Josephson, Matthew, 1899-1978

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Epithet: writer and editor

British Library Archives and Manuscripts Catalogue : Person : Description : ark:/81055/vdc_100000000758.0x0002ef

Correspondence to Lewis Mumford from Matthew Josephson and his wife, Hannah Geffen Josephson.

From the description of Letters, 1930-1975, to Lewis Mumford. (University of Pennsylvania Library). WorldCat record id: 155870543

Writer.

From the description of Reminiscences of Matthew Josephson and Robert Wohlforth : oral history, 1963. (Columbia University In the City of New York). WorldCat record id: 122481572

Matthew Josephson (1899-1978), author of books on French literature and American economic history, was best known for his biographies of Zola, Rousseau, and Stendhal and for The Robber Barons (1934).

From the description of Matthew Josephson papers, 1917-1979 (inclusive). (Unknown). WorldCat record id: 702131645

Matthew Josephson (1899-1978) and Hannah Geffen Josephson (1900-1976) were married in 1920 shortly after they graduated from Columbia University. After graduation Hannah took a job as a reporter for the New York "American" and Matthew was editor of "Broom" magazine from 1922-1924 and later an account representative with several stock brokerage firms. Both of the Josephsons lived in Paris from 1926-1928, working as writers.

They returned to the U.S. in 1928 where Matthew was a writer for "Transition" magazine from 1928-1930 and then as editor at "The New Republic" from 1931-1932. After 1932 he was an author and biographer. Hannah worked as editor of publications for the American Academy of Arts and Letters from 1949-1965. She also worked as an author and biographer. Together they wrote the biography "Al Smith: Hero of the Cities" in 1969.

From the description of Matthew and Hannah Josephson Papers, 1916-1976. (University of Wyoming, American Heritage Center). WorldCat record id: 29861898

Matthew Josephson, author of works on nineteenth-century French literature and twentieth-century American economic history, was born on February 15, 1899, in Brooklyn, New York. He graduated from Columbia University and married Hannah Geffen in 1920. Shortly thereafter they left New York for Paris to become part of the group of American "expatriates" there.

Initially Josephson wrote poetry, published in Galimathias (1923), and reported for various "little magazines." He became associate editor of Broom (1922-24) and contributing editor of Transition (1928-29). Josephson was also a regular contributor to the New Republic, The Nation, The New Yorker, and the Saturday Evening Post .

Josephson's first biographies were Zola and His Time (1928) and Jean-Jacques Rousseau (1932). Deeply influenced by his neighbor Charles A. Beard, and the Depression, and with only one major exception, Stendhal: or the Pursuit of Happiness (1946), Josephson changed his focus of interest from literature to economic history when he published The Robber Barons in 1934. The Robber Barons was followed by many more full-length works in which Josephson served as a spokesman for many intellectuals of his generation who were dissatisfied with the social and political status quo.

Josephson wrote two memoirs, Life Among the Surrealists (1962) and, Infidel in the Temple (1967).

Hannah Josephson, librarian of the American Academy of Arts and Letters and an author in her own right, worked closely with her husband on various projects throughout their careers. In 1945 she and Malcolm Cowley edited Aragon, Poet of the Resistance . Matthew and Hannah Josephson collaborated on Al Smith: Hero of the Cities in 1969. They had two sons, Eric and Carl. Hannah died in 1976 and Matthew died March 15, 1978.

For additional information see: David E. Shi's biography, Matthew Josephson: Bourgeois Bohemian (1981) and Twentieth Century Authors: A Biographical Dictionary (1942 and 1955).

From the guide to the Matthew Josephson papers, 1917-1979 (inclusive), (Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library)

