E. T. Guymon Detective Fiction Collection

Collection

Identifier: PCL-MS-0032

Staff Only

Collection Overview

Abstract

The E. T. Guymon Detective Fiction Collection consists of correspondence, literary manuscripts, and other non-book material created by and/or collected by E. T. (Ned) Guymon. The oldest known materials in the collection date back to 1800, but the majority of the items range in date from 1930-1983.

Dates

Creation: 1800-1983, undated
Creation: Majority of material found within 1930-1983

Extent

21.11 Cubic Feet (41 archives boxes)

Scope and Contents

The voluminous correspondence between Guymon and numerous authors, dealers, and collectors, from 1930 to 1983, forms the basis of the Guymon Collection. In addition, this collection consists of literary manuscripts, hundreds of dealers' invoices, and large files of materials pertaining to the Baker Street Irregulars, the Mystery Writers of America (including a long run of MWA's The Third Degree), and the Mystery Library.

Also included in the collection are numerous catalogs, lists, reviews, programs, scrapbooks and photographs, including many informal pictures of the famous authors in attendance at social functions at the Guymon home and elsewhere. Guymon's wide-ranging interests are attested to by the large number of Charles Wakefield Cadman's musical scores (1904-1945), most of which are inscribed by the composer to Guymon, his friend and patron.

Biographical / Historical

Edward Tyndal (Ned) Guymon, Jr. (1900-1983) was born in Kansas, graduated from Occidental College, and lived for the rest of his life in southern California. He began collecting first editions in the 1920s but soon realized that he should narrow his collecting scope. In the mid-1930s, he acquired A Study in Scarlet, the first Sherlock Holmes title, and from that time on, he concentrated on detective fiction. During the next fifty years, his collection became known to authors, bookmen, and other collectors all over the world. The collection led to the formation of lasting friendships with many of the most important names in the field, including Raymond Chandler, Fred Dannay ("Ellery Queen"), Vincent Starrett, August Derleth, Craig Rice, and David Randall.

Guymon was a member of the Baker Street Irregulars and the Mystery Writers of America. He was the recipient of the MWA's Raven Award in 1952 for his non-creative contribution to mystery writing. Guymon was also a prominent businessman with diverse interests.

Conditions Governing Access

No known access restrictions.

Conditions Governing Use

Copyright and other restrictions may apply to the materials in this collection. Researchers using this collection assume full responsibility for conforming to the laws of libel, privacy, and copyright, and are responsible for securing permissions necessary for publication or reproduction.

Language of Materials

English

Additional Description

Separated Materials

A collection of over 3,000 books amassed by Guymon during the later years of his life is also housed in the Browne Popular Culture Library. The approximately 15,000 titles previously collected by him were donated to the library of his alma mater, Occidental College, Los Angeles in the late 1960s. This book collection was donated to Bowling Green State University by Kathryn Guymon, widow of Ned Guymon.