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Clarence John Laughlin Collections: About Laughlin Papers

ABOUT LAUGHLIN PAPERS

Clarence John Laughlin Papers, Mss. 4538
Materials are arranged into four series and chiefly relate to Laughlin’s book collecting habits. Materials in these papers, especially book collecting records, often include notation by Laughlin. Notation practices include using codes and symbols, dating materials, and duplicating outgoing correspondence.
 
Series I: Book Collecting Records
This series contains materials pertaining to Laughlin’s book collecting. Items include manuscript volumes, annotated catalogs and books, notations on scraps of ephemera, clippings, and printed materials. Book collecting correspondence includes letters, printed materials, invoices and money orders. Additional correspondence pertains to LSU and the purchase of Laughlin’s book collection by LSU Libraries.
 
Series II: Research Materials
Records in this series include an eclectic mix of items on a variety of topics. Collected materials include books, correspondence, photographs, articles, printed materials, clippings, blueprints, art prints, exhibition catalogs and announcements, advertisements, ephemera, maps, flyers, brochures, and form letters.
 
Series III: Writings
This series contains miscellaneous items authored by Clarence John Laughlin including personal notes, school papers, work reports, and a narrative short story.
 
Series IV: Removal Files
This series comprises materials removed from titles of the Laughlin Book Collection. This includes correspondence, photographs, notes, printed materials, mail, clippings, ephemera, fine art prints, and publications. Most materials relate to book collecting. This includes subscription notices, book covers, correspondence, invoices, money orders, flyers, catalogs, ephemera, printed materials, and advertisements.
 
Finding aid for the collection can be found here.

Image of open book pages. Printed text contains alphabetized list of science fiction authors’ names and book titles with Laughlin’s tiny handwritten notes in colored ink.

Image from Laughlin's annotated copy of The Checklist of Fantastic Literature, a Bibliography of Fantasy, Weird and Science Fiction Books Published in the English Language. Edited by Everett F. Bleiler, 1948. Kipling-Koester

Clarence John Laughlin papers, Mss. 4538 -- Box 2

 

Image of Atlantis based titles in Fantasy literature. Printed text contains alphabetized list of authors’ names and Atlantis book titles with Laughlin’s tiny handwritten notes in colored ink.

Annotated booklist of Atlantis titles removed from Laughlin’s copy of The Supplemental Checklist of Fantastic Literature. Complied by Bradford M. Day, 1963.

Clarence John Laughlin Papers, Mss. 4538 -- Box 1, Folder 6

 

Image of front book cover of Passaic Book & Comic Center Catalog. Black and white illustration of fanciful text and superheroes. Laughlin’s tiny handwritten notes in colored ink fill in the white spaces.

Book cover of Laughlin's annotated copy of the Passaic Book & Comic Center Catalog, 1980.

Clarence John Laughlin Papers, Mss. 4538 -- Box 3, Folder 3

 

Image of author’s booklist removed from book titled “I See You.” Printed text contains list of book titles by Charlotte Armstrong with Laughlin’s tiny handwritten notes in colored ink.

Page removed from I See You by Charlotte Armstrong containing a list of books by the author annotated by Laughlin, undated.

Clarence John Laughlin Papers, Mss. 4538 -- Box 3, Folder 4

 

Image of flyer for Weird Fantasy magazine featuring three black and white fantasy based illustrations. Text information cites David Griffiths, David Britton and John Ramsey Campbell.

Weird Fantasy flyer promoting works by David Griffiths, David Britton, and John Ramsey Campbell, circa 1969-1970.

Clarence John Laughlin Papers, Mss. 4538 -- Box 3, Folder 15

 

Image of flyer for Silver Scarab Press featuring four black and white, gothic fantasy based illustrations. Text information cites H.P. Lovecraft, the Cthulhu Mythos, and Nyctalops magazine.

Silver Scarab Press flyer promoting works on H.P. Lovecraft and the Cthulhu Mythos, circa 1973.

Clarence John Laughlin Papers, Mss. 4538 -- Box 3, Folder 14

 

Postcard with black and white photograph of hedge topiary crafted into a spiral shape. Printed purchaser’s receipt with postal stamp from France dated Valentine’s Day 1964.

Printed postcard and purchaser’s receipt from the Collège de Pataphysique, 1963-1964.

Clarence John Laughlin Papers, Mss. 4538 -- Box 3, Folder 40

 

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