)

Series 2: Proust to Bibesco (Proust 1)

Series 3: Proust and Hauser Correspondence (Proust 2 and 2A)

-Subseries 1: LH (Hauser to Proust--Proust 2)

-Subseries 2: Hauser (Proust to Hauser--Proust 2A)

Series 4: Proust to Grandjean, Lauris, and others (Proust 3)

Series 5: Proust to Goyau, Daudet, Montesquiou-Fezensac, and others (Proust 4)

Series 6: Correspondence to Proust (Proust 5)

Series 7: Items by Proust (Proust 6-Proust 86)

Series 8: Montesquiou-Fezensac to Proust (Montesquiou 2-6)

Series 9: Correspondence from Walter Berry to Marcel Proust (Proust 87)

Series 10: Additional Accruals (Proust 88-93)

-Subseries 1: Correspondence with Blanche, Daudet, Dreyfus, Lemaire, and Schiff to Marcel Proust (Proust 88-92)

-Subseries 2: September 2013 accrual (Proust 93)

Series 11: Proust's milieu

-Subseries 1: Jacques Brehant and Amelie Bessiere

-Subseries 2: Friends and acquaintances writing for newspapers

-Subseries 3: Comtesse Greffulhe

-Subseries 4: George Boyer

-Subseries 5: Mary Wooster

-Subseries 6: Francois Selz collection of Leon Pierre-Quint and Henri de Montherlant

-Subseries 7: Pierre-Quint manuscripts

-Subseries 8: Fragiles

-Subseries 9: Daudet family

Languages: French

Papers of the French novelist Marcel Proust provides a look at the man and his times. Proust had a large and varied number of correspondents, and his letters include an important source of information about Parisian life and French culture at the turn of the century. Includes published and unpublished manuscripts, documents and letters about the Dreyfus Affair, John Ruskin, and the nature and function of literary criticism.

Born July 10, 1871 in Auteuil, France, a suburb of Paris, to wealthy parents Dr. Adrien Proust and Jeanne Weil. A nervous and frail child, he suffered from severe asthma.  He completed one year of military service, then studied law and philosophy.  He published his first works, Portraits de Peintres and Plaisirs et les Jours, in 1896. Proust's unpublished works from this period, Jean Santeuil and Contre Sainte-Beuve, were discovered in the 1950s.

His earliest love affairs, which had been heterosexual, changed later into homosexual affairs.  To the age of 35 Proust lived the life of a social climber in the Paris salons, although he worked for a short time as a lawyer and was also active in the Dreyfuss affair.

During 1899 he became interested in the works of the English critic John Ruskin (1819-1900), and after Ruskin's death the next year, Proust published an article that established him as a Ruskin scholar. Proust wrote several more articles on Ruskin, and with the help of an English-speaking friend, Marie Nordlinger, and his mother, Proust translated into French Ruskin's The Bible of Amiens (1904) and Sesame and Lilies (1906).

When Proust's father died in 1903 and his mother in 1905, he withdrew gradually from society, living in a sound-proof apartment and devoting himself chiefly to writing and introspection. In 1913 Proust published the first of his seven part major work, A la recherche du temps perdu (Remembrance of Things Past). The second volume appeared in 1919 and won the Goncourt Prize, and the next parts made him internationally famous.  He worked on his novel from 1909 until the end of life.

Died November 18, 1922 in Paris, France of bronchitis and pneumonia, contracted after a series of asthma attacks.  The final volumes of his novel appeared under the direction of his brother Robert.

In his own lifetime, the merit of Proust's novel was debated by those who perceived its brilliance and those who claimed it was unreadable. Today it is recognized as one of the major literary works of the Western canon.

Repository: Rare Book & Manuscript Library, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

Access Restrictions: Open to researchers.

Use Restrictions:

The RBML reproductions policies can be found here:

http://www.library.illinois.edu/rbx/ReproductionServices.htm

The copyright law of the United States (Title 17, United States Code) governs the making of photocopies or other reproductions of copyrighted materials.

Under certain conditions specified in the law, libraries and archives are authorized to furnish a photocopy or other reproduction. One of these specified conditions is that the photocopy or reproduction is not to be "used for any purpose other than private study scholarship or research." If a user makes a request for, or later uses, a photocopy or reproduction for purposes in excess of "fair use," that user may be liable for copyright infringement.