Archival Resources
Role Title Holding Repository
creatorOf Josephson, Matthew, 1899-1978. Correspondence with Theodore Dreiser, 1917-1931. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn Papers, 1911-1999 Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
creatorOf Weintraub, Stanley, 1929-. Stanley Weintraub letters received, 1970-1973. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn New Directions Publishing records Houghton Library
referencedIn Muriel Rukeyser collection of papers, 1920-1976, 1931-1976 The New York Public Library. Henry W. and Albert A. Berg Collection of English and American Literature.
referencedIn Harry Levin papers Houghton Library
creatorOf Cowley, Malcolm, 1898-1989. Malcolm Cowley papers, 1911-1990. Newberry Library
creatorOf Josephson, Matthew, 1899-1978. Letters, 1930-1975, to Lewis Mumford. University of Pennsylvania Libraries, Van Pelt Library
referencedIn J. B. Matthews Papers, 1862-1986 and undated David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library
referencedIn Stanford, Donald E. (Donald Elwin), 1913-1998. Donald E. Stanford papers, 1933-1985. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn Guérard, Albert Léon, 1880-1959. Albert Léon Guérard papers, 1909-1959. Stanford University. Department of Special Collections and University Archives
referencedIn The Nation, records, 1879-1974 (inclusive), 1920-1955 (bulk). Houghton Library
creatorOf Vol. XXV. (ff.) Jolas-Kennedy.James Stern, writer: Weldon Kees, writer and artist: Letter to James Stern from Weldon Kees: circa 1947.James Stern, writer: Mary Nesta Keane n e Skrine, writer: Letters to James Stern from Mary Nesta Keane: 1981-1985.... British Library
referencedIn Ornitz, Samuel, 1890-1957. Papers, 1919-1957. Wisconsin Historical Society, Newspaper Project
creatorOf Matthew Josephson papers Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Josephson, Matthew, 1899-1978. Matthew and Hannah Josephson Papers, 1916-1976. Univerisity of Wyoming. American Heritage Center.
creatorOf Josephson, Matthew, 1899-1978. Correspondence to Van Wyck Brooks, 1948. University of Pennsylvania Library
referencedIn Joseph Barnes Papers, 1923-1970 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Rukeyser, Muriel, 1913-1980. Muriel Rukeyser collection of papers, 1920-1976 bulk (1931-1976). New York Public Library System, NYPL
referencedIn Yaddo records, 1870-1980 New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Hart Crane Collection, (1910-1972) Beinecke Rare Book and Manuscript Library
creatorOf Angell, Nicholas B. Nicholas B. Angell collection of Evan Shipman papers and other materials, 1890-2009. Pennsylvania State University Libraries
referencedIn Joseph Barnes Papers, 1923-1970 Columbia University. Rare Book and Manuscript Library
referencedIn Houghton Mifflin Company correspondence, 1881-1981 (inclusive), 1940-1979 (bulk). Houghton Library
referencedIn Zeligs, Meyer Aaron. Meyer Aaron Zeligs Papers. 1923-1978. Harvard Law School Library Langdell Hall Cambridge, MA 02138
creatorOf Josephson, Matthew, 1899-1978. Reminiscences of Matthew Josephson and Robert Wohlforth : oral history, 1963. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
referencedIn New Yorker records New York Public Library. Manuscripts and Archives Division
referencedIn Wohlforth, Robert. Reminiscences of Robert Wohlforth and Matthew Josephson : oral history, 1963. Columbia University in the City of New York, Columbia University Libraries
Role Title Holding Repository
Relation Name
associatedWith Angell, Nicholas B. person
associatedWith Aragon, 1897-1982. person
associatedWith Arnold, Thurman Wesley, 1891-1969. person
associatedWith Auerbach, Jerold S., person
associatedWith Barnes, Joseph, 1907-1970. person
associatedWith Baron, Jacques, 1905- person
associatedWith Basso, Hamilton, 1904-1964. person
associatedWith Beard, Charles Austin, 1874-1948. person
associatedWith Blume, Peter F., 1906- person
associatedWith Blume, Peter F., 1906- person
associatedWith Breton, André, 1896-1966. person
associatedWith Brown, Slater, 1896- person
associatedWith Brown, Slater, 1896- person
associatedWith Burke, Kenneth, 1897-1993. person
associatedWith Clark, Eleanor, 1913- person
associatedWith Cochran, Thomas Childs 1902- person
associatedWith Compton, Beulah. person
associatedWith Compton, Beulah. person
