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Andre (Alice Mary) Norton Papers

An inventory of her papers at Syracuse University

Overview of the Collection

Creator: Norton, Alice Mary.
Title: Andre (Alice Mary) Norton Papers
Inclusive Dates: 1959-1978
Quantity: 16.0 linear ft.
Abstract: Papers of the American author, science fiction novelist (pseudonyms Andre Norton, Andrew North, Allen Weston). Collection includes correspondence (1959-1978); typescript drafts, manuscripts, and galley proofs for novels; and published material.
Language: English
Repository: Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries
222 Waverly Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13244-2010
https://library.syracuse.edu/special-collections-research-center

Biographical History

Alice Mary Norton (1912-2005) was an award-winning American science fiction and fantasy author, poet and editor.

Born and educated in Cleveland, Ohio, she began writing and editing at a young age, producing her first novel (which became her second published book) while still in high school. She attended Western Reserve University, although she never graduated due to finances. She worked as assistant librarian and children's librarian at the Cleveland Public Libraries from 1932-1950, working in 38 of their 40 branches, with a brief interruption during World War II to work at the Library of Congress. She left the Cleveland Public Libraries in 1950 to be a reader for Gnome Press, a science fiction publishing house in Hicksville, Long Island, but by 1958 she had published 23 novels and several short stories, and felt confident enough to devote her full time to freelance writing.

Although best known as a science fiction writer under the pseudonym Andre Norton (her other pen name is Andrew North), she has also written mystery, fantasy, historical novels, and westerns. Ms. Norton wrote more than 130 novels, nearly one hundred short stories, and edited numerous anthologies in the science-fiction, fantasy, mystery, and western genres, and her work has been translated into eight languages, including Arabic. She was the first woman to be a Science Fiction Writers of America (SFWA) Grand Master and to be inducted in the Science Fiction and Fantasy Hall of Fame. She received Skylark, Balrog, and World Fantasy awards, and was the first woman to win the Gandalf Grand Master of Fantasy award. She was a member of the Women's National Book Association, Theta Sigma Phi, and encouraged beginning writers with "High Hallack," a retreat and research library for writers which she opened and ran from 1999-2004. The SFWA named an award in her honor, the Andre Norton Award for young adult novels, first given in 2006.

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Scope and Contents of the Collection

The Alice Mary Norton Papers consist of two accessions which have not been integrated. There are also a small number of unprocessed additions not reflected in this inventory.

Accession I, acquired in the early 1970s, consists of incoming correspondence, writings, and printed material, including books and fanzines. Inclusive dates of the material are 1962-1969, with bulk dates of 1967-1969. The material is arranged in three groups.

Correspondence consists of incoming letters, arranged alphabetically by surname of correspondent. Within each name, letters are arranged chronologically.

Writings constitute the bulk of the collection and includes manuscripts and printed material, arranged alphabetically by title with all stages of a work arranged together in order of creation. There is generally only one draft of a manuscript, usually a revised typescript. Title entries on the shelf list are the published titles. If the book has not been published, the shelf list title is that of the last draft. Titles of drafts and foreign editions are given if they are different from the main entry. The date given for the manuscript is one of three; in descending order of preferences, it is either 1) composition 2) copyright or 3) publication. The number of folders is indicated by a number in parentheses following the entry.

Published material includes printed copies of Ms. Norton's books, the manuscripts of which are not in the collection, and fanzines subscribed to by Ms. Norton. Books are arranged alphabetically by title with publication information given. Fanzines are arranged alphabetically by title and chronologically within each title.

Accession II, acquired ca. 1978, consists of correspondence, memorabilia, published material, and writings.

Correspondence contains mostly fan mail but also some correspondence from other authors and publishers including John Jakes, Forrest J. Ackerman, Anne McCaffrey, Ursula K. LeGuin, and Isaac Asimov. Memorabilia consists of one book jacket and one business card. Published material contains the galley of a book by Jane Louise Curry and a pamphlet relating to science fiction.

The bulk of this accession is Writings, which contains foreign language editions of several books as well as galleys, proofs, and typescripts for more than 30 of Ms. Norton's books.

