DATE: ca. 195-1918
CREATOR: Pegler, James Westbrook (1894-1969), American newspaper columnist.
SCOPE: This collection contains letters and drawings written by Westbrook Pegler to Miss Helen Bisch, between the years 1915-1918, when Westbrook Pegler was beginning his career and attempting to court the young Miss Bisch. The early letters begin on the road between Dallas and Denver and then New York. Later letters are written from London where he was on staff with the United Press Service and attached to the American Expeditionary Forces.
A finding aid for this collection is available for download:
M-247 Pegler-Bisch Letters (.rtf)
M-247 Pegler-Bisch Letters (.pdf)
EXTENT: 32 letters, 15 drawings and one book The Poems of Eugene Field.
HISTORY: James Westbrook Pegler (1894-1969) originally a sports journalist, Pegler rose to prominence in the 1930's as a controversial newspaper columnist with the Chicago Daily News and later the Washington Post. Westbrook Pegler published three collections of articles: The Dissenting Opinions of Mister Westbrook Pegler, T Ain't Right and George Spelvin, American and Fireside Chats. In 1940 he received a Pulitzer Prize for journalism for a series of articles exposing trade union racketeering.
This collection was purchased by the St. Louis Mercantile Library in 2001.
ACCESS: This collection is available for on-site use only in the Rare Book and Manuscripts Reading Room. Some of the material in Special Collection M-247 may be photocopied, digitally scanned or photographed, subject to condition. For collections marked limited access, researchers are advised to contact the library at least three business days in advance of their visit to submit a request to view the physical material.
A finding aid for this collection is available for download:
M-247 Pegler-Bisch Letters (.rtf)
M-247 Pegler-Bisch Letters (.pdf)
Researchers are advised to call ahead concerning changes in hours due to University intersessions and holidays. The St. Louis Mercantile Library is located on levels one and two of the Thomas Jefferson Library building.
In observance of security procedures, certain services may not be available shortly before the daily closing time.
Preferred Citation: When citing the material from this collection, the preferred citation is: From the Special Collections of the St. Louis Mercantile Library at the University of Missouri – St. Louis.
