A Guide to the H. L. Mencken Letters, circa 1919-1946

Biographical Note

H. L. (Henry Louis) Mencken (1880-1956), American literary and social critic, journalist, editor, and author. Born in Baltimore, Mencken began his journalistic career in 1899 at the Baltimore Morning Herald. In 1906, he became an editor and columnist at the Baltimore Sun, and continued writing regularly for the newspaper until World War II. Mencken also co-edited the magazine Smart Set with George Jean Nathan from 1914 to 1923. They then founded another magazine, the American Mercury. Mencken was also an independent writer, best known for The American Language (1919), a guide to American idioms and expressions. He also wrote an autobiographical trilogy in the early 1940s, Happy Days (1940), Newspaper Days (1941), and Heathen Days (1943). Mencken died in his home in Baltimore in 1956.

Biographical note prepared from information found in the Biographical Dictionary of American Newspaper Columnists and World Authors, 1900-1950.

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Scope and Contents

The collection consists of six brief letters, circa 1919-1946, written by H. L. Mencken, regarding personal and business matters.

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Restrictions

Access Restrictions

Unrestricted access.

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Administrative Information

Preferred Citation

H. L. Mencken Letters, circa 1919-1946, Dolph Briscoe Center for American History, The University of Texas at Austin.

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Detailed Description of the Papers

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