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Arrangement of the Collection

Correspondence in accession I is separated into general correspondence and correspondence from authors/publishers; within each subseries it is arranged chronologically. Correspondence in accession II is arranged alphabetically by correspondent. In both accessions, Published material and Writings are arranged alphabetically by type and, within that, alphabetically by title.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

The majority of our archival and manuscript collections are housed offsite and require advanced notice for retrieval. Researchers are encouraged to contact us in advance concerning the collection material they wish to access for their research.

Use Restrictions

Written permission must be obtained from SCRC and all relevant rights holders before publishing quotations, excerpts or images from any materials in this collection.

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Related Material

Special Collections Research Center has papers of a number of science fiction authors as well as numerous books, periodicals, fanzines, and other material. For manuscript collections, please see the SCRC Subject Index for a complete listing. For additional material, refer to the Classic Catalog or contact us for further information.

In particular, see the Arnold Gates Collection of Andre Norton Correspondence and the Gnome Press Records (1948-1952).

Texas A&M holds several collections related to Norton.

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Subject Headings

Persons

North, Andrew.
Norton, Alice Mary Archives.
Norton, Andre.
Weston, Allen.

Subjects

Fantasy fiction -- Women authors.
Fantasy fiction, American.
Science fiction -- Women authors.
Science fiction, American.
Women authors, American.
Women novelists, American.

Genres and Forms

Correspondence.
Galley proofs.
Manuscripts for publication.

Occupations

Authors.
Novelists.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

Preferred citation for this material is as follows:

Andre (Alice Mary) Norton Papers
Special Collections Research Center,
Syracuse University Libraries

Acquisition Information

Gift of Alice Mary Norton. Rodney Lesher correspondence, purchased, 2009.

Finding Aid Information

Created by: AMV
Date: Jan 1971
Revision history: 11 Jul 2007 - converted to EAD (MRC); 21 May 2009 - Lesher additions, boxes renumbered (MRC); 25 May 2016 - Added link to related materials (MCI); 19 Jul 2022 - Updated related material (MRC)

