Collections : [University of Michigan Special Collections Research Center]

The Correspondence series is primarily comprised of letters written by Alan Campbell to Dorothy Parker during his military service in World War II. The letters, though obviously composed with the military censor in mind, are highly descriptive and evocative of war time experience. Campbell describes his daily activities as well as those of his troops. He also portrays the social worlds of London and Paris, and mentions other writers involved in the war effort such as Major Theodore Giesel (Dr. Seuss). A few of these letters include photographs, which have been housed in envelopes and left with the accompanying letter for the purpose of continuity.

The collection contains no replies to any of Campbell's World War II letters. In all of these letters, Campbell writes fondly of his desire for a continuing relationship with Parker, even though the two divorced within several months of his return home from the service in 1946. It is possible that the correspondence was weeded at some point, to eliminate signs of strife. There are also a number of letters Campbell sent to Parker from Hollywood, presumably while she was either at their country home in Pennsylvania or in New York City. These letters discuss the Hollywood social circle and his script writing. There are also three letters to other recipients: Hiram Beer, the groundskeeper of their Pennsylvania home; the Packard Motor Car Company, complaining of Campbell’s purchase of a “lemon;” and to an unidentified woman named Peggy.

The sub-series Incoming Correspondence is less extensive, but includes letters from Rosalie Stewart, Leland Hayward and Zeppo Marx, all of whom acted as agents for the Parker/Campbell writing team. There is also a small group of letters from Paul Streger to Campbell and Parker, and a letter from Mrs.Edward Warburg, inviting Dorothy Parker to attend a function where Eleanor Roosevelt was to be present.