Lennox Robinson papers related to John Quinn

Spanning the dates 1903-1931, the Lennox Robinson papers related to John Quinn consist of editorial correspondence, transcripts of letters, and other manuscripts and material toward a proposed two-volume edition of letters written to the New York lawyer, patron of the arts, and collector John Quinn. The project was undertaken at the behest of Quinn's sister, Mrs. Julia Quinn Anderson, who wished for a selection of Quinn's correspondence to be published, with letters "touching lightly upon his career at the Bar and laying stress upon his friendships with Irish men and women, English and French as well, who were distinguished in the Arts." (F27). Acting on behalf of Mrs. Anderson, New York lawyer Cornelius J. Sullivan contracted Lennox Robinson to select and edit the letters to Quinn from thirteen volumes of his correspondence that were to be deposited with his other papers in the New York Public Library.

The correspondence between Sullivan and Robinson found in F30 reveals the plans for the project and tracks the progress Robinson made in securing permissions to publish the letters from the original correspondents. Sullivan wrote, "It is my thought there will be two volumes of the letters, to be issued in a limited edition of approximately 750 copes. MacMillan will probably have charge of the publication, but Rudge, our best bookmaker, will do the printing and binding." Accordingly, Robinson planned the first volume to include letters from Jack B. Yeats (who first introduced Quinn to many Irish friends) and Irish writers; the second volume was to include letters to Quinn from English writers, English and French artists, and James Joyce and John B. Yeats. Each group of letters was to be preceded by a short biographical note on the correspondent.

The collection is arranged in two series: I. Correspondence and Transcripts, and II. Editorial matter and Manuscripts.

The correspondence in series I. comprises letters between Lennox Robinson and various Irish and European literary figures, artists, or their estates, with transcripts of their letters to Quinn. Robinson sought permission to publish and solicited approval of the selected letters; the transcripts often bear editorial notes and corrections by the original authors of the letters. Also included are introductory notes or essays concerning the correspondents and their relationships to John Quinn. Although some of these essays were by the original correspondent, most were written by Robinson.

Series II. contains editorial and manuscript material toward the project, including a folder of correspondence between Sullivan and Robinson that documents progress from the initial contracting of Robinson in 1930 through 1931, when the project evidently failed. A telegram dating March 23, 1931, reads "… writing M[a]cMillan won't undertake publication … ." The manuscripts in the second series include a table of contents for the two volumes, an index, an introduction, and two essays written by Robinson titled "John Quinn Among Artists" and "Other Irish Friends."