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Inventory

Correspondence (I)
Box 16 Lesher, Rodney 1963
Box 16 Ortiz, Ray 1967
Box 16 Terry, Patrick A.M. 1967, 1968
Writings (I)
Books
Box 16 Dark Piper 1968 - ts rev. (2 folders)
Box 16 Octagon Magic 1967 - ts rev.
Moon of Three Rings
Box 16 Draft 1966 - ts rev. (2 folders)
Box 16 Das Geheimnis der Möndsanger, München, Moewig Verlag 1969
Box 16 Operation Time Search undated - ts rev. (2 folders)
Box 17 Sorceress of the Witch World undated - ts rev. (2 folders)
Box 17 Three Against the Witch World 1962? - ts rev.
Box 17 Uncharted Stars 1968 - ts rev. (2 folders)
Box 17 Victory in Janus undated - ts rev. (2 folders)
Box 17 Year of the Unicorn 1962? - ts rev. (2 folders)
Box 18 Warlock of the Witch World 1967 - ts rev. (2 folders)
The Zero Stone
Box 18 Draft 1967 - ts. rev (2 folders)
Box 18 Der Schlüssel zur Sternenmacht, München, Moewig Verlag 1969
Published material (I)
Books
Box 18 The Beast Master, Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England, Penguin Books Ltd. 1968
Box 18 Catseye, Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England, Penguin Books Ltd. 1967
Box 18 Lord of Thunder, Harmondsworth, Middlesex, England, Penguin Books Ltd. 1968
Box 18 Star Man's Son, London, Victor Gollancz Ltd. 1968
Fanzines
Box 19 Amra Jan 1961 - Vol. II, nos. 14-30, 32-35, 41, 43-45
Box 19 Anubis Spring 1967 - Vol. I, no. 2
Box 19 Erb-Dom Dec 1966 - No. 19
Box 19 The Info Journal Spring 1967 - Vol. I, no. 1
Box 19 Kallikanzaros Sep 1967 - no. 2
Box 19 Niekas Spring 1967 - no. 18 ( folders)
Box 19 Psychotic Jan 1968 - no. 23
Box 19 Riverside Quarterly May-Jun 1965 - Vol I, no. 4
Box 19 Taft Progress Report Nov 1966 - no. 9
Box 19 Yandro Jan 1968 - Vol. XVI, no. 1 ( folders)
Correspondence (II)
General
Box 1 1959
Box 1 1967-1970 (18 folders)
Box 2 1970-1971 (16 folders)
Box 3 1971-1974 (16 folders)
Box 4 1974-1975 (14 folders)
Box 5 1975-1976 (15 folders)
Box 6 1976-1977 (15 folders)
Box 7 1977-1978 (15 folders)
Box 8 1978 (3 folders)
Box 8 Undated (2 folders)
Other authors and publishers
Box 8 1966-1970 (7 folders)
Memorabilia (II)
Box 8 Miscellaneous
Published material (II)
Box 8 Galley, The Magical Cupboard
Box 8 Pamphlet, The Dipple Chronicle
Writings (II)
Books
Box 8 Blut der Sternengotter
Box 8 Der Schlusel zur Sternenmacht
Box 8 Der Unheimliche Planet
Box 8 Die Eiskrone
Box 8 Riscatto Comica
Box 8 Sterne ohne Namen
Box 8 Verfemte des Alls
Galleys
Box 9 Breed to Come
Box 9 The Crystal Gryphon
Box 9 Forerunner Foray
Box 9 Here Abide Monsters (2 folders)
Box 9 Iron Cage (2 folders)
Box 9 The Jargoon Pard
Box 9 Knave of Dreams (2 folders)
Box 9 Lavender-Green Magic (2 folders)
Box 9 No Night Without Stars (2 folders)
Box 9 The Opal-Eyed Fan
Box 10 Quag Keep (5 folders)
Box 10 Red Hart Magic (2 folders)
Box 10 Tomorrow
Box 10 Velvet Shadows
Box 10 The White Jade Fox
Box 10 The Wraiths of Time (2 folders)
Box 10 Miscellaneous
Proofs
Box 10 Fear Sword, Fear Spell
Box 10 Mousetrap
Box 10 Quag Keep (3 folders)
Box 10 Red Hart Magic
Typescripts
Box 11 Android-at-Arms
Box 11 Breed to Come
Box 11 By a Hair
Box 11 The Crystal Gryphon
Box 11 Death Collects a Manuscript (4 folders)
Box 11 Dragon Magic
Box 11 Dread Companion
Box 11 Exiles of the Stars (2 folders)
Box 11 Fireside Book of Ghost Stories
Box 11 Here Abide Monsters
Box 11 High Sorcery
Box 11 The House that Once Was
Box 11 Ice Crown
Box 11 Iron Cage (3 folders)
Box 11, 12 The Jargoon Pard
Box 12 Knave of Dreams (5 folders)
Box 12 Landing on Zimmorah
Box 12 Lavender-Green Magic
Box 12 Merlin's Mirror (4 folders)
Box 12 Nightmare
Box 12 No Night Without Stars (5 folders)
Box 12, 13 The Opal-Eyed Fan (2 folders)
Box 13 Outside
Box 13 Postmarked the Stars
Box 13 Quag Keep (7 folders)
Box 13 Red Hart Magic (2 folders)
Box 13 Red Velvet (2 folders)
Box 13 Ship of Mist
Box 13 Small Shadows Creep
Box 13 Spell of the Witch World
Box 13 Star Ka'at
Box 13 Star Ka'at Sequel
Box 13 Star Ka'at World or Star Ka'at Kin
Box 13 Sword of Lost Battles
Box 13 Sword of Shadow
Box 13 Tales to be Told
Box 13 Through the Needle's Eye
Box 14 Toys of Tamison
Box 14 Ully the Piper
Box 14 Untitled (4 folders)
Box 14 Velvet (4 folders)
Box 14 We're not a Family
Box 14 The White Jade Fox (6 folders)
Box 14 The Willing Givers
Box 14 Wraiths of Time (4 folders)
Box 14 Youthful Inexperience
Box 14 Yurth Burden (2 folders)
Box 15 Zarsthor's Bane (2 folders)
Unbound books
Box 15 Octagon Magic

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