John Bellairs Papers
Scope and Contents
The collection contains production materials for 13 young adult novels written by John Bellairs, including typescripts, correspondence, manuscripts, proofs, and clippings. There are no production materials in the collection for The Face in the Frost, The Eyes of the Killer Robot, or The Lamp from the Warlock's Tomb.
Dates
- 1971-1989, undated
Creator
- Bellairs, John (Person)
Conditions Governing Access
Open for use in the Elmer L. Andersen Library reading room.
Conditions Governing Use
This collection may be protected by the Copyright Law of the United States (Title 17, U.S. Code). It is the user's responsibility to verify copyright ownership and to obtain all necessary permissions prior to the reproduction, publication, or other use of any portion of these materials. Researchers may quote from the collection under the fair use provision of the copyright law.
Biographical / Historical
John Bellairs was born on January 17, 1938 in Marshall, Michigan. He earned his B.A. degree from the University of Notre Dame (1959) and his M.A. from the University of Chicago (1960). He was a collegiate English instructor from 1963-1971 and a freelance writer of young adult books until his death on March 8, 1991.
Bellairs wrote 16 books for young adults, including The Face in the Frost(1969), The House with a Clock in Its Walls(1973), and The Treasure of Alpheus Winterborn(1978). After his death, author Brad Strickland completed two unfinished novels and began writing new stories featuring characters created by Bellairs.
Extent
2.5 Cubic Feet (2 boxes)
Language of Materials
English
Abstract
The collection contains production materials for young adult novels written by John Bellairs.
Arrangement
Collection guide arranged alphabetically by title.
Immediate Source of Acquisition
Gift of John Bellairs, 1976-1991. Additional materials donated by his ex-wife, Priscilla Bellairs, in 2001.
- Authors, American -- 20th century Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Children's literature, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Detective and mystery stories Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Fantasy fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Ghost stories Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Magic -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Manuscripts for publication Subject Source: Art & Architecture Thesaurus
- Supernatural -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Witchcraft -- Juvenile fiction Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Young adult fiction, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
- Young adult literature, American Subject Source: Library of Congress Subject Headings
Source
- Bellairs, Priscilla (Donor, Person)
- Title
- John Bellairs Papers, 1971-1989, undated
- Status
- Completed
- Author
- Nancy Larsen
- Date
- March 2004
- Description rules
- Describing Archives: A Content Standard
- Language of description
- English
- Script of description
- Latin
Revision Statements
- April 2013: Collection reprocessed by Carly Lawrence; EAD updated by Karen Spilman
- May 2022: Description updated by Caitlin Marineau.
- January 2023: Folders renumbered by Caitlin Marineau.
Collecting Area Details
Contact The Children's Literature Research Collections Collecting Area
