Benson Bobrick Papers

The Book series includes correspondence (arranged with the book jacket, reviews (in the form of newspaper clippings and photographs, printouts from various websites, etc.) and correspondence related to that book (mainly proposals, emails or letters about edits to manuscripts, contracts, interviews, event flyers, etc.). Book correspondence between Bobrick and literary agent Russell Galen is prevalent. Editor Bob Bender at Simon and Schuster is also a frequent correspondent, as well as other editors at other publishing houses including Dell and Random House. No manuscripts are present but some proposals and outlines are present. Bobrick has written mainly historical nonfiction but a few more personal works are also present (including works about astrology and a memoir). Book reviews (both written by Bobrick (in the New York Times and Washington Post) and those written by others about his works are present. There are two video interviews (on DVD) in the collection and the relevant folder titles note their presence. This series is arranged chronologically.

The Correspondence is in the form of photocopies and originals. Some of the early correspondence often uses the name Barry Bobrick, which is the author's familiar name. Some correspondence is addressed to or includes Bobrick's first wife, Danielle Woerner or his second wife, Hilary Bloom. A small amount of correspondence is also addressed to Bobrick's step mother Elizabeth "Sherry" Most Bobrick. The correspondence series includes several archival binders containing autograph letters from men and women prominent in the arts, including: P.L. Travers, Edward Hoagland, Rachel Hadas, Donald Hall, Lewis Mumford, Sophia Delza, Francis Thorne, Alan Dugan, Joseph Brodsky, James Lee, Horton Foote, Joseph Ellis, John Guare, Phillip Lopate, Richard Wernick, Richard Brookhiser, John Hollander, Ellen Brodkey, Dorothy Kraus, Jan Balet, Deborah Baker, Douglas Brinkley, Hugh F. Graham, Ines Kinnell, Jock Carlisle, and Otto Nathan. There is also a binder of voluminous autograph correspondence and supplementary emails from Hagop Merjian, the Armenian poet and teacher, who was one of the author's early mentors and guides. A moderate proportion of the correspondence is in the form of printed emails. This series is arranged according to original order.

The Personal series contains biographical information including family history/genealogy and archival records, Bobrick's memoir, documentation of awards received and educational accomplishments, as well as astrological information. This series is arranged alphabetically.

The collection is largely arranged in the order as provided by the creator and includes some explanatory notes. The correspondence series is closed until March 15, 2027.