This institution reserves the right to refuse to accept a copying order if, in its judgement, fulfillment of the order would damage materials or involve violation of copyright law.

Processing Information: https://wiki.cites.uiuc.edu/wiki/display/librare/Home

---

Box and Folder Listing

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Madame Robert Proust gathering of Marcel Proust materials (acquired through Henri Lefebvre)],
[Series 2: Proust to Bibesco (Proust 1)],
[Series 3: Proust and Hauser Correspondence (Proust 2 and 2A)],
[Series 4: Proust to Grandjean, Lauris, and others (Proust 3)],
[Series 5: Proust to Goyau, Daudet, Montesquiou-Fezensac, and others (Proust 4)],
[Series 6: Correspondence to Proust (Proust 5)],
[Series 7: Items by Proust (Proust 6-Proust 86)],
[Series 8: Montesquiou-Fezensac to Proust (Montesquiou 2-6)],
[Series 9: Correspondence from Walter Berry to Marcel Proust (Proust 87)],
[Series 10: Additional Accruals (Proust 88-93)],
[Series 11: Proust's milieu],
[[information restricted]],
[All]

Series 5: Proust to Goyau, Daudet, Montesquiou-Fezensac, and others (Proust 4)

Box 9

Folder 72

Item Proust04 001: Proust, Marcel to Maurel, Andre, January 1906

Date on letter estimated as "[janvier 1906 ?]"

ALS

First line: "L'etat de ma sante ne me permets pas malheureusement de vous ecrire longuement (il m'est meme tout a fait defendu d'ecrire)... " Written from: [Boulogne-sur-Seine]

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: VI, p. 24, n. 4

Physical Description: 4 pages

Folder 73

Item Proust04 002a: Proust, Marcel to Bacart, Paul, 15 February 1907

Dated on letter "Vendredi [15 fevrier 1907]" 

First line: "Votre lettre m'a profondement touche et augmente encore l'estime que j'avais pour vous. Vous pouvez etre certain..."

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: VII, p. 82, n. 39

Physical Description: 5 pages

Item Proust04 002b: Proust, Marcel to Bacart, Paul, 9 February 1907

Dated on letter "Samedi soir [9 fevrier 1907]" 

First line: "Au moment ou vous m'annonciez cette grande nouvelle, je ne sais pas si on nous a coupes..."

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: VII, p. 78, n. 36

Physical Description: 5 pages

Folder 74

Item Proust04 003: Proust, Marcel to Chevassu, Francis, 27 January 1912

Date on letter estimated as "[Le samedi 27 janvier 1912]"

ALS

First line: "Vous chantez delicieusement mais comme l'oiseau du poete, en passant si «loin des bords», en gardant si jalousement des distances..." Written from: [Paris] 102, boulevard Haussmann

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: XI, p. 38, n. 12

Physical Description: 2 pages

Folder 75

Item Proust04 004: Proust, Marcel to Cottin, Celine, 24 August 1907

Dated on letter "24 Aout 1907"

ALS

First line: "bien sensible a la perte douloureuse que vous venez d'eprouver vous prie d'agreer ses bien sinceres condoleances dans votre chagrin..." Written from: Cabourg, Calvados. Grand Hotel

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: VIII, p. 333, n. 179 app.

Physical Description: 2 pages

Folder 76

Item Proust04 005: Proust, Marcel to Ballot, Marcel, 29 June 1910

Dated on letter "Mercredi [29 juin 1910]" 

First line: "Moi qui craignais d'avoir ete importun et que la lecture..."

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: X, p. 121, n. 57

Physical Description: 4 pages

Folder 77

Item Proust04 006a: Proust, Marcel to Daudet, Lucien, 1897

Date on letter estimated as "[1897 ?]"

ALS

First line: "Malgre votre bien a vous" (qui ressemble au commandement de regiment, "garde a vous") j'allais aller vous dire adieu a la gare?""

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: II, p. 202, n. 125

Physical Description: 3 1/2 pages

Item Proust04 006b: Proust, Marcel to Daudet, Lucien, June 1897

Date on letter estimated as "[Vers juin 1897 ?]"

