Clarence Herbert New and Robert Warrington New Papers
Clarence Herbert New was a writer, editor, adventurer, and novelist, best known for his work "Free Lances in Diplomacy," a serial novel published in Blue Book Magazine from 1909-1934. He published under his own name and pseudonyms including Culpeper Zandtt, Stephen Hopkins Orcutt, Devon Ames, and Norman Blake. Robert Warrington New was a writer, the only child of Clarence Herbert and Rachel Tatum New.
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Summary Information
- Repository
- Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives
- Title
- Clarence Herbert New and Robert Warrington New Papers
- Date
- 1880-1977 (inclusive)
- 1900-1932 (bulk)
- Extent
- 110.7 Linear Feet / 54 document boxes, 2 half-document boxes, 25 artifact boxes, 27 record cartons, 8 index card drawers, 5 oversize boxes, 7 oversize folders
- ID
- MS577
Biographical and Historical Note
Clarence Herbert New was a writer, editor, adventurer, and novelist, best known for his work "Free Lances in Diplomacy," a serial novel published in Blue Book Magazine from 1909-1934. Clarence Herbert New was born on November 14, 1862 in Brooklyn, New York, the only child of Tobias and Lizzie A. Parmelee New. He published under his own name and pseudonyms including Culpeper Zandtt, Stephen Hopkins Orcutt, Devon Ames, and Norman Blake. Tobias New was head of the T. New Construction Company of Manhattan at the time of his death in 1902 and was a successful proprietor in the tar paper manufacturing business.
In his youth, Clarence New traveled widely, writing poetry and drawing sketches. He engaged in several expeditions to Oceania, Africa, South America, the Caribbean, and Asia, and also traveled extensively in Europe and the United States. During his travels he became increasingly interested in ships. He graduated from the Adelphi Academy in Brooklyn, the Betts Military Academy in Stamford, Connecticut, and the Brooklyn Polytechnic Institute. He married Rachel Tatum on November 10, 1891.
Clarence New served as editor of Truth, the New York and London Literary Press, and Reel Life and his adventure stories and novels were published in Blue Book Magazine, Adventure Magazine, the Premier, as well as other pulp magazines. A few of his stories were adapted as short films, including "A Mohammedan Conspiracy," "The Cat's Paw," and "A Leak in the Foreign Office." Clarence New's writing focused mostly on stories of international intrigue, diplomatic mysteries, and global exploration and he has been credited with popularizing the international espionage genre. His work was often informed by his own travel experience, supplemented by photographs, ephemera, and maps.
Clarence New was also an amateur photographer, capturing still lifes, landscapes, and portraits in Maine and New York. Clarence New's right arm was amputated in 1916 following a bear attack near a New York zoo. He died on January 8, 1933.
Robert Warrington New was a writer and religious scholar, the only child of Clarence Herbert and Rachel Tatum New. Robert Warrington New was born on July 16, 1893 in New York City, New York. He married Silva Tipple and had a son named Robert Warrington New, Jr. Robert New was an author who wrote novels, and philosophical works including "Dot Saga," "Berkeley O'Brien," and "Magnum Opus." Robert New died in January 1977 in Georgia.
Collection Overview
The Papers of Clarence Herbert and Rachel Tatum New series include correspondence with family friends as well as publishers, personal effects of Rachel New, family documents, as well as early art and writings by Clarence New. The Manuscripts by Clarence Herbert New series features typescripts, notes, and manuscripts of most of Clarence New's published work as well as some work rejected by publishers. The Research Materials series is a set of clippings and other research ephemera accumulated by Clarence and Robert New over their lifetimes. The Photographic Materials series includes photographs taken by Clarence New in New York and Maine; the subseries of cabinet photographs of theatre actors pertains to the theatre world of the late 19th to early 20th centuries. Notations on the verso of many of the cabinet photographs elaborate on the photograph, the actors pictured, and the roles they played on the stage and within the theatre world. The New York photographic studios of Napoleon Sarony and B.J. Falk are responsible for a majority of the portraits, although a variety of other studios are represented in this extensive collection. The pictures range from stars of the stage, to unidentified actors, to King Umberto I and Queen Margherita of Italy. The Maps and Travel Materials series includes maps, brochures, and tour guides for cities, states, countries, as well as rail and cruise lines around the world, mostly assembled by Clarence New. Many of the maps illustrate trade routes and topography, as well as local attractions, ranging from around 1885 to 1950. The Scrapbooks Series is a collection of organized scrapbooks assembled by Clarence New during his travels and at home, reflecting his interests in ships, world travel, art, and genealogy. The Publications series is a set of materials accumulated by Clarence New, including ephemeral advertisements, catalogs, booklets, periodicals, as well as offprints and clippings of material published by Clarence New. The Art and Prints series is an assortment of ephemera, clippings, and prints that were collected but not organized by Clarence and Robert New. The Papers of Robert and Silva New include correspondence, publications, and family documents. The Manuscripts by Robert Warrington New series features typescripts, notes, and manuscripts by Robert New, all of which appear to be unpublished.
Collection Arrangement
The collection is arranged into ten series. Manuscripts are arranged by title as received from the creator. Personal papers are not arranged, with the exception of correspondence which is alphabetical by last name of correspondent within the Papers of Clarence Herbert and Rachel Tatum New series. Maps and travel materials are arranged alphabetically by country, state, or business name. Scrapbooks are arranged numerically as originally designated by Clarence Herbert New. Publications and Research Materials are arranged loosely based on publication type and/or title. The cabinet photographs of theatre actors are arranged alphabetically by actor's last name. The other photographs are kept with the title written on the folder by the creator.
Controlled Access Headings
Personal Names
- Lake, Silva
- Falk, B. J. (Benjamin J.)
- Sarony, Napoleon, 1821-1896
- New, Clarence Herbert -- Correspondence
- New, Rachel Tatum -- Correspondence
- New, Robert Warrington -- Correspondence
Subjects
- Authors, American -- Manuscripts
- Authors, American -- Correspondence
- Theater -- United States -- History -- 20th century -- Sources
- Actresses -- United States -- Portraits
- Theater -- United States -- History -- 19th century -- Sources
- Actors -- United States -- Portraits
- Actors -- New York (State) -- New York -- Portraits
Administrative Information
- Publication Information
- Audra Eagle Yun and Rebecca Petersen
- Revision Description
- Revised by Finley Turner, Stephanie Bennett, 2019 March, 2020
- Access Note
- Collection is open for research; however, some parts of the collection are not fully processed. Please contact the Department of Special Collections and Archives for more information.
- Items Available Online
- Digital copies of the cabinet photographs are available online https://wakespace.lib.wfu.edu/handle/10339/26022.
- Preferred Citation
- Clarence Herbert New and Robert Warrington New Papers (MS 577), Z. Smith Reynolds Library Special Collections and Archives, Wake Forest University, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.