associatedWith Cordoza, Nancy. person
associatedWith Cordoza, Nancy. person
associatedWith Cowley, Malcolm, 1898-1989. person
associatedWith Crane, Hart, 1899-1932. person
associatedWith Dos Passos, John, 1896-1970. person
associatedWith Edison, Thomas A. (Thomas Alva), 1847-1931. person
associatedWith Frankfurter, Felix, 1882-1965. person
associatedWith Fraser, Leon, 1889- person
associatedWith Giannini, Amadeo Peter, 1870-1949. person
associatedWith Givner, Joan, 1936- person
associatedWith Guérard, Albert Léon, 1880-1959. person
associatedWith Hélion, Jean, 1904-1987. person
associatedWith Herbst, Josephine, 1892-1969. person
associatedWith Hillman, Sidney, 1887-1946. person
associatedWith Hiss, Alger. person
associatedWith Hiss, Alger. person
correspondedWith Houghton Mifflin Company. corporateBody
associatedWith Hugo, Victor, 1802-1885. person
associatedWith Insull, Samuel, 1859- person
associatedWith Insull, Samuel, 1859- person
associatedWith Jolas, Eugene, 1894-1952. person
associatedWith Josephson, Hannah, 1900-1976. person
associatedWith Kaudsen, William S. person
associatedWith Kaudsen, William S. person
associatedWith Krock, Arthur, 1886- person
associatedWith Levin, Harry, 1912- person
associatedWith Loeb, Harold, 1891- person
associatedWith Lowell, Amy, 1874-1925. person
associatedWith Lowenthal, Max, 1888- person
associatedWith Lubin, Isador, 1896- person
associatedWith Lynd, Robert Staughton, 1892- person
associatedWith Martin, Jay. person
associatedWith Martin, Jay. person
associatedWith Matthews, J. B. (Joseph Brown), 1894-1966 person
associatedWith McKenney, Ruth, 1911-1971 person
associatedWith McKenney, Ruth, 1911-1972. person
associatedWith McWilliams, Carey, 1905-1980. person
associatedWith Moore, Marianne, 1887-1972. person
associatedWith Mumford, Lewis, 1895-1990. person
correspondedWith Nation (New York, N.Y. : 1865). corporateBody
correspondedWith New Directions Publishing Corp. corporateBody
correspondedWith New Yorker Magazine, Inc corporateBody
associatedWith O'Connor, Harvey, 1897-1987. person
associatedWith Ornitz, Samuel, 1890-1957. person
associatedWith Perkins, Frances, 1882-1965. person
associatedWith Phillips, Melbo, 1907- person
associatedWith Pierce, Waldo. person
associatedWith Porter, Katherine Anne, 1890-1980. person
associatedWith Powell, Dawn. person
associatedWith Powell, Thomas Reed, 1880-1955. person
associatedWith Rattner, Abraham. person
associatedWith Rukeyser, Muriel, 1913-1980. person
associatedWith Sheeler, Charles, 1883-1965. person
associatedWith Shipman, Evan. person
associatedWith Soupault, Philippe, 1897- person
associatedWith Soupault, Philippe, 1897- person
associatedWith Stanford, Donald E. (Donald Elwin), 1913-1998. person
associatedWith Stendhal, 1783-1842. person
associatedWith Triolet, Elsa. person
associatedWith Trippe, J. T(Juan Terry), 1899- person
associatedWith Valéry, Paul, 1871-1945. person
associatedWith Weintraub, Stanley, 1929- person
associatedWith Weston, 1904- person
associatedWith Wheelwright, John, 1887-1940. person
associatedWith Wilson, Edmund, 1895-1972. person
associatedWith Wohlforth, Robert. person
associatedWith Woodward, C. Vann (Comer Vann), 1908-1999. person
associatedWith Yaddo (Artist's colony) corporateBody
associatedWith Young, Robert R., 1897-1958. person
associatedWith Zeligs, Meyer Aaron, 1909-1978 person
associatedWith Zola, Emile, 1840-1902. person
associatedWith Zugsmith, Leane, 1903- person
associatedWith Zugsmith, Leane, 1903- person
Place Name Admin Code Country
New York (N.Y.)
Paris (France)
United States
New York (N.Y.)
United States
Paris (France)
Paris (France)
United States
United States
Subject
Authors, American
Anti-communist movements
Anti-communist movements
Authors
Expatriate authors
Autobiographies
Banks and banking
Banks and banking
Biography
Capitalism
Capitalism
Civil rights
Communism
Communism
Dadaism
Depressions
Depressions
Economic history
French literature
Journalism
Labor unions
Labor unions
Literature
Little magazines
New Deal, 1933-1939
Poetry
Radicalism
Radicalism
Railroads
Railroads
Surrealism
Occupation
Authors
Women authors
Biographers
Journalists
Poets
Women journalist
Activity

Person

Birth 1899-02-15

Death 1978-03-13

Americans

English

Information

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SNAC ID: 66818154