ALS

First line: "Il y a trois cartes de mises sur six (ou plutot 6 sur 12) et le reste ne tardera pas. Apres diner j'ai ete pour vous voir. Mais votre concierge m'a dit que vous n'aviez meme pas dine?"

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: II, p. 193, n. 118

Physical Description: 3 1/2 pages

Item Proust04 006c: Proust, Marcel to Daudet, Lucien, 14 February 1903

Date on letter estimated as "[Le samedi 14 fevrier 1903]"

ALS

First line: "Complication des complications, lisez-moi avec patience et repondez-moi avec bonte. J'etais persuade que je ne dinais plus chez vous..."

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: III, p. 246, n. 132

Physical Description: 4 numbered pages

Folder 78

Item Proust04 007: Proust, Marcel to Duvernois, Henri, 3 September 1922

Date on letter estimated as "[Le 3 septembre 1922]"

Telegram 

First line: "Vous etes toujours la perfection meme [.] Vous mettez un si gracieux scrupule a repondre immediatement que quand votre lettre arrive..."

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: XXI, p. 453, n. 307

Physical Description: 1 page

Folder 79

Item Proust04 008a: Proust, Marcel to Goyau, Georges, 26 March 1906

Date on letter estimated as "[Le 26 mars 1906, ou peu apres]"

ALS

First line: "Je suis confus que Madame Goyau et vous ayiez eu l'infinie bonte de vous deranger pour moi..."

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: VI, p. 60, n. 28

Physical Description: 6 pages

Item Proust04 008b: Proust, Marcel to Goyau, Georges, 22 June 1905

Dated on letter "Jeudi [22 juin 1905]"

First line: "Je ne voudrais pas attendre d'avoir lu et, en diverses parties, relu, tout ce livre pour vous dire ce que deja le premier volume termine me permet d'affirmer..." Written from: [Paris] 45, rue de Courcelles

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: V, p. 246, n. 126

Physical Description: 9 pages

Folder 80

Item Proust04 009: Proust, Marcel to Goyau, Georges, October 1920

Date on letter estimated as "[Premiers jours d'octobre 1920]"

ALS

First line: "Vous savez mon admiration pour vous, le culte que je garde a la femme admirable que vous avez trop tot perdue. C'est vous dire avec quelle emotion j'ai reçu vos felicitations..." Written from: [Paris] 44 rue Hamelin

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: XIX, p. 503, n. 257

Physical Description: 1 page

Folder 81

Item Proust04 010: Proust, Marcel to Joubert, Henri, pseud.  Jean de la Jaline, 1906

Date on letter estimated as "[premiers mois de 1906?]" 

First line: "J'ai reçu, j'ai deja lu presque entierement votre Journal de Bord Sentimental. Il est, d'un mot que vous employez trop souvent..."

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: BIP 1995

Physical Description: 5 pages

Folder 82

Item Proust04 011 a: Proust, Marcel to Montesquiou-Fezensac, Cte Robert de, 17 May 1921

Date on letter estimated as "[Peu apres le 17 mai 1921]"

AL

First line: "En accompagnement de mon envoi et en remerciement du votre, je voudrais, sur ce simple papier dont vous excuserez l'humilite car je n'ai que lui pres de mon lit..."

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: XX, p. 280, n. 152

Physical Description: 4 numbered pages

Item Proust04 011b: Proust, Marcel to Montesquiou-Fezensac, Cte Robert de, 6 September 1919

Date on letter estimated as "[Peu apres le 6 septembre 1919]" 

First line: "P.S. J'ai eu tant de fievre ces deux jours-ci que j'ai toujours sonne trop tard pour qu'on put vous porter cette lettre (comme je n'ai qu'une seule personne)."

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: XVIII, p. 396, n. 224

Physical Description: 3 pages [pages 9-10]

Folder 83

Item Proust04 012a: Proust, Marcel to Montesquiou-Fezensac, Cte Robert de, July 1915

Date on letter estimated as "[Debut de juillet 1915]"

ALS

First line: "Depuis que j'ai reçu les Offrandes blessees, tous les jours j'espere etre assez bien le lendemain pour aller vous en parler et vous dire mon admiration..." Written from: [Paris] 102, boulevard Haussmann

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: XIV, p. 165, n. 80

Physical Description: 4 pages

Item Proust04 012b: Proust, Marcel to Montesquiou-Fezensac, Cte Robert de, November-December 1899

Date on letter estimated as "[Vers novembre-decembre 1899 ?]"

