Frank Elli papers
Scope and Content Note
The collection contains papers relating to Elli's book, The Riot,
including correspondence, clippings, a typewritten manuscript, and the galley proof. Also included is criticism of the manuscript by Professor Alford. The collection also includes correspondence course lessons Elli completed while writing the novel, Elli's autobiography, and a short story, "Skid Row Santa." Numerous editions of The Riot are part of the collection.
Dates
- 1963-1966
Creator
- Elli, Frank (Person)
Language of Materials
English
Restrictions on Access
The collection is open and available for use in Andersen Library Reading Room.
Restrictions on Use
All literary rights are retained by the author.
Biographical Note
Frank Elli was born in St. Paul, Minnesota in 1925. After being convicted of armed robbery in 1959, he was committed to Stillwater Prison to serve a 10-80 year sentence; he was paroled in 1965.
In 1962 Elli received a General Mills Foundation scholarship that paid tuition at the University of Minnesota for a correspondence course and he enrolled in a narrative writing course taught by Harold J. Alford. Elli submitted a short story to Alford, but Alford returned it with the comment that it wasn't a story, but rather a synopsis for a novel. Elli continued to write and received ongoing criticism from Alford who helped him get the novel published. The book was published by Coward-McCann in 1966 and was made into a 1969 motion picture starring Gene Hackman and Jim Brown.
Extent
1 Cubic Feet
Abstract
The collection contains papers relating to Elli's book, The Riot, including correspondence, clippings, criticisms, a typewritten manuscript, and galley proof . The collection also includes correspondence course lessons, Elli's autobiography, and "Skid Row Santa," a short story manuscript.
Physical Location
Mezz (R80, D1, S1)
Acquisition
Donated by the author in 1967.
Processing Information
The collection was processed and the finding aid written by Archives staff.
- Title
- Frank Elli papers
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
- Language of description note
- English
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Upper Midwest Literary Archives Collecting Area