ALS

First line: "cette maladie de Bailby qui le tient dans le midi loin de La Presse et de mes sollicitations je n'ai pas pu encore une seule fois dire seulement ce que je pensais et ai garde?"

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: II, p. 375, n. 231

Physical Description: 1 page fragment (p. 3)

Folder 84

Item Proust04 013: Proust, Marcel to Muhlfeld, Lucien, November 1898

[Novembre 1898].

ALS

First line: "Pardonnez-moi de ne pas vous avoir remercie plus tot : Je n'avais pas encore pu lire Le Mauvais Desir?""

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb:II, p. 265, n. 173

Physical Description: 6 pages

Folder 85

Item Proust04 014: Proust, Marcel to Nahmias, Albert, 22 December 1912

Dated on letter "Dimanche soir [22 decembre 1912]" 

First line: "Je ne croirai pas que vous ne voulez pas me voir parce que vous ne demanderez pas a me voir..."

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: XI, p. 328, n. 163

Physical Description: 4 pages

Folder 86

Item Proust04 015: Proust, Marcel to Weyl, Fernand, 29 July 1911

Date on letter estimated as "[Le samedi 29 juillet 1911]"

ALS

First line: "J'ai un grand plaisir a apprendre votre decoration, d'autant plus que j'ai ete (vous l'a-t-on dit) tres lie avec votre pensee cette annee..." Written from: Cabourg GRAND HOTEL

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: X, p. 328, n. 162

Physical Description: 2 pages

Folder 87

Item Proust04 016: Proust, Marcel to Dethomas, Maxime, April 1903

Date on letter estimated as "[Seconde quinzaine d'avril 1903]" 

ALS

First line: "Je me suis decide a me lever quoique bien souffrant pour aller a votre Exposition et j'en reviens emerveille"

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: III, p. 306, n. 170

Physical Description: 4 pages

Folder 88

Item Proust04 017: Proust, Marcel to Porel, Jacques, 19 February 1918

Dated on letter "Mardi [soir 19 fevrier 1918]"

ALS

First line: "Grace a l'age avance ou vous m'avez si aimablement rappele l'autre jour que j'etais parvenu, je commence a avoir reçu bien des lettres de fiançailles..."

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: XVII, p. 119, n. 40

Physical Description: 8 pages

Folder 89

Item Proust04 018: Proust, Marcel to Patin, Jacques, 17 April 1921

Dated on letter "0"

ALS

First line: "Je vous remercie d'avoir aimablement parle dans le Figaro de ma preface a Morand. Je ne suis malheureusement pas dans un etat de sante a pouvoir repondre aux critiques..."

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: XX, p. 189, n. 96

Physical Description: 4 pages

Folder 90

Item Proust04 019: Proust, Marcel to Thibaudet, Albert, 3 July 1920

Date on letter estimated as "[Le samedi 3 juillet 1920]"

ALS

First line: "(a propos des amis inconnus, et pas du tout pour nous deux, vous connaissez les vers demodes mais, a mon gout, charmants de Sully Prudhomme..." Written from: [Paris] 44 rue Hamelin

Originals or Copies Note: Published in Kolb: XIX, p. 341, n. 159

Physical Description: 12 pages

Browse by Series:

[Series 1: Madame Robert Proust gathering of Marcel Proust materials (acquired through Henri Lefebvre)],
[Series 2: Proust to Bibesco (Proust 1)],
[Series 3: Proust and Hauser Correspondence (Proust 2 and 2A)],
[Series 4: Proust to Grandjean, Lauris, and others (Proust 3)],
[Series 5: Proust to Goyau, Daudet, Montesquiou-Fezensac, and others (Proust 4)],
[Series 6: Correspondence to Proust (Proust 5)],
[Series 7: Items by Proust (Proust 6-Proust 86)],
[Series 8: Montesquiou-Fezensac to Proust (Montesquiou 2-6)],
[Series 9: Correspondence from Walter Berry to Marcel Proust (Proust 87)],
[Series 10: Additional Accruals (Proust 88-93)],
[Series 11: Proust's milieu],
[[information restricted]],
[All]